Dyson Daniels reveals what makes the Hawks stand out from other East contenders

The Atlanta Hawks have won 17 of their last 20 games, and Dyson Daniels has been a major part of it.

They couldn't have done it without him, to be quite honest. He's been spectacular all season, no doubt, but his offensive surge combined with the team's two-way excellence has allowed the young Hawks to simply take over the Eastern Conference landscape.

It should be noted, though, that the regular season is the regular season. When the postseason arrives, everything changes. It's a tale as old as time. Elite ball clubs, typically those on the younger side, find a groove at the right time but are unable to keep up that same attack come April.

This Hawks team is different. Biases aside, they've displayed all the right things since the All-Star break that allude to a deep playoff run for them in the near future. Not only have they blossomed into the one of the league's most effective offenses, but their improvements on the defensive end have allowed for them to take that next step.

"Defense is really where we've changed our system and our game," Daniels shared after Atlanta's most recent win against the Celtics. "That's what's been, you know, allowing us to win games."

Defense wins championships. It's a philosophy that remains true even with how much offensive firepower dominates the league today. Daniels has played a key part in this identity shift, dating back to when he first took the floor for the Hawks in October of 2024.

Even when the team's offense isn't clicking, which is quickly becoming a rare sight, their improved team defense allows them to remain in control of the game's tempo.

They defeated the Celtics at home, but didn't score as many points as they would've typically liked. "What did we score, like 112?" Daniels joked. "A lot of times, that's probably below average in the NBA."

Many other teams would've lost to a contender after only putting up 112 points. Their ability to contain elite offenses has separated them amongst those applying late-season pressure in the standings.

When the defense is clicking, so are many other valuable components.

Earlier in the season, the Hawks were routinely getting dominated on the glass. As they've ascended into contention, however, it seems they've fully addressed that problem.

"Rebounding the ball is important for us," Daniels made sure to note. "A big thing for us has been crashing and getting second chance points."

The work he and the team have done on the offensive glass, in particular, has stood out since the All-Star break. Effort goes a long way, and if they're consistently out-hustling their opponents in high-stakes environments, they're bound to shock the world.

Daniels expressed confidence in his squad to make a deep run, saying, "I think defense and rebounding, if we can carry that over to what's to come, then we're gonna give ourselves a good chance because we've got a lot of guys out there that can score the ball."

Anything can happen in the postseason. Fans of the Cavaliers and Knicks have got to be sweating, as a potential first-round matchup against the red-hot Atlanta Hawks could be incredibly dangerous.