Yes, it was frustrating to watch the Atlanta Hawks struggle to operate in the halfcourt during the postseason.
Their first-round series against the eventual-champion New York Knicks got out of hand, though, when they started beating Atlanta at their own game. Nobody else in the back-half of last season was able to do so. Now, there's a chance not even the Knicks will.
The Hawks saw the success they had in transition during the recent campaign and decided to double down, all while improving their odds of being effective when the game is broken down. Sounds like a pretty good offseason. Adjust properly, but refrain from overcorrecting.
Atlanta was already quick, but they've decided to take it a step further
A Jalen Johnson-led offense is bound to be among the league's fastest.
The next step in his development is obviously refining his attack when the game slows down, but it appears the Hawks believe it'll come naturally, if anything, if their opponent is simply worn out by the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Not everyone is built to run, nonstop, for 48 minutes.
The new-look Hawks very well could be. For a squad who already thrived when playing with pace, adding Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Kingston Flemings into the nightly rotation could help them reach that long-awaited next level.
Each new addition adds something different on both ends, but they're all capable of excelling in a fast-paced system.
For Dort and Wiggins, they experienced it in the fullest during their 2025 championship run with the Oklahoma City Thunder. They used their fresh legs to their advantage, ultimately reaching the promised land in a season that was nothing short of dominant.
Kingston Flemings, on the other hand, hasn't seen any NBA action just yet, so a slight adjustment period is inevitable. If his scouting report holds true, though, he'll fit right in sooner rather than later.
Flemings' lightning speed will help him carve out consistent minutes
He'll likely be in the opening night rotation, regardless, but the more he proves he can hang with the best of the best, the longer a leash he'll receive.
Capable of running an offense himself (yes, in the halfcourt, too), Flemings is an absolute beast in transition. He reached the top five in sprint speed, pro lane agility and max vertical jump at the pre-draft combine - matching the eye test to a tee.
His potential in this Hawks lineup is limitless. Doubling down on speed could age very well for Atlanta.
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