Hawks face brutal reality after drama-filled rematch against the Bulls

Simply put, the Atlanta Hawks should have beat the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.

The Hawks cruised to a 13-point lead at the half in the second match of a two-game series against Chicago, who entered the game 2-0 against the Hawks for the season. Atlanta wore their hearts on their sleeves, with three technical fouls issued in the game to show for it. It felt like fate for the Hawks to win; after dropping two forgettable games to an inferior Bulls squad, Atlanta would finally conquer their fellow perennial Play-In threats.

Unfortunately, this was not the case. After a third quarter tie between the two clubs, the Bulls held the Hawks (or, perhaps more accurately, the Hawks held themselves) to just 18 fourth quarter points, finishing in a heartbreaking 126-123 loss for Atlanta. There are many takeaways from this game, the most important being the fourth quarter collapse.

After Nickeil Alexander-Walker hit a crafty layup to tie the game with 1.9 seconds remaining, the Bulls called timeout to advance the ball to halfcourt. In the ensuing defensive possession, Zaccharie Risacher was called for a questionable off-ball foul on Coby White. The Bulls were granted a technical free throw as a result, which they sank to ice the game.

This game was the epitome of the Hawks’ December woes

The foul was a conclusion of a frustrating night in what resembles a representation of the franchise hitting a new low point for the season. White grabbed Risacher’s arm while driving and blatantly threw himself to the ground in what is a clear non-basketball move. With under two minutes left, however, the officials cannot challenge a call, and Atlanta had no timeouts remaining.

Regardless of the details of the call, it is disappointing for a game of basketball to end in an off-ball foul, particularly if you are on the losing end. Disappointment turns into frustration when you remember the Hawks held a 10-point lead just six minutes ago. Frustration turns to anger when Atlanta fans remember the Hawks were looking at homecourt advantage in the playoffs just over a month ago.

This game has many on-court implications, but more importantly in the short term, the vibes in the organization and fanbase are the lowest they’ve been all season.

The Hawks’ starting five has played just 24 minutes together after yet another injury-ridden season for the franchise. Trae Young is no closer to an extension than he was six months ago, and Kristaps Porzingis’s health concerns have only intensified. On the court, fans are expressing concern over Risacher and Dyson Daniels’ development.

The Hawks are below .500 for the first time in seven weeks after this loss and are 2-8 in the month of December. The team will get a brief two-day break for Christmas, but then faces a mini-gauntlet of games facing the Knicks (twice), Raptors (twice), Thunder, Timberwolves, and Heat. That is a seven-game series against teams currently projected to make the playoffs, including two legitimate contenders.

The Hawks must use their Christmas Break wisely. If they continue to play at the level they have this month, it is not a stretch to say that the team could go 0-7 and fall to a catastrophic 15-23 record, which could force GM Onsi Saleh to make some difficult decisions.