The Atlanta Hawks are 1-0 (in the preseason).
Their first victory of the 2024-25 NBA calendar will not count when all is said and done. But the Hawks showed several things in one game that are encouraging for what the upcoming campaign may hold in store.
While it is foolhardy to make any lasting conclusions, postgame is a perfect time for hot takes and this game provided plenty of fodder.
Hot takes after Hawks’ preseason win over Pacers
1) Hawks made right choice with No. 1 pick
Zaccharie Risacher was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, so expectations are rightfully high for him even in a maligned class. And yet, Risacher managed to put on a show that went beyond what would be an impressive stat line had it occurred in the regular season.
Risacher looked comfortable on the floor regardless of where he was. His touch looked much improved over what we saw from him during 2K25 Summer League action.
He also showed that the bulk he added since arriving was not just for show.
Rischer took bumps to finish and generally never looked rattled, out of place, or any of the other things that may afflict a rookie playing in his first game against real NBA competition. He also looked more advanced as a passer than he was able to show in Las Vegas.
Regardless of whether or not the stats counted, Risacher certainly made the Hawks’ decision-makers look good in his first time out.
2) De’Andre Hunter should come off the bench
In the end, the stat sheet says De’Andre Hunter’s impact was no worse than Clint Capela’s and better than Jalen Johnson’s. Aside from stats in the preseason not mattering, the eye test showed the top group operated much smoother with Hunter off the floor.
Whether or not that means Risacher should start over him (he should anyway) is a different argument.
But Hunter also proved effective in that role in 2023-24.
Risacher will command a starting spot with his play if it continues to look like it did versus the Pacers. It also helps to have Dyson Daniels in the lineup next to Trae Young. Daniels’ shooting will impact that as much as anything.
But Hunter could serve as a defensive complement for Bogdan Bogdanovic in the second unit, which brings us to the next point.
3) Bogdan Bogdanovic should come off the bench, finish games
Bogdanovic did not play in this game, sitting after enjoying an extended run in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
That was just fine as the Hawks’ younger players stepped up. Risacher and Daniels were at the forefront alongside Young and Jalen Johnson, who also looks like a lock to take another step forward this season.
Bogdanovic has said he is more concerned about finishing games than starting.
He, even more than Hunter, has proven to be a viable option in the starting lineup and coming off the bench.
He is an excellent scorer and, more specifically, a shooter as well as an adept passer. There are defensive concerns as well as the issue of overburdening him with his age and injury history key factors.
4) Onyeka Okongwu might have to wait even longer for a starting job
Again, preseason stats do not count. But Capela finished the game with 11 points and 9 rebounds and, perhaps most importantly, was 5-for-5 from the free throw line.
Capela’s efficiency – he shot 50% versus Indiana – remained an issue after he shot the second-lowest clip of his career last season. But if he is able to knock down his freebies at a high rate, the “Hack-A” strategy becomes far less effective.
There is reason to believe it can take for Capela.
He has posted the second and third-highest efficiency marks from the charity stripe of his career over the past two seasons.
Capela is still very strong, a good defender, and better on the perimeter on that end than he gets credit for now that he is healthy. He is also in the final year of his contract, so moving on from him could also be more of a business decision than a performance-based one.
5) Hawks are going to be fun to watch
Wins and losses are going to come as they may. But the brand of basketball the Hawks played versus the Pacers featured plenty of highlight-worthy passes. Hawks fans are used to seeing spectacular dimes from the likes of Young.
But we also got to see Risacher and Vit Krejci get in their bags as passers versus Indiana.
Krejci found a streaking Kobe Bufkin – who looks to have settled down in Year 2 – with a whipping full-court pass that left Young and Bufkin fitting facial expressions.
To top it all off, Seth Lundy hit a game-winning triple, leaving 0.3 seconds on the clock for the Pacers. Indiana advanced the ball but their last-gasp try was unsuccessful, giving the Hawks fans a W and potentially a glimpse into the theatrics this group is capable of.