The Atlanta Hawks have been one of the worst third quarter teams in the league through eight games. This reveals a clear lack of halftime adjustments and motivation coming out of the halftime break, two problems that could spell doom for Quin Snyder.
The Hawks rank fifth-worst in the league in third quarter net rating at -10.2, and this weakness has particularly haunted them in their losses. The squad lost the third by 17 points in their 20-point loss to the Raptors, by 14 points in their 17-point loss to the Thunder, by 7 points in their 5-point loss to the Bulls, and by 4 points in their 8-point loss to the Cavaliers.
The halftime adjustment is one of the most quietly important traits of a coach. It is a test of multiple aspects of coaching, including tactical adjustments, communication with the team, and inspiring motivation. The fact that the Hawks rank this low and consistently lose the third in their losses could be a symptom of a greater struggle, whether its a lack of familiarity or being outcoached.
It is important to note that the sample size is still too small to start making conclusions, as Atlanta has played just 96 third quarter minutes over their eight games. However, this is not a case where one or two bad performances are tanking the overall net rating. Outside of a blowout victory over a depressing Pacers team, the Hawks have yet to win the third by five points or greater. Furthermore, when Atlanta is winning, their margin of victory by quarter is lower than in other quarters.
Quin Snyder must emphasize fixing their third quarter struggles
Atlanta had a humiliating start to the season, falling 1-3 and losing Trae Young to an MCL sprain after being crowned one of the most exciting young teams in the league over the offseason. The team has regained its footing by reaching 4-4 on the season, but this has come in part due to playing a weak schedule over the past four games.
The Hawks face the Toronto Raptors on Friday in a rematch of their depressing season-opening blowout loss, a loss in which the Raptors truly pulled away in the third quarter. While part of this loss can be explained by the new-look squad playing their first regular season game together, there were also clear problems for Snyder to address.
The Hawks must bounce back against the Raptors to solidify a game plan before being tested over the next few weeks by the Lakers, Clippers, Pistons, and Spurs.