November brought a glimmer of hope to the struggling Atlanta Hawks, ending the Fall season with a 10-5 record. The flock of red & white soared across the West Coast, defeating contender after contender, but their success was short-lived as a cold Winter approached.
Their Holiday season began with an abysmal 1-4 record, including two devastating one-point losses to the Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons. It set the tone for what was to come, ruining the hopes of even the most optimistic Hawks fans.
Following their three-point victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on December 18th, Jalen Johnson and the Hawks would go on a seven-game losing streak. It polluted the cheerful ambiance of the Holidays with a black cloud of dread around the franchise, but the Hawks’ despair would soon turn into motivation.
Johnson led the Hawks to a 5-2 record from New Year's Eve to January 11, including a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves and revenge on the Nuggets. Unfortunately, the encouraging sign of momentum was eclipsed by bitter defeat yet again.
Shortly after Atlanta’s win over Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors on January 13, they would suffer four consecutive losses. They managed to make up for their shortcomings with four wins in a row, but it’s obvious the Hawks are stuck in a cycle of mediocrity.
This pattern followed the Hawks leading up to the trade deadline on February 5, and now that the annual 75th NBA All-Star Weekend is here, they finally have a chance to recalibrate.
Finding Consistency For A Playoff Push
Atlanta’s key to consistency lies in their eight-to-nine-man rotations and finding their “closers”. Hawks Head Coach Quin Snyder has been criticized vehemently by the fanbase due to his lineups in the fourth quarter.
He’s prioritized an offense-first approach even in the clutch against opposing superstars. It’s backfired on the Hawks on numerous occasions, and the losses have put Snyder in the hot seat. For example, Snyder has refused to play Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye when his services are most needed.
Even though Gueye has hit the proverbial wall offensively, he is certainly one of Snyder’s best defenders. His slim frame is a weakness on the glass, but a benefit on the perimeter. He’s able to switch easily on screens because of his agility, and he’s finally mastering the art of blocking shots with his incredible 7’3 ½ wingspan.
If Snyder truly wants the best for Mouhamed and the Hawks, Quin must allow the 23-year old to learn from his mistakes. He’s avoided playing younger players in the past, and it’s stifled the Hawks’ young core, most recently Zaccharie Risacher.
The former No. 1 overall pick is having a miserable sophomore year in the NBA. After scoring multiple 30-point games last season, he’s barely averaged over ten points as a starter. He’s been relegated to a 3&D shooter, drastically minimizing his game.
Risacher has excelled on defense this year, but similar to Gueye, Snyder subs Zaccharie out in the clutch. It’s likely due to his inconsistent jump shot, but his defense would make an immediate impact.
Regardless of their youth, adding both to the closing lineup will produce better results than adding CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Both are defensive liabilities and have already contributed to the loss column with their decision-making in the final moments.
These losses carry greater weight as we approach spring, so Snyder has to find a solution as they prepare for a playoff push. It’s obvious this season hasn't gone as the front office expected, and if they miss the playoffs for the third consecutive year, Snyder will surely be fired. We witnessed the front office trade an All-Time great of the franchise in Trae Young, so Quin’s job is certainly at risk.