What we have learned about HC Quin Snyder's impact on the Atlanta Hawks

Quin Snyder arrived in Atlanta with a strong resume from his tenure with the Utah Jazz and working his way through the collegiate and NBA levels. But how he would impact the Hawks was clear.

That is, until it wasn’t.

The Hawks immediately flashed what would become their identity as a three-point-heavy group on the floor.

It is becoming ever clearer, however, that his impact on the group is even greater than that. Just listen to the comments from two of the franchise’s most important current players, Jalen Johnson and Trae Young.

Listening to Young, the Hawks’ three-time All-Star, there is an appreciated challenge.

“It's not easy playing for Quin,” Young said in a clip from Hawks media day. “But whenever you know how to run through a system, run through his offense, it's – the game is so easy and so simple. And we showed a lot of moments and times last year we had that, and I'm just looking forward to this season and continuing to improve on that every game and be more consistent with it.”

Young has been a staunch supporter of Sndyer’s and vice versa. Snyder has changed the way the Hawks played and is challenging them to get better in ways they might not otherwise have. 

In Johnson’s case, it cemented his decision to sign a five-year, $150 million extension.

“[Snyder’s arrival] changed my trajectory as far as just my belief in myself,” Johnson told reporters in October. “He came in here and he just told me and believed in me in a way I wouldn't – I would say like a coach has never ever believed in me. A lot of guys a lot of coaches I've had said it. But for Quin to go out there and give me minutes at that time when it was tough, it meant a lot.

“That just made this decision [to sign an extension] easier as far as Quin being here and just him trusting me, and it's all been great.”

And that is not just lip service. 

Former Hawks head coach Nate McMillan commended Johnson for requesting to go down to the G League so he could get consistent playing time with the College Park Skyhawks. Johnson, however, said even that experience did not prepare him for what he is becoming.

“I couldn't have seen this coming when I was in College Park,” Johnson said. “It was just like a day-by-day thing. And then really it's been every single day just kind of waiting and seeing where I'm at with things, and yesterday I got a life-changing deal. So it was – it's just been a blessing to go through it this way. I wouldn't have wanted it to happen any other way. I feel like everything happens for a reason. This is just all part of my story”

Quin Snyder facing yet another challenge early in Hawks tenure

Snyder inherited a fractured team. Perhaps no so much in their chemistry, but certainly in their performance on the court failed to match their talent level on paper. He had to navigate a failing partnership with Young and Dejounte Murray.

From a broader view, the roster did complement Young’s skill set and lacked the positional versatility and depth to withstand moments when he is not on the floor.

The Hawks still have issues with depth thanks to their injury situation.

Snyder still went 10-deep into his rotation. But the Hawks remain without Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring) and De’Andre Hunter (personal/baby) as well as key reserve Vit Krejci. That is a hit to their offensive potency, defensive stopping power, and versatility.

Still, the head coach was not making excuses for his team’s errors in their most recent loss, an 18-point come-from-ahead defeat at home versus the Chicago Bulls.

“That's all you can do is push through it,” Snyder told reporters after the game on November 9. “I think [it was an] emotional loss [versus the Detroit Pistons] last night, and then we were playing really well and they [Chicago] subbed at the beginning of the third quarter and got downhill in transition. 

“They were aggressive, and we spotted them some some points on our defensive glass, and we gave up some stuff in transition.

“Everybody knows the NBA game, a 20-point lead is nothing. But they got back in it really quickly by some of the things that were self-inflicted.”