A familiar face and 2 other X-factors as reeling Hawks host Kings

The Atlanta Hawks have had to go back to the drawing board.

Losers of three straight after their 2-0 start, the Hawks are also navigating myriad injuries, including starter Dyson Daniels who missed their second loss to the Washington Wizards.

Daniels will also miss the Hawks’ next matchup, a home date versus the Sacramento Kings, which is an ominous note. The Kings rank 19th in three-point attempts per game; one spot below the Hawks.

They are also more inefficient than the Hawks.

However, where the Kings are best from the perimeter is at two spots the Hawks – who already allow the highest rate of threes on the campaign – could struggle to stop.

First is former Hawks swingman Kevin Huerter, who is shooting 41.7% on 6.0 attempts per game. Without Daniels around, the former Hawks swingman could exact some measure of revenge.

He is just 2-2 against them, though his Kings have taken the last two meetings.

“Red Velvet,” as he is affectionately known since his Hawks days, has averaged 13.0 points and shot 41% from deep in his four career games versus his former team.

De’Andre Hunter is set to miss another game, leaving the Hawks thin on perimeter defenders between 4-man Jalen Johnson who will be occupied with Keegan Murray and rookie No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher who could see plenty of savvy veteran DeMar DeRozan.

The Hawks are already spread thin on the perimeter defensively.

Despite their slow start to the season, the Kings are built to take matchups like that and exacerbate the situation for their opponent.

Hawks could have big man blues vs Kings

It is not just the typical perimeter guys on the Kings like Huerter that figure to present a challenge for the Hawks, either. 

Three-time All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis is shooting a healthy 54.5% from downtown this season. Granted, that is coming on just 2.8 attempts per game. Still, both figures are career-high marks and underscore how much of a challenge he can be for opponents.

The Hawks have not faced any prolific three-point shooting bigs yet.

But two that have tried to take them have found success. Chet Holmgren was 3-for-5 in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s win, which started the Hawks’ three-game slide.

No. 2 pick Alex Sarr went 1-for-5 in the first meeting versus the Hawks but was able to up it to 2-for-5 in the second. His Washington Wizards took both legs of the home-and-home leaving the Hawks in their current state.

Oyeka Okongwu’s return in the last game was key.

Clint Capela is not totally lost on the perimeter defensively. But Okongwu is better, and his added ability to stretch the floor offensively could help offset the Kings’ attack some.

Zaccharie Risacher’s range

The elephant in the room for Risacher has been his shooting. He has shown his comfort level en route to making his fourth straight start tonight versus Sacramento. He has also shown the fearlessness that flashed during summer league and the preseason.

He has not shot the ball well, though. 

Risacher is shooting 35.4% from the floor and is 5-for-21 from long distance. He has attempted at least two threes in every game this season but has just one game with multiple made triples.

The good news is that the multi-make game was in the Hawks’ most recent outing. And many of Risacher’s tries have looked fine coming out of his hands; his form is still pure. He just has yet to find a real rhythm and range on his long-ball.

Risacher’s shots will fall eventually. But the Hawks could certainly use it sooner rather than later.