Take it to the basket!
That may be a coach's favorite saying across all levels of basketball. Too often do players try to 'get cute' with fancy dribble moves and difficult fadeaway shots on the perimeter, leaving their coaches with flushed cheeks, clenched fists, and a bright red 'L' on their schedules.
Unfortunately for the Hawks over the last two seasons, teams certainly know how to take it to the basket against them.
During that stretch, the Hawks have allowed the 4th-most points in the paint per game - falling only behind the categorically abysmal Washington Wizards, the unorganized Spurs, and the lightning-fast (yet problematically prone to fast-break buckets) Indiana Pacers.
Taken as a whole, the Hawks also allowed the 3rd-most overall points per game from 2023-2025, falling only behind a pair of tanking teams - the Wizards and the Jazz.
These eye-popping stats certainly caught Onsi Saleh's attention this offseason, where he was able to quickly and efficiently address the team's glaring weakness.
The Hawks have the defensive personnel to protect the paint
The headliner of the Hawks' offseason is without a doubt Kristaps Porzingis. The Latvian sensation has anchored Boston's elite defense the last two seasons with categorical success at every turn - save for his history of injury.
In addition to KP, the Hawks have also added Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Asa Newell - two defenders who have demonstrated an ability to deter shots around the rim, albeit in different ways. NAW's 7'0 wingspan allows him to stick with larger offensive engines all the way to the rim, and Newell's explosive verticality at 6'10 allows him to recover on otherwise lost possessions.
As much as these three pickups should excite Hawks fans, none are nearly as impactful as the development of the Hawks' oversized young pair of wings.
Jalen Johnson and Zaccharie Risacher are ready to wreak havoc this year.
Coming off a frustrating shoulder injury, Johnson has demonstrated his defensive prowess throughout his blossoming career - his impact as a shot blocker and weakside helper is largely unprecedented amongst forwards of his size. He'll be looking to return with a vengeance this year, ready to flank the menacing Porzingis on the defensive end of the hardwood.
Risacher has developed quite rapidly as a defender - not only was he able to quickly adjust to the level of scoring at the NBA level over the course of his rookie campaign, but he also put on an absurd amount of muscle over the year - a trait that will allow him to stick with more physically intimidating offensive engines that love to create space with their strength.
Hawks fans should expect the team to apply these new arrivals and returning, developing studs to quickly patch up the scars left over the last two campaigns on defense. Teams won't be able to take it to the basket nearly as effectively as before.