The Atlanta Hawks quietly had a defense problem at the guard position last season. Beneath the glitz of Dyson Daniels' remarkable defensive performance lay a concerning rotation of poor perimeter defenders.
This has been a recurring problem in Atlanta, as the team has had a below-average defensive rating since Dwight Howard was a Hawk in 2017. The team's inability to roster a solid defense has been the Achilles heel of the Trae Young era.
But with the addition of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the team now has multiple elite defenders surrounding Trae Young. Daniels is the perfect fit next to Young as the league's best and most versatile defender at the shooting guard position. Perhaps Daniels' most spectacular quality is his knack for deflecting the ball, which can end or stall an offensive possession in an instant.
Alexander-Walker is another defender with long arms who racks up deflections, finishing with 170 total deflections last season. This was good for 32nd in the league, and 11% more than any Hawks player not named Dyson Daniels, who led the league in this stat by a country mile.
Alexander-Walker provides a stabilizing presence on this Hawks team
Perimeter defensive ability generally can be divided into two distinct skills: one-on-one defense and defensive playmaking. One-on-one defense refers to the ability to prevent the man in front of you from scoring, while defensive playmaking references a player's ability to tally steals, blocks, and deflections. One-on-one defense is a skill tested more often, but the impact of a steal or deflection heavily outweighs the effect of stymying an opposing ball handler.
Alexander-Walker is an all-around defender capable of both high-level one-on-one defense and elite playmaking. On this team, however, his playmaking ability is what makes him a perfect fit. With Young on the floor, opposing coaches will make the obvious choice to attack Young whenever possible. Not only is he the worst defender on the team, but making Young play hard on defense could fatigue him, limiting his offensive output.
While Young's defensive limitations can be overstated, he is a relatively weak defender who needs support on this end to survive a playoff series. One-on-one defense is critical to addressing this weakness, but defensive playmaking is even more valuable. A single deflection can disrupt an offense's rhythm, allowing the Hawks to reset the defense and mitigate advantages created during the possession.
The Hawks had a dismal defensive guard rotation last season, with the exception of Daniels' heroic efforts. While Alexander-Walker is just one player, his presence alongside or in place of Daniels will help drive the Hawks' defense in their quest for their first above-average defensive season in far too long.