Quin Snyder details how Jalen Johnson is 'key' for Atlanta Hawks

Jalen Johnson is inevitable. 

On the second night of a back-to-back, in a game where many of his teammates fell victim to a late offensive slog, Johnson posted his fifth-straight 20-point performance and did so while shooting the ball at a 66.7% clip.

He also went 4-for-6 from beyond the arc, marking his sixth straight game with multiple three-pointers made. 

Johnson is shooting 50% from deep in his last seven appearances.

However, when asked about Johnson’s passing, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder offered insight into why the forward is so valuable. It does not just open up things for Johnson, it is the “key” to the Hawks’ offense.

“That's the key for us,” Snyder told reporters on November 30. “Sometimes it's easier to do when you run, and on a back-to-back, it's harder to run. And then there's plays when they hit shots that can be a little bit deflating, and then you don't run. And when I say run, I mean just get into whatever we're doing quickly and try to have thrust in our offense.

“JJ is someone that can do that because he can bring the ball up. He rebounds well. And if he puts early pressure on the defense like that, usually you get – if not a big advantage – you get an advantage within the possession.”

Johnson dished out 9 assists in the game, including this one to Onyeka Okongwu.

It is the third time he has had at least that many assists and the third time he has had at least 18 points, 8 assists, and 8 rebounds in a single game this season.

Hawks’ Jalen Johnson ‘Just playing basketball’

“It's just playing basketball, trusting my teammates and just letting everything come naturally,” Johnson told RG.org’s DJ Siddiqi in an interview published on November 29. “You don't want to force nothing. I don't really believe in that too much. I've got coaches and teammates that believe in me doing what I'm capable of, so that's what I'm focused on.”

Johnson has the best on-off differential on the team, per Cleaning The Glass, with a mark that is more than 4 points per 100 possessions better than his closest teammate, starting center Clint Capela.

Johnson still points to the trust and faith of his teammates and coaches.

“It's just trusting my teammates, my coaches trusting me and just good ball movement at the end of the day,” Johnson told Siddiqi. “I think that's what it's a product of.”

Johnson cited consistency as something he is focusing on. Snyder has harped on Johnson’s defense. The head coach had to be pleased with what he saw versus Charlotte and getting consistency from the point forward on that end would force a re-evaluation of the Hawks’ ceiling.

The Hawks have a vision for Johnson, and he is making them look smart for it.

“I mean, if you watch basketball and you understand basketball at a high level, you appreciate what I can do,” Johnson told Siddiqi.