The Atlanta Hawks took down the Indiana Pacers 124-118 on Thursday, and it featured strong performances from several noteworthy players.
Trae Young had 22 points and 16 assists versus the Pacers, but he noted the team’s effort.
“We kept moving the ball, we kept playing fast, got some stops,” Young told reporters on March 6. “We kept playing, didn't stop fighting, and played full for 48 minutes, and that’s why we got the win, for sure.”
Young’s comments are especially notable following remarks from former Hawks star De’Andre Hunter.
Hunter noted his new team – the Cleveland Cavaliers – showed resolve amid adversity.
“It’s definitely a different feeling coming from where I was,” Hunter told reporters following the Cavalier’s 112-107 win at home over the Miami Heat on March 5. “I’m just grateful to be here for sure.”
Hunter has yet to lose in a Cavs uniform, providing further context for his comments that unintentionally shaded his old team.
The win was the Hawks’ sixth in the 12 games since the trade deadline.
They are also 7-12 since losing Jalen Johnson for the season to a torn shoulder labrum. That makes the current group's chemistry critical, and Young believes they are close to achieving it at the level they need.
Trae Young: Hawks ‘right there’ with new-look roster
“You definitely see the moments and you feel the connectivity on the court with each other when we play. But it's not going to be perfect right now. And luckily we still got some games to go to find a rhythm with each other and try to string some wins in a row together and try to find a rhythm at the right time. So we’ve been playing pretty well with each other and starting to really find a rhythm, especially Caris and Georges. And even Terance, the way he was knocking down shots tonight, has been big for us. So we got a long ways to go, but we’re right there.”
Per Cleaning The Glass, the Hawks’ net efficiency differential with Young, Niang, and LeVert on the floor together without Mann ranks in the 88th percentile.
Mann’s inclusion drops that considerably. But he too has come around in