When you’re a soccer fan, chances are you’ll not know this, however NBA media days and coaching camp are simply across the nook, and the season is simply over a month away. The season is simply across the nook, and there are a number of intriguing groups and storylines main as much as it.
One of many lesser-known groups to observe heading into the season is the Atlanta Hawks. After the Dejounte Murray commerce and some playoff failures, most individuals have written off the Hawks they usually not often get talked about. Nevertheless, I feel they’re a greater crew after the Murray commerce and with Trae Younger main the way in which, they’ve sufficient intriguing younger expertise to make a playoff run.
With so many new gamers, what may the Hawks’ beginning lineup appear to be and what place battles shall be carefully watched? I would say heading into the season, Trae Younger and Jalen Johnson are the one gamers I am going to embrace within the beginning lineup.
Who shall be Younger’s alternative? That is the query that has been requested for the reason that Hawks introduced the Dejounte Murray commerce. The contenders for that spot are Dyson Daniels, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Zaccharie Risacher.
Daniels is clearly the perfect and most skilled defender on the crew and I would wish to see him take the job, however can he constantly shoot subsequent to Younger? He ought to get open alternatives because of Trae’s playmaking capability, however can he capitalize on them? Daniels has the protection the Hawks are searching for, however can he shore up the whole lot else?
Bogdanovic is likely one of the greatest backups (he ought to have been sixth Man of the 12 months final season) and the most effective pure scorers within the league. One of many largest questions concerning the Hawks heading into the 12 months is whether or not they have sufficient capturing, and Bogdanovic is clearly their greatest shooter. The issue could be his protection after Younger. He isn’t an excellent defender, and the Hawks protection was dangerous sufficient final 12 months. I might bench him, however the offense of Daniels or Risacher may imply Bogi must begin, if just for a short while.
The wild card right here could possibly be Risacher. If the Hawks need to encompass Younger with large, versatile gamers who can shoot, would they throw Risacher subsequent to him and likewise De’Andre Hunter? I do not know if that is going to occur, but it surely’s an fascinating thought. Risacher is touted as an excellent shooter heading into the draft, and if he can mix that with strong protection, it may make sense to throw him in as a capturing guard.
This dialogue brings us again to Risacher and Hunter. If Risacher does not begin at No. 2, will he be the beginning wing? He is a rookie and is anticipated to battle, however he’ll possible begin in some unspecified time in the future this season, the query is when? I feel essentially the most thrilling lineup the Hawks may have on Day 1 is Younger, Daniels, Risacher, Johnson and Okongwu.
The opposite risk is De’Andre Hunter. Hunter has handled accidents and inconsistency in Atlanta, however he had the perfect capturing season of his profession final 12 months and is a strong defender. Hunter performed very nicely in late January and early February when he got here off the bench and I am intrigued to see if Quin Snyder chooses to carry him off the bench. He clearly has extra expertise than Risacher and Snyder would possibly need to lean on that early within the season, but when Hunter begins the 12 months, will he need to transfer to the bench later? These are all issues to think about earlier than the 12 months begins.
This has been a subject of debate for Hawks followers for a while. Is that this the 12 months that Onyeka Okongwu lastly will get the beginning job or will the Hawks belief veteran Clint Capela? Capela remains to be an efficient defender and rebounder, however his play took a dip final 12 months. Okongwu had an opportunity to begin when Capela went down final 12 months, however he received injured himself, so we did not get to see a big sufficient pattern dimension of what that will appear to be. Okongwu was chosen sixth general in 2020 and acquired an extension final October, however we nonetheless do not know if he is a high-caliber starter. Okongwu has proven loads of flashes and has a number of potential, and it is going to be fascinating to see what Snyder does on the place.
