Things are better in Atlanta. In great difficulty since the end of November (6 wins in 22 matches between November 27 and December 15), the Hawks have been raising their heads for several days. Last night’s victory, on the Charlotte floor, marked the club’s fourth straight success, after victories against the Bucks, Wolves and Heat, three teams currently qualified for the playoffs (or “play- in” for Minnesota).
Yet 28th worst defensive rating in the league before the game, Nate McMillan’s squad won through defense: the Hornets only scored 91 points (39% on shots), an anomaly for this group which holds the 6th best league offensive rating.
The defense (finally) at the rendezvous
If the incredible awkwardness of the Hornets is to be taken into account (4/36 behind the arc!) in the analysis of this offensive mismanagement, it is also necessary to underline the defensive work of the Hawks, serious in their defensive rotations and in their pressure on the Rozier/Ball pair. We do not miss 32 outside shots on easy positions…
“We continue to improve” summed up the Hawks coach. “The key tonight was controlling the tempo and keeping our vis-à-vis in front of us. We tried a little zone in defense. They’re a tough team to defend against and they still managed to outpace us in transition to score easy points. But overall, I think we did a good job defensively, especially on their 3-point shots. “
De’Andre Hunter, the catalyst
Back in the Hawks’ rotation on January 12 after a 27-game absence, De’Andre Hunter is changing the face of his team on defense. Lost on this side of the field in his absence, the Atlanta squad found a certain serenity in his half of the field since the return of the former Virginia.
“It’s linked to his ability to defend four positions” liked Nate McMillan. ” We got it started on [LaMelo] Ball. I think he did a good job, he contained it. It is certainly of invaluable help because it makes it possible to establish the kind of defense which one wants to practice.“
” That’s my job on this team. That’s what I have to do: defend. No matter who is in front of me, I make sure to win my duel“said the interested party soberly, who finished with 20 points (6/11) and rebounds, but above all 3 steals and 1 against.
The return of Clint Capela
In addition to the return of the winger, hoping that he does not return to the infirmary, Atlanta also recorded that of Clint Capela, who had missed six games with a sore left ankle.
If his minutes are currently managed with care by his staff, the Swiss pivot greatly relieves the defense of the Hawks by his presence in defensive rebounds and his deterrence in front of the circle. He is also a player to watch in attack by his ability to open up the circle on the “pick-and-roll” or to play in the back of the defense on the penetrations of Trae Young.
With their two best defenders back in business, the Hawks can also count on the emergence of Onyeka Okongwu on this side of the field, the impact of Delon Wright, but also on greater efficiency from veterans off the bench with Danilo Gallinari and Lou Williams.
All with a favorable schedule to come since they will now tackle a series of five consecutive matches at home, to try to confirm this big week. The defending conference finalists have no more time to lose to save their second half of the season and try to clinch a place in the playoffs.
| Shots | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | bp | Int | CT | party | Points |
| Trae Young | 41 | 34.8 | 45.5 | 37.2 | 90.1 | 0.7 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 9.4 | 4.2 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 27.9 |
| John Collins | 40 | 32.2 | 53.6 | 43.0 | 79.5 | 1.9 | 6.1 | 8.0 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 17.2 |
| De’Andre Hunter | 17 | 29.1 | 45.4 | 40.0 | 67.7 | 0.4 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 12.8 |
| Bogdan Bogdanovic | 28 | 28.7 | 41.2 | 35.4 | 77.1 | 0.3 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 12.0 |
| Cam Reddish | 34 | 23.4 | 40.2 | 37.9 | 90.0 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 11.9 |
| Clint Capela | 37 | 29.6 | 57.3 | 0.0 | 46.4 | 4.1 | 8.8 | 12.9 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 11.6 |
| Kevin Hurter | 38 | 29.1 | 45.9 | 36.3 | 80.0 | 0.4 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 11.6 |
| Cameron Oliver | 2 | 21.6 | 66.7 | 33.3 | 66.7 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 11.5 |
| Danilo Gallinari | 35 | 23.1 | 42.2 | 40.3 | 92.7 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 10.5 |
| Chaundee Brown | 3 | 27.7 | 36.0 | 40.0 | 83.3 | 0.3 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 9.7 |
| Onyeka Okongwu | 13 | 24.7 | 75.8 | 0.0 | 70.6 | 2.4 | 3.8 | 6.2 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 3.5 | 9.5 |
| Wesley Iwundu | 3 | 27.4 | 44.4 | 60.0 | 75.0 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.7 | 7.3 |
| Lou Williams | 31 | 14.3 | 37.6 | 30.9 | 87.0 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 6.7 |
| Malcolm Hill | 3 | 15.3 | 62.5 | 60.0 | 100.0 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 5.7 |
| Skylar Mays | 17 | 10.8 | 52.5 | 32.0 | 100.0 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 4.5 |
| Timothe Luwawu-cabarrot | 30 | 14.3 | 38.5 | 34.6 | 85.0 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 4.5 |
| Delon Wright | 40 | 17.8 | 45.6 | 44.4 | 82.4 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 4.4 |
| Gorgui Dieng | 32 | 9.7 | 46.4 | 41.3 | 73.9 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 3.6 |
| Kevin Knox | 2 | 9.1 | 50.0 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.5 |
| Jalen Johnson | 11 | 4.7 | 47.1 | 33.3 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.0 |
| Lance Stephenson | 6 | 11.6 | 38.5 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.2 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 1.8 |
| Sharif Cooper | 10 | 3.5 | 21.4 | 16.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.7 |
| Solomon Hill | 13 | 10.7 | 15.0 | 15.4 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 0.6 |
| Cat Barber | 3 | 4.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
