The NBA season has been anything but normal so far.
Games are postponed, star players out for their respective teams and teams continue to scramble; the league requires a team to have at least eight players healthy to compete.
The Atlanta Hawks are the embodiment of a topsy-turvy season, but not from cancellations They cannot seem to hang on to leads. After starting the season 4-1, Atlanta is now 5-7 and dropped two of three last week.
Here are three things we learned last week.
Atlanta will go as far as Trae Young takes them
Last week, Young struggled from the field, and his team followed behind. He scored an efficient 26 points last Monday in a home win against the Philadelphia 76ers. But that was a team unsure if they would have the eight players necessary just hours before tip.
Then, after shooting just 1-11 and scoring only 4 points against the Utah Jazz, the Hawks had no chance in that game, and it was over before the fourth quarter even started.
Whenever Young doesn’t perform well, the Hawks aren’t competitive and lose handily to superior teams. When he plays well – being aggressive offensively and sharing the ball – Atlanta has a chance.
His 26 points and 11 assists were vital Saturday night against the Portland Trail Blazers and kept Atlanta in the game until the very end. But at the end of the night, they became empty stats after the Hawks dropped another game.
Young is the leader, and Atlanta needs him to step up more to have a chance at the postseason.
Clint Capela is Mr. Consistent
Capela secured three double-doubles this past week and was a force on the class. In just the first few weeks of games, he continues to show just how valuable he is to a young team.
Saturday night was the ninth straight game Capela recorded double-digit rebounds this season. The first-year Hawks achieved this feat on a monster night. He finished the game in Portland with 25 points, 15 rebounds and shot 11-16 from the field. The effort came the day after shooting 8-9 from the field.
Atlanta will need his consistency moving forward.
Brandon Goodwin is taking strides forward
Goodwin has continued to impress this season and last week with hustle and effort. His numbers may not be gaudy, but his energy and leadership off the bench have been crucial.
This past week, he scored 15 against the 76ers and nine against the Trail Blazers. His jump shot continues to look better, and his aggressiveness on offense elevates the second unit.
When he comes in the game, Atlanta doesn’t lose a beat offensively. Usually, the team either extends the lead or backs a comeback effort whenever he comes in the game.
His play will continue to be valuable as Atlanta needs their young backup point guard to keep the bench and lead afloat when the starters aren’t in the game.
The next step for Goodwin is to be a consistent double-digit scorer off the bench. If he can accomplish that feat, he will see more playing time.
