Others in The Flock

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The Atlanta Hawks are sitting currently in the 9th seed heading into the play-in Wednesday. Awaiting them is their opponent, the Charlotte Hornets in a do-or-die game, with it being absolutely necessary that the Hawks win the first of two games in the play-in. The team and the fan base had a much different expectation of this team at the beginning of the year, than what the Hawks currently are. This season has been a huge roller coaster ride that has given hope but also much disappointment and frustration. They're many reasons why the Hawks are where they are, but today we focus on the supporting cast heading into the play-in.

Trae Young has been everything you would expect from a franchise player this year in the hopes that he can make his first All-NBA team this season, which would come with a nice pay raise based on the contract he signed last summer. John Collins has also been a very steady player but is out right now due to multiple injuries. Question marks begin to appear when considering the rest of the team. This springs from injuries, covid protocol, and just inconsistent play across the board. Head coach Nate McMillian has also taken heat from the fan base this year for some of his coaching decisions, but again I'll keep this focused on the players.

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On paper, coming into this season, the Hawks believed their depth would have been the strength of this team. This team felt like they could go deeper than ten deep if needed and still maintain a high level of play, but it didn't play out that way. Players like Delon Wright struggled to find their footing. Players like Clint Capela, Danilo Gallinari, and Bogdan Bogdanovic weren't as productive at the start. Furthermore, rookies Jalen Johnson and Sharife Cooper barely saw any playing time. Kevin Huerter has also been very up and down as well. Potentially one of the bigger disappointments has been De'Andre Hunter as well. He started slow and then got hurt and is now back but continues to have very good and bad stretches of basketball.

Cam Reddish was also on the team the 1st half of the season but came to find out midway through that he wanted out and was eventually traded to the Knicks. The Hawks strength of depth was beginning to seem like a weakness. The Hawks were fighting most of this season just to get over five hundred. But, as the season has progressed, especially after the halfway point in the season, the Hawks have been playing much better team basketball. The last 40 games for the Hawks they finished 26-14 to end the season.

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The three biggest Hawks to contribute to that record outside of Young? That would be a healthy Bogi, Capela, and Gallo as they have played their best basketball as well. Bogdanovic, ever since moving to the bench, has played like the guy we remember from last year. He is averaging 17 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3 assists since moving to the bench. Compare that to when he was a starter where he averaged 12.5 points 3.8 rebounds and only 2.7 assists. He has been adding a scoring punch coming off the Hawks bench, while also being someone who can also close games as well.

Clint Capela came into the season coming off getting an Achilles injection and did not seem like the same player from last year. He was playing through the injury while also trying to return to form. Now, he has been much better and impactful after the All-Star break, and has been what the Hawks needed, especially on the defensive end being a defensive anchor. Gallinari has always been a steady vet and productive offensively. He has stepped up ever since John Collins went down with an injury, inserting him into the starting role. That has been huge for the Hawks while battling for play in positioning.

Guys like Wright and Onyeka Okongwu have also played better as well and have found their niche within that bench unit. Onyeka has stayed very efficient in the minutes he gets every game. Wright has really emerged defensively and has been putting out more offensively as well in certain games. The key for the supporting cast though is two other guys. For the Hawks to get through the play-in and make some noise in the playoffs, Kevin Huerter and De'Andre Hunter have to play better and be more consistent. Hunter especially is under the gun with a looming contract situation coming up this off-season. He has to show the Hawks he is worth extending. If not, these could be the last games we see Hunter playing for the Hawks. Huerter just got paid this past off-season, and some fans are wondering if it was a good decision now. Huerter is a guy who is viewed as an X-factor player for the Hawks, and if he plays well the Hawks are hard to beat.

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If John Collins can get healthy at some point, he will also be a big boost to this team, as you always want to be at full strength heading into the playoffs. Right now, the Hawks may be only playing an eight-man rotation while Collins is out. The supporting cast is going to be the key for this team if they want to just get out of the play-in tournament. Young is going to be there at the end doing everything he can to get this team over the hump. The rest of the team has to come along with him to give him the needed support. The Hawks know if their season ends in the play-in, changes are going to come this off-season. The Hawks have shown flashes of last year's team, usually playing very well against some of the top teams in the league but struggling and having inexcusable performances against some of the bottom teams.

It's time now. Right now the season is on the line. The Hawks have to put up or go home and reflect on an extremely disappointing season with a bad ending. The Hawks have the ability. Now we have to see if that team that got the city excited for Hawks basketball again returns. The Hornets and Lamelo Ball won't be a cakewalk, and the season series was 2-2. Then whoever comes out the Nets and Cavs game won't be easy either but clearly the Hawks would hope Cleveland would be the losing team out of that game. The Hawks have to be focused and have no more excuses, because if they get through the play-in, the Miami Heat await them in the postseason.