With Nat McMillan taking over, the Atlanta Hawks can turn their season around.
This was supposed to be the season the Atlanta Hawks turned a corner and become contenders for a playoff spot at the least. Through the first half of the season, expectations weren’t met and as a result the decision to fire head coach Lloyd Pierce after two and a half seasons was made by the front office.
The Hawks’ slow start at 14-20 and losing 11 of their last 15 games ultimately sealed Pierce’s fate also considering the Hawks own the 7th worst defensive rating in the NBA. Pierce has compiled a record of 63-120 since 2018 and never really found his footing as a head coach.
In his first season, the Hawks finished with a 29-53 record. The Hawks then regressed in Pierce’s second season winning only 20 games and losing 47. During the offseason, the front office signed veterans Danilo Gallinari, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kris Dunn and Rajon Rondo to provide guidance, leadership and to solidify a roster full of young players.
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Injuries played a major factor as the Hawks have struggled to stay at full strength all season making it impossible for them to develop any kind of chemistry, identity or consistency. Pierce was dealt an unfortunate hand but coaches are under pressure to win now more than ever despite the circumstances.
A new voice takes over for the Atlanta Hawks
Nate McMillan takes over as the interim head coach but will he be able to get this team going in the right direction? First and foremost, this team needs to get healthy. If the Hawks have any chance of improving, their veteran players will have to lead the way and contribute to the team’s overall success.
After that, they will have to improve dramatically on the defensive end. While the Hawks have no problem scoring points as they average 113.1 points per game (14th in the NBA) they must understand that they just won’t be able to outscore every opponent they face. They have young talent on the roster who could also salvage this season in terms of their development if all else fails.
De’Andre Hunter is a solid 3-and-D guy who is consistent at both ends of the floor. Hunter is averaging 17 points while shooting 36 percent from behind the arc. Defense was Hunter’s biggest asset coming into the league and is only getting better at it as a high IQ defender. He doesn’t take unnecessary risk, he’s always in the right position to make plays and also possess the ability to guard the opposing team’s best player.
Hunter is highly underrated and he has drawn comparisons to a young Kawhi Leonard. Cam Reddish is another young player the Hawks are depending on. Despite his subpar rookie campaign, Reddish has shown flashes of what he can do on both ends. At 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, Reddish can be a terror on defense with the right coaching and maximum effort.
He has quick hands, great instincts and can recover quickly with his length if he gets beat off the dribble in isolation. Reddish also has an impressive offensive arsenal with the ability to create his own shot while using the step back, euro step and jab step effectively and also handles the ball well in transition.
Reddish does sometimes seems to struggle with his confidence whenever he is having a bad game, but McMillan should be able to give him the jolt of confidence he needs to improve in that area. The Hawks also have to figure out what to do with John Collins as the trade deadline approaches.
Do the Hawks view him as a necessary piece going forward and is he worth a max contract? Do they trade him for draft picks and continue to add young talent to the roster? It all really comes down to how the Hawks front office feel about their chances to win in the immediate future.
Then, there is budding superstar Trae Young. The face of the Hawks franchise brought the promise and hope of making them a contender but things have not turned out as planned. It’s safe to say that the Hawks have been one of the biggest disappointments so far but would it be unfair to put the blame on Young’s shoulders for the team’s performance?
Young has often been criticized for trying to inflate his statistics instead of sacrificing for the overall success of the team and making it a priority to put W’s in the win column. Young is without a doubt a very gifted and talented player but the Hawks front office will have to prioritize surrounding him with strong defensive players due to him being considered a liability on the defensive end.
Young fits the mold of the modern NBA point guard who prioritizes scoring over everything else but his ability to engage his teammates and willingness to become more of a playmaker may be hindering the Hawks from achieving success. The good news is that there are enough games left and enough time for the Hawks to salvage their season.
The Atlanta Hawks are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference and are only a couple of games out of the final playoff spot. If the Hawks can get their players at full health and string together some wins, then they could be able to move in the right direction and make progress. If they can do that, they may not have to look any further for a head coach.