With a 10-11 record, the Atlanta Hawks currently sit in the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference. They have done something no team in the league has done so far. They have lost two games to the worst team in the league, the Washington Wizards, and won two games against the best team in the league, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Hawks Are the Most Unique Team in the League
How did the Hawks Beat the Cavs Two Times in a Row?
Not only do the Hawks have two wins against the Cavaliers, but they also beat them two times in a row, one time at home and once on the road. Trae Young was the difference maker in both games, dishing a personal record of 22 assists in the first win, and 11 assists in the second win. This year, Young is on pace to average more than 12 assists per game, a feat that hasn’t been for almost 30 years. The last player to average more than 12 assists per game was John Stockton during the 1994-95 season.
The closest someone has gotten to those numbers was Rajon Rondo, who averaged 11.7 for the 2011-12 Boston Celtics. Russell Westbrook also averaged 11.7 in 2020-21 for the Washington Wizards. So far, Trae averages 12.1 assists per game.
Young’s assists have been a key for the Hawks this year. He helps create so many more open shots for his teammates. The interesting part is that Atlanta’s offense is ranked lower this year compared to last year. Last year, the team’s offensive rating of 116.4 ranked 12th in the league. So far this season, the team has an offensive rating of 111.1, ranking 22nd in the league. But if you look at the bigger picture, last season, only 61.8% of their shots were assisted. This season, that number goes up to 70%.
Young is the leader of their rejuvenated offense where everyone shares the ball.
How Did the Hawks Lose to the Wizards Two Times in a Row?
Trae Young had plenty of assists in the losses against the Washington Wizards as well. But the team in general didn’t share the ball as much as they did against the Cavaliers.
Looking at the box scores of the four games, the Hawks had 39 and 33 assists against the Cavs. In one of the games against the Wizards, they had only 32 and 28 assists.
Against the Wizards, the Hawks shot 37.5% and 30.8% from behind the arc as a team. They shot the lights out against the Cavs, 47.6% in the first win, and 41.2% in the second win.
De’Andre Hunter – The X Factor
Another factor we can look at is De’Andre Hunter. The small forward is a difference-maker for the Hawks. Coming off the bench, Hunter has a great chance to be in the Sixth Man of the Year award conversation. So far, he is averaging a career-high 18.2 points per game on slightly improved shooting from the floor.
Hunter missed the two games against the Wizards, and played amazing against the Cavs. He led the team in scoring with 26 and 23 points. With Hunter in the lineup, this year, the Hawks have a 7-3 record, which would put them in the upper echelon of teams in the Eastern Conference.
When he was drafted, some people considered him to be a player like Kawhi Leonard. So far this season, Hunter is proving to be in the best bench players conversation.
