{"id":163183,"date":"2025-10-18T12:36:45","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T16:36:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=163183"},"modified":"2025-10-18T12:36:45","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T16:36:45","slug":"atlanta-hawks-preseason-takeaways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/10\/18\/atlanta-hawks-preseason-takeaways\/","title":{"rendered":"Atlanta Hawks Preseason Takeaways"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Atlanta Hawks concluded their preseason with a 2-2 record, but preseason records are often meaningless for the regular season. Head coach Quin Snyder played most of his key contributors in three of the four games, with the exceptions of Jalen Johnson<\/a> and Dyson Daniels<\/a> in the final tune-up.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the biggest Hawks question of the summer, who takes the starting center spot<\/a>, became clearer. Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is<\/a> started over Onyeka Okongwu<\/a>. Atlanta featured the Latvian center a lot over his three contests to develop chemistry with his new teammates. Now that Atlanta prepares for opening night, here are three takeaways from the Hawks’ preseason.<\/p>\n

Atlanta Hawks Preseason Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Jacob Toppin Looks to Convert His Two-Way Deal<\/h3>\n

The Hawks signed Jacob Toppin<\/a>\u00a0to a two-way contract this summer. His play earlier throughout the summer league and preseason showed he can contribute to an NBA team on both ends of the floor. In three games in Las Vegas, Toppin averaged 15.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game. The Hawks leaned on him as a downhill driver and versatile defender, covering both guards and wings. He responded with an even better preseason showing.<\/p>\n

Toppin took advantage when Atlanta rested its top eight players against most of the Miami Heat’s full rotation. He dropped a game-high 26 points with nine boards, five dimes, two blocks, and a steal. The former Kentucky product played a whopping 42 minutes in the Hawks’ impressive overtime victory. Many of Toppin’s buckets came off the dribble, attacking the seams of Miami’s defense. Toppin also played a key role defensively in holding Andrew Wiggins<\/a> and Norman Powell<\/a> to 3-11 and 4-14 shooting, respectively.<\/p>\n

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Jacob Toppin has put some nice defensive and driving moments on tape today pic.twitter.com\/uGwSTe0R9e<\/a><\/p>\n

— Hawks Film Room (@atlhawksfilm) October 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n