{"id":165919,"date":"2025-11-07T08:00:59","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T13:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=165919"},"modified":"2025-11-06T19:50:34","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T00:50:34","slug":"hawks-winning-without-trae-young-2025-26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/11\/07\/hawks-winning-without-trae-young-2025-26\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawks Winning Without Trae Young: Defense, Depth, and a Smarter Shot Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hawks winning without Trae Young is not a fluke. Young\u2019s right MCL sprain forced Atlanta to rethink how it wins.<\/a> The Hawks have indeed built a plan that scales: defend, rebound, and share the ball.\u00a0Moreover, this stretch looks sustainable and travels, which signals Hawks success without Trae Young is real.<\/p>\n

Hawks Winning Formula Without Trae Young<\/h2>\n

The identity shows up in every lineup: five players sprint to spots, the first clean advantage is used, and the next pass arrives on time. Because the rules are simple and repeatable, the process holds on the road and in close games, not just on hot shooting nights.<\/p>\n

The frontcourt fits the plan as well, which is central to Atlanta thriving without Trae Young. Jalen Johnson<\/a> turns defensive boards into transition pressure and steady paint touches. Likewise, Zaccharie Risacher<\/a> cuts on time and shoots in rhythm. Furthermore, Onyeka Okongwu<\/a> screens, dives, and forces help at the rim, while Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is stretches and protects. Consequently, Atlanta can play five-out or go big without losing shot quality, which reinforces Hawks winning without Trae Young. Porzi\u0146\u0123is<\/a> also warps spacing on every trip, his pops punish drop, his seals punish switches, so cutters like Johnson and Risacher keep eating in the gaps.<\/p>\n

Shot selection tightened, too, another pillar of Hawks success without Trae Young. Atlanta trimmed long twos, hunted corner threes, and attacked early after stops. Likewise, Luke Kennard\u2019s movement shooting punishes nail help and late rotations. As a result, simple, scalable sets, empty-corner pick-and-roll, pistol into handoffs, and Spain actions, lower turnovers and keep pace steady. Additionally, the staff leans on two or three late-game packages to produce predictable reads and cleaner spacing, which sustains Atlanta thriving without Trae Young. Bench units mirror the starters\u2019 rules, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker<\/a> and Dyson Daniels push the tempo with hit-aheads and quick handoffs that keep the rock hopping.<\/p>\n

\n

JJ continues to be a force night after night \ud83d\udcc8<\/p>\n

23 PTS
10-16 FG
13 REB
5 AST@Jalen_J23<\/a> x @UPS<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ibuFfybA56<\/a><\/p>\n

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) November 3, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n