Atlanta Hawks: Are They Ready To Take The Next Step?
The Atlanta Hawks will enter their 2019-20 NBA Training Camp with questions regarding leadership and expectations. Can Trae Young improve on his rookie season or will he hit that dreaded sophomore slump? Will John Collins emerge as the next Al Horford in terms of scoring and rebounding? What about the rookie Cam Reddish?
What the Hawks are betting on is that rookie Cam Reddish can fill that void as the third scorer. Despite the up and down season that Ken Huerter displayed in 2018, the Hawks didn’t use a lottery pick on Reddish not to shine. As explosive as Zion Williamson was at Duke University, Reddish was just as dynamic.
If the rookie can come in and use his dribble penetration and perimeter game as expected, he will have his chance to snatch minutes away from Huerter. At Duke, Reddish hit .435 percent of his shots from deep and should have no problem translating that to NBA success. He’s solid on the defensive end as many picked Reddish as the better pro prospect than his Duke teammate.
In 2018, Len averaged 11.1 points and 5.5 rebounds while playing just 20.1 minutes per. At the age of 25, Len could be in store for a huge payday when his contract is up in 2020 if he can become the next Tyson Chandler. With Young and Reddish expected to set the tone at the point of attack defensively on the perimeter, Len will need to be in the right place to account for any mistakes his young backcourt will make. Can he be counted on?
Expectations are high in Atlanta as fans are ready to win. But this team is not quite there yet as pieces are missing. The good part is, they’re heading in the right direction with players like John Collins and Trae Young. If Alex Len can make his presence felt on the defensive end and provide consistent rebounding, the Atlanta Hawks should hover around the 40-win mark. The Hawks will need for Cam Reddish to come out the gate red hot. If the rookie can produce and the second unit proves stability throughout the season, this could be a fun ride for the young squad.
The Hawks’ season may become a bit of a circus as this is sure to be the swan song for Vince Carter. If the young team can stay focused, they could put up a great fight in the Eastern Conference. What has plagued the team recently has been their lack of commitment on the defensive end. Last season, they finished 30th in points allowed, 12th in rebounding, and 14th in blocked shots. There needs to be a better team commitment on the defensive end in 2019.
In his rookie season, Trae Young exploded for 19.1 points and 8.1 assists per game. This was a great sign for the Hawks as it appears they have found their face of the franchise for the next 10 years. But now what? Is Young ready to be the leader the Hawks need him to be or will he wilt under the pressure?
With the Hawks expected to go through more growing pains this season, it will have to be Trae Young and John Collins who will help guide them. What’s staggering is that Young averaged 30.2 minutes per game in 2018. For the Hawks to succeed, Young must be on the floor longer. He’s great off the dribble, however, the one area Young must improve in is his perimeter play. Young, averaging 6.0 attempts from three-point range, hit only .324 percent. His assist total, especially for a rookie was a blessing. He will need to take his game to the next level in 2019.
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
