Hawks Show Versatile Offense In Preseason

In the play above, Memphis Grizzlies wing Jaylen Wells and center Jock Landale trap Young, preventing him from turning the corner. As a result, he gets the ball to Porziņģis, who starts moving before he catches the ball. The 7-foot-3 center takes one dribble before dumping a perfectly-weighted bounce pass to a cutting Dyson Daniels for an easy dunk. This assist was one of 31 dimes Atlanta totaled on 44 made field goals in their preseason win over the Grizzlies.

Minutes later, it was Johnson’s turn to punish Memphis for overplaying the Young. He found Porziņģis on an alley-oop, making a quick read on the short roll.

The star center bounced back after a rough preseason debut, finishing with 13 points (4-7 FG), seven rebounds, and one block in 23 minutes. Johnson dropped 20 points, seven boards, two assists, and two steals in an impressive performance. He was aggressive straight from tip-off, attacking mismatches and getting the Hawks out on the break.

Multiple Ball-Handlers Contributing In Different Roles

Atlanta lacks a traditional backup point guard behind Young, with Keaton Wallace primarily playing that role for the Hawks in the preseason despite being on a two-way contract. In the regular season, expect Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard to form a committee of ball-handlers when the Hawks’ star heads to the bench. Each can run the offense in quick spurts but also bring value playing alongside Young.

Daniels brings great length, standing 6-foot-7, in the backcourt. His tenacious perimeter defense and switch ability provide a perfect backcourt partner for Young, who struggles defensively. However, the New Orleans Pelicans drafted him as a point guard. He’s also expressed confidence in his ability to orchestrate the offense (h/t Brad Rowland of Locked On Hawks), despite not having the quickest burst or efficient perimeter shot. Daniels looks to develop further after taking home Most Improved Player last season.

In Atlanta’s first preseason contest against the Houston Rockets, Alexander-Walker replaced Young in the first quarter. The former Minnesota Timberwolves guard performed well, leading his new squad with 13 points. He’s among the best in the league in screen navigation and has shot over 38% from 3-point range in each of the last three seasons. If the Hawks need shooting but still require aggressive, point-of-attack defense, Alexander-Walker could replace Daniels in certain situations.

Though generally thought of as a 3-point specialist, Kennard expanded his game with the Memphis Grizzlies. He handled the ball more than ever in his career in pick-and-rolls, initiating offense. Last season, the Hawks lost valuable 3-point volume when Young headed to the bench. Kennard solves this issue, as he ranks third all-time in career 3-point percentage. He’ll see many open perimeter looks off Young’s playmaking and create for others when Young’s on the bench.