After Thursday's win over the Chicago Bulls, the Atlanta Hawks sit at 10th in the conference with a 30-32 record. While it marked a big win, it also highlighted a common theme for the Hawks this season:
It takes Herculean efforts from Trae Young every night for this team to pull out wins. With 20 games left in the season they find themselves in must-win situations every night, and last year's Eastern Conference Finals appearance looks more like an anomaly with each passing game.
Over half of the Hawks' wins, 17 to be exact, came in games where Trae Young scored 30 or more points. With a player like Young, the Hawks should be in a much better position than they currently are.
So why aren't they?
Start with the lack of a true secondary scoring option. Young is putting up MVP numbers, but who can the team turn to in order to shoulder some of that offensive load the All-Star point guard is burdened with. Atlanta hoped it would be John Collins after signing him to a five-year, $125 million contract during the offseason.
This season Collins is averaging close to 17 ppg and 8 rpg. Not quite giving the Hawks the dynamic duo that so many of their Eastern counterparts have.
Then there is the question of effort. Comments early in the year by Young, that regular season games are "boring," were met with scrutiny. Scrutiny which, based off Atlanta's record, was well deserved.
Head Coach Nate McMillan at multiple times this year has questioned the effort of his players, specifically on the defensive end, which was what made this team such a juggernaut in last year's playoffs.
Whether it be lack of effort, lack of talent, or a combination of both, the truth is this version of the Hawks is at best a .500 team that would be lucky to have a spot in the play-in games, unless Trae Young averages 30 ppg for the remainder of the season. Changes are needed and they better come fast if the Hawks want to get back to competing for a title.
