The NBA season is back. The Hawks start with a record of 2-1. We have gotten a glimpse of how the Hawks operate on offense and defense, as well as players who have made clear improvements during the offseason. Here are my takeaways from the first three games.

Slumps and Slow Starts

The Hawks are struggling everywhere on offense. They are shooting 40% at the rim and making 29.3% of their threes. There are several factors for the offense being atrocious. McMillan is running a nine-man rotation, with Bogdanovic out after knee surgery in the offseason. Without Bogdanović, the bench lacks firepower, specifically 3-point shooting. McMillan tried to remedy that by playing Griffin to add a spark, but it was a little too late, as the Hawks were already down big against the Hornets. In addition to the lack of 3-point shooting on the bench, Young is shooting horribly, making 25% of his 3’s. Despite the poor offense, I am not worried, as three games is a tiny sample size. The offense will click with all-stars Trae Young and Dejounte Murray taking the lead.  

The Dejounte Murray Trade Looks Like a Steal

Murray is meshing well with the other Atlanta Hawks. McMillan is doing an excellent job in staggering Murray and Young, always having one of them on the floor to dictate the offense. Murray is playing well, averaging 8.3 assists per game. He looks comfortable handling the offense as expected, but his defense makes him stand out, as Murray averages 3.3 steals per game. His defensive intensity is also infectious, with the Hawks having the 10th-best defense in the league, with a rating of 108.7. Trading for Murray seems like a steal for the Hawks, as, funny enough, he leading the NBA in steals.

Key Pieces for the Hawks

AJ Griffin impressed me. His ability to knock down the three-ball at an efficient rate is the offensive boost the Hawks need right now. Griffin should be given more minutes, allowing him to gain more in-game experience. John Collins is another player who has stepped up. He looks comfortable posting up, driving to the basket, and shooting threes. Deandre Hunter also looks great after having an entire off-season to work on his game. Hunter is primed for a breakout season, as he is effectively scoring on all three levels. The Hawks need these three guys to continue to be aggressive.