Atlanta’s got a massive problem on their hands heading into Monday night’s game against the Indiana Pacers, and it all starts with All-Star forward Jalen Johnson. He’s listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain after bailing in the third quarter of their brutal 121-99 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. This isn’t just about one guy, though. It’s about a Hawks team that’s completely lost its footing, fresh off their worst loss of the season, and facing a dangerously thin frontcourt if Johnson can’t go.
A Frontcourt in Crisis
Seriously, this frontcourt situation is a nightmare. If Johnson, their undisputed best player, can’t suit up, Atlanta loses its top guy. And it gets worse: Jock Landale is already ruled out with a left hip strain. That means rookie Asa Newell would have to step into a much larger role. Newell dropped 13 points and grabbed four rebounds in his last outing, sure, but let’s be real, he’s not a proven starter yet. Add to that rookie Kingston Flemings being suspended for one game after elbowing Bryce McGowens, and you’ve got a seriously depleted roster. Johnson needs to be the consistent leader they lack right now, but a lower-body injury makes breaking out of his current funk much harder. He’s shooting just 42.1 percent from the field and a cold 25.8 percent from three through seven games. The team needs more, and they need it yesterday.
Starts So Slow, It’s Painful
Hawks coach Quin Snyder isn’t pulling any punches, and frankly, he shouldn’t. “We haven’t started the game well from an execution standpoint,” he said, and man, is that an understatement. They fell behind the Pelicans 35-18 in the first quarter and never recovered. It’s not just the slow starts either, it’s the sloppiness. Atlanta committed a season-high 19 turnovers against New Orleans, handing the opponent 34 easy points. And the shooting? Don’t even get me started. A ghastly 17.4 percent from beyond the arc in that loss is just unacceptable. They need better production from deep, especially from center Onyeka Okongwu, who’s only hitting 25.8 percent from three this season after a solid 37.6 percent last year. They need to find their shot, or they’re going to keep digging themselves into holes they can’t climb out of.
Pacers Are Battered, But Not Broken
Now, the Pacers aren’t exactly rolling out the red carpet of sympathy. They’ve got their own injury woes and are “limping” into this matchup after falling 98-90 to a *winless* Brooklyn Nets team on Sunday. Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton is missing time with a hamstring strain, and Ivica Zubac is out with an ankle injury. Andrew Nembhard stepped up big against Brooklyn, pouring in 23 points to fill the void. Obi Toppin might return from back soreness, but even then, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle knows what’s up. “There’s a lot of challenges right now, but that’s what this whole thing is about,” Carlisle said. “It’s the NBA. Stuff is hard. We’ve all just got to work even harder at finding answers, finding ways.”
So, the Hawks are hitting the road Monday night with a chance to right the ship against an equally banged-up Pacers squad. But for Atlanta, it’s simple: if they don’t fix those disastrous slow starts, if Johnson’s ankle keeps him sidelined, and if they keep turning the ball over and bricking threes, this skid isn’t ending anytime soon. Can they flip the switch and finally start fast? They better, because the season isn’t waiting for them.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply