The All-Star break has come and gone, and NBA teams across the league have returned to action.
The Atlanta Hawks didn’t end the first half of the season on a high note. The team carried a three-game losing streak into the second half of the year. However, they are still in the race for a postseason spot, and they have a favorable schedule down the stretch.
When the Hawks returned to action on Feb. 19, they found themselves five games out of sixth place in the Eastern Conference. With now just 23 regular-season games left to play and four games behind the No. 6-seeded 76ers, time will tell if and how the Hawks can make up any more ground.
As it pertains to the near and distant future of the team, here are the three biggest storylines that Atlanta Hawks fans should be paying attention to.
Jonathan Kuminga Injury
Atlanta acquired 23-year-old forward Jonathan Kuminga from the Golden State Warriors, but he has yet to make his Hawks debut. He sustained a bone bruise injury in his left knee on Jan. 22 and has not played since.
On Jan. 18, the Hawks provided an update that Kuminga will miss at least another week. Atlanta wants to see how he fits into this current group as soon as they can, as he has a team option on the table this summer.
This season has been a tumultuous one for Kuminga. He’s only appeared in 20 games, and a change of scenery was something he was actively looking for.
Kuminga should play a big role off the bench for the Hawks. He averaged 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game with the Warriors this season. Though his time with Golden State ended with a barrage of DNP’s, Kuminga actually started the first 12 games of the season before being removed from the rotation entirely.
Atlanta could use Kuminga’s athleticism in their transition game. As of Feb. 23, the Hawks rank fourth in the NBA in fastbreak points (18.1 per game). For reference, Golden State ranks 27th in fastbreak points (12.8 per game).
New Orleans Pelicans/Milwaukee Bucks Watch
In Atlanta, all eyes will be on the New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks. Both teams are currently outside of a postseason spot.
The Hawks will get the most favorable of the two draft picks in the lottery. The Bucks and the Pelicans will play the 20th and 22nd easiest remaining schedules, respectively, during the second half of the season.
While things look great, the sheer number of teams outside of those two deciding to tank the rest of the season could be an issue for Atlanta’s draft hopes. Even though New Orleans is at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, they don’t have the same incentive to lose as other teams do. The Pelicans will not receive a pick from this swap; Atlanta gets the most favorable pick while the least favorable goes to Milwaukee.
The current freshman class in College Basketball is widely regarded as the most talented in a while, so landing as high of a pick as possible will be top of mind for the Hawks’ front office.
Strong Finish
The Hawks will be looking to finish the second half of the season on a high note. They are still within striking distance of a top-six seed with plenty of time left.
With Atlanta’s pick being in the San Antonio Spurs’ possession, there is no incentive to give up on the season. The Hawks will attempt to make the most out of the rest of the year with this current group. An outright playoff birth is still a possibility, and Atlanta should be trying to go for it.
The Hawks are three games under .500 and haven’t finished a season above .500 since the 2021-2022 season. A strong second half could give Atlanta a chance to do just that. Starting on Feb. 20, the Hawks play 10 of 11 games at home — an opportunity to go on a big run with many winnable games down the stretch.
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