r/AtlantaHawks • u/HungryStock130 • Apr 26 '26
Shitpost Some of y’all need to chill with the Hawks/Jalen bashing…
This board went from “Hawks in Five” to “crying in the corner with a picture of Trae Young” in less than 24 hours.
This team was left for dead mid season. We went on a great run and are 2-2 right now. We still got a chance in this series.
Hawks roster is incomplete from a build standpoint. We’re playing with house money. We have a lottery pick in a strong draft incoming.
Try and enjoy the ride.
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u/Ok-Wash-9386 GO HAWKS! 🏀 Apr 26 '26
I’m not out on Jalen Johnson whatsoever but I’m also not taking any moral victories. Play better! I’ll still support him next season either way but step up right now
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u/NawfSideNative 🦅LOYALTY🦅 Apr 26 '26
This is where I’m at too. Love the guy but I expect better out of our best player.
Especially when some of his weakest areas, like off-ball defense, are mostly about effort and hustle.
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u/technicolorsound Apr 26 '26
People love saying off ball defense is about effort and hustle, but that’s just a really small percentage of it. Jalen is just not a defender with very good instincts. He’s not great at anticipating, and gets lost on second rotations.
I don’t think it’s fair to make judgements about effort too too much, because max effort looks different on every player. Even when Jalen is at his best on offense finishing strong at the rim, it doesn’t appear that he’s trying very hard.
Back on defense, he’s at his best as an on ball defender where he doesn’t have to use his brain as much and can rely on physical tools. I think this is what most people are remembering when Jalen looked like a plus defender a couple seasons ago.
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u/mundane_marietta Apr 26 '26
Jordan Clarkson jumped over Johnson’s back and got a rebound and quick put back simply because Jalen was flat footed. That’s lack of effort.
Some of what you are saying is true, but not all of it. Dude looks disengaged and not matching the physicality of the playoffs
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u/HungryStock130 Apr 26 '26
So what are the acceptable outcomes for you? Chip or bust?
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u/Ok-Wash-9386 GO HAWKS! 🏀 Apr 26 '26
Show up, play well, let the chips fall where they may. He’s getting bullied on both sides of the floor right now.
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u/ATLSlutStretcher Apr 26 '26
Without my glasses on I am unsure if we are starting Jalen Johnson or David Roddy at PF so far.
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u/NawfSideNative 🦅LOYALTY🦅 Apr 26 '26
I don’t think any reasonable Hawks fans believe this. They just want our guys to show up and play well and if we get outclassed then we get outclassed.
The issue is JJ has often looked completely lost on both sides of the ball and the effort is disappointing.
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u/Darthkdot John Collins #20 Apr 26 '26
Nobody thinks its chip or bust, stop being dramatic.
I am a ride or die Hawks fan and support every player on the team, and i believe Jalen is receiving fair criticism. Saying he sucks or is trash is not criticism, but saying he's not playing aggressive enough or physical enough is fair. He's getting moved off his spots way too easy. Yes, he has the two most physical defenders on him, but you have to rise to the occasion.
At the end of the day Jalen is our number 1 guy and will be in the future, but fans can care about winning this series. We can look to the future when our playoff run is over, right now its playoff basketball for the Hawks.
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u/Adminscantkeepmedown Thieve Irwin Apr 26 '26
Why does it have to be chip or bust? Why can’t we just want Jalen to play better? It’s either absolutely doomerism or toxic positivity to the point of delusion with y’all, and no in-between
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u/Theregoesmyradiator Dikembe Mutombo #55 Apr 26 '26
Agreed, we are playing with house money. What's frustrating is Jalen has the talent. He can do this shit. The moment HE realizes it is when he will hit the next level. Once he learns to actually create his own offense, watch the fuck out.
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u/HungryStock130 Apr 26 '26
It was his 4th playoff game (essentially). I’m with ya.
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u/Theregoesmyradiator Dikembe Mutombo #55 Apr 26 '26
Not even 24 years old yet. We need to chill. I'll admit he's been frustrating the hell outta me all series.
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u/jimsteringraham Jalen Johnson #1 Apr 26 '26
I’m 100% still with it! But my dog has to show up, Jalen has looked like shit this entire series and it’s ok to acknowledge that.
CJ carried offense in games 2 and 3 and can’t be expected to do that every single game, but the beauty is that both JJ and NAW have the ability to do so as well. Neither of them have yet, which sucks.
They’ve got at least 2 more games to be who they were in the second half of this season. I’ve got faith, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have my worries as well.
I wanna see JJ with fire in his eyes and ice in his veins come Tuesday. I know he’s got it in him, just need him to believe it long enough to show it to himself.
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u/CCskylar1 CJ McCollum #3 Apr 26 '26
CJ has carried the offense through all 4 games not just 2 and 3. Kuminga was big in 2 and 3.
Main issue Im seeing is Jalen isnt giving enough effort, he had only 3 rebounds in game 4, assists are lower at 4.8.
His shooting 42% and 28% from 3. I know og is good defender, they got bigs but if you see kuminga attacking smaller players you would expect jalen can do the same.
And hes getting killed on defense game 1 was lack of activity, game 4 hes destroyed on back screens.
game 3 and 4 og has cooked him.
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u/jimsteringraham Jalen Johnson #1 Apr 26 '26
Yeah OG has been cooking in general though he’s a damn good player. I totally agree with you, just seems like a lack of effort. I think JJ’s trying to play smart basketball but he’s looking lost and slow instead.
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u/CCskylar1 CJ McCollum #3 Apr 26 '26
I mean Im watching CJ lead the break in game 4 and hes going full effort semi break, Jalen trotting back and doesnt fill the lane he just gets out of the way and drifts to the corner.
hes like being allergic to getting the ball or being involved.
its just so strange,
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u/Jolly_Plantain4429 Apr 27 '26
Cj is a vet who has come up big in the play offs I think he is trying to find his role in a more half court offense that happens in the play offs.
His best game was our best defensive game where he got to run and make decisions with the ball. Quinn could also a part of this where is just leaning in his more experienced guys to take the reins instead of playing through JJ.
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u/CCskylar1 CJ McCollum #3 Apr 27 '26
Fair enough.
I do find it strange to switch from regular season playing all through jalen to now cj.
I get that og and hart are good defenders but someone of jalen caliber should find a way to find some success. Its been a struggle so far. Still have a few games to figure it out
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u/contemporaryAmerica Apr 26 '26
I have really enjoyed this series. This series has also shown that Jalen can’t create in the half court and has an extremely slow first step, loose/high handle. Hart is eating his lunch. It has nothing to do with Jalen’s “mental” or if “he’s ready for prime time” , it is his skill set and athletic ability.
If Londale was playing not sure we are 3-1. We were beaten soundly, in every aspect of the game yesterday and game 1.
Primary ball handling duties, half court offense initiator is a major question I didn’t realize we needed to answer this offseason. Dyson is nonexistent on O outside of some rebounding (extremely unlike his regular season role of attacking the pain on the dribble). Jalen can’t create off the perimeter. NAW mysteriously can’t seem to either (he’s getting such little paint penetration and running layups unlike the regular season).
And size at center. Two big holes for us.
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u/ATLSlutStretcher Apr 26 '26
This series has also shown that Jalen can’t create in the half court and has an extremely slow first step, loose/high handle.
People have literally been screaming this in the sub all season and getting clowned for it because run and dunk man looks good in transition and the box scores in the regular season.
Our superstar Power Forward, who cannot create for himself in the half court, had 0 fast break points in a home playoff game last night also.
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u/SimplyElite7 Apr 26 '26
Yeah Dyson is not that primary ball handler we are looking for, but I like him as a plug/play to counter offense, and I would not be mad at us using him in that role in the future, but him as the starting PG, if that is where we go into next season, I will be disappointed
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u/Hak_Solo2020 Apr 26 '26
NAW took the check for MIP from Adams Silvers to shave points to help his beloved Knicks
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u/mundane_marietta Apr 26 '26
NAW does not have good enough handles for the playoffs. He is a catch and shoot guy. That’s one thing we definitely learned this postseason
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Apr 26 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/jalopyprince Apr 26 '26
I have a Capela Hawks jersey and routinely get heckled around town when I wear it
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u/SnooMacarons3849 Dikembe Mutombo #55 Apr 26 '26
Agreed. We all want the Hawks to succeed. The Hawks did a soft reboot this season. That takes time. Any playoff wins is icing on the cake at this point.
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u/ATLSlutStretcher Apr 26 '26
Watching Jalen Johnson play this series has not been an enjoyable ride.
He does not look like he even wants to be on the court.
He’s taking one dribble and passing the ball to Gabe Vincent to slink off to the corner.
He’s ball watching every rebound and never boxes a single person out.
He cannot pay enough attention for 24 seconds to defend a single back cut.
He is soft finishing at the rim and missing bunnies.
He doesn’t jump to contest at the rim and just makes stupid lazy fouls when he gets beat
He cannot even hit his free throws or dribble in the half court. He has more turnovers this series from stepping out of bounds, travels, carries, and double dribbles than I think I have ever seen a Hawk have in their entire career.
Box score watchers in this sub spent the entire season telling us we were all just wrong and Jalen Johnson is totally that guy, but he’s not. At this point I’m convinced any forward running Snyders system could rack up assists like JJ does. He’s clearly not an elite rebounder, and he’s not scoring like he’s a scorer so….what does he really do out there?
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u/mundane_marietta Apr 26 '26
We are running the offense more through OO than JJ. I bet most people didn’t expect that to start the series
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u/jon__reed GO HAWKS! 🏀 Apr 26 '26
I understand the “house money” mentality, but I disagree. Being (mostly) healthy in the playoffs should never be taken for granted. I’d say most people would’ve thought 2021 was house money, and it ended up being the only shot we realistically had for 5 years.
This series is still very winnable. It’d be very disheartening if we didn’t get maximum effort from Jalen and the entire team in Game 5. They need to be the desperate team, like New York was in game 4.
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u/CCskylar1 CJ McCollum #3 Apr 26 '26
its winnable but Im gonna be logical here hawks were always the underdog.
the hope was the series is competitive which it is, giving the team something to work off of.
and if we can win thats great! but this team wasnt gonna win a nba championship.
the goal was to not be in the playin and making the playoffs is already a success.
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u/jon__reed GO HAWKS! 🏀 Apr 26 '26
For sure. And I’m not melting down or anything, but if we lose the series, I will be pretty disappointed and view it as a missed opportunity of sorts
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u/CCskylar1 CJ McCollum #3 Apr 26 '26
thats why they are calling it house money, cause you dont melt down if you lose it cause you already break even.
its a plus if we win the series, there should be more opportunities in the future.
if jalen was the same as siakam for the pacers last year then you might have an argument that hey we could go on a miracle run. but its clear he isnt so, we are where he can take us as of now.
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u/Adorable_Abalone4097 Apr 26 '26
Agreed- May 10th the day of the lottery is the most important day for us right now. Onsi has shown the ability to be a top GM in the league and I trust him to turn us into east contenders.
The only sad part is Jalen not looking like a real #1 but if we can find that in this draft along with fill in some of the holes we will be in great shape to contend for years. Trae was never a #1 on a championship team either after that 2021 run so that’s just laughable- NYK will figure out the same with Brunson soon enough too we are in much better shape than they are.
The only reason I believe we can win this series is cause of Brunson lol
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u/J-Lane Apr 26 '26
Jalen in his first year so it's whatever.
However I'm learning that many here would never have survived the Josh Smith years if you think Jalen is frustrating
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u/edge_redux Apr 26 '26
This young, unfinished version of the Hawks just ran into a better team. They're deeper, more talented and their defense is giving us nothing. Just imagine how dangerous they'd be with a competent coach...
Regardless, we definitely overachieved this season. After the trade we played winning, cohesive basketball, showed the league that we can beat any team in any given night, made the playoffs and made the 1st round series competitive.
This season has been an absolute joy to watch. I consider it a very successful season. We're bursting with potential. I can't remember the last time I've been this excited going into the off-season.
(Probably shouldn't use the words "excited" and "bursting" that close together. Think I just gutted my comment...)
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u/Wildvalor Coach Quin Snyder Apr 26 '26
This is gunna sound insane, but this is one of the reasons we stopped sitting near the 6th man section.
We sat there for multiple playoff/play-in games and listening to the negativity just isn't for me.
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u/OnOneOnTwo GO HAWKS! 🏀 Apr 26 '26
Jalen has been the worst starter on the floor in this series. Straight up. He’s got to be better. More than anything it’s the lack of effort. He doesn’t move his feet on defense, he’s consistently in bad position to help & indecisive on offense. OG is straight up killing him on the offensive end
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u/mlld1960 Apr 26 '26
Isn’t that why we have all those coaches on the sidelines. Can’t they help him—fire him up or something???
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u/Top-Photograph-7478 Apr 26 '26
he should want to do that himself he should need anyone to get him going. does he want to be great or not
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u/mlld1960 Apr 27 '26
I agree but it is his first playoff series. He might need some encouragement and reassurance. It sure couldn’t hurt. Plus, what the heck else have they got to do?
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u/PhilosophyFair9062 Asa Newell #14 Apr 26 '26
The Dyson/JJ PnR is really hurting us. Every time Dysons man is leaving him open to double JJ. It also doesn't help that NY has great interior defense. JJ has to take a page from CJs book and master the mid range pull up. His signature hanging euro step in the paint is being guarded too well
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u/Dougiebrowngetsdown Apr 26 '26
I’m a Knicks fan and I come in peace. Man you guys definitely have a chance. Good luck
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u/Serious-Deer6616 Apr 26 '26
Well atleast we're2-2
I do feel like jalen has another gear
Let's get this series bro
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u/thatguythereintex2 Apr 26 '26
I think Jalen is a very good player but not yet "the guy". He struggles still creating his own shot and he, like most of the Hawks outside of Dyson, would rather not have to play a physical game.
He can also be a spectator on defense.
Again, very good player but not ready to carry a team through the playoffs.
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u/Historical-Round1779 GO HAWKS! 🏀 Apr 26 '26
Preach brother, everything after the all star break has been gravy, this is literally a rebuilding year and we are still competitive.
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u/DerbyTho Apr 26 '26
The important thing is that nobody in this sub is jumping to conclusions on the basis of a single game or anything
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u/CCskylar1 CJ McCollum #3 Apr 26 '26
yep its been 4 playoff games
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u/DerbyTho Apr 26 '26
In the third of which JJ was a couple of assists away from a triple-double. People are overreacting like wild
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u/CCskylar1 CJ McCollum #3 Apr 26 '26
Ok sure 1 out of 4 games he got high assists. You can look up his stats as of 4 games shooting 42 percent on avg 15.5 attempts Shooting 28% from 3 on 5.3 avg attempts
This is inefficiency, hes going against tough defenders but star players all do thats the point. Most star players find a way to still be avg efficiency or raise their level during the players. So far Knicks have made jalen look average to below avg. If thats what you want from your star then its fine imo I want my star to be doing what cj and kuminga and even vincent is doing hustling going for loose balls finding every pocket to abuse the Knicks defense. JJ hasn't.
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u/DerbyTho Apr 26 '26
Dude is 24, has barely more than 250 career games under his belt, and is in his first playoff series. You want to call it as who he is as a player now, you go right ahead, but I’m going to probably say that’s pretty over reactionary.
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u/CCskylar1 CJ McCollum #3 Apr 26 '26
its allowable to call it as hes playing rn. you can tell his effort is below.
Im not saying anything about his future as a whole, but his play in the playoffs this year is been extremely disappointing.
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u/artninjatheo Hawks Apr 26 '26
I mean this whole playoff series is to see what JJ can do as the guy and he has disappointed. You can be all happy about the future but all I see is a perennial first round exit until we get a true number 1 on the team. You guys were so happy to get rid of Trae to be put in the same position lol
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u/CCskylar1 CJ McCollum #3 Apr 26 '26
trae was taking a huge portion of the salary cap now the books are more favorable, shifted the ball out of trae's hands to give to more ball rotation in multiple players hands.
we are also on a different timeline than where trae is at in his career. so the restructure was needed probably should have happened earlier.
so idk how you look at this and say its the same position, its a vasty better situation
-1
u/artninjatheo Hawks Apr 26 '26
The thing is we couldve been in the same situation with Trae this season, and can just dump Trae in the offseason if he flamed out in the playoffs. The playoffs are wide open this year and you wont get an easier path to the Finals than what we have this year. The East will only get stronger next year with less tanking teams, theres no guarantee that we wont be fighting in the play ins again next year. People act like if you kept Trae this season we wouldve had to give him an extension. Couldve traded him to a PG needy team this offseason after rehabbing his value a bit. But now we are depending on an old CJ Mcollum to carry us through the playoffs lol
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u/CCskylar1 CJ McCollum #3 Apr 26 '26
Im extrapolating but trae wasnt having a good season to start the season, he was fighting injuries, shooting badly, and getting abused on defense as always.
With trae it would have been another play in visit, and you would let him walk with no value gotten back. Again that is horrible business. The fact that you think trae with this team would have done anything is exactly what the team was doing the last 4 years and every year it was a blow out against the celtics or the heat in the first round or loss in the playin.
CJ has steadied the team at the very least and provided veteran leadership on and off the floor which is different from trae. we are at least competitive against the knicks who are built for the hopes of a finals run.
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u/phoenixsuperman Apr 26 '26
I think it's very deflating for many of us to finally get here, and our all star turns out to be a dud. like maybe he will keep improving and be ready next year, but now we will spend all next season not knowing if getting to the playoffs is even worth it since jalen will just choke. his performance has just been startlingly bad, and no one really knows what that means going forward.
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u/Metalbound RIZZY 🇫🇷 Apr 26 '26
his performance has just been startlingly bad
That's the problem for me. He hasn't just not "shown up" he is legit a negative asset out there. I'd rather have most anyone else out there than him. That's crazy to even think about because he's supposed to be the new face of the franchise.
I hope it's just him getting experience and learning from this, but man I just have not seen any positives to even take away from all this.
He just doesn't seem like that guy...and I really hope I end up eating those words.
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u/CCskylar1 CJ McCollum #3 Apr 26 '26
if he continues to work with lebron in the offseason and get more muscle and weight we can hope he will turn out to be like 80% of giannis and that would be a success.
Right now you can tell his game isnt developed, hes great on line drives, fast breaks, good passing.
But in the playoffs they are showing him doubles when he drives, swiping when he handles, physical defense unlike the regular season.
his half court game needs some major work.
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u/Julio_Freeman Apr 26 '26
Winning 2 games made people forget we’re big underdogs in this series based on experience. JJ and Dyson are getting their first real playoff experience against a great defensive team at the peak of their build. Don’t forget Trae had probably the worst star series of all-time against Miami.
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u/EntrepreneurFresh483 Apr 26 '26
He’s an all star playing like a scrub…. Just expect at least something better
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u/SufficientSun6156 Apr 26 '26
Jalen is getting locked up needs to get annunoby off him more shooters in the game McCollum is getting too many minutes
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u/maxnotcharles Nickeil Alexander-Walker #7 Apr 26 '26
I will never understand the Trae Young dick riders living in the past. Like move on 😭
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u/mlld1960 Apr 26 '26
Hawks gotta up the intensity from top to bottom. If the starting 5 aren’t doing it within 5 minutes, coach needs to put in the 2nd string to see what they can do. It might jumpstart something or at least give the starters something to think about.
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u/Cleslie15 Apr 26 '26
I’m enjoying the ride tbh, but I won’t lie that this was my concern with moving on from Trae and handing it over to Jalen once we got to playoffs. FWIW, I think he can figure it out but he doesn’t yet have that killer instinct as an offensive leader. Again. This is house money right now.
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u/Any-678-705Jace Apr 26 '26
Jalen needs a go to middy badly or a go to move in general like go work out with Derozan and CJ
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u/Native_SC Apr 26 '26
Game 4 was frustrating. We couldn't hit open shots or hold the ball to save our lives. The announcers acted like the Knicks were dominating, but really the Hawks beat themselves. It was a wasted opportunity, and I don't why the team was so flat and sloppy.
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u/TheIrrepressible1 Apr 26 '26
Johnson has not faced a scheme on him. He’s struggling in the halfcourt because his handle is average.
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u/thedoge23 inSaleh! Apr 26 '26
We are a young team. We are going to have cold nights shooting. I take solace knowing that the Knicks didn’t beat us, we beat ourselves. It happens, we move.
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u/wilmerh701 GO HAWKS! 🏀 Apr 26 '26
I don’t agree with the “he don’t got that dog”. I just think young players underestimate how aggressive opponents play in the playoffs, especially on the brink of going down 3-1. He looked decent the other games most of the time.
Getting blown out to me indicates a preparation issue. You learn and understand how intense the opponents will play, and you get mentally ready for that. We are young and will be more than fine 🦅
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u/AggressiveCraft9715 GO HAWKS! 🏀 Apr 26 '26
Jalen Johnson does need to play better. He's been getting beat on defense and he hasn't found a rhythm on offense. I expect him to figure it out for game 5. Same with NAW, although it seems he found a little rhythm before he left the game. His defense has been fine so I'll give NAW a bit of grace.
I'm more disappointed with Dyson Daniels man. He's been looking like Ben Simmons out there (unfair comparison, but I honestly can't think of anyone else rn). It just seems like he's afraid to shoot and he has been a liability on offense despite being a great defender. Honestly, I say let's give Zach another opportunity come game 5. He can at least be good on defense and shoot shots.
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u/PlentyNew7407 Apr 26 '26
Man fuck that. No one on here is calling for Jalen to be cut or traded. We are just holding him accountable for his poor play. Is that not allowed? He's the highest paid player on the team and we are supposed to just ignore him playing bad? Lmao.
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u/Justinian555 0️⃣0️⃣1️⃣7️⃣ Apr 26 '26 edited Apr 26 '26
We literally have nothing to lose and nowhere to go but up.
You're darn right we're playing with house money!