The Philadelphia 76ers stole the show on Monday, but Atlanta Hawks fans should worry about their own roster holes. LeBron James and Jaylen Brown headlined the media day for the new look 76ers, while the Hawks face a steeper climb. The team made the playoffs after trading Trae Young and seeing Jalen Johnson emerge, yet the frontcourt remains a massive question mark.
Center Depth Concerns
Atlanta surged after the All-Star break last season, but its center depth took a hit this offseason when rookie Jenri Veesaar tore his ACL. This injury leaves the Hawks with a thin center group heading into the new campaign. According to Kahlil McCuller writing for Hawks On SI, the organization failed to sufficiently bolster its center depth prior to the season’s commencement. That assessment is hard to ignore when you look at the East.
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During their first-round matchup last year, the New York Knicks dominated Atlanta across the final three contests. For the first time in more than 50 years, the Knicks enter the season as champions. The East looks stronger now, and the Hawks are counting on internal improvement to survive. As April approaches and the stakes rise, they might require additional size.
Defensive Upgrades
There is some good news on the wing. In Atlanta, Lu Dort‘s offseason signing has joined Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels to form a formidable defensive unit. These three players posed together at media day, signaling a shift toward a tougher defensive identity. This trio gives the Hawks a chance to slow down the league’s best scorers.
Upon arriving for media day, the players expressed high energy while identifying their most anticipated aspects of the day. The front office has done well to add wings, but they cannot fix the center issue with just hope. Although the team must evaluate its current roster before executing another trade, time is running out.
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The Road Ahead
Jalen Johnson is the key to this new direction, but he needs help in the paint. The Hawks are not the only ones facing questions, as the Denver Nuggets will have some explaining to do after sending Peyton Watson to the Cavs. That trade leaves Denver with a hole, but Atlanta’s hole is right in the middle of their defense.
If the Hawks cannot find a solution for their center spot, they will struggle against the top teams in the East. The Knicks and the 76ers are ready to fight, and the Spurs are eyeing a return to the final stage.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
