Three Biggest Takeaways From The Atlanta Hawks Nasty Loss Against The Boston Celtics

1 jam yang lalu

Tonight, nan Hawks came into this 1 arsenic losers of their past 2 games connected a decent 2-2 West Coast trip, but would look to extremity that spell arsenic they took connected nan Boston Celtics. However, things would not spell arsenic planned, arsenic nan Hawks would proceed to struggle, and this crippled should astir apt beryllium successful nan moving for worst of nan play for Atlanta.

1. Defense was horrendous

the Hawks people correct now is beautiful emblematic of conscionable really quickly a crippled an spiral retired of power erstwhile a squad has:

1) perfectly nary dream containing nan opponents’ champion scorer without thief

2) aren’t connected capable to walk disconnected assignments erstwhile they nonstop that help

— David Lee (@dlee4three) January 18, 2026

The cardinal for nan Hawks successful this 1 was really bad nan defense was, arsenic they gave up 82 points successful nan first half and allowed Jaylen Brown to people 29, 18 of those successful nan first quarter. In nan game, nan Celtics changeable 50% from nan field, 42% from three-point range, and made 22 three-pointers while starring by arsenic overmuch arsenic 43 points. Brown would decorativeness nan crippled pinch 41 points, and different sanction that did harm was Same Hauser, who would people 21 points successful nan first half disconnected 7 made three-pointers and vanished nan crippled pinch 30 points disconnected 10 three-pointers only.

2. Jalen Johnson

Jan 17, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guardant Jalen Johnson (1) dribbles against nan Boston Celtics successful nan first 4th astatine State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The prima for this Hawks squad is unquestionably Johnson, who would person a very overseas disconnected shooting nighttime tonight, arsenic he would people his first section extremity successful nan 2nd 4th and decorativeness nan first half pinch conscionable 4 points. The logic this was an overseas show is that Johnson is usually connected triple-double watch by halftime pinch adjacent aliases complete double-digit scoring totals, and that wasn't nan case. He would decorativeness this crippled pinch 12 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 bargain connected 28% shooting from nan field, 50% from nan free-throw line, and 33% from three-point range.

3. The discourtesy looked lethargic

Hawks down 7 astatine nan extremity of Q1 aft trailing by arsenic galore arsenic 10.

Jaylen Brown already has 18 points (on 16 shooting possessions!)

Atlanta is 8-23 from nan field.

— Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) January 18, 2026

There's nary different measurement to put this nonaccomplishment into position different than Atlanta not showing up to play aft nan first quarter. In nan first half, nan Hawks changeable an abysmal 35% from nan field. They turned nan shot complete 5 times, which led to 10 points, but nan cardinal to their inability to make a high-paced discourtesy was their inability to get retired and tally nan accelerated break, arsenic they vanished pinch conscionable 22 fast-break points. The deficiency of gait stemmed from nan Celtics' businesslike offense, which prevented nan Hawks from consistently securing rebounds and moving nan accelerated break arsenic they are utilized to.

Next up for nan Hawks is simply a crippled against nan Milwaukee Bucks connected Monday day astatine 1:00 p.m. ET.