The Atlanta Hawks have had a shaky start to their 2025-26 campaign to say the least. The Hawks have fought to a 4-4 start despite injuries and uncertainty, most notably Trae Young's MCL sprain against the Nets last week.
But their last two outings against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic showed fans that the point guard position might be more stable than expected. With Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker taking on expanded roles, the Hawks revealed a system-centered approach, an undeniable shift from the Young-dominant approach of past seasons.
Despite the loss to the Cavaliers, Atlanta's new-look offense showed promise in its first string of tests without Trae Young. With Nickeil Alexander-Walker taking over as one of the starting guards, he looked solid, tallying 16 points and 5 assists in the 117-109 loss. While his efficiency numbers were objectively poor, Nickeil looked like the only Hawk that was comfortable in this new rotation.
In Tuesday's national TV game against the Magic, Alexander-Walker built on his strong performance as the lead guard. He has been turnover-prone, as seen in his 7-turnover night against Orlando, but that is expected as he gains familiarity in this role. What matters most is that when NAW is running the point, the offense is generally in good shape.
Dyson Daniels has found success in his expanded role as well, posting one of his most balanced performances in a Hawks uniform against the Cavs: 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals on 67% shooting. He had an even better game against the Magic, dropping 18, 6, 6, and 2 steals on a scorching 8/9 from the field and 1/1 from three. Daniels' success can be attributed to his increased aggression as a slasher, a trend you hope would continue when Young returns.
An egalitarian offensive approach is the best option for the Hawks
Without the versatility of Trae Young available for at least the next month, embracing this new system of continuity and distribution may give Atlanta its best chance to succeed and not plateau. We've seen Luke Kennard and Onyeka Okongwu provide a serious presence off the bench in tandem with the two starting guards. Kennard went white-hot against the Cavs, dropping 15 points while only missing one shot in 32 minutes.
While the start to this season has been a bitter one for Hawks fans, Quin Snyder has given fans a glimpse that this isn't the precedent he wishes to set. This Atlanta offense has historically struggled when Trae Young isn't on the floor, but their last couple of outings have shown the complete opposite.
Perhaps the most notable aspect of these games has been Atlanta's ball movement. The Hawks have been playing with a heightened sense of urgency since the loss of Trae Young, which has allowed their players to get to their spots quicker.
If the Hawks can sustain their defensive improvements, they could emerge from Trae Young's absence even stronger than when they entered it. With the timeline for Trae Young's return still pending, this gives Atlanta's young core valuable time to experiment with this new philosophy. When Young eventually returns, the hope is that his absence has elevated this core around him into a more mature, adaptable unit, capable of succeeding under the wing of multiple players.
This road won't come without adversity, though, but if their last two outings showed us anything, it's that these pieces have shown that they're ready to step up, and they're about to get every opportunity to prove so.