Before the season started, the Atlanta Hawks' frontcourt rotation was sparking debate: would Onyeka Okongwu or Kristaps Porzingis start at the five? It initially looked like the kind of thing that would distract from the real on-court product, but it's now evolving into a legitimate advantage for this team.
Rather than forcing some sort of set hierarchy, the Hawks have embraced flexibility. The coaching staff has been letting performance dictate playing time, and the results are showing in the win column as Atlanta begins to stack up victories. Essentially, the hot hand has been getting the most minutes as of late, and this strategy has been paying off big time.
This level of adaptability has given the Hawks a new dimension. They're learning on the fly that they can win in multiple ways depending on the type of matchup the other team presents. Okongwu brings elements of athleticism, switchability, and interior toughness that tilts Atlanta's defensive balance. Meanwhile, Porzingis stretches defenses and creates space for guys like Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Zaccharie Risacher [to get up three-point attempts](https://soaringdownsouth.com/hawks-bold-new-offense-thriving-trae-youngs-absence).
Porzingis and Okongwu have complemented each other
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This type of contrast between the two players allows Quin Snyder to mix and match lineups however he pleases. Whether he desires to go big, small, defensive or offensive, he can do so without sacrificing the team's identity. When Porzingis is on the floor, Atlanta's spacing and offensive rating spike. With Okongwu in the middle, the Hawks rebound more effectively and usually allow fewer points in the paint.
It's the balance between those two players that has helped bring some stability to a team that's still trying to find their identity early in the season. The initial debate about who should start was never really the most important topic at hand here. The fact of the matter is that Atlanta has two starting-caliber centers, and both have proven to be needle movers for this team.
Instead of relying too heavily on either one of them, the Hawks can remain flexible and adjust based on foul trouble, rest, or matchups without necessarily losing their rhythm. Not every team in the association can boast this kind of depth, and it's quickly becoming [one of Atlanta's defining strengths](https://soaringdownsouth.com/hawks-find-winning-formula-that-works-even-without-their-star-01k9e4kbzkjc).
What began as a supposed controversy has turned into a unifying factor for the Hawks. We're not even three weeks into the season yet, and Atlanta doesn't have a problem at the center position any longer. Instead, they have a greater amount of reliable options. Turning this situation around that quickly is the mark of a contender that's growing up very fast.