UPDATE: In a shocking season opener, the Atlanta Hawks were overwhelmed by the Toronto Raptors with a final score of 138-118 on October 25, 2023, leaving fans and players alike reeling from the disappointing performance at home.
Trae Young, the Hawks’ star guard, expressed his frustration following the game, stating, “I don’t think there’s too many positives you can take from tonight. It’s embarrassing the way we started it.” The Hawks were dominated in critical areas, being outscored 86-56 in the paint and 34-11 in fastbreak points, while also being outrebounded by 20.
Despite Young scoring 22 points and providing 5 assists, he struggled with his shooting, hitting just 1 of 7 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Jalen Johnson shone offensively, contributing 22 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds in his first game since recovering from shoulder surgery.
New addition Kristaps Porzingis made his Hawks debut with 20 points, but the match was marred by disappointing performances from other key players. Dyson Daniels, last season’s Most Improved Player, found himself in foul trouble, finishing with only 4 points, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker struggled significantly, shooting 2-for-15 and totaling just 10 points.
The Raptors, on the other hand, set a franchise record for points on opening night, with RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes leading the charge, each scoring 47 points combined. Toronto shot an impressive 56.8% from the field, showcasing their offensive prowess.
Looking ahead, the Hawks face a daunting schedule with nine of their first fourteen games on the road. Their next challenge is against the Orlando Magic on Friday, followed by a home game against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.
Coach Quin Snyder emphasized the need for improvement, stating, “There are a lot of things the Hawks need to clean up, especially getting back on defense.” Young echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the need for the team to gel and adapt to new dynamics, saying, “I got to figure out how we need to jell together. We need time to jell, but obviously we want results right away.”
The Hawks’ disappointing start raises questions about their potential this season, as they are viewed as a team capable of contending for a top spot in the Eastern Conference. With the pressure mounting, fans are eager to see how the team responds in the coming games.