What version of the Atlanta Hawks will we see in the 2022-23 season?
Will we get the guys we fell in love with during 2020-21, the ones who were able to thrive in the regular season and also put up a huge fight during the playoffs?
Or will we witness the team we saw last season, one that was dysfunctional, seemingly not on the same page, and clumsy?
Obviously, fans are hoping for more of the former than the latter.
Trae Young and Dejounte Murray combined for 49.5 PPG and 18.9 APG last season .. say a prayer for opposing backcourts 🙏
— Ben Stinar (@BenStinar) September 28, 2022
NBA analyst Ben Stinar thinks great things may be ahead for the team and that’s because of the new recruit they landed.
“Trae Young and Dejounte Murray combined for 49.5 PPG and 18.9 APG last season,” Stinar noted on Twitter.
He concluded: “say a prayer for opposing backcourts.”
The combination of Young and Murray has many Hawks fans excited but will the promise and potential of this pair really make the Hawks a playoff force again?
The Dynamic Duo
The deal for Murray has taken the best player from one team and matched him with the best player of another team.
Both Young and Murray are terrific athletes and dominant in their positions.
There is every reason to believe that they will make serious magic on the court.
But winning games will be about more than points and assists: Atlanta’s huge defensive problems last year need addressing.
The plan is that Murray will help with those too.
If he does, Young and Murray can lead the way while other guys on the team like Clint Capela and John Collins can beef them up even more.
The statistics are promising, there is no doubt about that.
But this team isn’t a sure thing just yet.
NEXT: The Hawks Go Vintage To Share Their Goals