Trae Young is feeling "amazing" after an impressive comeback game where he scored 35 points. This stellar performance comes after the Atlanta Hawks star missed 21 games due to a knee injury. With Young back in action, the focus for the Hawks now shifts towards addressing their struggling defense.
In a recent matchup against the Chicago Bulls, which turned out to be the highest-scoring game of the NBA season so far, the Hawks found themselves ranked 22nd in scoring defense. They suffered a heartbreaking loss with a final score of 152-150. The Bulls showcased their offensive strength with nine players scoring in double figures, led by Matas Buzelis who contributed 28 points. Additionally, the Bulls achieved season highs in various categories: 152 points, 41 assists, a field goal percentage of 57.6%, and a remarkable 47.6% from beyond the arc, hitting 20 of 42 three-point attempts.
Despite Young's standout performance, which included nine assists, the offensive output was not enough to compensate for the team's defensive vulnerabilities. Both Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu also had strong contributions, scoring 36 and 23 points respectively, while Vit Krejci added another 20 points. However, the defense faltered significantly, allowing the Bulls to set a record with 83 points in just the first half. "It’s kind of tough winning games when you give up 80 points in the first half," Johnson expressed candidly. "It’s kind of embarrassing in a sense... Hopefully, we cut down on some of the things we’re doing."
Currently, the Hawks have stumbled into a rough patch, losing three consecutive games and seven out of their last nine, bringing their record to an even 15-15. Young's return to the lineup is certainly a positive sign, having started his second game within three outings after recovering from a right MCL sprain.
"I think everybody is excited to have Trae back," Johnson remarked, noting the long wait for Young's return. "He’s been out for a while... The fact he’s found his rhythm already in his second game is a good sign."
Hawks coach Quin Snyder mentioned that Young might need additional time before he's fully prepared to play in back-to-back games. Against the Bulls, Young played for 26 minutes, indicating that this was the maximum he could handle at this stage of his recovery. "I feel amazing," Young stated confidently. "They did their job, put me right at 26 minutes. They weren’t allowing me to do any more... I feel great."
Last season, Young led the NBA in assists and earned his fourth All-Star selection. In his first game back, however, he struggled, managing only eight points in 20 minutes during a loss to Charlotte. Yet, against the Bulls, he returned to form, although he narrowly missed a last-second shot that could have tied the game. "Those are shots that he makes," Snyder commented, emphasizing the importance of having the ball in Young's hands during critical moments.
Snyder acknowledged that the Hawks faced numerous defensive breakdowns in the first half, but he noted an improvement in the second half, where the Bulls scored 69 points while shooting 54.3% from the field. "Our defense did a better job with that in the second half as far as making them work hard," he said. Young attributed the high-scoring nature of the game to the fast-paced styles of both teams. "It’s how both teams play," he explained. "Both teams play fast. Teams are coming in here and playing fast against us. We’ve got to figure out how to stop a team that can only play fast."
