Atlanta needs Jalen Johnson back on the floor, and he is finally close to playing. The Hawks listed him as questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena, per Yahoo Sports. This news comes after he missed Monday’s win over the Indiana Pacers due to a left ankle sprain. He tweaked the ankle during the third quarter of a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. Without him, the Hawks scraped by with a 108-104 victory, but the win felt shaky.
The team struggled to score inside the paint without their star. They only managed 26 points in the paint against a Pacers squad that played just six players. Nickeil Alexander-Walker had a massive night with 34 points and nine three-pointers, but that is not a sustainable plan. Yahoo Sports reported that in that victory, the Hawks converted 45% of three-pointers and 38% from the field. Missing key players, head coach Quin Snyder conceded the team performed below par at the rim.
The Numbers Show Why Johnson Matters
Over seven games this season, Johnson averages 18.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 8.0 assists. When he sits, the team loses its primary playmaker and rebounder. The loss to the Pelicans was a disaster where he left early with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. That loss dropped the Hawks below .500 before they bounced back.
Coach Snyder praised the effort in the Indiana game but said the team had to use a specific strategy to win. “It’s a really good win,” said Snyder postgame, according to Yahoo Sports. He also highlighted how Nickeil Alexander-Walker contributed on both ends of the floor. “The thing about Nickeil is he’s still playing on the defensive end too,” said Snyder. While Alexander-Walker stepped up, the Hawks cannot rely on him hitting nine threes every night to survive.
Other Injury Woes Add Up
Atlanta has seven players on the injury report, which makes the rotation thin. Jock Landale is out with a left hip strain, and he only played 1 minute and 22 seconds against New Orleans. Mouhamed Gueye and Henri Veesaar are also out for the season or long stretches due to fractures and ACL tears. This leaves the frontcourt thin and puts more pressure on Johnson to carry the load. Although RayJ Dennis is questionable and Keshon Gilbert plus Jalen Wilson are doubtful, all three are G League two-way players.
Johnson’s health is required to address the team’s spacing problems at the five. Onyeka Okongwu is hitting only 27.8% of his threes this year, which puts the team at a size disadvantage. If Johnson returns Wednesday, the Hawks can finally play with the balance they need. “Every win is a good one, and people say that because it’s true,” said Snyder.
