Hawks staying average, but Trae Young on scoring rampage

There’s no slowing Trae Young these days, even if the Atlanta Hawks are sort of spinning their wheels.

Over the past four games, Young is averaging 35.0 points. That includes a 33-point, seven-assist effort in Sunday’s road loss to the Boston Celtics, and a 43-point outburst in an overtime home win over the Brooklyn Nets last week.

During that stretch, Young is hitting a sizzling 53.5 percent of his 3-point attempts.

Of course, the Hawks (8-8) have gone just 2-2 in that stretch — which has been par for the course this season. It’s a lot like last season, too. The Hawks are good, but not an Eastern Conference contender, despite the domination of Young.

Individually, though, Young may be the biggest offensive backcourt threat in the East.

“I think his 3-point shooting is a big part of his game,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder told reporters. “He had a lot going on at the beginning of the season. He had a baby. He’s been really committed to running the team to where we’re attacking collectively. … He’s recognizing when he’s open and not he’s not hesitating.”

Atlanta next visits Cleveland in the In-Season Tournament, on Tuesday night. The two teams have had a very similar run in the early part of the year — with the Hawks being better on the road (5-3) than at home (3-5). 

They’ve made plenty of moves in the past year-and-half, acquiring guard Dejounte Murray before the start of last season, adding forward Saddiq Bey, and trading off John Collins (to Utah). And let’s not forget the whole coaching change from Nate McMillan to Snyder.

Also, it doesn’t help that forward Jalen Johnson is having a breakout start — but just went down with a wrist injury.

So, what has it all meant? Well, pretty much more of the same.

That said, Young is giving them hope of better days, and a potential playoff run. You always have a chance when you have the best player on the court, and these days, that man is often Young.