Atlanta Hawks: Trae Young Already Changing the Culture in Atlanta

The Atlanta Hawks have found their point guard of the future in Trae Young. Young is already changing the way the Hawks play, and the results are telling in the early going for Atlanta.

While it is still very early in the NBA season a 2-2 start for the Atlanta Hawks has been impressive. If the Hawks manage a .500 record or better over the next month the team will have taken a big step forward.

Trae Young and Coach Lloyd Pierce are the biggest reasons Atlanta has looked better in the early going. Young changes the offensive dynamic for the Hawks, while Coach Pierce has encouraged a toughness that was lacking.

Because of his elite shooting ability, the Hawks are seeing a lot of double teams on the young point guard. Young is often pressured from the backcourt as well, offering the Hawks the ability to open up scoring opportunities on the other end.

Young is averaging 21.5 points over his first four games and shooting better than 40-percent impressive numbers for a rookie.

The Hawks have embraced a new role shooting threes freely and attempting to play physical defense. They are attempting to build a team from the Warriors blueprint centered around a rangeless point guard.

Taurean Prince and Kent Bazemore have both played well for Atlanta early. Playing tough on the defensive end and carrying the Atlanta offense at times.

At 2-2 the Hawks are tied for the 4th seed in the East and would currently be in the NBA playoffs. A funny thought for a team still expected to be one of the doormats of the East.

If they were to continue and defy expectations it would be because of Trae Young. He has a transcendent ability to score the basketball from anywhere on the court and fire up his team.

The Hawks will get better in November as well, with the expected return of big man John Collins. For now, however, all of the focus and attention will be squarely on Trae Young, right where it belongs as he starts what should be a long career in Atlanta.