Atlanta Hawks best plays of the first half of the season

It has not been the season most expected for the Atlanta Hawks, with injuries and a notable 25-game suspension plaguing the season to date. While the fan base is surely frustrated with the results so far this season, the core that is expected to elevate the franchise will hopefully be on the court for the rest of the 2019-20 campaign to showcase what lies ahead.

Despite the win-loss record, Trae Young and company have provided plenty of highlights for your enjoyment. Here are some of the best so far in 2019-20.

From the first half of the first preseason game, the highlights were already present:

One can only wonder what could have been in store for the club if Young and John Collins were able to play the entire season together.

Young sends one of the NBA’s better defenders in Josh Richardson looking for answers the buries the three:

It’s been an up-and-down season for Cam Reddish, who got up here:

Reddish getting Bruno Fernando involved early in the season:

Young with a dart to Fernando:

Young apparently did not get the memo about young players respecting veterans:

Jabari Parker was a scoring machine when the Hawks needed him early in the season:

Hashtag court vision:

High on the list of places not to be during an NBA game, looking at Young coming down hill in the pick-and-roll:

Also near the top of said list, checking Young at halfcourt when he’s on the move:

Alex Len with authority:

More sorcery:

The longest current tenured Hawk got UP for this one:

Trae putting one of the best perimeter defenders in the league on skates:

Vintage:

The Wolves got the full No. 11 experience in this game:

Part two:

Part three:

Reddish showing off that court vision:

The Hawks ultimately didn’t pull this one out, despite 49 points and clutch play down the stretch from Young:

Truly ridiculous:

Forever.

Damian Jones flying at the basket always has the same ending:

Defense!

Dec. 23rd marked the return of Collins and he was active on both ends of the floor.

The first Young-Collins lob in a while was sweet:

Up-and-down first half for De’Andre Hunter, but the bright spots have definitely been present.

Pause:

Just watch:

Deep!

Also deep!

Bruno is strong:

Maybe the best all-around play of the season from Collins:

Never count the Hawks out with this guy running the offense:

DeAndre’ Bembry called for it and Young delivered it from 45 feet off his back foot on the money:

A wild Brandon Goodwin has appeared:

Red Velvet lobs>>>

The Hawks 9-32 first half record is obviously not what anyone anticipated coming into the season, but with all things considered, that record is deceiving at this point based on how they have played in the month of January.

Starting Jan. 3 with a 109-106 loss to the Celtics, Atlanta has been competitive for much of the month with close losses to the the Rockets and Nuggets as well. For good measure, the schedule lightens up considerably in February.

Collins is back and Huerter’s numbers are up across the board ever since the return of the third-year big man, all while Young continues to light up defenses on a next-to-nightly basis. All things are trending towards a significantly more competitive second half for the Atlanta Hawks.