The Atlanta Hawks have been through four games of the preseason, and it looks like they're growing after every one of them. In their latest win against the Oklahoma City Thunder, they didn't play most of their starters, as Nickeil Alexander-Walker was the lone player active. That meant that most of the young players got minutes, and they were able to pull out a win in the closing minutes.
Jock Landale also saw extra minutes in this one, as he finished with a team-high 17 points. Landale will be playing with the second unit this season, and as he's growing chemistry with that group in the preseason, he's also building it with the young players.
“The chemistry base has been really good. It's always a process, just day by day, week by week,” Landale said after the game. “I think that as we go, our offense is so free-moving and kind of read-based because we slow it down to make it easier, because right now we are still trying to instill structure into a chaotic environment.
“I think tonight was our best showing, and guys like CJ [McCollum] were saying It looks like we’re playing some good, real basketball. Kingston's doing a great job of directing that group as best he can, and everyone is trying to help him out as much as possible.”
Landale has noted that he wanted to come back to the Hawks this season to continue that stability with the group, and he's still finding a way to make an impact. Communicating is one way, and he knows his voice can help on and off the court.
“I think from day one when I got here midway through last season, they were just really talking a lot about how this group lacks communication in offense, defense, off the court, on the court, all of that,” Landale said. “I think naturally that's what I am, as someone who will talk a lot, whether it's in the locker room or on the court; guys tend to tell me I don't shut up.
Article Continues Below“I really try to bring that to this environment and help instill confidence in other people, like being loud is actually a good thing in this kind of environment. That's an area in our group where we can continue to grow, just talking to each other consistently on the court, and if anything, that will just make our defensive reads a whole lot easier and make our offensive reads a whole lot easier.”
With one more preseason game left, the Hawks still have time to build on that communication and growth, but that won't be the end of it. As the season goes on, they'll continue to grow in those areas, and it'll only make them a better basketball team along the way.