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Three Reasons The Atlanta Hawks Can Qualify For the NBA Cup Knockout Round

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Three Reasons The Atlanta Hawks Can Qualify For the NBA Cup Knockout Round


From November 12 to December 17, it will be NBA Cup season.

The in-season tournament begins with group play, where 30 teams are divided into six groups (three from each conference). Each team plays four games—two at home and two on the road. The best teams from each group, plus two wild cards, advance to the knockout rounds, culminating in a final held in Las Vegas.

The Atlanta Hawks are in Group C of the Eastern Conference groups and play the following group stage games:
a) Boston Celtics on November 12
b) Washington Wizards on November 15
c) Chicago Bulls on November 22
d) Cleveland Cavaliers on November 29

At the moment, it’s impossible to project who the Hawks will play in the knockout rounds or assume that they will make it that far. However, Atlanta has one of the toughest draws in the group stage. Both the Celtics and Cavaliers stand out as particularly imposing matchups while the Bulls and Wizards cannot be discounted. The unbeatean Cavaliers are currently leading the East with a 11-0 record. On offense, they have a stellar 123.6 points per 100 possessions (2nd in the NBA) and lead the NBA in effective field goal % per Cleaning the Glass. On defense, they are similarly impressive, only giving up 109.8 points per 100 possessions (5th best in NBA) and ranking third in turnover percentage forced. The Celtics are the reigining NBA champions and are second in the Eastern Conference with an 8-2 record. The stats and games back up the idea that they are well-positioned for another title run. The Hawks saw exactly how dominant Boston is in their last meeting, where the Celtics ran them off the court in a 123-93 beatdown.

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The Bulls just got a 125-113 win over Atlanta. Even though it was largely due to the Hawks’ own miscues in a blown fourth quarter, it is hard to count out Chicago. They are a strong shooting team and can shoot teams out of games in any given matchup. Washington is one of the worst teams in the league, but Bilal Coulibaly powered them to an unlikely win over the Hawks as recently as October 30th. Atlanta can credibly be taken down by the group stage, but it does not mean they have no chance of making it to the knockout stage. If they do make it to the knockout stage, here are three reasons why that shouldn’t be a surprise.

Unless otherwise mentioned, all stats courtesy of Basketball Reference.

Trae Young *Should* Turn In A Superstar Showing

Young is obviously the most critical player to the Hawks’ chances of success, but he has gone through his fair share of struggles to open the season. He is currently shooting a career-worst 39% from the field and a dismal 33% from three-point range. It should be noted that he is shooting the second-most threes per game of his career at 9.3, which is certainly worsening his efficiency. However, it cannot be discounted that Young’s shot is not falling at the moment.

To be clear, he is still an excellent playmaker. He is averaging a career-best 11.5 assists – albeit on 4.5 turnovers a game – and has played a crucial role in Jalen Johnson taking another step this year. That will not be enough to power the Hawks over teams like the Cavaliers and Celtics. Every defense keys in on stopping Young, but he has not been able to torch those coverages as a scorer. If the Hawks can get Bogdan Bogdanovic or Kobe Bufkin back to take some pressure off of Young, it would certainly be better for his numbers as he is on pace to record a career-high 36.5 minutes per game. Still, as things stand, Young’s efficiency as a scorer has largely not shown up for the Hawks.

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I’d expect things to be better during the group stage games. In pressure situations, Young has shown the ability to elevate his game when healthy. The continued development of Risacher should also take some pressure off of Young.

Risacher on the Rise

It’s hard to watch the first few games of Zaccharie Risacher and not be excited about what his future could entail. Although he has not been altogether consistent so far, Risacher showed a flash of his potential with his 33 points, seven boards, three rebounds and three steals against the Knicks. He has also made consistently good progress as a defender and his free throw shooting numbers are indication of a strong shooting baseline. He is only shooting 65.7% from the charity stripe, but closer inspection reveals that he has largely been fine at the line outside of his game against the Knicks. He missed four free throws during that game, which pulls his numbers down severely.

Teams are going to largely ignore Risacher in favor of funneling their defense in on Johnson and Young. The Knicks had plenty of capable defenders to throw on Risacher and it largely didn’t matter. He has normalized after that explosion, but if he can carry that over into an encore performance or two in this stretch of the season, he will be a major factor for the Hawks.

Onyeka Okongwu – Clint Capela Combo

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Much of the offseason discourse about the Hawks concerned the center position. Both Capela and Okongwu are capable players, but there’s a reasonable argument that it would make a lot of sense for Atlanta to move on and start Okongwu full-time. In the absence of that solution, it is best that both players showcase their value to the team. So far, that is what has happened for Atlanta.

Capela’s offense is limited, but he’s converting on the opportunities he does get. On shots that are 0-3 feet from the rim, he’s converting on 71.4% of those attempts. This is after a career-worst 63.6% from that same distance last season. He’s much more in line with his career averages and it gives him utility as a play finisher for the Hawks. With their rotation so banged up right now, Atlanta is short on reliable options and Capela fits that bill. His rebounding numbers are not as impressive as in prior seasons, but he is still a force on the boards.

Okongwu has improved as a passer, recording a career-high 12.2% assist percentage to start the season thus far. He has also shown up against tough opponents, recording 18 points and 10 rebounds against the Celtics largely as an interior scorer. His three-point shot is still developing, but most of those attempts are tough attempts from the corner. Furthermore, he is shooting a career-best 84% from the charity strip on a career-high number of attempts per night (5.7). He also seems to be drawing fouls at a higher rate when he is on offense, which indicates a heightened level of aggression as a scorer. That’s to say nothing of his versatility on defense as an athletic option to guard on the perimeter and down low in the post.

I think the centers have both largely filled useful roles for the Hawks and they can counter quite a bit of what they might see. Okongwu should take on a larger role against Boston and Chicago to match up with their shooting while Capela will feast against teams like the Wizards, who have non-shooters at their center spot.



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Atlanta, GA

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Updated Injury Status For Tonight’s Game vs Atlanta

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Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Updated Injury Status For Tonight’s Game vs Atlanta


The Atlanta Hawks have a chance to extend their winning streak tonight vs the Milwaukee Bucks, who are also on a long winning streak. Because they played the Pistons last night, Milwaukee did not release its injury/availability report until now. Giannis Antetokounmpo (right patella tendinopathy) is probable for tonight’s game while Khris Middleton is out.

Coming into tonight’s game, the Hawks are 8th in the NBA in PPG, 14th in FG%, 19th in 3PA, 21st in 3P%, 6th in FTA, 26th in turnovers, and 7th in rebounding. Per Cleaning the Glass, Atlanta is 17th in points per 100 possessions, 19th in effective field goal percentage, 21st in turnover percentage, 7th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 8th in free throw rate.

Currently, the Hawks rank 27th in PPG allowed, 16th in field goal percentage allowed, 30th in three-point attempts allowed, and 30th in three-point percentage allowed. Per Cleaning the Glass, Atlanta is 18th in points allowed per 100 possessions and 23rd in effective field goal percentage allowed.

Milwaukee comes into this game ranking 14th in PPG, 6th in FG%, 15th in 3PA, 3rd in 3P%, 14th in FTA, 17th in rebounding, and 9th in turnovers. Per Cleaning the Glass, Milwaukee is 9th in points per 100 possessions, 4th in effective field goal percentage, 9th in turnover percentage, 30th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 19th in free throw rate.

Defensively, Milwaukee ranks 15th in PPG allowed, 5th in FG% allowed, 21st in 3PA allowed, and 21st in 3P% allowed. Per Cleaning the Glass, Milwaukee is 19th in points allowed per 100 possessions and 9th in effective field goal percentage allowed.

Trae Young continues to be one of the top facilitators in the league and he still leads the league in assists. He has been a different kind of player this year in terms of scoring, but is still one of the most dangerous point guards. He finished with 12 points and 15 assists on Monday vs New Orleans.

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Dyson Daniels was named Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month and for good reason. He has been one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA and will be tasked with guarding Damian Lillard tonight. He had been struggling on offense, but he had 19 points on Monday vs New Orleans, but he did shoot only 1-5 from three.

Zaccharie Risacher scored 13 points on Monday and has been defending at a high level. Once the shooting catches up with that, he can be a high-level player and will play a big role tonight.

Jalen Johnson is playing at an All-Star type level this season and continued that on Monday vs New Orleans. He scored 19 points on 9-14 shooting and also pulled in seven rebounds and had five assists. He has been the second creator on offense this season and has taken that challenge and met it. Johnson is getting better and better, which should be scary for opposing teams.

The Hawks mix up their center rotation when it comes to minutes and on Monday, it was Clint Capela who played the majority of the minutes vs New Orleans. Who will take the matchuip vs Brook Lopez tonight? Both guys have been up and down this year, but Capela has been the best option for them most games, especially in terms of rebounding and defense.

The bench for the Hawks has been the real catalyst in this four-game winning streak, especially De’Andre Hunter. If he can keep up this level of play and remain healthy, Hunter could be in contention for 6th man of the year. Hunter scored 22 points on 4-7 shooting from three on Monday and when he scored 20 points, the Hawks are unbeaten. Bogdan Bogdanovic is still finding his footing this season, but one guy that is playing well in his minutes is Kobe Bufkin. Bufkin is only getting 10-15 minutes per game, but he has been making the most of it recently. He scored 10 points on 4-4 shooting from the field on Monday.

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The Hawks three-point shooting and three-point defense are going to be the big keys tonight. The Bucks are 3rd in three-point percentage and while the Hawks have been better as of late, they have had games where they give up a lot of threes. On Monday, Atlanta shot 10-38 (26%) from three. They have to win the three-point battle tonight if they want to win.





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Atlanta, GA

CLEAR Expands at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Now Offering Expedited Identity Verification at International Terminal

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CLEAR Expands at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Now Offering Expedited Identity Verification at International Terminal


CLEAR

Expansion is expected to offer more convenience options to travelers, boost job creation, and increase CLEAR’s annual economic impact in the Atlanta metro area

ATLANTA, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CLEAR (NYSE: YOU), the secure identity company, today announced the expansion of its identity verification technology to the international terminal at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

With this expansion, CLEAR’s expedited security lanes are now available at the international terminal. The expansion is expected to create 30 new jobs, bringing CLEAR’s local employment total to more than 135 jobs at ATL, and increase the company’s projected annual economic impact in the Atlanta metro area to over $14 million. CLEAR lanes will continue to operate in the domestic terminal.

“We’re excited to expand CLEAR’s presence at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, bringing a streamlined travel experience to Atlanta’s travelers,” said CLEAR CEO Caryn Seidman Becker. “With our new lanes in the international terminal, our Ambassadors are ready to offer a faster, more predictable, and secure journey for Atlanta passengers as travel continues to grow.”

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CLEAR first launched at ATL’s domestic terminal in February 2017, becoming the 20th airport location to have the identity verification service. Today, CLEAR’s expedited identity verification lanes are available at 58 airports across the country.

Members use CLEAR’s network of dedicated lanes to seamlessly and securely verify their identity with their eyes or fingerprint, replacing the need to take out their wallet and driver’s license. After verification, a CLEAR Ambassador escorts Members through the dedicated lane and directly to TSA physical security, saving them time waiting in line at the security checkpoint.

CLEAR Plus – an opt-in membership that provides access to CLEAR’s expedited identity verification lanes – costs less than $17 a month billed annually, with preferred pricing available for Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines and American Express Members. Newly enrolling active military, veterans, and government officials are also eligible for discounted memberships, and additional family Members can be added to an existing CLEAR Plus account for $119 per adult per year.

About CLEAR (NYSE: YOU)
CLEAR’s mission is to create frictionless experiences. With over 27 million Members and a growing network of partners across the world, CLEAR’s identity platform is transforming the way people live, work, and travel. Whether you are traveling, at the stadium, or on your phone, CLEAR connects you to the things that make you, you – making everyday experiences easier, more secure, and friction-free. CLEAR is committed to privacy done right. Members are always in control of their own information, and we never sell Member data. For more information, visit clearme.com.

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Atlanta, GA

Atlanta, DeKalb pushing to shelter, support those chronically homeless ahead of Christmas

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Atlanta, DeKalb pushing to shelter, support those chronically homeless ahead of Christmas


ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – On Tuesday, the City of Atlanta opened its newest housing complex for those chronically homeless.

The 23-unit apartment building along Bonaventure Avenue NE in the Virginia-Highland neighborhood of Atlanta is geared toward those sleeping on the street or under bridges to find immediate shelter.

“This is quick-delivery rapid housing of quality, and we’re trying to (open for tenants) by Christmas because it’s so cold outside,” said Mayor Andre Dickens, after a ribbon-cutting ceremony with city housing leaders.

The complex is the latest in a push by the Dickens Administration to secure 500 units of housing by the end of 2025 for those experiencing homelessness.

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Dickens also has a goal of building or preserving 20,000 units of affordable housing by 2030.

On Tuesday, he confirmed the city is over the halfway mark in this goal.

“I’m a goal-oriented person, and I use partnerships well. We’re going to get to our 20,000 units,” Dickens said on Tuesday.

He charged other regional leaders to help the city in this effort.

“We actually end up housing people that are not always from the city. So we want to make sure that regionally, across north Georgia, that you all do as we are doing,” said Dickens.

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On Tuesday, DeKalb County announced a $13 million investment to reduce homelessness and prevent evictions.

“People are desperate, inflation is making it extremely difficulty for working people to keep food on the table or to pay their rent,” said DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond.

The $13 million will be divided between nine different nonprofit organizations serving DeKalb County.

The participating nonprofit agencies and their services are listed below:

Assistance for rent, utilities, housing instability, unsafe, unhealthy living conditions:

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  • New Life Community Ministries, $2.8 million
  • Urban League of Greater Atlanta, $2.8 million
  • Latin American Association, $2.3 million
  • New American Pathways, $1 million
  • Jewish Family Career Services of Atlanta, $1 million
  • Africa’s Children Fund, $1 million
  • Society of St. Vincent de Paul, $1 million

Housing stability services (legal services related to evictions):

  • Atlanta Legal Aid Society, $600,000
  • DeKalb Pro Bono, $200,000

To apply, residents can contact the DeKalb Integrated Community Care Initiative hotline at 404-371-NEED (6333) for program guidance.

“Thirteen million is a big number, but really, if you compare it to the challenge we face, it’s relatively small. But we’re just happy, actually blessed, to be able to stand in the gap not just on this very cold day, but on cold days that will be coming throughout this winter,” said Thurmond.

Atlanta housing leaders said they plan on opening three additional rapid housing complexes in the city by the end of 2024.

“When you see these ribbon cuttings of the 23, 35, 65 [units], they add up,” said Dickens.



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