Los Hawquis

The Knicks game was an excellent and jubilant affair for our beloved Hawks, dear reader. After surviving the bitter pill of consecutive losses to the hated wizpigs, we received a dose of much-needed hope and optimism. A monster performance by “le petit prince,” Zaccharie Risacher, whose beautiful shot finally chose to fall, another dominant performance from Jalen Johnson, and, of course, Gary Bird’s pogo stick three-point shots were all critical parts of the affair. However, the backcourt’s delectable yin and yang, with the great Trae Young and Dyson Daniels. Today’s focus is on Dyson. 

Like many Hawks fans, my first experience watching Dyson came in preseason, and it was borderline existential for a long-time sufferer of Hawks perimeter defense. A series of half-thought mumblings crumbled out of my chip-stuffed mouth:

“you are allowed to fight through screens?”

“Why is the man with the ball passing?”

“Is this love?”

Wowza. It left this embittered old chap excited. Dyson’s sliding with the ball, his physicality protecting the paint on drives, and his ability to swipe at the ball constantly without losing his balance was fantastic. These strengths make him a great foil for Trae. His ability to take the premium on ball assignment has a trickle-down effect on the rest of the team. Risch/Hunter get to match up more favorably and hide Trae on the weaker wing. In addition, he serves as a perfect handicap for teams that are physical to Trae.

Dyson helps us match teams’ physicality on lead ball handlers in a way that left us constantly disadvantaged in the past. Often, the scenario would play out as such:

1. Ref allows physical play
2. Trae gets pushed around with no-foul calls
3. Hunter can’t quite stay in front of the other teams lead ball handler and gets two quick fouls
4. Pain
5. Loss
6. Inevitable Decay

However, as Jalen Brunson experienced to great effect with Dyson we now get the following:

1. Ref allows physical play
2. Trae gets pushed around
3. DYSON can stay in front of his man and bosses their lead ball handler physically.
4. Joy
5. Love
6. Spiritual Renaissance

Thus, when the refs allow physicality on the perimeter, we are no longer doomed to an automatic disadvantage. Thanks to Mr. Dyson Daniels.

Fin