As teams get ever more antsy in their attempts to limit Trae Young, who scored a combined 93 points in wins Sunday and Monday, they have changed their tactics when game-planning for the Hawks. And in turn, the Hawks are adapting back.
A case in point: With the Hawks holding a 5-point lead coming out of a timeout with 48 seconds left against Portland, Trae inbounded the ball to De'Andre Hunter. Trae ran at Hunter to get the ball back, but Hunter didn't give it to him.
Instead, Hunter pantomimed the pass, kept the ball and drove toward the rim as both defenders leaned in toward Trae.