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https://bleav.com/shows/the-sportsethos-washington-wizards-podcast/episodes/finding-positive…league-in-blocks/
Dave breaks down the Suns game, Tre Johnson’s excellent recent play and discusses just how much Alex Sarr has improved – he leads the league in blocks per game!
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In this episode, Tim and Mikey break down the Atlanta Hawks’ 124-111 win over the Golden State Warriors. The Hawks forced 15 turnovers and held Golden State to 10-of-42 shooting from beyond the arc. Luke Kennard knocked down six triples for 22 points, while Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 23 and 24 points, respectively.
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The Atlanta Hawks officially entered a new era on Jan. 7. ESPN’s Shams Charania announced they traded Trae Young to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. The move closed the book on Young’s Atlanta tenure, placing an immediate focus on the future of the point guard position. Over the span of Young’s injury and now his departure, Dyson Daniels has steadily proven he is ready for that responsibility.
During Young’s absence over the past 5 games, Daniels averaged 14.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.2 rebounds. He stepped into an expanded playmaking role and delivered consistent control of the offense. He showed growth as a primary ball handler, operating effectively in pick-and-roll sets and making quicker reads under pressure. Atlanta’s offense played with more pace and structure, with Daniels prioritizing ball movement and decision-making rather than forcing shots. Daniels ranks 12th in the NBA with 240 total assists on the campaign. His ability to initiate offense became a stabilizing factor for a lineup adjusting to life without its long-time centerpiece.
DYSON DANIELS HIGHLIGHTS V LAKERS
10 PTS
8 REBS
13 ASTS5/8 2p (63%)
pic.twitter.com/lBGAuViLeS— AussieBallersNBA (@AussieBallinUSA) November 9, 2025
Daniels reached a milestone on Jan. 9 against the Denver Nuggets. He recorded the first triple-double of his NBA career, finishing with 15 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds. Against a disciplined Denver defense, Daniels controlled the tempo from start to finish. He consistently found shooters, attacked mismatches when lanes opened, and used his size to secure rebounds and ignite transition opportunities. This performance marked a clear step forward in his evolution as a floor general.
17 PTS 🇦🇺 11 REB 🇦🇺 10 AST
Dyson Daniels posted his first career TRIPLE-DOUBLE and hauled down a career-best in rebounds in the @atlhawks victory! #GLeagueAlum pic.twitter.com/WW06htt8vo
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) January 10, 2026
The significance of Daniels’ development goes far beyond one game. Without Young, the Hawks enter a new phase that prioritizes versatility, defense, and shared playmaking. Daniels fits that vision seamlessly. Unlike a traditional ball-dominant point guard, he allows multiple players to stay involved, while still providing stability at the top of the offense. That flexibility opens the door for Atlanta to build lineups that emphasize length, defensive pressure, and unselfish basketball.
Daniels’ defensive impact remains just as important as his playmaking. His size, length, and instincts give Atlanta a different look at the point of attack. Opposing guards face more resistance bringing the ball up the floor, and Daniels’ ability to generate deflections and disrupt passing lanes helps fuel transition opportunities. Daniels ranks second in the league in total steals with 77 and sits fifth per game at 2.0. The Hawks’ perimeter defense noticeably tightened during his extended run at point guard, providing a long-term defensive foundation
Dyson Daniels Defense Tape 1/2 vs NYK
~ 6 Points Allowed
~ Held Opponents to 3/13 FG
– 2 StealsATL On/Off Def Rating w/Dyson (via @PivotFade)
– 38 Minutes
– On Court Def Rating: 97.5
– Off Court Def Rating: 87Thoughts on his defense tonight? pic.twitter.com/9Fx1PMxcfH
— Hoopology (@hoopologyxx) January 3, 2026
Daniels’ development as a full-time point guard will be an important storyline for the franchise. His success could determine how aggressively the Hawks pursue additional guard help or whether they commit to him as the long-term solution. With McCollum providing veteran scoring and Kispert adding floor spacing, Daniels’ role as an offensive connector becomes even more critical.
The post-Young era requires adjustments, patience, and directional clarity. Daniels showed he is capable of handling responsibility, responding to pressure, and elevating his play when circumstances demand it. What started as an opportunity born out of injury became a defining moment in his career and, potentially, the foundation of the Hawks’ future.
Check out the SportsEthos Atlanta Hawks Podcast with Tim and Mikey on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and more.
They break down every game, every move, all season long.
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https://bleav.com/shows/the-sportsethos-washington-wizards-podcast/episodes/derik-queen-and-…nate-the-wizards/
Dave discusses the excitement surrounding John Wall’s celebration, Derik Queen’s huge game in Washington and wonders why Jordan Poole got booed.
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In this episode, Tim and Mikey recap the Atlanta Hawks’ 110-87 win over the Denver Nuggets. Atlanta forced 19 turnovers and dominated the fourth quarter, 36-12, en route to the blowout victory. Jalen Johnson led his squad with 29 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, while Dyson Daniels recorded his first career triple-double with 17 points, 10 dimes, and 11 boards.
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In this episode, Tim and Mikey discuss all the ramifications of the Atlanta Hawks trading Trae Young to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. They also recap Atlanta’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans to close out the podcast.
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https://bleav.com/shows/the-sportsethos-washington-wizards-podcast/episodes/emergency-pod-tr…ng-to-washington/
Dave discusses the Trae Young trade and says good-bye to Corey Kispert (and CJ too.) Dave breaks down how this will impact the roster, comparing it to the D’Aaron Fox trade last season, and questioning the decision to give up salary cap space for a player who doesn’t play much defense.
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https://bleav.com/shows/the-sportsethos-washington-wizards-podcast/episodes/wizards-dominate…-young-elsewhere/
Dave discusses the Wizards dominance over the Magic, dismisses the idea that Trey Young is an asset, and celebrates the direction of the team!
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In this episode, Tim and Mikey recap the Atlanta Hawks’ 100-118 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Toronto dominated the points in the paint, 64-44, and the transition game, 29-16, to sweep the season series. Mikey and Tim also give their thoughts on the latest reporting surrounding the Trae Young trade situation.
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https://bleav.com/shows/the-sportsethos-washington-wizards-podcast/episodes/is-tre-johnson-a…rookie-ray-allen/
Dave compares Ray Allen’s rookie season to that of Tre Johnson, revisits the 2024 NBA Draft, and discusses a painful loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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The past two weeks have made one thing clear for the Atlanta Hawks. Kristaps Porziņģis is vital to their defensive success. His absence not only altered lineups but reshaped how opponents attack Atlanta on a possession-by-possession basis.
The Hawks dropped seven straight games without Porziņģis in the lineup. Those losses followed a consistent pattern. Opponents comfortably attacked the paint, guards turned the corner with less resistance, and backline rotations arrived a step too slow. The effort level remained competitive, but Atlanta lacked the structural support behind its defense.
Porziņģis’ defensive value starts at the rim. At 7-foot-3-inches tall, his presence alone deters drives and forces offenses to settle for pull-up jumpers rather than shots at the basket. Without him, Atlanta’s defensive margin for error narrowed significantly. Onyeka Okongwu was forced to cover more ground, switching onto perimeter players while still anchoring the paint. That workload stretched the defense thin, especially late in games.
Kristaps Porzingis now ranks as the fifth-most impactful player in the NBA this season with a +6.0 EPM 👀 pic.twitter.com/J1wNJnwDlb
— Kevin Keneely (@KevinKeneely1) January 1, 2026
The Hawks’ seven-game losing streak without Porziņģis highlighted that strain. Defensive possessions became longer. Second-chance opportunities increased. Teams generated cleaner looks late in the shot clock because Atlanta lacked a backline eraser waiting at the rim. Those small breakdowns compounded, turning manageable stretches into decisive runs for opponents.
The contrast was immediate when Porziņģis returned on Dec. 31. Atlanta won both games he played against the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks, and they held New York to a season low 99 points. The defensive tone changed quickly. Ball handlers hesitated at the free-throw line, and help defenders stayed home on shooters. Okongwu was freed to play more aggressive defense away from the rim, knowing there was size behind him in the lineup.
Kristaps Porzingis Defense Tape 1/2 vs NYK
~ 8 Points Allowed
~ Held Opponents to 4/10 FG
– 2 StealsATL On/Off Def Rating w/KP (via @PivotFade)
– 17 Minutes
– On Court Def Rating: 86.8
– Off Court Def Rating: 100Thoughts on his defense tonight? pic.twitter.com/vpVLj0DHcq
— Hoopology (@hoopologyxx) January 3, 2026
Those two wins reinforced how the Hawks are built. This roster is designed to defend in layers. Okongwu provides mobility, switching, and physicality, while Porziņģis gives length, rim protection, and vertical deterrence. Together, they allow Atlanta to pressure the ball without overcommitting and protect the paint without collapsing the perimeter.
That balance was missing against the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 3. With Porziņģis sidelined, the Hawks fell once more. The loss was not about effort or execution alone. It was about defensive sustainability. Toronto attacked downhill, forced rotations, and capitalized on Atlanta’s lack of rim protection, scoring 60 points in the paint.
Defensive possessions define winning basketball late in the season. Over the last two weeks, Atlanta’s defense has shown it can survive without Porziņģis for short stretches, but survival is not the same as consistency. The seven-game losing streak exposed how quickly the defense slips when one piece is missing. The two wins with Porziņģis back underscored how much cleaner everything looks when the frontcourt is intact.
This stretch has clarified the Hawks’ formula. Okongwu raises the defensive floor with effort and versatility. Porziņģis raises the ceiling by eliminating entire sections of the floor. When both are healthy, Atlanta can defend with confidence rather than caution.
In this episode, Tim and Mikey break down the Atlanta Hawks’ 117-134 loss to the Toronto Raptors. The Hawks gave up 60 points in the paint, and their defense struggled throughout the night. An 11-point, seven-turnover fourth quarter sunk Atlanta’s comeback chances. Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the team with 30 and 31 points, respectively.
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https://bleav.com/shows/the-sportsethos-washington-wizards-podcast/episodes/block-party-sarr…t-bucks-and-nets/
The Wizards beat both Milwaukee and the Brooklyn Nets this week – and the momentum is picking up! Dave discusses the way the young core is playing, the environment at the booth and the history that Bub Carrington is part of!
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Tim and Chris break down the Hawks’ big 111–99 win over the Knicks, highlighted by a standout night from Onyeka Okongwu. With Trae Young sidelined, Okongwu stepped up in a major way—finishing with 23 points and 9 rebounds, knocking down a pair of timely threes, and bringing nonstop energy on both ends of the floor. The guys also hand out their 3 Keys for the Hawks to secure another win on the second night of a back-to-back as they head to Toronto tomorrow night.
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