The 2021/22 NBA season was a nightmare for the Atlanta Hawks compared to the magical season they had last year when they reached the Eastern Conference finals and lost to the eventual champions, Milwaukee Bucks.
After Trae Young shocked the world when leading his team to the big series, many people thought he would only get better and would become a recurrent player in the biggest stages. Well, the Hawks underperformed this season, and even though Trae propelled them to the playoffs, there was nothing he could do against the Miami Heat in the first round.
The Floridians took care of business, dismantled Trae, and beat the Hawks in five games to advance to the second round of an entertaining Eastern Conference. Erik Spoelstra had the perfect game plan for Trae, and the player even admitted he enjoyed the challenge of trying to get past that while acknowledging that he would learn from it.
After Game 5 and the series were over, we learned some details about Trae’s performances that explained why he was bad against the Heat. StatMuse revealed that Trae finished the 2022 playoffs with more turnovers than baskets.
Trae Young finished these playoffs with more turnovers (30) than baskets (22).
Trae Young finished this playoffs with more turnovers (30) than baskets (22). pic.twitter.com/jY9lyi3P5l
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 27, 2022
This is shocking knowing how hot Trae was last season and how he performed during the play-in tournament. After shocking the world last year, taking care of the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers, the young guard found his kryptonite in South Beach, where the Heat completely dominated him.
Trae my guy but man he gotta hold this L – whole season started out with bad energy after he said regular season was boring. https://t.co/1zwbzlMWC9
— talk to me nice (@jasontbattle) April 27, 2022
only a great showman when things are doing great
— Jay Calangi (@CalangiGj) April 27, 2022
Them Trae Young fans was talkin shit
— Milly🎲 (@Hoodie_Milly) April 27, 2022
https://twitter.com/jcbrngt/status/1519135678356811776
Still went farther than luka tho
— Brandon (@brandonjameschi) April 27, 2022
Not just height. Man has to be bailed out by refs too much. If all teams could play elite defense like the Heat he'd be a nobody
— el_Arabe💣 (@CyborgEspada) April 27, 2022
That usually happens when you leave it next to the heat 🤣🤣🤣
— David Teleman (@bebermata) April 27, 2022
https://twitter.com/thezachattack_2/status/1519133664071884800
I was told the Hawks won the trade and Trae was possibly even better than Luka lmaooo
— Spencer Clare (@saclare) April 27, 2022
ICE TRAE pic.twitter.com/fyjYE443Qv
— Jus10Herbert Burner (@Jus10Herbert) April 27, 2022
"bEsT pLaYeR iN tHe sEriEs" pic.twitter.com/SBngp6VvTR
— ɢᴀʟᴀᴄɢᴜꜱ (@meRalphCustodio) April 27, 2022
https://twitter.com/TheWhiteMambaX/status/1519133577409138688
Ice Trae with 11 points
2/12 FG's #Goodbye pic.twitter.com/hPMnl3FnjZ
— Charles ⏫⭐🦍💎 (@RectoCharles) April 27, 2022
https://twitter.com/GodlLotus/status/1519133683084447744
Don’t compare him to Tatum ever agai.
— kawhi fan (@KawhiNewEra) April 27, 2022
Remember about a week and a half ago people kept saying he was a top 10 or even top 5 player over balling out in play in games???? Yeah he’s not
— Ernie willhite (@willhite91) April 27, 2022
Young also became the first player to make fewer than 25 field goals and have more than 30 turnovers in a single postseason since the three-point era (1980).
It’s the first time a player has fewer than 25 field goals and more than 30 turnovers in a single postseason since the three-point era (1980).
(Submitted by @keerthikau)
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 27, 2022
The Hawks were nothing like the team they were last season and they need to make some changes to bounce back next campaign and see if they can compete as they did in 2021. Trae remains a future superstar in the league, but he must confirm that in the next couple of years.
