While the Kristaps Porzingis trade made the Atlanta Hawks contenders to win the East once again, the unicorn faces one major hurdle in Atlanta. As a big man with waning agility, how will the Hawks defense manage pick and rolls involving Trae Young and Porzingis?
Porzingis is at his best defensively playing in drop coverage, where he uses his length and body to stonewall attacking opponents. Drop coverage, however, leaves the defense exposed to pull-up threes and midrange shots.
This was not a major concern for the Celtics, who supported Porzingis with elite perimeter defenders such as Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.