Quin Snyder Explains Hawks’ Lineup Changes During 4-Game Winning Streak

The Atlanta Hawks have changed their starting lineup twice during their four-game winning streak, most recently for Saturday night's 124-121 win over the Brooklyn Nets at State Farm Arena.

Jalen Johnson sprained his left ankle Oct. 31 and missed the next three games. Kingston Flemings served a one-game suspension Monday at Indiana. Luguentz Dort started at forward in all three of Johnson's absences, and Flemings joined him Wednesday, with CJ McCollum going to the bench.

Atlanta beat the Indiana Pacers 108-104, then the Washington Wizards 120-105 and 139-132, as Dort and Flemings moved into the starting lineup. Johnson returned Saturday and joined Flemings, Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Onyeka Okongwu in the starting five. Dort and McCollum came off the bench, and Dort had 3 points and 5 fouls in 20:12.

In Washington on Wednesday, Flemings scored 14 in his first start, and Daniels and Okongwu grabbed 16 rebounds apiece as Atlanta won the glass 57-41.

The rotation moved again 26 seconds into Saturday's game. Hawks coach Quin Snyder said losing Okongwu on the opening possession brought an adjustment period, with the staff working out what the rotation would look like and who would play when.

"I love that we've won a couple in a row, but I'm also, it's early in the year, and we just want to keep getting better," Snyder said. "And if we can do that, we can do that and win at the same time. That's the best scenario. So I feel like having a chance to play a really difficult schedule and to learn from some of those games, whether it's playing against a team like Houston that switches everything off the ball. Can we apply that tonight with a team that does more of that?"

"Seeing different coverages, having a few guys out where guys have started to really come together," Snyder continued. "And the thing about our team is everybody's got a role, and roles change not just game to game. They can change during the course of a game, and for us to be malleable with one another, it allows us, I think, to play to our strengths, which is some of that versatility."

Zuby Ejiofor replaced Okongwu and played until Okongwu checked back in with 4:22 left in the first quarter. Okongwu finished with 16 points, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. Jock Landale missed his fourth straight game with a left hip strain, and Asa Newell was out with a left big toe hyperextension.

In the final five minutes, Snyder swapped Aaron Wiggins and Daniels seven times. Wiggins finished with 20 points, and Atlanta's bench outscored Brooklyn's 39-35.

On Friday, without Johnson, four Hawks scored at least 19. Alexander-Walker had 28, Dort had 25, Okongwu had 22, and Wiggins had 19, and Atlanta's 139 points were its most this season. Daniels added 13 points and 12 assists.

Johnson trusts his teammates to make it easy for him.

"I take a lot of pride in it," Johnson said of having the ball late. "At the end of the day, I just want to help my team win. So whatever that looks like, we're a special group of guys. We're obviously, like yesterday, we have a bunch of guys who can get it going. So continue to trust my teammates down the stretch."

"Not everything has to be done by yourself," Johnson continued. "We're a great group of guys that get along with each other, and I think it reflects on the court. So I'm just gonna continue to be myself, continue to be aggressive down the stretch."

Johnson scored 12 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter Saturday and assisted two Wiggins baskets. The Hawks had 30 assists on 47 field goals.

Wiggins said the Hawks have to keep "executing our game plan and playing the right way, trusting each other, trusting our coaches."

McCollum went 4-of-14 off the bench Saturday. Hawks Roundtable has laid out why Flemings should stay in the starting lineup over him.

Atlanta is 7-4. The Hawks host the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday at 7 p.m. ET.