The Atlanta Hawks have lost three of their previous four games, and they are currently in a small funk. Unfortunately, now that John Collins has been given a diagnosis with an injury that will keep him out for an extended amount of time, things are about to get harder for Trae Young and company.
Collins, 25, has a left ankle sprain, thus the Hawks won’t have Collins for at least the next two weeks, according to NBA insider Marc J. Spears of ESPN. Collins, who has been connected to a trade away from Atlanta, is currently experiencing joint swelling, according to the source, which might complicate matters further.
Two weeks don’t seem like a lot of time when you consider the wider picture. But so much can happen at this time in the season. You could make the case that the Hawks are going through a crucial period right now, particularly in light of how the Eastern Conference is shaping out.
Atlanta’s current record of 12-10 places them sixth in the East, and they hold this position. They are only two games behind the third-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, so a few victories over the upcoming few weeks might help them move up the standings considerably.
The Chicago Bulls, who are presently 12th in the conference, are only 2.5 games ahead of them. The Hawks may completely exit the playoff race if they go on a rapid losing streak. Trae Young will need to exert every effort at this time to keep the ship afloat without John Collins.
