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Hawksbeat Podcast - A Podcast on all things Atlanta Hawks

Hawks wrap up preseason vs Rockets, up next opening night.

·28 min·2 clips
The Hawks fall to the Rockets 133-115 in their final preseason game, with the regular season starting next week.
The episode begins with host Kevin Herter introducing the show and providing housekeeping notes for new listeners. He outlines the episode structure, starting with pregame observations. Herter notes the Hawks were without Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and Mo Gay, while the Rockets rested most of their starters. In first-half observations, he highlights rookie Zachary Richichet's aggressive play, scoring 13 points early. Herter discusses lineup rotations, expressing disappointment in the Hawks' starters' performance. He points out Reed Shepard's unexpected 18-point first half for the Rockets. Second-half analysis covers the third quarter where the Hawks' starters were outplayed, shooting 0-7 from three-point range. Herter notes the fourth quarter featured younger players like Asa Newell and Keaton Wallace. Key takeaways include Richichet, Alexander Walker, and Porzingis as standout performers. Herter identifies a potential season-long issue: the Hawks may struggle against physically aggressive teams like Houston. He questions the team's physicality beyond Onyeka Okongwu. The host predicts 45-48 wins and a top-four Eastern Conference finish despite this concern. The episode ends with a preview of upcoming regular season coverage and a call for listener questions.

As heard by us

Reed Shepherd's unexpected first-half burst gives this preseason wrap its center.

Atlanta's preseason finish against the Rockets lands as a modest trust check before the regular season, built around Reed Shepherd's sudden first-half scoring and Porzingis steadily piling up production.

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Why you'd press play

You want the preseason surprise: Reed Shepherd drops 18 in the first half while the Hawks close the preseason against Houston.

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