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Head Coach Quin Snyder goes deep as the Atlanta Hawks unveil new starting lineup amid intriguing injury report.<\/p>\n
The Atlanta Hawks<\/a> didn\u2019t just unveil a new starting lineup Sunday \u2014 they may have revealed how they\u2019re thinking about the playoffs.<\/p>\n The Hawks\u2019 starting lineup, announced ahead of the regular-season finale against the Miami Heat<\/a>, immediately drew attention across the league. Atlanta rolled out a group of Keaton Wallace<\/a>, Corey Kispert<\/a>, Zaccharie Risacher<\/a>, Jalen Newell and Tony Bradley<\/a> \u2014 a lineup shaped as much by circumstance as strategy.<\/p>\n With the Hawks having already avoided the Play-In Tournament, the decision to rest much of their core rotation<\/a> \u2014 and elevate Risacher back into the starting five \u2014 signals a calculated approach heading into the postseason.<\/p>\n Hawks Injury Report Forces Starting Lineup Change Before Playoffs<\/p>\n The Hawks\u2019 starting lineup shift was driven by a lengthy injury report<\/a> that sidelined several key contributors.<\/p>\n Atlanta ruled out Jalen Johnson<\/a> and CJ McCollum<\/a> for rest, along with Nickeil Alexander-Walker<\/a> (right great toe sprain), Dyson Daniels<\/a> (left great toe sprain), Jonathan Kuminga<\/a> (left knee injury management), Jock Landale (right high ankle sprain), Onyeka Okongwu (left index finger sprain) and Gabe Vincent<\/a> (left leg injury).<\/p>\n The combination of rest and injury designations left Atlanta without much of its usual rotation, effectively forcing a reset in the Hawks starting lineup.<\/p>\n But the decision also reflects a broader priority: ensuring the roster is healthy and intact when the playoffs begin.<\/p>\n Zaccharie Risacher Starting After DNP Raises Questions GettyAtlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (10) reacts during a game against the Toronto Raptors<\/a>, as his role comes into focus following a Hawks starting lineup change.<\/p>\n The biggest storyline within the Hawks starting lineup centers on Zaccharie Risacher.<\/p>\n Risacher is back in the starting five for the first time since Feb. 26 \u2014 a notable development given what happened just days earlier.<\/p>\n In Wednesday\u2019s 122-116 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a>, Risacher was available but did not play, marking the first time all season he went unused in a game.<\/p>\n Head coach Quin Snyder instead leaned on Kispert, a decision that raised questions about Risacher\u2019s role late in the season.<\/p>\n The numbers suggest a subtle shift. Risacher\u2019s efficiency has remained steady \u2014 his 55.9% true shooting is nearly identical to his rookie mark \u2014 but his usage rate has dropped from 21.6% to 17.5%.<\/p>\n That decline reflects a reduced offensive role, even as expectations for his development have grown.<\/p>\n Sunday\u2019s start, then, feels like more than a routine lineup change. It\u2019s a reset opportunity.<\/p>\n As a starter this season (45 games), Risacher has averaged 10.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.9 steals in 24.3 minutes \u2014 production that underscores what he can provide when given consistent minutes.<\/p>\n Hawks Playoff Seeding Scenario: Cavaliers or Knicks Matchup at Stake<\/p>\n Even with the Hawks\u2019 starting lineup reshuffled, Sunday\u2019s game still carries weight in the standings.<\/p>\n Atlanta entered the finale with a chance to secure the No. 5 seed with a win, which would likely set up a first-round matchup against the Cavaliers.<\/p>\n A loss could drop the Hawks to No. 6, potentially leading to a matchup with the New York Knicks<\/a>.<\/p>\n That distinction is not insignificant.<\/p>\n Cleveland\u2019s size and interior defense present a more physically demanding challenge, while New York\u2019s style could allow Atlanta to better lean into its pace-and-space identity.<\/p>\n The decision to rest key players suggests the Hawks are willing to accept some uncertainty in seeding in exchange for being fully healthy.<\/p>\n Hawks Starting Lineup Highlights Depth and Evaluation Opportunity<\/p>\n Beyond seeding, the Hawks\u2019 starting lineup also provides a window into roster evaluation.<\/p>\n Wallace steps into primary ball-handling duties, Kispert offers perimeter shooting, and Bradley anchors the interior. Newell adds size and flexibility in the frontcourt.<\/p>\n But the focus remains on Risacher.<\/p>\n After a rare DNP, his return to the starting lineup offers a chance to respond \u2014 and potentially reestablish himself as a key piece in the rotation heading into the playoffs.<\/p>\n Big Picture for Atlanta<\/p>\n The Hawks\u2019 starting lineup on Sunday reflects a team thinking beyond a single game.<\/p>\n Atlanta has already secured its postseason spot and avoided the Play-In, giving it the flexibility to prioritize rest and experimentation.<\/p>\n At the same time, the move highlights how quickly roles can shift late in the season \u2014 particularly for young players navigating expectations and consistency.<\/p>\n For the Hawks, the equation is clear: enter the playoffs healthy, maintain flexibility, and be ready for any matchup.<\/p>\n And in that context, Sunday\u2019s lineup wasn\u2019t just a rotation decision.<\/p>\n It was a statement.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tAlder Almo<\/a> is a veteran NBA reporter for Heavy.com, covering the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. He brings over 20 years of experience across local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Originally from the Philippines, he is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Hawks\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty Head Coach Quin Snyder goes deep as the Atlanta Hawks unveil new starting lineup amid intriguing injury…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":709276,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3778],"tags":[7,144,295,189,3881,6],"class_list":{"0":"post-709275","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-miami-heat","8":"tag-basketball","9":"tag-heat","10":"tag-miami","11":"tag-miami-heat","12":"tag-miamiheat","13":"tag-nba"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/116394237819848052","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/709275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=709275"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/709275\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/709276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=709275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=709275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=709275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Zaccharie](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2245582297-e1776030933707.jpg\")
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