FIVE QUESTIONS RECAP

At the start of the 2016-17 season, the AJC looked at five questions facing the Hawks. Here’s a midseason report:

1. Point guard play and depth

The Hawks carry just two point guards in Dennis Schroder and Malcolm Delaney. There has been a luck factor in that neither has missed a game due to injury. There have been times during games when both have played and times when neither has played.

2. Getting Howard acclimated

Dwight Howard has fit with the Hawks with some growing pains. He has provided defense and rebounding. However, there is a ways to go in the pick-androll game. Guarding stretch centers away from the basket has been an issue.

3. Shooting

There were concerns about the Hawks’ outside shooting before they traded Kyle Korver. It has been an issue midway through the season. They are 23rd in the NBA in 3-point percentage at .343.

4. Millsap trade rumors

Where to begin? The Paul Millsap trade rumors have been almost constant and hit a head this month when the Hawks put the allstar power forward on the trading block and then took him off. And that was in January. Expect more before the Feb. 23 trade deadline.

5. Early success

The Hawks had a favorable early part of the schedule against mostly non-playoff teams from a season ago. They made it work in their favor. They started 9-2 before a 1-10 stretch erased most of the success.