NBASep 26
NBA swing factors: Hawks' defense rises as Cavaliers and Nuggets face questions
Atlanta's defensive momentum, Cleveland's perimeter problems and Denver's thinning support cast offer telling indicators entering the 2026-27 season.
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Atlanta has a defensive foundation to build on
The Hawks enter the new season with reason to believe defense can become their defining strength. After the All-Star break, Atlanta surrendered 108.6 points per 100 possessions, trailing only Oklahoma City over that stretch. That finish helped the Hawks place 10th defensively for the full season, before adding Luguentz Dort to an already promising perimeter group. Dort, Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker give Atlanta several options for disrupting opposing offenses. The unresolved issue is at the other end. Playing Dort alongside Daniels could test Atlanta's spacing and offensive efficiency, even if their defensive potential makes the pairing attractive.
Cleveland needs to reclaim the arc
The Cavaliers fell to 15th defensively after consecutive seasons among the league's stronger units. Opponents made 14.2 shots from beyond the arc per game, leaving Cleveland with a much smaller perimeter advantage. Across the 2025-26 regular season, the Cavaliers made just 10 more 3-pointers than their opponents. Their advantage had been 199 in 2024-25. Opponent accuracy contributed to the slide, but Cleveland also allowed a less favorable mix of attempts. Peyton Watson's arrival provides help on the perimeter; restoring the defense will require improvement beyond that addition.
Denver's stars need more support
Estimated plus-minus rates Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Cameron Johnson as Denver's only above-average players, with Christian Braun sitting at average. That leaves a familiar concern beneath an imposing core: surviving the minutes without Jokic. Watson's move to Cleveland, coupled with the departures of Jonas Valanciunas and Tim Hardaway Jr., removes important depth. Denver's leading players remain a substantial strength, but a thinner bench could make its longstanding dependence on Jokic even harder to manage.
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