NBA Five on Five: Comparing The Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons Projected Starting Lineups

Who has the edge this upcoming season, the Hawks or the Pistons?

Feb 23, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) drives the ball towards the goal against Detroit Pistons guard Dennis Schroder (17) during the third quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images | Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Hawks added many players this offseason to an already young and upcoming roster, and it now appears that the Hawks are potential playoff contenders. Atlanta's roster boasts a wealth of promising young talent that rivals the rest of the NBA, and it has acquired valuable pieces that can help the team take the next step.

Now that the NBA season is less than a month away, it is a good time to take a deeper dive into where the Hawks rank as far as starting lineups compared to other teams in the league. Next up, the Detroit Pistons, a team that is supposed to be close to the Hawks in the standings.

Detroit was the surprise team of the NBA, tripling its win total from the previous season and making the playoffs as the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons lost to the New York Knicks in the first round, but this team showed that it is one the rise and might be ready to take another step this season.

How do the teams compare heading into the season?

Point guard: Trae Young vs Cade Cunningham

February 16, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; Chuck’s Global Stars guard Trae Young (11, left) of the Atlanta Hawks controls the ball against Kenny’s Young Stars guard Cade Cunningham (2, right) of the Detroit Pistons during the 2025 NBA All Star Game at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images | Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

What a matchup of two elite players. Young and Cunningham are two of the best in the league and are hoping to lead their respective teams on deep playoff runs this season.

Young is one of the best point guards in the NBA and is coming off another All-Star season in which he averaged 24.2 PPG, 11.6 APG, and 3.1 RPG, shooting 41% from the field and 34% from three. It was a different kind of season for Young, as he took more of a backseat and tried to have a different approach with his teammates. It largely worked, and now Young is going to have the most talented team around him that he has ever had. I expect an All-NBA type of season.

Cunningham took the leap that many Pistons fans were hoping he would take last season, making an All-NBA team and averaging 26.1 PPG, 9.1 APG, and 6.1 RPG on 47/36/84 shooting splits. What is going to be in store for him this season? He is one of the games most talented scorers and playmakers, giving this team tha franchise player they have been longing for.

Advantage: Detroit

Shooting Guard: Dyson Daniels vs Jaden Ivey

Feb 23, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) dribbles the ball down the court against Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) during the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images | Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

Daniels averaged 14.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 4.4 APG last season while shooting 49.3% from the field and 34% from three. He grew as a playmaker and made strides in a lot of different areas on offense. While there is still a way to go for Daniels on that end, he is a better all-around player than White, even though White is the better scorer and offensive player. Daniels won the NBA's Most Improved Player Award and was second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He is one of the premier perimeter defenders in the NBA and should only get better, even if he does not repeat the gaudy statistics he did last year.

Ivey was having a great season before suffering an injury that ended it prematurely. When Detroit drafted him, they were hoping that he would become a legitimate scoring threat alongside Cunningham and he appeared to be taking that step before his injury. Ivey was averaging 17.6 PPG, 4.0 APG, and 4.1 RPG on 46/41/73 shooting splits. Will he be picking up where he left off last season or will it take him some time to get back to form? With the season Daniels had, he gets the edge in this matchup, though Ivey could close the gap.

Small Forward: Zaccharie Risacher vs Ausar Thompson

Feb 23, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (10) dribbles the ball past Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson (9) during the third quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images | Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

Risacher had a solid rookie season, finishing second in rookie of the year voting and really coming on strong in the second half of the season. His shooting numbers really improved (46% from the field and 36% from three), and Risacher really had a solid tournament in this year's EuroBasket, showing that he might be ready for a breakout season.

Thompson is one of the best defenders in the NBA already and is still growin on offense. His defense gives him the edge over Risacher, but to make the climb up to another tier, he is going to have to take a step on that end of the court. Thompson only shot 22.4% from three last season, but he did miss a good chunk of the beginning of the season with an injury .

Advantage: Detroit

Power Forward: Jalen Johnson vs Tobias Harris

Apr 3, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) dunks the ball against the Detroit Pistons during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

If Johnson can stay healthy, this could be the year that he makes the All-Star team and possibly All-NBA. He was averaging 18.9 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 5.0 APG while shooting 50% from the field and 31% from three last season before going down with a season-ending shoulder injury. Johnson still has improvements to make and has to stay healthy, but the upside for him is through the roof.

Harris has been maligned over the years, but he turned in a really solid season for the Pistons last year. He averaged 13.7 PPG and 5.5 RPG on 48% shooting from the field and 35% from three. He does not have the high-ceiling of Johnson, but he can have a 25-30 point game on any given night.

Advantage: Atlanta

Centers: Kristaps Porzingis/Onyeka Okongwu vs Jalen Duren

Nov 8, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (8) blocks a pass to Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) during the second half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images | David Reginek-Imagn Images

The Hawks have two quality options to start at center for them and that is why they are going to be one of the East's best teams.

Porzingis and Okongwu are two different players, but both are very good. Porzingis gives the Hawks an elite threat from three while also giving them strong interior defense. Okongwu is a really strong defender, just not a shot blocker, and a terrific pick-and-roll partner with Young. The defense for the Hawks was really strong when Okongwu and Johnson played together last season.

Duren has had a nice start to his career, but will he be able to take the next step. He is a solid paint scorer and a monster on the boards, but he is not a threat to stretch the floor. Not only that, Duren is not a strong defender. He is one of the keys to a big season, but he is not on the level of either of the Hawks centers so far.