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The Atlanta Hawks already had plenty of defensive versatility last season, but the addition of Lu Dort gives Head Coach Quin Snyder another weapon to deploy when games get tight. Atlanta frequently closed with CJ McCollum, Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu last season, but Dort's arrival could change the formula considerably. One potential closing five of Daniels, Alexander-Walker, Dort, Johnson and Okongwu would lean heavily into Atlanta's defensive identity. Putting Daniels and Dort on the floor together in crunch time gives Snyder two elite perimeter defenders capable of handling some of the toughest assignments in the NBA, while the rest of the group complements them with length and versatility. There will naturally be trade-offs with any closing lineup Snyder chooses, particularly on the offensive end. However, after Atlanta finished last season with a top-ten defense, adding Dort to an already disruptive group could give the Hawks a legitimate opportunity to push toward the top five. Daniels and Dort could anchor a dominant defensive lineup The biggest strength of a Daniels, Alexander-Walker, Dort, Johnson and Okongwu lineup would be obvious: defense. Daniels and Dort have both earned First Team All-Defensive honors, and having two defenders of that caliber sharing the floor when every possession matters could become a nightmare for opposing offenses. Alexander-Walker adds another proven perimeter defender, while Johnson's size and athleticism allow him to switch across several positions. Okongwu provides the interior presence behind them, giving Snyder a five-man group with few obvious places for opponents to attack defensively. The concern would come on the other end of the floor. Alexander-Walker would be the group's most dependable pure perimeter shooter, although Johnson, Okongwu and Dort are capable of knocking down open shots and preventing defenses from completely ignoring them. Daniels represents the biggest question after shooting just 18% from three last season. If the progress he has made during the offseason translates to training camp, preseason and eventually the regular season, Atlanta could become significantly more comfortable using this group in late-game situations. Improved shooting from Daniels would make the lineup considerably more dangerous because opponents would have fewer opportunities to pack the paint against Johnson and Okongwu. If Daniels can command respect from the perimeter, Snyder may not have to sacrifice much offense to keep his five best defensive options together. Snyder could sacrifice size for additional offense If Snyder wants more offensive balance, another intriguing closing combination could feature McCollum, Alexander-Walker, Daniels, Dort and Johnson. That lineup would obviously be undersized without a traditional center, but Dort's versatility gives Atlanta more freedom to experiment with unconventional combinations. Dort has consistently shown he can battle larger players despite being undersized for those assignments. His strength and physicality have allowed him to defend forwards such as Julius Randle and Jaren Jackson Jr., while his awareness also makes him valuable as a weak-side helper against bigger frontcourt players. That does not mean Atlanta should expect Dort to consistently defend centers such as Nikola Jokic, Rudy Gobert or Daniel Gafford by himself. Instead, his ability to provide help and withstand physical mismatches could allow Snyder to survive short stretches without Okongwu when additional shooting and shot-creation are needed. McCollum would provide exactly that offensive element. His shooting and ability to create his own shot could become particularly valuable in crunch time, while Alexander-Walker, Daniels and Dort handle the most difficult perimeter assignments and Johnson operates as Atlanta's primary frontcourt creator. Ultimately, Snyder's preferred closing five will likely change depending on the opponent and game situation. Some matchups will require Okongwu's size and interior defense, while others could encourage Atlanta to play smaller and surround Johnson with guards and wings who can defend, shoot and create. The one combination that seems difficult to separate is Daniels and Dort. When the Hawks need one final stop, it is hard to imagine Snyder willingly leaving either elite defender on the bench, especially when both can completely disrupt an opponent's preferred action. Atlanta's biggest question will be whether those defensive advantages can coexist with enough shooting and offensive creation to close games effectively. If Daniels' perimeter shot improves and the rest of the group provides reliable spacing, Snyder could have multiple closing lineups capable of turning the final minutes into one of the Hawks' greatest strengths.