The Atlanta Hawks are again in motion tonight – absent a well-known face.
Whereas the Hawks did choose up a win towards the Nets of their final sport, Trae Younger left the primary quarter with a proper knee sprain. Though he hasn't constantly performed at his traditional customary, Younger's absence goes to go away a dearth of playmaking for Atlanta to beat.
It stays to be seen precisely how lengthy it can take for his return, however within the meantime, the Hawks are going to be shorthanded towards the winless Indiana Pacers. After making the NBA Finals final season, the Pacers are poised for a rebuilding season. Franchise level guard Tyrese Haiburton is sidelined for the yr whereas recovering from an Achilles tear, however he's not the one large damage the Pacers have needed to overcome. 4 members of their Finals lineup – Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, TJ McConnell and Andrew Nembhard – are sidelined for tonight's sport.
Indiana is actually battered in the intervening time, however they'll be further motivated to get their first win of the yr. Luckily, Atlanta has some momentum heading into this sport. Jalen Johnson led the best way with 23 factors, seven rebounds and 5 assists whereas offseason additions Luke Kennard and Nickeil Alexander-Walker mixed for 35 factors. They'll want the same crew efficiency with a view to get again to a .500 file tonight.
This sport additionally has large ramifications for Atlanta's rivalry within the In-Season Match. Final yr, the Hawks misplaced within the NBA Cup Semifinals to the eventual Cup winners, the Milwaukee Bucks, in a 110-102 loss. To keep away from the same destiny, they'll want to begin by profitable their simple matchups. Proper now, Indiana tasks to be that.
The Hawks' offense had a great night time towards a hapless Brooklyn protection, which is pushing them up the rankings. They're twenty third in factors, nineteenth in FG%, nineteenth in 3P%, twenty first in FT%, twenty sixth in rebounds (twentieth in OREB), eighth in assists and 4th in turnovers per sport. Nonetheless, it wouldn't be stunning if these numbers took a little bit of a decline. Younger's ground on offense can't be simply changed.
Brooklyn's heavy reliance on three-pointers leaves them on the mercy of taking pictures variance and fortunately, it swung in Atlanta's favor throughout their matchup and improved their total numbers. In a per-game foundation, Atlanta ranks twentieth in factors allowed, twenty eighth in FG% allowed, fifth in 3P% allowed, twenty sixth in rebounds allowed, seventeenth in steals and fifteenth in blocks.
The accidents have wreaked havoc on a beforehand robust Pacers offense. They rank twenty fifth in factors, twenty ninth in FG%, twenty sixth in 3P%, thirtieth in FT%, 2nd in rebounds (fifth in OREB), twenty seventh in assists and seventh in turnovers per sport. Their rebounding numbers have saved them in video games, however it's a far cry from the offensive juggernaut Indiana had final season.
Though the Pacers have been capable of maintain up on the level of assault, their protection hasn't been a lot better. They're twenty second in factors allowed, eleventh in FG% allowed, 2nd in 3P% allowed, twenty ninth in rebounds allowed, thirtieth in steals and eleventh in blocks.
The Hawks have been removed from good to start the season, however they've gotten pretty constant manufacturing from their facilities. That continued towards the Nets, the place each Kristaps Porzingis and Onyeka Okongwu had good video games. Porzingis did a pleasant job of getting into the vacated playmaking position left by Younger's damage, doling out seven assists as an offensive hub. He solely linked on two of his seven three-point makes an attempt, however he's nonetheless taking pictures 45% from deep on the yr. Okongwu took a special strategy – he dominated on the boards with a 12 level, 14 rebound double-double. It's his third straight sport with 10+ rebounds, which has been a great complement to Porzingis' perimeter-based skillset.
Though it's considerably mitigated by the lack of Younger, Indiana has struggled to chorus from fouling. They're thirtieth in opponent free throw tried price and steadily put groups on the line. Atlanta's nineteenth in FTA price, so it isn't an enormous mismatch. Nonetheless, they haven't confronted a crew that fouls fairly as a lot because the Pacers. If the Hawks can convert on their free throws, it'd be a giant benefit over Indiana.
Whereas it wasn't prompt, Atlanta's position gamers are lastly beginning to spherical into their anticipated kind. Kennard stepped into a much bigger position versus Brooklyn due to Younger's absence and feasted, going 4-5 from deep and scoring 17 factors alongside two assists. If he can tackle a much bigger playmaking position whereas selecting his spots properly from deep, the offense may be capable to survive fairly properly with out Trae. Alexander-Walker additionally has begun to appear to be the two-way wing the Hawks anticipated to amass. He ut completed with 18 factors, 11 of which got here within the second half, whereas grabbing three rebounds and doling out three assists. His protection was particularly spectacular – NAW bought two steals and blocked three pictures whereas closing the sport on Cam Thomas. Tonight's sport will likely be a check of how a lot Atlanta has improved their depth. If they will beat the groups they’re speculated to with or with out Trae Younger, that bodes properly for his or her long-term upside.
Whereas the Pacers' accidents have actually taken a toll, their frontcourt has been glorious. Pascal Siakam continues to be a extremely succesful All-Star and averaging a career-best 26.3 factors, 11 rebounds and 5.3 assists. He's bought assist too – extremely touted ahead Jarace Walker is lastly delivering on the promise Indiana noticed once they choosing him within the lottery. Walker is averaging a career-high 11 factors, six rebounds and 4 assists. The effectivity hasn't been there, however Walker continues to be an athletic drive that the Hawks may need hassle containing.
Atlanta's most constant problem this yr has been their transition protection and that might be an issue towards the Pacers, who lead the NBA in quick break factors per sport. It is a good alternative for the Hawks to indicate that they will develop in that space, however Indiana actually isn't going to make it simple on them.
The Pacers additionally do a comparatively good job of limiting turnovers – they're seventh in that metric. Though Dyson Daniels has been enjoying nice protection, his offense wants to return alongside in order that he can keep on the courtroom lengthy sufficient to disrupt Indiana's offense. The mixture of Daniels and Alexander-Walker on protection have but to be absolutely unleashed as a duo – might this be the sport the place it occurs?
Atlanta Hawks: Trae Younger is out.
Indiana Pacers: Taelon Peter is questionable whereas Johnny Furphy, Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, TJ McConnell, Kam Jones and Tyrese Haliburton are all out.
Right here is how one can watch tonight's sport:
Tip-off time: 7:00 p.m. Japanese Time
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
The place to Watch: FanDuel Sports activities Community
Unfold and Over/Underneath: The Hawks will likely be favored on the street tonight as they’re at the moment 2.5 level favorites in keeping with the newest odds from the Fanduel Sportsbook, and the over/below is ready at 230.5.
Hawks
G – Nickeil Alexander-Walker
G – Dyson Daniels
F – Zaccharie Risacher
F – Jalen Johnson
C – Kristaps Porzingis
Pacers
G – Ben Sheppard
G – Aaron Nesmith
F – Jarace Walker
F – Pascal Siakam
C – Isaiah Jackson
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Rohan Raman has been masking the Atlanta Hawks for On SI since June 2024. He has been a contributor to Georgia Tech Athletics for On SI since Could 2022 and enjoys offering considerate evaluation of soccer, basketball and baseball on the collegiate {and professional} stage.
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