Atlanta Hawks vs. San Antonio Spurs: Matchup to Watch
On Monday night, the Atlanta Hawks travel to San Antonio to take on the Spurs. With injuries to the home team, what is the matchup to watch?
When one team looks at the schedule and sees the San Antonio Spurs coming up, they typically fear two names on the roster: Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge.
But with Aldridge out indefinitely due to a medical condition and Leonard questionable for this game due to being in the concussion protocol, different faces will have to step into the spotlight for the Spurs.
That also shifts the responsibility of a different Hawk to shut down the player that must step up. But even with a depleted lineup, the man to watch for the Spurs still comes off of the bench, making this a battle of each team’s third big man.
The key matchup is Hawks-Spurs on Monday night is Ersan Ilyasova vs. Pau Gasol.
Gasol, this past summer’s biggest addition for San Antonio, has been a very good bench big for the Spurs this season and is still a very serviceable player. He is shooting his highest field-goal percentage since the 2010-2011 season and is a skilled offensive player. He has also been a solid defender this season with a defensive rating of 101.
The Spaniard has given the Spurs a great boost with the second unit and could still be their third, or fourth, best player. But he faces an interesting challenge with Ilyasova.
Since joining the Hawks, Ilyasova has shot 46% from three-point range and is averaging 9.7 points per game off of the bench. This was a great pickup for the Hawks at the trade deadline, as he has given them a legitimate third big man that can play valuable minutes. He also brings energy to the defensive end and leads the league in charges drawn.
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If Ilyasova hits from the outside like he has been, the Hawks’ offense is very dangerous with a big man that can threaten defenses from that range. And if he can pull Gasol away from the rim, it can be easy money for the rest of the players on the floor.
But if Gasol can control the high post and use his creativity to score, or create for others, from that spot, the Spurs’ offense can click, even without Leonard and Aldridge.
This is a very obscure matchup to label as the key one in this game but when playing against the Spurs’ system, the bench unit is dangerous. Especially when it is still led by a player the level of Gasol.
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If Ilyasova outplays Gasol, then the Hawks’ second unit should be successful. And the starting lineup should be able to thrive with Leonard’s health in question. And if he plays, the bench play will be even more crucial as a battle that must be won in order to get the win.