The Atlanta Hawks will try to move past Saturday night’s debacle that was their game against the San Antonio Spurs and get back to their winning ways at home against the Miami Heat on Monday night.
If you happened to catch that train wreck on Saturday night, I’m sorry. If you didn’t, consider yourself lucky, as the Hawks suffered, in my opinion, their worst loss in two years at the hands of the Spurs. Maybe San Antonio just has the Hawks’ number, or maybe the Hawks have taken a huge step back this season. Or, as much as it pains me to say it, maybe Charles Barkley was right and the loss of DMC is a lot bigger than any of us thought. Whatever the problem, the Hawks need to fix it…fast.
As was the case in late November, the Hawks were outmanned, outplayed and out-coached on Saturday night. The Spurs bench got plenty of run as no starter played more than 32 minutes in the blowout. Kawhi Leonard had 22 points in almost a duplicate performance of the prior game, doing a little bit of everything to help the Spurs win their 20th game of the season. Paul Millsap led the Hawks with 22 points, but was the only Hawk player in double figures, as the team shot an abysmal 37% from the floor and 21% from three point range. The Spurs held the advantage in virtually every statistical category, with the exception of turnovers. It was simply a night to forget for the team and the fans.
More from Soaring Down South
- Start, Bench, Cut: Sorting through the Hawks’ power forward options
- Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic reacts to earning FIBA World Cup championship bid
- When does training camp start for the Atlanta Hawks?
- Grade the trade: Hawks deal Trae Young to Clippers in shocking proposal
- Dejounte Murray rips NBA 2K after Atlanta Hawks ratings reveal
The Heat come to town after getting a gutsy win at home against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, a game in which they came storming back in the fourth quarter, ending in the Heat scoring the last 11 points of the game. The Heat snapped a three game losing streak, and now sit just ahead of the Hawks at 13-9 in the East. The Heat are dealing with injuries to key guys in their rotation, and have had to rely on the likes of Udonis Haslem and Beno Udrih to fill in as of late. Rookie Justise Winslow has played well for the Heat, but it has been the re-emergence, if you will, of Wade and Bosh along with the continued growth of Hassan Whiteside that has the Heat back in the playoff hunt.
These two teams met back in early November in South Beach with the Hawks bringing home the win. The Hawks got 26 points from Jeff Teague in that contest with both Al Horford and Paul Millsap both chipping in double doubles of their own, in the Hawks’ 98-92 victory. The Heat were led by Hassan Whiteside with 23 points and 14 rebounds (go figure) with Wade adding 21 of his own. It was one of the few games where the Hawks outrebounded their opponent this season and we will need to see more of that if the team wants to get back in the win column.
Keys to the Game:
Pick & Roll: Since the days of Shaq, the Miami Heat have always had trouble guarding the pick and roll. For
Dec 12, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) reacts after he was called on a foul in the third quarter of their game against the San Antonio Spurs at Philips Arena. The Spurs defeated the Hawks 103-78. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
everything that Goran Dragic can provide offensively, he’s just not a good defender. The Hawks would do well to get he and Whiteside in a lot of pick and rolls with Jeff Teague and Al Horford. Horford will have the mismatch away from the basket as will Teague if he can get that first step with Dragic coming off the screen. Teague and Horford run it as well as anyone in the league, and Coach Bud should go to that well early and often in this one. If the Hawks win, it will be that offensive game plan that will be the reason, as the Heat just don’t have the horses to stop it.
Keep the Boshtrich from Getting Going: Bosh has historically given the Hawks fits. He had 14 boards earlier this season against the Hawks, and while he didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, he was a factor on the glass. The Heat are on the second night of a back to back, and with all of the starters seeing 30+ minutes, with the exception of Whiteside, and with their injury woes, I think that Bosh will be the focal point of the offense this evening. Wade spent a lot of energy in that comeback win last night and likely won’t be on his best game come the second half. Paul Millsap needs to get into Bosh’s space and force him to drive the ball instead of getting comfortable with that jump shot that he loves.
Projected Starting Lineups:
Atlanta Hawks
- PG: Jeff Teague
- SG: Kyle Korver
- SF: Thabo Sefolosha
- PF: Paul Millsap
- C: Al Horford
Notes: Mike Scott (knee) is questionable tonight against the Heat
Miami Heat
- PG: Goran Dragic
- SG: Dwayne Wade
- SF: Luol Deng
- PF: Chris Bosh
- C: Hassan Whiteside
Notes: Tyler Johnson (shoulder) and Josh McRoberts (knee) both sat out Sunday’s game and are questionable for Monday
Other News & Notes:
- Paul Millsap is averaging a career high 18 points per game this season
- Dennis Schroder’s shooting woes continue as he was 2-10 in the loss to the Spurs
- The team’s loss to the Spurs was their worst loss (25 points) of the season
- After playing in 4 straight games in mid-November, Tim Hardaway Jr. has drawn DNPCD’s ever since
- Tonight’s game will be broadcast on Fox Sports South (TV) and 92.9 The Game (Radio)
Next: Southeast Division Power Rankings
Visit www.SoaringDownSouth.com for expert Atlanta Hawks news and analysis