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Atlanta Hawks Game Preview: Jan. 25 Chicago Bulls

By Andrew Snyder

Jan 23, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard (8) celebrates a play with guard Dennis Schroder (17) in the third quarter of their game against the LA Clippers at Philips Arena. The Clippers won 115-105. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard (8) celebrates a play with guard Dennis Schroder (17) in the third quarter of their game against the LA Clippers at Philips Arena. The Clippers won 115-105. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 15, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Malcolm Delaney (5) is fouled by Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) during the second half at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Bucks 111-98.Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Malcolm Delaney (5) is fouled by Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) during the second half at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Bucks 111-98.Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

Thing To Watch For Atlanta: Bench Play

Atlanta’s recent loss to the Los Angeles Clippers was frustrating for fans and for the team. The starters played well, bringing them back from a large deficit, but the hole was too deep to dig out of. Budenholzer had to rely on them heavily during the second half of that game due to the poor play from the bench unit.

The bench scored a season low 13 points. Other than Malcolm Delaney and Mike Dunleavy Jr., everyone struggled. This isn’t shocking. The bench is missing a key piece to its puzzle. Mike Muscala has now missed five games in a row due to an ankle injury. His absence is rather glaring. It’s clear that the unit is lost without the floor-spacing his outside shooting provides.

Muscala will miss tonight’s game, so they’ll have to figure things out without him. Delaney and Dunleavy have been reliable, Delaney is shooting 50 percent from three-point range in January. They need to get some sort of production from Kris Humphries and Mike Scott.

Humphries has shown flashes this season, but he hasn’t been consistent. Scott has had a rough season, bouncing between Atlanta and the D-League. I’m assuming Mike Budenholzer will go back to strict nine-man rotation, staggering Paul Millsap with the reserves, at least until Muscala returns.

Lineups featuring Delaney, Hardaway, Dunleavy, Humphries, and Millsap have a net rating of plus 17.7 points per 100 possessions in 22 minutes together. What this bench really needs is for Mike Muscala to have a healthy ankle.

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