Atlanta Hawks vs. Phoenix Suns: Matchup to Watch
The Atlanta Hawks are playing like the worst team in the NBA in the midst of their seven-game losing streak. Which matchup could help end that streak against the Phoenix Suns?
Who needs a win in the NBA right now more than the Hawks?
They’ve hit a new low after being spanked by the Brooklyn Nets at home and are now in jeopardy of losing their place in the playoffs. The Hawks get another bottom-dwelling NBA team on Tuesday night when they welcome the Phoenix Suns to Philips Arena.
The Suns are one of the few teams in the league that is colder than the Hawks. Earl Watson’s young squad has lost eight games in a row and appear to be in full-on tank mode after shutting down Eric Bledsoe for the remainder of the season.
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But they also have one of the hottest names in the NBA right now. And the Hawks’ ability to compete with that player on a man-to-man basis will, likely, decide this game.
20-year-old sensation Devin Booker scored 70 points against the Boston Celtics on Friday night and has proven to be one of the rising offensive stars in the league. Can Tim Hardaway Jr. match Booker’s offensive output if he can not lock him up defensively?
Hardaway Jr. will have his hands full on the defensive end of the floor with Booker. The former Michigan star has never been a great defender and Booker has shown a full scoring arsenal. Booker made just four three-pointers in his 70-point outburst, showing off his great ability to create off of the bounce.
Booker, a former Kentucky Wildcat, is very smooth in his attack of the basket and is great at using his 6-foot-6 frame to finish at the rim. He is also very capable of stopping on a dime to pull up for a mid-range jumper. As the Celtics saw first-hand, there is no stopping Booker when he is on. He leads the Suns with 21.6 points per game this season and could give the Hawks a world of trouble.
But they have a scoring wing of their own to deploy.
Booker, like Hardaway Jr., is not a spectacular defender. And all Hawks fans have seen how quickly Hardaway Jr. can put up points. The 25-year-old has a lightning-quick first step and is a ferocious attacker of the paint. He uses his athleticism well to get to the rim and is also a very good perimeter shooter.
Hardaway Jr.’s scoring average is not quite as sexy as Booker’s, at 14.3 per game, but he has put up 20+ points on 14 occasions since January 1. And even though the Hawks are struggling mightily, Hardaway Jr. has given them the scoring threat on the wing that they need.
The Hawks’ offense has been miserable on this seven-game slide. They have failed to score 100 points in all seven outings and need Hardaway Jr.’s production to help ease those woes.
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But with Booker alone, it has been proven that the Suns can create shootouts with him and their young, athletic roster on board. If that scenario does break out, the Hawks desperately need Hardaway Jr.’s scoring to keep up.