Soaring Down South
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Atlanta Hawks: The 5 biggest home games before Christmas

By Joshua Buckhalter

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 01: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against De'Andre Hunter #12 of the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays Center on January 01, 2021 in New York City. The Hawks defeated the Nets 114-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 01: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against De'Andre Hunter #12 of the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays Center on January 01, 2021 in New York City. The Hawks defeated the Nets 114-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

Atlanta Hawks must-see home game No. 1: Thu, Nov 4 vs. Utah Jazz

As if getting “Ice” Trae versus Donovan “Spida” Mitchell wasn’t appointment viewing already, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert squaring off (or boxing out, if you prefer) against the 2021 rebounding champ in Clint Capela should put it over the top. Can Gobert neutralize the Young-to-Collins connection? Can Capela dominate the boards as usual?

Utah won both matchups last season but both games came before the head coaching change and one came without Young or Hunter in the lineup.

In the game he played, Young was 1-of-11 for just four points, his fewest of the season.

Mitchell averaged 22 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in the two games on 44.7 percent shooting from the floor and 60 percent from beyond the arc. He holds a 3-1 lead for their careers as well, with averages of 26.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. Young has averaged 21.3/3.5/8.8.

But, again, none came with McMillan in charge and he’s shown he makes a difference.

Both players showed out in the postseason, with Young making history dropping 48 points and averaging 28.8 points and 9.5 assists. Mitchell averaged 32.3 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.2 rebounds with a 45-point game of his own.

As for Capela, he did average 14 rebounds per, but he only managed four points in the game Young missed; something that shouldn’t be an issue this time around. Gobert averaged a 13-point, 12.5-board double-double.

For a non-conference so early in the season, this game should pack a ton of highlights.

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