It has been a few days since we got our last look at the Atlanta Hawks (11-10) on the floor. The last time they were in action, they were falling to the New York Knicks 99-90 in just their second home loss of the season. They were also in danger of losing much more than just a game with two key players going down with injuries.
Bogdan Bogdanovic suffered a sprained ankle that will keep him out until around Christmas, the same time that center Onyeka Okongwu is hoping to return. They also lost Cam Reddish who’s timetable dependends on his response to treatment.
The Hawks are still without De’Andre Hunter until January after undergoing wrist surgery. At last check, he was getting shots up but not yet scrimmaging.
These four days without a game couldn’t have come at a better time. But now, it’s back to work.
The Hawks will have to battle it out on the glass with a very good rebounding Pacers team
Their opponent, the 9-14 Indiana Pacers, are more talented than their record suggests. But injuries have had their way with Malcolm Brogdon and Caris Levert. Still, the challenge the Pacers present is their ability to create opportunities by dominating the boards; something the Hawks know all about.
The two teams are tied for seventh with 46.4 total rebounds per game.
Both teams also boast double-double machines in the Pacers Domantas Sabonis and the Hawks Clint Capela.
It's a block party in ATL ☝️
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) November 30, 2021
Your @ArrowExt Blocks of the Month for November: pic.twitter.com/nthL0LHGbD
Sabonis is averaging 17.3 points and 12.0 boards per game for Indiana, who comes in having lost three of their last four. He’s averaged 16.3 points and 14.3 rebounds per contest over that span.
Capela has averaged 15.0 points and 16.5 rebounds over the Hawks last four games.
It isn’t a one-tower operation on either side with John Collins and Myles Turner around. Collins has been playing some of his best basketball lately.
Turner is day-to-day with a non-COVID illness. But he is also second in the league in blocks, while the Pacers are tied for first. Atlanta is 25h with Capela (18th) and Collins (21st) leading the way. This could make for some interesting meetings at the basket. Neither Collins nor Capela has been afraid to challenge even the toughest rim protectors.
Despite the road skid and their most recent bump in the road, the Hawks are just 3.5 games back of the first-place Brooklyn Nets. How they navigate these next few weeks until they start getting guys back is going to be critical down the stretch.