Soaring Down South
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The Atlanta Hawks draw a down Blazers team without Dame, CJ

By Joshua Buckhalter

PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 16: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks shake hands after the Blazers defeated the Hawks 112-106 at Moda Center on January 16, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 16: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks shake hands after the Blazers defeated the Hawks 112-106 at Moda Center on January 16, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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Fans of the Atlanta Hawks know full well the NBA is a fickle place. One moment you’re riding high, and the next your team is scrambling trying to right the ship. That is where Monday’s matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers falls as the Hawks take on a team that will be missing its best two players in Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum.

It was announced on Sunday that Lillard would miss the contest to rest an abdominal injury that has already caused him to miss a handful of games earlier in November and December.

Meanwhile, McCollum is recovering from a collapsed lung and hasn’t played in nearly a month.

Trae Young vs Damian Lillard would have been a dynamite matchup

It’s a shame that neither player will suit up in this one, but especially Lillard. Not only is he the Blazers best player, but he and Trae Young also have a lot of similarities. More so than even Young and Stephen Curry to whom the Hawks superstar point guard has been compared since he was setting records in college at Oklahoma.

Lillard is in the midst of arguably his worst season as a pro. He’s averaging just 24.0 points per game, the fewest since 2015; his third year in the league. His 40.2 percent shooting overall and 32.4 percent from downtown are the worst marks of his career.

Neither team has been great with the Hawks 16-19 and the Blazers 13-22. Still, when healthy and right he has the same wow factor as Young.

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We all get a clear visual when we hear the phrase ‘Logo Lillard’.Young has the same impact when he pulls up just past halfcourt. That’s how he’s become the leader from that zone in such short order. Those shots, when they hit, can feel like backbreaking daggers for opponents because there is simply no way to defend them.

An argument can be made that Lillard has more clutch logo shots. But that has come with time and experience.

From what we’ve seen from Young he will have plenty of opportunities to do the same.

Unfortunately, he won’t get a chance to battle it out with his counterpart who averages over 22 points and six assists against the Hawks and averaged 34.5 points on 50 percent shooting and 43.4 percent from three in two meetings last season.

Young averages 27.2 points and 10.3 assists against Portland and had 23.5 points and 11.0 assists in those two games which the two teams split.

Next. Things are not as bleak for the Hawks as they may seem. dark

The Hawks are also getting healthier and could use this to, not only continue their good vibes from New Year’s Eve but also get the returning players back up to speed.

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