Game 1 of the Hawks-Knicks series has yet to begin, and Atlanta is already starting off on the wrong foot.
Jock Landale was just ruled out for the entire duration of the Knicks series, and potentially beyond if the Hawks can make it out of what's sure to be a grueling first round matchup.
Typically, a series-long injury to an established rotational piece is devastating for a playoff team. Good news, Hawks fans—this might just be an incredibly rare exception.
Landale's absence leaves Hawks' frontcourt wide open for opportunity
Without Jock Landale, the Hawks frontcourt has never looked thinner.
Beginning this season with Kristaps Porzingis and Onyeka Okongwu, the Hawks seemed to have very little need or opportunity for any other big men. Since then, Porzingis' health issues and eventual trade to the Warriors have forced others to take the mantle, including Landale himself.
Without Landale to flank Okongwu off the bench, Atlanta must now turn to the young Mo Gueye for rebounding and anchoring duties.
Gueye is a stellar rim protector, athlete, and switchable defender (a la Jonathan Isaac) for those unfamiliar with his game.
He's also profiled as the second-most impactful defender in the 2023 NBA Draft, behind only (you guessed it) Victor Wembanyama. Unfortunately, as with many young players in the league, Gueye has yet to develop a more refined feel for the game, and often struggles with turnovers and consistent shooting.
Negatives aside, it's quite possible that Landale's injury is a blessing in disguise for the Hawks. Gueye has been sneakily producing in limited minutes this year as one of Atlanta's most positive overall players.
Mo Gueye's impact has been positive all season long. Will it translate?
Gueye's box score numbers won't wow you. If anything, taking one glance at his stat sheet would leave the average fan wishing for more and dismissing the youngster as nothing more than a rotation player.
In reality, Gueye not only has the ceiling to be so much more—he's already what the Hawks have been looking for, and is begging to get more of an opportunity.
Mo Gueye has played nearly 1,000 minutes on court for the Hawks this regular season. During this extensive sample, Atlanta boasts an impressive +5.2 net rating. Without Gueye in nearly 2,500 minutes, Atlanta regressed to a slightly above average +2.2 net rating—that's a 3.0 swing.
Quin Snyder has limited Gueye's minutes all year long. First, it was Porzingis who barred Gueye from extensive burn. Following the KP trade, it was Landale who occupied the frontcourt minutes that Gueye would have otherwise received. With Landale out of commission for the foreseeable future, the lights are all green for Gueye.
New York will be a substantial test for Mo Gueye. While he'll most likely be dealing with New York's reserves—including Mitchell Robinson, no small test—if Okongwu gets into early foul trouble or faces injury concerns, he'll be forced to match up against the daunting Karl-Anthony Towns, arguably the most difficult center cover in the league thanks to his prolific long-range shooting.
Time will tell if Gueye will be able to step up to the plate to help Atlanta upset the lofty Knicks. We're all rooting for you, Mo—bring the series home for the Hawks.
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