The Los Angeles Lakers snapped the Atlanta Hawks' four-game win streak with a 124-114 victory on Nov. 9. Atlanta committed 19 turnovers in the loss and could not maintain offensive consistency throughout all four quarters. It sandwiched a 35-point and 33-point second and third frames between a 22-point first and 24-point fourth.
However, the team has the perfect opportunity to bounce back on Friday, Nov. 13, against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. Chicago is off to an abysmal 1-9 start, and its defense certainly leaves a lot to be desired.
Hawks can be patient to find the best shot possible against the Bulls
Inconsistent 3-point shooting has plagued Atlanta in a few early-season losses. The Hawks shot 7-for-21 from beyond the arc in the first half against Los Angeles but bounced back with a 10-for-23 performance in the second half. They also struggled mightily against the Brooklyn Nets on Nov. 7, shooting just 12-for-46 from deep in a comeback victory.
However, the Bulls provide Atlanta the perfect opportunity to get back on track. They allow the most points in the league at 129.3 per night. Chicago also ranks dead last with a 123.6 defensive rating and a -16.2 net rating. Atlanta should be able to create the looks it wants in the half court and still stick to its style of forcing turnovers and running in transition.
Atlanta should have no trouble generating quality perimeter looks against the Bulls. They rank 29th in opponent 3-point percentage (39.5%) and 28th in threes allowed per game (14.9). Chicago has yet to hold an opponent under 124 points. Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, and Matas Buzelis have struggled to contain perimeter shooters and stay in front of their matchups.
This means perimeter shooters like Nickeil Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum, and Aaron Wiggins could be in store for a big night on Friday. Players like Jalen Johnson, Jock Landale, and Dyson Daniels, who have struggled from outside, could find the range against a porous Bulls defense.
Hawks must break this trend
Despite the Bulls being in a rebuilding phase, Atlanta is just 3-7 against Chicago over parts of the last three campaigns. The Hawks have struggled to keep guards out of the paint, leading to defensive breakdowns.
However, this is a new-look Chicago squad looking to prioritize their young, talented wings: Buzelis and Atlanta native Caleb Wilson. Johnson and Daniels likely guard Buzelis and Wilson, respectively. If Atlanta limits their impact, the Hawks put themselves in a great position to succeed, especially considering the Bulls' major defensive struggles.
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