The Hawks got really, really big this summer.
The acquisitions of Kristaps Porzingis, N'Faly Dante, Asa Newell, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker were noted by coach Quin Snyder, who recognizes he has access to some of the most ridiculous physical tools that the league has to offer this year.
The Hawks will match up against opponents as the physical superiors in many aspects nearly every time they take the hardwood this year - be it height, wingspan, muscle, you name it - this team is studded with physical advantages.
As luck would have it, however, the Hawks will walk into the Rockets arena later tonight in a rare matchup where they'll be forced to put on the other shoe. As can be seen below, Houston has a downright ludicrous ten active players with at least a seven-foot wingspan.
Player | Height | Wingspan |
|---|---|---|
Steven Adams | 7'0 | 7'5 |
Clint Capela | 7'0 | 7'5 |
Kevin Durant | 6'11 | 7'5 |
Jabari Smith Jr. | 6'11 | 7'1 |
Alperen Sengun | 6'11 | 7'0 |
Tari Eason | 6'8 | 7'2 |
Jeff Green | 6'8 | 7'1 |
Amen Thompson | 6'7 | 7'0 |
Dorian Finney-Smith | 6'7 | 7'0 |
Josh Okogie | 6'4 | 7'0 |
As impressive as Atlanta's physicality will be this year, Houston is arguably even more intimidating from top to bottom. With that being said, the battle with the Rockets shouldn't be seen as a bad stroke of luck, but rather a vital opportunity for the Hawks to test their mettle against the best.
Overcoming Houston's length is key to establishing the Hawks' identity
While facing off against the Rockets will no doubt prove a significant challenge for Atlanta, that's exactly what they need to set the tone for the year.
If Trae Young can spearhead an effort to minimize turnovers and opposing fast break opportunities (of which, Houston has been elite at forcing thanks to their length) against the Rockets, doing so against the vast majority of other teams this season will seem a cakewalk.
In addition to their height and length, Houston has also played a very smashmouth brand of basketball in recent years. Alperen Sengun's low-post strength in conjunction with Amen Thompson's Giannis-esque affinity for driving to the rim were enough to fell more than a handful of contenders during regular-season matchups last year.
If Atlanta can stymie the Rockets' physicality - starting with Porzingis guarding Sengun and Daniels on Thompson - the potential begins to be created for the year for the Hawks to establish themselves as the creme de la creme of defensive units.
NBA coaches have long raved about the phenomenon of an entire roster buying in to the team's mission, identity, and drive to win. Such a squad is often fleeting - here one season, gone the next, thanks to roster turnover. A role player or two can make or break the team's collective passion.
Such role players often find their way to the forefront of the rotation through impressing in a preseason setting, and tonight's battle against the Rockets is certainly no exception. If N'Faly Dante, Mouhamed Gueye, or Asa Newell can match Houston's physicality and bring the energy needed off the bench, coach Snyder would be hard-pressed to deny them a larger role going forward.
A win in Houston would be the dream springboard for Atlanta to propel themselves into a successful regular season campaign - don't be surprised if one or two Hawks role players begin to cement themselves as regulars in Snyder's deep rotation. As is well-known, deep squads are far more likely to make deep playoff runs than those bereft of top-to-bottom talent.