The Atlanta Hawks beat the Orlando Magic in a fourth quarter thriller, where Mouhamed Gueye made his case for a regular rotation spot.
Despite being just the second game of the season, the Hawks were missing two starters yesterday: Kristaps Porzingis and Zaccharie Risacher. Onyeka Okongwu started in place of Porzingis, but he would be pulled early after picking up two fouls within the first two minutes of the game.
Snyder subbed in Gueye, whose impact was immediately felt. He would finish with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block on 5-9 from the field and 2-5 from three. Gueye finished with a game-high +21 plus-minus, but his impact stretched far beyond the box score. He was an energetic force who motivated the team with a technical foul after not letting Paolo Banchero bully him for the ball, and rallied spirits after Keaton Wallace took a hard fall on defense in the fourth.
Gueye is a perfect fit with this team and reinforces its identity
Gueye deserves a spot in the rotation, and he probably deserved it even before this game. At 6’11 with mobility reminiscent of Evan Mobley, he has the potential to be a truly special defender. Gueye has started to master the mental side of defense as he enters his third NBA season, and the Magic had no answer for him.
Five minutes into his stint, Jalen Johnson was beaten by Paolo Banchero off the dribble while Gueye was moving towards the top of the key, following his man. Gueye identified the advantage and rotated across the paint for a downright disrespectful block that generated a transition opportunity.
While his block was the most electrifying aspect of the game, a play that did not result in a stock showed Gueye at his finest. Anthony Black had Trae Young isolated at the top of the key after a screen, and the bigger Black began to bully Young into the paint with his shoulder. Gueye, who was guarding the screener, Paolo Banchero, initially recovered to his assignment.
After seeing Young was in danger, Gueye had a perfectly timed rotation and swipe at the ball, forcing a turnover. The basketball IQ to not just identify a potential problem but then force a turnover is a blessing Atlanta must take advantage of.
Perhaps most surprising about Gueye’s night was his offensive performance. The Senegalese big man went 2-5 from deep, with a clear preference for camping in the left corner. He also was active in transition, where he could be a dangerous weapon with his height and length. There were some offensive areas he could clean up, such as a poorly timed turnaround midrange and leaning three point shot, but overall, Gueye was a positive on this end of the floor, a critical development for him.
While Gueye still has strides to make as a player to reach his potential, yesterday’s matchup against the Magic proved one thing for sure: Mo Gueye needs more minutes.