Non-Trae Young lineups & 2 other X-factors as Hawks get rematch vs Celtics

The Atlanta Hawks’ injury woes got worse before they, hopefully, get better.

They will be without three-time All-Star Trae Young for the game against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday as he deals with an ankle issue. While it could be a short-term injury, the Hawks face an opportunity to experiment.

There is no replacement for Young on this roster. But they still need to lear how to navigate life without him for the minutes like this or when he simply needs to rest.

Their other injuries complicate matters. But there is still something to be learned.

Keaton Wallace has prime opportunity at inopportune time

Two-way guard Keaton Wallace is poised to benefit from increased playing time in Young’s absence. Wallace, 25, is averaging 5.4 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and just a hair under 1.0 steals per game through nine appearances this season.

The Hawks have a minus-16.5 net rating with him on the floor, per Cleaning The Glass, but two lineups in particular offer some measure of hope.

The first is Wallace, Garrison Mathews, David Roddy, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu.

That group boasts a plus-11.9 mark in their limited time – just 35 qualifying possessions – together. The other features Wallace with Roddy, Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, and Clint Capela.

The second group offers the most optimism Wallace can assimilate into the starting lineup.

But it is undoubtedly a daunting first career start if the Hawks go that direction. The Celtics are reigning champions and boast strong defensive guards in Derrick White and Jrue Holiday.

Hawks injury woes digging early hole for Quin Snyder

The injury woes for the Hawks may be short-term when it comes to Young. But the overarching theme of the season has been troubling.

It has put head coach Quin Snyder in an unenviable position.

There are still kinks in the Hawks’ attack on both ends that are impossible to iron out without a full complement of players. He will not have that against the Celtics and it is unclear when he will this season.

Bogdan Bogdanovic has appeared in one game this season. De’Andre Hunter has played in two, though he is healthy and now absent after the birth of his child.

Vit Krejci has played in four games and second-year man Kobe Bufkin has not played at all.

While there are clearly extenuating circumstances, Snyder’s record through nearly 1.5 seasons at the helm is 50-64. He was 372-264 in eight seasons with teh Utah Jazz. His teams won fewer than 40 games once in that time; in his first season in 2014-15 when they won 38 contests.

The Jazz were 78-84 after Snyder’s first two seasons with no postseason appearances. They made the playoffs in each of the next six seasons.

It is going to take a lot of winning to get back from under this early hole he finds himself in.

Dominick Barlow should get some more run

Hawks prospect Dominick Barlow has appeared in two games this season. But with all the injuries they have sustained, an argument can be made that the third-year forward deserves more playing time.

Barlow has scored 1 point in his two games with the Hawks. But he had 23 points, 7 rebounds, 5 blocks, 2 assists, and 1 steal in his one game with the College Park Skyhawks.

The Hawks have been fortunate that Jalen Johnson remains healthy.

They also still have veteran Larry Nance Jr. and they have Risacher and Okongwu on hand to moonlight at the 4 as well. But in a matchup like this, giving Barlow an extended look could pay off down the road.