The Clippers take on the Hawks on the road to take on old friend Lou Williams and Trae Young. Keep reading for a full preview of the Clippers’ game against the Hawks.
Game Information
Where: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
When: 4:30 PM PT
How to Watch: Bally Sports SoCal
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: Reggie Jackson – Terance Mann – Nicolas Batum – Marcus Morris – Ivica Zubac
Hawks: Trae Young – Kevin Huerter – De’Andre Hunter – John Collins – Clint Capela
Injuries
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard Out (Knee), Paul George Out (Elbow), Robert Covington Out (Personal), Jay Scrubb Out (Foot), Jason Preston Out (Foot)
Hawks: None
The Big Picture
The Clippers’ win on Wednesday was even more impactful on the standings since every team below them lost. The Clips keep maintaining distance between themselves and the Lakers and Pelicans, holding onto that crucial 8th seed in the play-in. Unfortunately, the two teams ahead of them, the Wolves and Nuggets, are on extended winning streaks, and show no signs of slowing. The Clippers’ offense remains far too reliant on Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris for comfort, but their defense has been stout the entire season, and their will to win games can’t be denied. Robert Covington’s absence hurts on defense, but the Clippers still have the pieces to make Atlanta fight for buckets. If their shooters get hot, they can definitely take out the Hawks on the road.
The Antagonist
The Hawks have had one of the most disappointing seasons in the NBA, and might take the cake if it weren’t for the catastrophic Lakers. Coming off an Eastern Conference Finals run with a young team and great continuity, it was thought that a top-six spot was a lock, and many people pegged them as a likely top-four team. Instead, they’re 31-34, just a hair above the Wizards for 10th place in the East, and barely hanging on in the play-in. Trae Young has been spectacular, and John Collins has been around the same or improved a bit, but every other key player on the roster has stagnated or worsened. Defense has been a particular issue, with Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Danilo Gallinari’s declines there making the Hawks into one of the worst defenses in the NBA. They are still very good offensively and an explosive team, but the Hawks are mediocre rather than great, and that’s disappointing.
Notes
Shortened Rotation: Ty Lue played just an eight-man rotation against the Wizards on Wednesday night with Covington out, with Luke Kennard, Terance Mann, and Isaiah Hartenstein the only bench players. Considering how poorly Brandon Boston Jr. has played of late, and the lack of utility of Rodney Hood and Semi Ojeleye, the move makes sense, especially for short-term durations. It will be interesting if Lue goes back to the slim rotation in this one, or if he opts for Boston or one of the veterans for short stints just to keep minutes down.
Attacking Trae: Trae Young is one of the worst defenders in the NBA, and moreover, his size and position makes him easy to target. The Clippers should attack him almost every time he’s on the court, especially with pick and rolls. Big Zu sets nasty screens, and Young is notoriously prone to dying on them, which should enable Reggie Jackson (or whoever the ballhandler is) to get downhill and create looks for others. If the Clippers are able to get Trae switched onto one of their bigger players like Marcus Morris or Nic Batum, he stands no chance in the post. The Hawks do have solid defenders in Collins, Hunter, and Huerter, but Young is a sore spot the Clippers need to pick at.
That about does it for this preview of the Clippers’ game against the Hawks. Leave your comments below!
