Game Preview: Hawks look for first win of the season on the road in Milwaukee
The Hawks are going to have their hands full tonight as they try and get their first win of the season.
Atlanta is going on the road for the second time this season and their opponent is going to be one of the best teams in the NBA. Milwaukee is seen as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and in their first game of the season against the 76ers, the new pairing of Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo looked like it was going to be a seamless transition.
Milwaukee is going to be without Khris Middleton tonight and Atlanta is still missing Wesley Matthews. It will be interesting to see how Milwaukee replaces Middleton in the starting lineup tonight and how their rotation will work out.
Atlanta is in need of a win tonight and it won't be easy. To get the win, the defense is going to have to be better than it was against the Knicks, and guards Trae Young and Dejounte Murray are going to have to be better. The Knicks hit 20 three-pointers on Friday night, including eight from Jalen Brunson and Young shot 4-16 from the field. At 0-2, the Hawks can't afford to continue losing and put themselves in a hole this early in the year.
Projected Starting lineups:
Hawks:
G- Trae Young
G- Dejounte Murray
F- De'Andre Hunter
F- Saddiq Bey
C- Clint Capela
Bucks:
G- Damian Lillard
G- Malik Beasley
F- Pat Connaughton
F- Giannis Antetokounmpo
C- Brook Lopez
Damian Lillard going up for a shot against the 76ers
Key Player to watch on Atlanta: Trae Young
I think the discourse over Young's start to the season has gone a little too far, but it has been a disappointing start for the Hawks All-Star point guard. Young is averaging 20.5 PPG and 10.5 APG. Young is shooting 22.9% and 21.4% from three-point range and when he talked about his struggles the other night, he seemed optimistic he could get things going:
"For me, I just have to continue to be better in every area, I have not started... I am getting assists but I mean I am turning the ball over and some of that is playing through contact and the refs not calling that and that is leading to bad shots that are going off the glass that I am getting fouled but not getting the call, I just have to play through that. I have to continue to get better in all areas not just one so I have to do that first and then the rest of the team, we are going to get better if we just listen to Quin and just continue to get these reps up and our offense I feel like... our offense is affecting our defense right now to be honest with you I think our defense has been really good but our offense maybe is... sometimes I will go up and I won't get the call and I will shoot a layup under the basket and then they are in a five on four that way so that has not been putting our team in good position so for me, I have to do better in those positions and I will and I will help my teammates out and we just have to continue to trust this process and we will be all right I believe."
Bucks Player to Watch: Damian Lillard
It is hard to imagine a better debut for Lillard than the one he had the other night. Lillard had 39 points, eight rebounds, and four assists and had his usual clutch shooting late in the game. The Hawks's defense struggled to defend Jalen Brunson the other night and Lillard is an even harder cover. His ability to pull up and shoot from anywhere on the floor and the pick-and-roll with Antetokounmpo is going to be impossible to stop. I will be interested to see how Atlanta chooses to defend Lillard and my hunch is probably Murray will start on Lillard.
Prediction:
The Hawks need a win and without Middleton, I think the Hawks will get one tonight against the Bucks. Giannis and Dame are going to be impossible to stop, but the depth and supporting cast around Milwaukee without Middleton is not as good. As great as Lillard is on offense, the perimeter defense for the Bucks takes a hit without Jrue Holiday. Atlanta needs a win and they will get one tonight in Milwaukee thanks to a big performance from Young.
Final Score: Hawks 117, Bucks 113
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