Just-In: The Hawks Unveils Numerous Vital Starters on the Injured List for their Clash with Raptors

The Atlanta Hawks may be hobbling into Toronto on Wednesday night ahead of a date with the Toronto Raptors.

It appears likely that Trae Young will play, though he’s listed as probable with right shoulder soreness. Young played just 26 minutes in the Hawks’ most recent game before being ejected with two quick technical fouls in the third quarter.

De’Andre Hunter is a little more iffy to play as he’s listed as questionable with right knee soreness. He missed Atlanta’s last game with the injury, forcing the Hawks to turn to Garrison Mathews in the starting lineup in Hunter’s place.

Jalen Johnson, Atlanta’s suddenly surging fourth-year forward, is officially listed as out. It’ll be the eighth straight game he’s missed this year with a fracture in his left knee. His injury has forced Atlanta to start Saddiq Bey over the past little while.

Atlanta’s first-round pick Kobe Bufkin is also out as he continues to work his way back from a fracture in his left thumb.

Mouhamed Gueye, the younger brother of Raptors 905 forward Mouhamadou Gueye, is the only other Hawks player expected to miss the game due to injury.

For Toronto, Otto Porter Jr. and Chris Boucher are both questionable to play. Neither player participated in a full practice on Tuesday though Porter did take part in some shootaround work after practice ended. Porter is tending to a left foot injury while Boucher has a left thigh contusion.

Christian Koloko is the only other Raptors player out as he continues to battle through ongoing respiratory issues.

Unstoppable force meets an immovable object tonight in Toronto

The Atlanta Hawks have one of the worst defenses in the NBA, but they are going against one of the worst offenses in the NBA tonight when they play the Raptors. Atlanta has been saved in some games by having one of the best offenses in the NBA, but they might be shorthanded again tonight.

Jalen Johnson is still battling a wrist injury and there has been no update on him, but De’Andre Hunter and Trae Young are both on the injury report for tonight’s game. Hunter is questionable with right knee soreness and Young is probable with right shoulder soreness. Hunter missed the game on Monday night against the Nuggets and Garrison Matthews started in his place.

Not only that but AJ Griffin has been ruled out due to personal reasons. If Atlanta is going to miss either Young or Hunter or both, it is going to be tough to win. Hunter is the best wing defender the Hawks have with Johnson out and with the amount of size that the Raptors have with guys like Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Scottie Barnes, that becomes a huge problem for an already poor defense.

If Young is out, Trent Forrest and Patty Mills will likely see playing time, like they did last Friday against the 76ers when Young was out with an illness. A lot would be placed on Dejounte Murray and Bogdan Bogdanovic if that happens. The Hawks come into the game 3rd in the NBA in PPG, 19th in field goal percentage, 13th in three-point percentage, 2nd in offensive rebounding, and 17th in turnovers.

Per Cleaning the Glass, Atlanta is 5th in points per 100 possessions, 16th in effective field goal percentage, 11th in turnover percentage, 3rd in offensive rebounding percentage, and 6th in free throw rate. The Hawks do well on the glass to get second-chance points and they are very good at getting to the free-throw line, making up for being just average shooting the ball.

Toronto was known for having elite defensive teams when Nick Nurse was the head coach, but they are just average on that end of the court this season. Toronto is 17th in PPG allowed, 19th in field goal percentage allowed, and 24th in three-point percentage allowed. Per Cleaning the Glass, Toronto is 15th in points per 100 possessions allowed and 18th in effective field goal percentage. With players like Anunoby, Barnes, and Siakam, you would think that Toronto would be much better on defense, but they are just average.

If Hunter and/or Young do not play, the Hawks are going to need Bogdanovic to have another big game. He hit ten threes and had 40 points against the Nuggets on Monday and almost willed the team to an unbelievable comeback. He has been the second-best player on the team this year in my opinion and will need to have a big game tonight. Toronto ranks 22nd in the NBA in PPG, 21st in field goal percentage, last in three-point percentage, 5th in offensive rebounding, and 16th int turnovers.

Per Cleaning the Glass, the Raptors rank 22nd in points per 100 possessions, 24th in effective field goal percentage, 19th in turnover rate, 5th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 25th in free throw rate. Outside of offensive rebounding, there is not a lot that the Raptors do well on offense. They don’t have any shooting on the team, although Scottie Barnes has gotten better in that area this year, and they don’t have a lot of playmakers. If there is a defense that can make the Raptors offense look good though it is Atlanta’s.

The Hawks rank 28th in PPG allowed, 28th in field goal percentage allowed, and 23rd in three-point percentage allowed. Per Cleaning the Glass, Atlanta is 26th in points per 100 possessions allowed and 29th in effective field goal percentage allowed.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUPS

Hawks:

G- Trae Young G- Dejounte Murray F- De’Andre Hunter F- Saddiq Bey C- Clint Capela Raptors G- Dennis Schroder G- OG Anunoby F- Scottie Barnes F- Pascal Siakam

C- Jakob Poetl If Hunter is out, my guess is Garrison Matthews gets the starting again, but I could be wrong. If Young is out, look for Bogdanovic to start.

PLAYER TO WATCH ON THE HAWKS-

THE BENCH I am going to cheat a little bit here, but even if Young and Hunter play, the Hawks have to get more from their bench (outside of Bogdanovic). Bogdanovic should be in the running for the 6th man of the year, but the rest of the bench has been underwhelming. Garrison Matthews, Wesley Matthews, Onyeka Okongwu, and everyone else has to score more and make an impact on the game, which they have not been doing.

PLAYER TO WATCH ON THE RAPTORS-

SCOTTIE BARNES Barnes is the best player in Toronto and their best offensive playmaker in my opinion. If he is able to knock down threes and set his teammates up, that is when the Raptors are at their best. Barnes can be the best player on the floor in this game, no matter who plays.

PREDICTION

It is just hard to trust the Hawks right now, even if they are playing an opponent who is not that good. The Raptors can find enough offense against a defense like this and score, while the Hawks could be down as many as three starters. The game is in Toronto and I think the Raptors win tonight.