Atlanta and the Brooklyn Nets will play at State Farm Arena tonight.
The Brooklyn Nets will be in town for a matchup with Atlanta tonight as the team looks to end its three-game losing streak.
The Hawks released their injury report for tonight’s game against the Nets in advance of their encounter; it was empty of any new names, but it did include AJ Griffin, who was out yesterday due to illness. Although Griffin has fluctuated in and out of Atlanta’s lineup this season, it’s good to see him removed from the injury report. Mouhamed Gueye and Kobe Bufkin are still on it.
Some important players for Brooklyn won’t be available tonight. The top scorer for the Nets, Cam Thomas, is not playing tonight. Dennis Smith and Ben Simmons are not coming out tonight.
In terms of points per game (122.4), field goal percentage (48.7%), three-point percentage (12.4%), rebounds (18.7%), and turnovers (24.4%), Atlanta is ranked third in the NBA. While it is difficult to criticize much of their offensive output, they do commit turnovers at a startling rate, and their rebounding has deteriorated significantly this season.
Atlanta is ranked third in offensive rebounding percentage, fourth in points per 100 possessions, sixth in effective field goal percentage, 21st in turnover percentage, and second in free throw rate, according to Cleaning the Glass.
Jalen Johnson has been a terrific addition to the lineup this year, and Dejounte Murray is off to a fantastic start to the season. Bogdan Bogdanovic, who averages 15.5 points per game on 45.3% shooting, has been among the NBA’s best bench players.
De’Andre Hunter is one player who needs to start performing better. For the most part of the match, Hunter was essentially invisible in a game where the total ended at 309 points. In order to reach their desired position among the top six teams in the East, Atlanta must get Hunter to start playing better.
Though not excellent, Brooklyn’s defense is respectable. The Nets are allowing 17 points per game, 8 points per game in field goal percentage, and 7 points per game in three-point field goal percentage. Brooklyn ranks 14th in terms of effective field goal percentage allowed and 20th in terms of points per 100 possessions allowed, according to Cleaning the Glass. One of the league’s top defensive players, Mikal Bridges will present a challenging matchup challenge for the Hawks’ playmakers.
The Nets’ offense isn’t bad, but it doesn’t really stand out either, much like their defense. PPG-wise, Brooklyn is ranked 19th, field goal percentage-wise, fifth, rebounding, three-point percentage-wise, and tenth in terms of turnovers. In terms of points per 100 possessions, the Nets rank 11th, effective field goal percentage is 12th, turnover percentage is 17th, offensive rebounding percentage is 13th, and free throw rate is 28th, according to Cleaning the Glass.
Brooklyn is a strong rebounding and three-point shooting team. They do not play elite defense, but they do play good defense. The Nets are 6-7 for a reason, and I believe it to be that they are merely a mediocre team with a majority of above-average to mediocre players.