Advanced Scout: Miami Heat Take On A Revamped Lakers Roster

Saturday, Nov. 11 vs Atlanta Hawks

Biggest storyline:

Are the Atlanta Hawks in good shape after trading John Collins? During this offseason, the Hawks finally resolved the ongoing John Collins trade saga by offloading him to the Utah Jazz for salary purposes after years of trade speculation. Since reaching the Eastern Conference finals two seasons ago, the Hawks have experienced significant transformations. They completed a trade for Dejounte Murray, terminated head coach Nate McMillan’s contract mid-season, and appointed Quin Snyder as his replacement. Additionally, the Hawks obtained Saddiq Bey before the trade deadline.

This offseason, the Hawks solely executed the trade of Collins, and they are relying on continuity under Snyder’s leadership, as well as the development of players like Jalen Johnson, AJ Griffin, and Onyeka Okongwu, to propel them toward their desired destination.

Toughest matchup:

The Hawks possess two potential contenders for the sixth man of the year accolade, namely Onyeka Okongwu and Bogdan Bogdanovic, as well as, two formidable players in Dejounte Murray and Clint Capela. These players will hold significant roles within the Hawks’ lineup against the Heat and will be a challenging matchup. Okongwu is expected to make a notable impact on both offense and defense. In addition, Murray’s combination of athleticism and length as a guard makes him a formidable force, excelling as both a facilitator and defender. Center Clint Capela is a skilled rim-runner who takes efficient shots and constantly hovers around the basket.

The Heat can exploit several defensive weaknesses in the Hawk’s game, but their offensive game poses a threat, as last year Snyder led the team to have the 4th-most efficient offense in the league at 119.5 points per 100 possessions. While Miami won three of four regular-season contests against Atlanta last season and held them to an average of 114 points per game, Miami will still need to execute strongly to keep them out of the paint.

Depth chart:

PG: Trae Young / Dejounte Murray

SG: Dejounte Murray / Bogdan Bogdanovic

SF: Zaiaire Williams / John Konchar

PF: Saddiq Bey / Jalen Johnson

C: Clint Capela  / Onyeka Okongwu