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The Atlanta Hawks will continue their preseason schedule on Thursday night when they host the defending Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs. The Hawks are still seeking their first victory of the preseason after falling in their opening game.
As is often the case in preseason basketball, the biggest uncertainty surrounds which players will actually take the court. With five exhibition games on the docket, teams frequently rest their star players and starters, and the absence of official injury reports makes it difficult to predict who will be available on any given night.
In their previous outing, the Hawks were without CJ McCollum and Lu Dort. Meanwhile, the Spurs, who boast one of the NBA's deepest rosters, may opt to limit the minutes of their key contributors to avoid unnecessary wear and tear.
Regardless of who suits up, here are three aspects of the game to keep an eye on.
Bench Defense
Atlanta aspires to be one of the league's top defensive teams this season. Even without Dort, the starters performed well on that end, limiting the Memphis Grizzlies to just 22 points. However, the defense faltered once the reserves entered the game. The Hawks were outscored 49-26 in the second quarter, with the frontcourt trio of Corey Kispert, Asa Newell, and Jock Landale struggling significantly. For the Hawks to succeed this season, the second unit must improve, and there is confidence that it will. It will be rare for head coach Quin Snyder to have none of Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, or Dort on the floor, but Dort's absence made that scenario more likely.
More Minutes for Zuby Ejiofor?
Zuby Ejiofor, the No. 23 overall pick in this summer's draft, was selected largely for his defense, toughness, and physicality. In the game against Memphis, he did not play in the first half but logged a little over 14 minutes in the second half. When he was on the court, the team displayed increased urgency, physicality, and toughness. While not solely attributable to him, the difference was noticeable.
Better Shooting Night
Coach Snyder encourages his teams to attempt three-pointers frequently. Whether it was the starters or the bench, the Hawks did not shoot well from beyond the arc on Monday against Memphis. The team made just 14 of 43 attempts from deep, with Corey Kispert accounting for four of those makes. The rest of the team combined to shoot 10-of-36. While this may not be an elite shooting squad, Atlanta needs to find a rhythm and get its offense going against the Spurs, one of the NBA's premier defensive teams.
Jackson Caudell has been a publisher at the On SI network for four years and has extensive knowledge covering college athletics and the NBA. He is also the co-host of the Bleav in Georgia Tech podcast and is dedicated to providing thoughtful analysis and comprehensive coverage. Follow him on X @jacksoncaudell.