NBA Matchups: March 16

Atlanta Hawks at Charlotte Hornets

Team Totals: Hawks 121, Hornets 120

Injury Report: John Collins (O, finger), Danilo Gallinari (P, Achilles), Gordon Hayward (O, ankle)

Hawks projected starters: Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, De’Andre Hunter, Danilo Gallinari, Clint Capela

Hornets projected starters: LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges, P.J. Washington, Mason Plumlee

McMillan quotes: Had his usual quotes on Trae playing faster and he’s been better there, said Hunter can play the four, said Delon did a “really nice job” on Hart and he liked Bogdan in the second unit, said the B2B affected them in the first half against the Blazers.

Borrego quotes: Nothing too specific, mostly just talked about following the game plan.

Stats and Notes: 

*The Hornets continue to play in favorable game environments as one of the worst teams at keeping teams in the halfcourt, they get beat at the rim while giving up 3-pointers, and they play fast on their offensive side. The Hawks have been playing better on the defensive end with Capela getting in a better groove and De’Andre Hunter picking it up. The Hornets had an easy schedule, but they’re first in the NBA for O rating since the break. With this game being in Charlotte, it should be a solid environment.

*This should be a Trae spot, as McMillan has leaned on him more. He’s routinely been flirting with 10 minutes of touch time, and the Hawks may lean into the pace more. Young has been just so-so in the Hornets matchups, but the Hornets were playing Cody Martin a ton in all of those (I’ll get to Cody in a sec). Trae’s a pretty good play, but not a great one.

*Clint Capela could be in a good spot here. His rebounding rate improves without Collins, and Capela has put it on Plumlee in the handful of times they’ve gone against each other this year. In a non-B2B game, there’s some upside in this spot.

*Hard pass on the frontcourt guys here. As mentioned in the Trae note, Borrego loves to go to Cody Martin, so I would expect him to cut into Plumlee, Washington, and Harrell a ton here — especially Washington. The lineup with Cody for P.J. is the best offensive lineup in the NBA at a 130.2 O rating (min 100 minutes, 79 qualifiers), so it might just be a straight swap on starters. Cody Martin is an option as a punt, but probably not on this huge slate.

*After getting some cake matchups lately, this is not the one for Miles Bridges. De’Andre Hunter will get the assignment, so other perimeter guys should have easier paths to a bigger game.

*LaMelo? Sure, but he’s just such a risky option. There’s plenty of upside as he likely sees Kevin Huerter, but the Hawks have held him in check with only 17 points per game on a 31/20/100 line. He’s fine. Generally, I’m buying the Hawks’ defense.

Philadelphia 76ers at Cleveland Cavaliers