Orlando Magic at Atlanta Hawks (Dec. 22, 2021): 3 Things To Watch, Odds and Prediction
The Orlando Magic finish a rough road trip in Atlanta against the Atlanta Hawks as they hope some injury relief returns when they get home.
Orlando Magic (6-25) at Atlanta Hawks (14-15)
Time/TV: 7:30 p.m./Bally Sports Florida
WATCH MAGIC-HAKWS ON FUBO TV
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Line via WynnBet: Hawks by 6.5
Tickets: $18-$350 on StubHub
2022 Season Series: Hawks 129, Magic 111 in Atlanta on Nov. 15; Hawks 111, Magic 99 in Orlando on Dec. 15; Tonight in Atlanta; Feb. 16 in Orlando
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando | 98.9 | 102.5 | 112.5 | 49.2 | 27.4 | 15.5 | 21.7 |
| Atlanta | 98.9 | 112.8 | 111.2 | 53.4 | 27.0 | 12.6 | 23.1 |
OMD Prediction
The Orlando Magic got the chance to take a breath thanks to Monday’s postponement. Both the Orlando Magic and the Toronto Raptors needed the break — the Raptors’ game tonight against the Chicago Bulls has since been postponed. The Magic apparently needed it too with another player — Mychal Mulder — entering health and safety protocols too. It was a welcomed break especially since so many of the Magic’s players had played so few games.
The Atlanta Hawks are likely looking for a little break too. They are hoping to get Trae Young back in time for their big Christmas Day game. But he will be out Wednesday. And that throws everything into the air.
The Magic have found some good energy with their G-League players. Franz Wagner is on a tear. Gary Harris and Robin Lopez are providing plenty of veteran stability. And Chuma Okeke has busted out of his early-season slump. Who is to say the Magic cannot win?
John Collins will be the best individual player in this game. But your guess is as good as mine as to what will happen.
125. Prediction. 97. 38. 102
3 Keys To Watch
Who’s in, who’s out
You would be excused if you cannot keep track of who is in an Orlando Magic uniform right now.
The only main roster players — meaning not on a two-way contract or not signed in the last week — who are not on the injury report are Franz Wagner, Gary Harris, Chuma Okeke and Robin Lopez. Everyone coming off the bench was signed in the last week.
So yeah. The Magic currently have six players in health and safety protocols. They have five players out on long-term injuries. And they have two players — Cole Anthony and Wendell Carter — questionable. At this point, neither Anthony nor Carter are expected to play.
The Magic have gotten some great play from all of these players. But this is still a team stitched together.
The Atlanta Hawks are much the same.
Trae Young, Clint Capela, Danilo Gallinari, Lou Williams and Timothe Luwawu-Caberot are in health and safety protocols. Bogdan Bogdanovic is set to return from a right ankle sprain. But the Hawks are severely undermanned and so much of what they do deals with Young.
Life without Young
It is no doubt, so much of the Atlanta Hawks’ offensive attack is centered on Trae Young. In the Orlando Magic’s last game, they broke a lot of their defensive strategies to try to contain Young to the paint and keep him off the 3-point line. The only issue was they did not take away his shots at the rim or his passes. It was a poorly executed scheme.
Still, Young matters so much. And this Hawks team is a bit difficult to predict without him.
This season, the Hawks have a 99.1 offensive rating with Young on the floor this year. The Hawks are second in the league in offensive rating overall with 112.8 points per 100 possessions. That is a significant difference. The Hawks offense just stops when Trae Young — along with John Collins, who is playing tonight — leaves the floor.
Gary “Gary Harris” Harris
Gary Harris’ early season struggles were well-documented. Everyone was kind of over the veteran and already he seemed like the guy standing in the way of the players the Magic’s fans care about seeing and developing. Harris was legitimately struggling to find his way.
The Orlando Magic though stuck with their veteran and trusted he would find his way. And he really has. Orlando has gotten a lot from the veteran guard of late.
In his last 10 games, he is averaging 13.9 points per game while shooting 50.0-percent from the floor and 39.2-percent from beyond the arc (59.8-percent effective field goal percentage). In the last two games with all the absences, Harris has scored 37 total points and has made 13 of 31 shots (41.9-percent).
Next. Orlando Magic have gone big, but stayed out of the post. dark
Certainly, in those last two games, Harris got a lot more shots and opportunity. But he has been playing at a slow and steady pace. Harris has helped this team significantly.