The Atlanta Hawks are looking much more out of sync so far this season than they ended last year. Injuries are playing a major part in the team's lack of wins as they are fresh off a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The roster is not getting any healthier as they enter a tough stretch of games that begin with the Boston who have injury problems of their own.
The Hawks will be without both Tiago Splitter and Kent Bazemore in Tuesday's matchup against the Celtics. The Hawks might get lucky and have Jeff Teague back on the court. The point guard did not start Satruday's game against the Cavaliers, but as things were getting bad for the team, he stepped in and finished as the main point guard. Teague is listed as probable and could be in the starting lineup. That may or may not help the Hawks get something moving for the better.
The game against the Cavaliers was ugly for Atlanta. The team shot just 37.2 percent while getting dominated inside 44-30. That could be exposed even more with Splitter out. While the Hawks' offense has been mostly fine this season, their defense has allowed most of their opponents to hang in the game. The Cavaliers outrebounded the team 51-38 which caused most of Atlanta's issues.
The Celtics are hoping to take advantage of a weaker defense while also not getting exposed themselves. The team allowed the Brooklyn Nets to shoot 50.6 percent in a loss on the road. That was after the Nets shot 39.3 percent the evening prior. One of the biggest issues for the Celtics is the lack of Marcus Smart on the court. The point guard is expected to be out at least two weeks with a lower leg injury. He is one of their best defensive presences. Avery Bradley and Isaiah Thomas can get the job done scoring, but defensively they lack what Smart has.
Thomas and Bradley will have to contain Al Horford who has been big this season shooting from the outside. He along with Kyle Korver who is heating up from beyond the arc will need to help push the Hawks' offense with Bazemore and Splitter out.