Brooklyn recently welcomed back guard Cam Thomas (26.1 points, 3.9 rebounds), one of the league’s most prolific scorers. That’s a huge boost for an offense that doesn’t have the same rhythm or pop as others around the league, especially without a natural playmaker running the show.
Mikal Bridges (22.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists) runs the show. His length and versatility alongside players such as Cam Johnson and Nicolas Claxton give them enough tools to form an elite defensive outfit, though they’ve underperformed on that side of the ball and rank 19th in defensive rating.
There is no excuse for the poor defense the Nets have put on tape. They’re highly switchable in a league built around the pick-and-roll, and they are ninth in defensive rebound rate. They should be much better here.
Another problem plaguing the Nets is their lack of execution down the stretch. Because they don’t have a great table-setter to give the ball to, they often resort to playing isolation ball in high-leverage moments. The result is them being 2-5 in games decided by five points or less with losses in their last three of these types of games.
What we can say positively about the Nets is their length and flexibility make them a nightmare from an individual matchup perspective. They have tons of players who are used to sacrificing for a collective goal and will dive for loose balls, fight for rebounds, set screens, and make good cuts to the basket.
Brooklyn is also second in three-point percentage (39%), which has helped it survive the lack of facilitation.
The Hawks have the fourth-best offensive rating and average the second-most points per game (123.2) in the league. Quin Snyder has created a system that allows them to leverage Trae Young’s abilities both as a scorer and passer without compromising the touches of their host of wings.
Similarly to Brooklyn, Atlanta has plenty of excellent defensive pieces. Whether that be Djounte Murray, De’Andre Hunter, Jalen Johnson, or others, there’s no reason for the Hawks to be a terrible 26th in defensive rating.
One of the situations to monitor here will be the fundamental difference in approach between the two teams. Whereas the Nets are only 23rd in pace and play a more deliberate style, the Hawks rank third and want to run whenever they can.
Atlanta may also struggle on the glass. They’re league-average in rebounding but are facing a team that thrives in grabbing boards, and they’re missing 7.3 rebounds per game from the injured Jalen Johnson.
Young (27.1 points, 10.7 assists) is the player to watch. He averaged 32.9 points and 10 assists over his last seven games and put up 43 points and nine assists and made eight threes when the two teams faced off on Nov. 22.
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Nets vs. Hawks Prediction and Betting Pick
Both teams have their selling points and the potential to be fighting for a top-10 spot in defensive rankings, though they’ve let that pass them by.
The return of Cam Thomas gives the Nets a player who can score in bunches and keep up whenever opposing stars go off. Given that Young scored 43 when these teams played a couple of weeks ago, that could turn out to be a necessity.
Neither team is particularly great in the context of home and away. The Nets’ three-point shooting makes them a threat anywhere they go, especially since they’re actually hitting 41.9% of their threes on the road.
We like the Nets to get a win here. They can control the glass, have the ability to throw multiple bodies at Young, and have Thomas back to lead the scoring. We wish we’d see more consistent team defense, but the same can be said for the Hawks.
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