Spurs have great bounce back opportunity against bottom feeding Hawks

The  San Antonio Spurs are coming off a road trip that featured some of the toughest teams in the Eastern Conference and get to face the Atlanta Hawks.

Despite their sub .500 record for the month, the San Antonio Spurs have been playing some of their best basketball in January. They’ve recorded impressive wins against some of the best teams that the Eastern Conference has to offer and now get a great bounce-back opportunity as they return home for the first time since January 6th.

Coming off of a tough loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday the Spurs now face the cupcake Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks have been one of the most disappointing teams in the league this year and currently sit at the bottom of the East. Outside of Trae Young, and occasionally John Collins, there isn’t anyone on this team that should scare the Spurs.

An interesting sub-plot to this game is the Hawks recently reported interest in Spurs center, Jakob Poeltl. Atlanta has been scouring the trade market for frontcourt help and they’ve been linked to both Andre Drummond and Steven Adams. Poeltl would cost them less in a trade and provides the pick and roll and rim-protecting ability that they could desperately use.

The Spurs would likely want one of Atlantas young up and coming wings in any potential deal involving Poeltl. As much upside as Cam Reddish, De’Andre Hunter, and Kevin Huerter have, they’re in for a long, tough night tonight. All three will likely spend some time guarding DeMar DeRozan and all three are likely to get burned.

DeMar historic run of high scoring, high-efficiency games was enough to win him Western Conference Player of the Week last week. He’s continued his scorching hot this week and the Hawks are the next victim in line. DeRozan is just one of three players to have 11 straight games with 20+ points and 3+ assists while shooting over 52% from the floor in the last 35 years. The other two: LeBron James and Michael Jordan.

Gameday bets and prediction

The San Antonio Spurs should easily win, cover, and hit the over in this one. The Spurs haven’t been the best defenders this season but compared to the Hawks they’re a brick wall. DeRozan should be able to continue his hot streak, look for Aldridge to rain in three’s, and the supporting cast of guards should also be in for a big night.

For all of the wizardry that Trae Young brings on the offensive end of the floor, he’s an absolute liability on defense. He makes Bryn Forbes look like Eric Bledsoe. Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, really whoever is matched up on Young, should have a field day tonight.

The San Antonio Spurs have found their stride over the last two weeks and tonight should be a continuation of that. Against one of the worst teams in the NBA, the Spurs should put on a show and easily come away with a win.