The final day of the NBA’s Play-In Tournament is upon us. Temperatures are flaring, pressure is rising — this is nearly a do-or-die game. Why? Four teams are competing for a chance to make the playoffs as the No. 8 seed.
In the West, it’s Ja Morant’s Memphis Grizzlies vs. Anthony Davis’ Dallas Mavericks. In the East, it’s the Atlanta Hawks vs. the Miami Heat — and that’s a matchup I’d argue is especially important.
First, the Atlanta Hawks clearly have a chip on their shoulder. After Trae Young’s ejection and their loss to the Orlando Magic, the team is looking to capitalize on a second chance at the postseason. One issue hurting them, though, is their lack of big men. Jalen Johnson, Larry Nance Jr. and Clint Capela — all solid defenders — are injured and unavailable.
The only player showing real defensive capability now is Dyson Daniels, whose arrival has made him a contender for the NBA All-Defensive Team. The 6-foot-7 guard is the Hawks’ stopper, leading the league in steals (3.0), stocks and deflections (102). He also ranks in the 99th percentile in perimeter isolation defense, passing-lane defense and defensive playmaking.
Trae Young remains crucial on the offensive end, supported by Caris LeVert, Tre Mann and Zacharie Risacher. But Daniels is the X-factor in this matchup. The Hawks need to leverage his defense to contain the Heat’s main offensive threat: Tyler Herro.
The Miami Heat, in the post-Jimmy Butler era, has not been a bad team — in fact, they’re much more well-rounded than the Hawks. The aforementioned All-Star guard, Tyler Herro, is having a fantastic season. In the Heat’s Play-In win over the Bulls, Herro scored 38 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished four assists — all while drawing fouls and breaking down the defense.
Defensively, Miami is stacked. In the backcourt, Davion “Off-Nite” Mitchell brings the intensity. If you weren’t familiar with his game, that Bulls matchup should’ve opened your eyes. Mitchell clamped down on the Bulls’ guard rotation, especially Coby White — who looked like a chicken with its head cut off when guarded by Davion. Expect Atlanta’s guard and wing rotation to face similar struggles tonight.
In the paint, the Heat has the edge as well. Bam Adebayo — a name that should instill fear — is a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions and dominate the interior. Regardless of the Hawks’ frontcourt health, Bam is poised to thrive.
And if that’s not enough, the Heat also boasts rookie center Kel’el Ware — the team’s leader in blocks. The “Kryptonian” serves as Miami’s rim protector and has shown promise as a floor spacer. He’s still young, but under the guidance of Heat Culture and head coach Erik Spoelstra, Ware has a bright future ahead.
This is the fifth meeting this season between the Hawks and the Heat. The game tips off at 7 p.m. ET on TNT. Make sure to tune in!
