Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Atlanta Hawks

The San Antonio Spurs have won six of their last eight games entering Monday night’s tilt with the Atlanta Hawks. After an emotional come-from-behind victory on Friday against Oklahoma City, the Spurs will look to avoid a home letdown when they face a feeble Hawks team.

San Antonio Spurs (10-6) vs. Atlanta Hawks (3-13)

November 20, 2017 I 7:30 PM CDT

Watch: FSSW, Listen: WOAI

Spurs injuries: Kawhi Leonard (quadriceps), Tony Parker (quadriceps), Derrick White (fractured right wrist)

Hawks injuries: Miles Plumlee (quadriceps)

Keep Danny Green involved

Get the shirt that reminds you to say ‘screw you’ to your problems, and beat them like the Spurs beat the Thunder.

For all the talk about LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol’s early season play, Danny Green has been a bit lost in the shuffle. Green is off to a hot start for the Spurs on the season, averaging double-digit points per game (11.0) for the first time since 2014-2015. Green has tallied back-to-back double-digit scoring games, and has reached double-digits in eight of the 16 games for the Spurs on the season.

While he has not stolen the show to the degree that Aldridge and Gasol have, he’s been an important piece to the early season success for the Spurs, and Popovich and Co. should continue to get him involved in the offense moving forward.

Mind the pace

This game will showcase two contrasting styles of offensive basketball, with the Hawks’ preference to get up-and-down the floor contrasting the Spurs’ style of slowing the game down and maximizing the efficiency of their offensive possessions. Atlanta enters the game on Monday tied for 10th in the league in pace at 101.3 possessions per game. The Spurs, meanwhile, are dead-last in the league at 97.3 possessions per contest.

Solid defense and slowing the game down to their own terms will continue to benefit the Spurs as it has all season, and will get the Hawks out of their comfort zone and needing to tighten their execution in the half-court.

Vegas Odds: Spurs by 9.5.

Game Prediction: Spurs by 6.

For the Hawks fan’s perspective, visit Peach Tree Hoops.

As always, Tony must dominate Fisher.

PtR's GameThread will be up this evening for those who want to chat through the game. You can also follow along with the action. through PtR's Twitter feed.