Atlanta Hawks vs Miami Heat 1/14/22: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Live Stream

Atlanta Hawks vs Miami Heat Matchup Preview (1/14/22)

The Atlanta Hawks (17-23) seek redemption against the blazing hot Miami Heat (26-15) Friday night. The Hawks surprised the NBA with a run to the Eastern Conference Finals last playoffs. Their performance this season unfortunately provides evidence that last season was a fluke. The Hawks have lost three in a row and are 1-4 to start January. In their most recent game on Wednesday night, the Heat without Jimmy Butler throttled the Hawks 115-91. Clint Capela’s absence allowed the Heat to penetrate the paint and attack the rim confidently. De’Andre Hunter, who had not played since November 12th, finally returned against the Heat and scored 15 points off the bench. Hunter is a key 3&D piece for the Hawks who was shooting 42.9% from three before his injury. With the 27th Defensive Rating (113.1) in the NBA, the Hawks are ecstatic that Hunter is back in the lineup. Offense has not been the problem this year; they are 5th in Offensive Rating (112.1). While Trae Young is on the roster (27.7 PPG & 9.4 APG), the Hawks will always be able to score on any team. If the defense is fixed, they will be an extremely dangerous team that nobody will want to face in the playoffs. That is a big if though, as great defense is more of an identity the whole team must embrace rather than just bringing in one defensive stopper to boost the team. 

The Heat are 8-2 in their past 10 games and currently hold a three game winning streak. Even though they are dealing with injuries, the Heat are flexing their depth and grinding out impressive wins. On January 8th, they toppled the 1st seed in the West by embarrassing the Suns 123-100. Herro and Robinson combined for 60 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists off the bench for Miami. Out of their 41 games, Jimmy Butler has missed 18 games, while Adebayo has missed 23 games. And yet, the Heat are 6th in Offensive Rating (111.9) and 6th in Defensive Rating (107.1). On their roster, they have at least 10 players I would trust to get big playoff minutes. There are only a couple teams I would say that about, if any. Their efficient team shooting means the Heat could legitimately defeat any team through a hot streak behind the arc. They are 1st in Spot Up offense (1.10 Points Per Possession) and 2nd in three point shooting (37.6 3PT%). Meanwhile, the Heat can shut down opponents in conjunction with draining shots on them. Jimmy Butler, PJ Tucker, and Bam Adebayo are all elite defenders that have the ability to lock down opponents. Overall, the Heat have the offense and defense to be a championship contender.

Atlanta Hawks vs Miami Heat Betting Odds

The two franchises have only faced off once this season, and that was a 115-91 beatdown on Wednesday. Clint Capela and Kevin Huerter are game time decisions for the Hawks, while Jimmy Butler is the same status for the Heat. Huerter was ineffective and only scored 7 points on 2/9 shooting last game, but the Hawks desperately need him. He is averaging 11.3 PPG, 2.7 APG, 3.4 RPG off the bench and would aid the Hawks to counter Herro and Robinson. The last matchup lacked Capela and Butler, so there is some clarity as to how the game would play out without them. For this game, I am going with the Heat moneyline. Even though Hunter is back, the Hawks are a mess right now and do not have the depth to match up with the Heat. The Hawks starting lineup can hang with the Heat, but the bench matchup is dicey. If Capela, Huerter, and Butler play, look for the Heat to win by 10-15 points. Without any of them, the Heat will win by at least 8 points. Everything is clicking right now for the Heat; it would be a shock if the Hawks thoroughly defeated Miami.

TV Schedule

Date: 1/14/22
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Arena: FTX Arena – Miami, FL
Channel: NBA League Pass

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Atlanta Hawks Starting Lineup

PG: Trae Young
SG: Bogdan Bogdanovic
SF: De’Andre Hunter
PF: John Collins
C: Clint Capela

Atlanta Hawks Analysis

The Hawks just traded young wing Cam Reddish to the New York Knicks. Reddish never found his role in the rotation, but he deserved his minutes this year. Across 23.4 MPG this season, he averaged 11.9 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.0 SPG on 40.2 FG% and 37.9 3PT%. The 22-year-old, 6’8” wing showed substantial potential as a 3&D starter, so the decision to move him for Kevin Knox and a mediocre 1st round pick is confusing. Knox is widely considered a bust who has not delivered on the potential scouts saw at Kentucky. Reddish is in every way a better player than Knox, so the fact that the aspiring Hawks made the deal suggests they are debating a soft rebuild. 

Regardless of whether they shake up their roster, it looks as though the team will stick with their core of Trae Young, De’Andre Hunter, John Collins, and Clint Capela. Those four can be the foundation of a championship contender, so the organization will look to build the right roster around them. Acquiring more 3&D players would revamp their future and give them a chance to succeed. Without boosting their defense, the Hawks figure to be stuck in mediocrity. Do the Hawks try to pry all-world defender Ben Simmons from the Philadelphia 76ers? Or do they target Myles Turner or Marcus Smart? The frustrating thing for the Hawks is that Reddish could have been used as trade bait for a defender like Smart, but they instead chose Knox and a 1st round pick. Whether it is this trade deadline or the offseason, the depth chart will likely be overhauled to make Trae Young happy and the Hawks more balanced. 

Miami Heat Starting Lineup

PG: Kyle Lowry
SG: Max Strus
SF: Jimmy Butler
PF: PJ Tucker
C: Omer Yurtseven

Miami Heat Analysis

Head Coach Erik Spoelstra’s decision to bring Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson off the bench is looking like a masterstroke. Herro is the frontrunner for the Sixth Man of the Year Award through his 20.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.1 APG averages. Robinson has broken out of his shooting slump recently and is back to his normal self. Opposing benches struggle to keep up with their combined firepower, which often results in the Heat winning crucial bench minutes. Once Adebayo and Butler return, Omer Yurtseven and Caleb Martin will be pushed back to the bench. Yurtseven’s agility, rebounding, and playmaking are driving his superb play. He has 10+ rebounds in 12 straight games and has shown his vision by recording 18 assists over the last three games. Yurtseven is quickly turning into a mismatch who will continue to thrive. 

The potential bench trio of Herro, Robinson, and Yurtseven would be the scariest bench trio in the entire NBA. Also, depending on Oladipo’s health and level of play, the bench will add him or Strus once Oladipo comes back from injury. When fully healthy, the Heat bench – Herro, Strus, Robinson, Martin, Yurtseven – could realistically compete against opposing starting lineups. The team is battle-tested, hungry, and gritty. Sitting at 3rd in the Eastern Conference, the Heat are only two games back of the 1st place Bulls. The Miami Heat are the last team any Eastern Conference contender wants to face. 

Atlanta Hawks vs Miami Heat Daily Fantasy Picks

Even though he did not play well last game, I like Trae Young to put on a show this game. Only four games ago, Young exploded for 56 points and 14 assists. While he likely won’t replicate that masterpiece, look for Young to score 30+ points and dish out 10+ assists in a revenge game. For the Heat, I like Tyler Herro to lead the Heat in scoring. Herro had a near triple double last game with a line of 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists. The Hawks bench does not have the personnel to slow down Herro, so I expect him to have a 25/5/5 game. For a cheaper option, Yurtseven has the capability to be a value pick. If Capela does not play for the Hawks, Yurtseven would match up against 6’8” Onyeka Okongwu. While he did a decent job on Yurtseven, the Heat big man still managed to impact the game with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. Without Capela on the court, I like Yurtseven to record another double double while throwing in a few assists.