Fresh off a win against the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday night, San Antonio learned that they can win without two of their stars. Now they must keep that momentum rolling. The Spurs will head into a matchup against an Eastern Conference team that they [desperately want to lose](https://airalamo.com/teams-spurs-fans-should-invested-in-hate-watching-season).
The Spurs not only want to improve their 10-4 start ahead of a deathly four-game road trip but also want to beat the Atlanta Hawks because they own the rights to the better of the two teams' draft picks. A win would not only help the Spurs now but also in the future. The problem is, this Hawks team is hot.
The Hawks have won five of their last six contests and have launched out to a 9-6 record. Last season, the Spurs swept the season series against the Hawks; however, the year prior, they were the ones swept. If history is any indication, the Hawks will win this game, meaning it will be up to Fox and crew to rewrite the narrative.
The Spurs must match the Hawks' pace
------------------------------------
If there is anything that this Atlanta Hawks team thrives at, it is getting in transition and outrunning the opposing team. Without their best offensive weapon, Trae Young, who will miss the contest against the Spurs, the Hawks have created offense through pushing the pace and kicking out for open shots.
In this matchup, the Spurs will have to hunker down on defense without two of their best, Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle. Without the dominant interior force of Wemby, the Spurs will have to rely on team defense and staying agile to keep up with the Hawks' fast pace. In particular, Luke Kornet will have a [heavy burden trying to fill](https://airalamo.com/spurs-finally-learn-celtics-felt-awful-letting-luke-kornet-go) in for the Alien.
One player the Spurs need to keep their eye on will be Jalen Johnson. Without Young in the lineup, the on-ball creation duties have fallen onto Johnson. The 23-year-old has excelled in this new role and has delivered as a playmaker. Whether it is Harrison Barnes, Devin Vassell, or Luke Kornet, the Spurs must pay their respects to the rising Hawk.
De'Aaron Fox has a difficult matchup ahead of him
-------------------------------------------------
Now the lead man for the Spurs, all of the attention has been placed onto De'Aaron Fox. For the next two weeks, without Wemby and Castle, the offense will run entirely through the Swipa. However, this may be exactly what the Hawks were wishing for.
Atlanta has one of the best guard stoppers in the NBA, and his name is Dyson Daniels. A candidate for Defensive Player of the Year last season, Daniels slammed onto the scene last year and has become one of the most formidable perimeter defenders in the NBA.
With this grueling matchup on tap for Fox, he must come ready to play. The hasty guard must dig deep into his bag of tricks if he wants to have any success against Daniels. If he can't seem to find his rhythm, the offensive responsibility may fall on Devin Vassell and the cast of shooters. If this scenario plays out, the Spurs will be in trouble.
The Hawks are no easy matchup, but the payoff would be exquisite. With a Spurs win, they will maintain their spot in the top six of the Western Conference and help push the Hawks down as they continue praying on their downfall. If they want to make this happen, they need to come prepared and ready to run.