Iztok Franko: Game Preview: Game 10 @ Hawks

November 8, 2025 at 9:05 am

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

The Lakers start their five-game road trip in Atlanta. The vibes are high after a high-profile win over Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, and despite Austin Reaves still dealing with a right groin strain that will keep him out for a third straight game, this feels like a prime opportunity to extend the winning streak to six.

The Hawks, meanwhile, are on the second night of a back-to-back after dropping their Emirates NBA Cup game to the Toronto Raptors last night and will again be without the hub of their offense, Trae Young, who’s sidelined for several weeks with a sprained MCL in his right knee.

Even without LeBron James and Austin Reaves, the Lakers need to capitalize on the schedule. They enter Atlanta with a clear rest advantage, while the Hawks are on a back-to-back and could sit a key player like Kristaps Porziņģis. This game, and the next one in Charlotte, are chances to stack wins against weaker Eastern Conference teams before facing the league-best Thunder on the third stop of the trip.

Lakers (8-2) vs Hawks (4-5) game facts

Rest: LAL on 2 days of rest; ATL on 0 days of rest (second night of back-to-back)

Ranking: LAL 12th in Point Diff (+3.6), ATL 21st in Point Diff (-3.3)

LAL vs ATL 2025-26 record: 1-1

LAL injuries: LeBron James (OUT), Austin Reaves (OUT), Gabe Vincent (OUT), Adou Thiero (OUT), Maxi Kleber (questionable),

ATL injuries: Trae Young (OUT), Luke Kennard (questionable)

LAL projected starting five: Luka Dončić (G), Marcus Smart (G), Jake LaRavia (F), Rui Hachimura (F), Deandre Ayton (C)

LAL key reserves: Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, Jaxon Hayes, Bronny James, Nick Smith Jr.

ATL projected starting five: Dyson Daniels (G), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (G), Zaccharie Risacher (F), Jalen Johnson (F), Kristaps Porzingis (C)

ATL key reserves: Onyeka Okongwu, Mouhamed Gueye, Keaton Wallace, Vit Krejči

Key storyline: Prove contender worth by taking care of business

The Lakers have already made many rethink their preseason projections and ceiling. They’ve started the season in impressive fashion, winning seven of their first nine games despite prolonged absences from all three of their key players. However, a hot start brings higher expectations. To prove they truly belong among the conference’s top contenders, the Lakers need to handle business and take care of the next two games.

With Luka Dončić on their side, the Lakers once again have the best player on the floor and the ultimate advantage creator. On the other hand, the Hawks struggle most with playmaking and, without Trae Young, lack a player who can consistently bend the defense.

Lakers on offense | Hawks on defense

If Trae Young’s absence hurts Atlanta on offense, replacing him with Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the starting lineup has given their defense a real boost. The Hawks rank only 18th in overall defensive rating this season, but over the last four games without Young, they’ve been the sixth-best defense in the league. Daniels and Alexander-Walker form a strong defensive backcourt, though they may lack the size and strength to handle Dončić. Onyeka Okongwu is another solid piece, an undersized but mobile big who can switch and protect the rim. But the most impactful Hawks defender might be 6-foot-11 Mouhamed Gueye, whose length and activity can cause real problems.

With Gueye, Jalen Johnson, and Zaccharie Risacher, the Hawks have plenty of length and speed on the wing, but they lack bulk at the center spot, especially if Porzingis is unavailable. They rank among the bottom three teams in defensive rebounding, giving Deandre Ayton another chance to replicate the work he did on the glass against the Spurs and punish another lightweight frontcourt.

The key for the Lakers will be to take care of the ball against a defense led by the best ball hawk in basketball, last year’s All-Defense First Team selection and Defensive Player of the Year runner-up, Daniels. Daniels, Risacher, and Johnson are all fast, athletic players who thrive in transition, and speed is one of the Lakers’ main weaknesses. Controlling the pace and not letting the Hawks get out and run should be a top priority in this game.

Hawks on offense | Lakers on defense

No Young means no true point guard and no consistent advantage creator. In his absence, Daniels, Alexander-Walker, and Johnson have tried to fill the playmaking void by committee. But none is a reliable ball handler or decision-maker, and the Hawks have struggled badly with turnovers over the last three games. Alexander-Walker has committed 15 turnovers, while Daniels and Johnson have seven each during this stretch.

Atlanta Hawks game logs (source: Cleaning the Glass)

The Lakers need to collapse the defense around all three and force them to make decisions on the move and pass rather than finish, which is their natural preference.

Executing that plan and collapsing on drives around the aforementioned trio makes even more sense given another Hawks weakness, their lack of shooting. Atlanta is a team built on driving and creating rim pressure rather than outside shooting. The Hawks currently rank 23rd in three-point accuracy at 33 percent, with all of their main shooters except Luka Kennard (who missed the last game due to illness) hovering in the mid to low thirties.

The Lakers’ main issue over the last few games has been their inability to contain drives without fouling. The excessive foul rate is a concerning trend, and they’ll need to stay disciplined against a Quin Snyder led team that thrives on cutting, stampede drives, and other ways to attack the paint in motion.

Player spotlight: Jalen Johnson

I could easily go with Daniels here, as he’s one of the most exciting perimeter defenders in the league and his matchup with Dončić should be fun to watch. But I decided to go with the 23-year-old forward who, in Young’s absence, has become the Hawks’ best player, primary scorer, and main playmaker.

Watching the 6-foot-9 Johnson up close will be interesting, as he fits the mold of an athletic wing who could be a great long-term complement to a player like Dončić. He’s already one of the league’s best paint attackers, with more than half of his shots coming at the rim, and currently ranks fifth in made field goals per game in the painted area—just one spot behind Ayton.

I mentioned the Lakers’ struggles defending downhill players like Stephon Castle, Deni Avdija, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. over the last few games, and Johnson will present another major challenge and test in that area.

Final thoughts

The Lakers’ hot start has bought them time to get fully healthy and, hopefully soon, make a strong push with all three of their main stars back in the lineup. But their recent play has raised both expectations and confidence. They’ve shown they can win even when shorthanded and when things don’t go entirely their way. It would be a waste to let the good vibes and the winning streak fade now.

Comments

LakerTom says

November 8, 2025 at 9:05 am

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

The Lakers start their five-game road trip in Atlanta. The vibes are high after a high-profile win over Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, and despite Austin Reaves still dealing with a right groin strain that will keep him out for a third straight game, this feels like a prime opportunity to extend the winning streak to six.

The Hawks, meanwhile, are on the second night of a back-to-back after dropping their Emirates NBA Cup game to the Toronto Raptors last night and will again be without the hub of their offense, Trae Young, who’s sidelined for several weeks with a sprained MCL in his right knee.

Even without LeBron James and Austin Reaves, the Lakers need to capitalize on the schedule. They enter Atlanta with a clear rest advantage, while the Hawks are on a back-to-back and could sit a key player like Kristaps Porziņģis. This game, and the next one in Charlotte, are chances to stack wins against weaker Eastern Conference teams before facing the league-best Thunder on the third stop of the trip.

Lakers (8-2) vs Hawks (4-5) game facts

Rest: LAL on 2 days of rest; ATL on 0 days of rest (second night of back-to-back)

Ranking: LAL 12th in Point Diff (+3.6), ATL 21st in Point Diff (-3.3)

LAL vs ATL 2025-26 record: 1-1

LAL injuries: LeBron James (OUT), Austin Reaves (OUT), Gabe Vincent (OUT), Adou Thiero (OUT), Maxi Kleber (questionable),

ATL injuries: Trae Young (OUT), Luke Kennard (questionable)

LAL projected starting five: Luka Dončić (G), Marcus Smart (G), Jake LaRavia (F), Rui Hachimura (F), Deandre Ayton (C)

LAL key reserves: Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, Jaxon Hayes, Bronny James, Nick Smith Jr.

ATL projected starting five: Dyson Daniels (G), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (G), Zaccharie Risacher (F), Jalen Johnson (F), Kristaps Porzingis (C)

ATL key reserves: Onyeka Okongwu, Mouhamed Gueye, Keaton Wallace, Vit Krejči

Key storyline: Prove contender worth by taking care of business

The Lakers have already made many rethink their preseason projections and ceiling. They’ve started the season in impressive fashion, winning seven of their first nine games despite prolonged absences from all three of their key players. However, a hot start brings higher expectations. To prove they truly belong among the conference’s top contenders, the Lakers need to handle business and take care of the next two games.

With Luka Dončić on their side, the Lakers once again have the best player on the floor and the ultimate advantage creator. On the other hand, the Hawks struggle most with playmaking and, without Trae Young, lack a player who can consistently bend the defense.

Lakers on offense | Hawks on defense

If Trae Young’s absence hurts Atlanta on offense, replacing him with Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the starting lineup has given their defense a real boost. The Hawks rank only 18th in overall defensive rating this season, but over the last four games without Young, they’ve been the sixth-best defense in the league. Daniels and Alexander-Walker form a strong defensive backcourt, though they may lack the size and strength to handle Dončić. Onyeka Okongwu is another solid piece, an undersized but mobile big who can switch and protect the rim. But the most impactful Hawks defender might be 6-foot-11 Mouhamed Gueye, whose length and activity can cause real problems.

With Gueye, Jalen Johnson, and Zaccharie Risacher, the Hawks have plenty of length and speed on the wing, but they lack bulk at the center spot, especially if Porzingis is unavailable. They rank among the bottom three teams in defensive rebounding, giving Deandre Ayton another chance to replicate the work he did on the glass against the Spurs and punish another lightweight frontcourt.

The key for the Lakers will be to take care of the ball against a defense led by the best ball hawk in basketball, last year’s All-Defense First Team selection and Defensive Player of the Year runner-up, Daniels. Daniels, Risacher, and Johnson are all fast, athletic players who thrive in transition, and speed is one of the Lakers’ main weaknesses. Controlling the pace and not letting the Hawks get out and run should be a top priority in this game.

Hawks on offense | Lakers on defense

No Young means no true point guard and no consistent advantage creator. In his absence, Daniels, Alexander-Walker, and Johnson have tried to fill the playmaking void by committee. But none is a reliable ball handler or decision-maker, and the Hawks have struggled badly with turnovers over the last three games. Alexander-Walker has committed 15 turnovers, while Daniels and Johnson have seven each during this stretch.

Atlanta Hawks game logs (source: Cleaning the Glass)

The Lakers need to collapse the defense around all three and force them to make decisions on the move and pass rather than finish, which is their natural preference.

Executing that plan and collapsing on drives around the aforementioned trio makes even more sense given another Hawks weakness, their lack of shooting. Atlanta is a team built on driving and creating rim pressure rather than outside shooting. The Hawks currently rank 23rd in three-point accuracy at 33 percent, with all of their main shooters except Luka Kennard (who missed the last game due to illness) hovering in the mid to low thirties.

The Lakers’ main issue over the last few games has been their inability to contain drives without fouling. The excessive foul rate is a concerning trend, and they’ll need to stay disciplined against a Quin Snyder led team that thrives on cutting, stampede drives, and other ways to attack the paint in motion.

Player spotlight: Jalen Johnson

I could easily go with Daniels here, as he’s one of the most exciting perimeter defenders in the league and his matchup with Dončić should be fun to watch. But I decided to go with the 23-year-old forward who, in Young’s absence, has become the Hawks’ best player, primary scorer, and main playmaker.

Watching the 6-foot-9 Johnson up close will be interesting, as he fits the mold of an athletic wing who could be a great long-term complement to a player like Dončić. He’s already one of the league’s best paint attackers, with more than half of his shots coming at the rim, and currently ranks fifth in made field goals per game in the painted area—just one spot behind Ayton.

I mentioned the Lakers’ struggles defending downhill players like Stephon Castle, Deni Avdija, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. over the last few games, and Johnson will present another major challenge and test in that area.

Final thoughts

The Lakers’ hot start has bought them time to get fully healthy and, hopefully soon, make a strong push with all three of their main stars back in the lineup. But their recent play has raised both expectations and confidence. They’ve shown they can win even when shorthanded and when things don’t go entirely their way. It would be a waste to let the good vibes and the winning streak fade now.

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