Mouhamed Gueye Gives Hawks Big Lift In Win Over Magic

Gueye, along with Jalen Johnson, who also had foul trouble, guarded Paolo Banchero for much of the contest. Atlanta held Orlando’s star forward to just 11 points on 4-15 shooting with one assist. Gueye’s length and lateral quickness at 6 feet, 11 inches bothered Banchero throughout the game. He has given the Hawks a strong defensive boost throughout his career.

In contrast, questions arise when talking about the offensive side of the ball. Gueye shot 25.9% on 2.5 attempts from 3-point range last season and can struggle to read the floor with the right pass. However, this was not the case against the Magic. In fact, Gueye was the only Hawks player to hit multiple 3-pointers in the contest. Atlanta went just 8-29 from beyond the arc as a team, but he shot 2-5. His strong outside shooting was crucial to keep him from becoming an offensive liability.

Gueye finished with a team-high +21 in the plus-minus category. The next closest was Luke Kennard with +11.

Gueye Needs a Bigger Role, Even When the Hawks Are Healthy

The Hawks had a disastrous defensive performance against Toronto on opening night. They gave up 138 points, including a shocking 86 paint points and 34 fastbreak tallies, with a fully healthy roster. They flipped that script against the Magic, limiting them to 107 points, including 52 in the paint.

Gueye played a significant role in the effort with his rim protection, and the numbers and eye test indicate that he needs more consistent playing time. Atlanta had a 69.2 defensive rating against Orlando when Dyson Daniels and Gueye shared the floor. Their ability to guard multiple positions played a huge part in slowing down Orlando’s big frontcourt.

The Hawks face the Oklahoma City Thunder on the second night of a back-to-back on Saturday, and they will be shorthanded once again. Atlanta lists Risacher (ankle) out, while Johnson (ankle) and Porziņģis are questionable. Expect Gueye to play a major role against Isaiah Hartenstein and/or Chet Holmgren (back), as the Hawks try to pull off the upset against the defending champions.