Atlanta Hawks: Summer League Game 1 Impressions

The Atlanta Hawks played their first game in the Las Vegas Summer League on Friday night.

For the Atlanta Hawks, the Summer League gives the organization an opportunity to view the developmental progress of prospects such as Lamar Patterson, who starred for the team on Friday. With Assistant Coach Kenny Atkinson at the helm, and Paul Millsap and Shelvin Mack in attendance to watch the game, Patterson and former Pac 12 Tournament MVP Brandon Ashley were really the only bright spots, as the Hawks fell to the Denver Nuggets 86-71.

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Lamar Patterson was the Atlanta Hawks 48th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and played last season professionally in Turkey. Having played in the summer league last year, the Hawks have interest in seeing if Patterson’s game has improved while playing overseas. On Friday, Patterson scored 16 points in 19.5 minutes while shooting 5-7 from the floor, making 2 of his 4 attempted three-pointers. With the Atlanta Hawks always looking to add wing depth, the former Pitt swingman presents an intriguing option for the team looking to add one more player to their roster for the upcoming season.

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Former Arizona star Brandon Ashley is also playing with the Atlanta Hawks Summer League team. After going undrafted, Ashley is trying to secure a spot on an NBA roster next year. Ashley played well on Friday, scoring 15 points on 7-12 shooting in 20 minutes. Ashley is an intriguing prospect as he has shown potential throughout his college career to play well on a big stage. His performance on the Atlanta Hawks during the Summer League will give them another player to take a closer look at before the season begins.

Mar 22, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers forward Lamar Patterson (21) drives to the basket against the Florida Gators in the first half of a men

With a roster showcasing Walter Tavares and Mike Muscala, the Atlanta Hawks are very interested to see how both their big men play as focal points in the offense. This is Mike Muscala’s third consecutive year playing in the Summer League and Edy Tavares’s second.

Last night Muscala made it clear that his game has developed far beyond the expectations of a typical summer league player. He got good looks and took smart shots but finished the game with only 8 points in almost 24 minutes played. Muscala’s presence in the Summer League is to develop his leadership skills, and it will be intriguing to see how his experience in the NBA and his leadership affects his teammates.

Atlanta Hawks big man Walter Tavares finished the game with only 4 points in 17 minutes, but displayed potential of becoming a rim protector in the league. He struggled for much of the game, and it is clear that moving from the Spanish ACB League to the NBA will be an adjustment. In time, Tavares could develop into the true center Atlanta Hawks fans wanted for a very long time.

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