It’s no coincidence that the Hawks second unit has struggled without Danilo Gallinari and Rajon Rondo. When those two were healthy, Atlanta had one of the deepest benches in the league. Without them, their depth issues from last year have come creeping their way into 2021.
There’s no reason to panic, as none of the injuries seem to be too serious. It was reported earlier today that rookie Onyeka Okongwu and Tony Snell are close to a return. We’ll see if their injury statuses are upgraded leading into tomorrow’s game against the Hornets. However, we do know that the Hawks will be without Rajon Rondo for at least the next three games, as it was just reported that the veteran point guard will be resting his knee and then be re-evaluated.
The Hawks announced Rajon Rondo will rest and rehab to strengthen his right knee. After missing 2 games with left knee soreness, he was medically cleared for last night’s game. He will miss the next three games and will be reviewed prior to the team’s three-game West Coast trip.
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) January 6, 2021
Given that Rondo spent last season playing in the bubble helping the Lakers to a championship, it’s no surprise the Hawks are taking things cautiously. He’s got a lot of miles on his legs; there’s no reason to push him this early in the season if anything is feeling uncomfortable.
Hopefully, things heal quickly, and he’s ready for the West Coast road trip. One of the Hawks most glaring weaknesses last season was their backup point guard play. In the two games Rondo played, that was a strength. It’s been abysmal ever since.
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