Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the NBA Summer League match.
The Miami Heat have already participated in the California Classic and now continue their campaign in Las Vegas. In contrast, the Atlanta Hawks are making their first appearance in the tournament and will do so without several of their key players.
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat boast several standout performers. Centre Kel'el Ware is showing clear progress, while Vladislav Goldin is already adapting well. Despite the underwhelming performances of Kasparas Jakučionis (12 points across three games), the team is deploying a starting five in which every player is averaging over 10 points per game. During the California Classic, the team scored at least 82 points in each outing and picked up wins over the Golden State Warriors (93:79) and the San Antonio Spurs (82:69).
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are missing several of their regular contributors in this tournament. The focus shifts to Kobe Bufkin и rookie Asa Newell, a four-time NCAA "Freshman of the Week" honouree. However, despite their individual talent, the squad appears lacking in cohesion. In the 2024 NBA Summer League, the Atlanta Hawks lost all five of their games, and the current roster remains far from ideal.
Miami Heat vs Atlanta Hawks Prediction
The Miami Heat have entered the tournament with structure and a cohesive unit. The Atlanta Hawks are still in the process of assembling their core and are missing multiple key players. As a result, we are backing the Miami Heat.