4 bold predictions heading into the NBA Play-In Tournament

Atlanta Hawks Trae Young (Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)
Atlanta Hawks Trae Young (Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)
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Trae Young
Atlanta Hawks Trae Young (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)

Trae Young will break free from the Heat’s spell – but it won’t be enough

If the Atlanta Hawks are going to beat the Miami Heat and earn the 7th seed via the Play-In Tournament, one thing is clear – Trae Young is going to have to shake off the recent struggles that he’s had against the Heat.

It’s not outrageous to say that the Heat has owned Young recently. In his last nine games specifically, which includes the regular season and playoffs, Young is 43-128 from the field and 12-62 from 3-point range – via 5 Reasons Sports. If the Hawks are going to have any shot at upsetting the Heat, they’re going to need Young to play more like his usual self and less like the way he’s played against this team recently.

And I believe that he will. My bold prediction is that Young will have a great game against the Heat but that it still won’t be enough. Young will play well but Jimmy Butler will be more than the Hawks can handle.

You can only hold down a great player for so long. Young is due for a breakout game against the Heat and I think he gets it this time around.