Sixers vs. Hawks: 5 key matchups to watch

Sixers-Hawks key matchups to watch: Tobias Harris vs. Danilo Gallinari

Tobias Harris spends a good portion of his playing time with the second unit. If he is matched up consistently with Atlanta’s more bench-oriented groups, then he could have an exploitable matchup in the form of Danilo Gallinari.

Not long ago, Gallinari was Harris’ superior in LA. Now, after a rather precipitous drop-off with Atlanta this season, Gallo is a matchup the Sixers should look to exploit every time down the floor. He can still hit his share of 3s, but on defense, Gallo is too slow-footed in space to hang with most athletic fours. Harris can get downhill and have the speed advantage every time.

In general, playing Gallo off the floor would benefit the Sixers. The Hawks have the capacity to out-score teams with their second unit, in large part due to Gallo. If Atlanta can successfully hide him on defense, or Harris makes it too easy on Gallo, then it opens the door for the Hawks’ depth to outshine the Sixers.

Gallinari is not the weapon he once was, and that’s a matchup that should make Harris salivate. Not because it’s an excuse to fall into bad habits and go hero ball, but because simple, smart execution could render Gallo a major weak point in Atlanta’s defense.