Hawks' Landale Sidelined For Opening Of Knicks Playoff Series

Atlanta's got a problem heading into the postseason. Center Jock Landale, who was supposed to help patch up the Hawks' depth at the position, is going to miss at least the first two weeks of the NBA playoffs after suffering a high ankle sprain on April 1 in Orlando. That's bad timing when you're a No. 6 seed facing the third-seeded New York Knicks starting Saturday.

A Depth Crisis Getting Deeper

The Hawks made moves to address a serious shortage at center. They traded for Landale back in early February from Utah for cash considerations, hoping he'd provide some stability down low. It made sense on paper. In 45 games with Memphis before the deal, Landale averaged 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds. The 30-year-old Australian in his fifth NBA season has been through it all, with stops in San Antonio, Phoenix, and Houston before landing with the Hawks.

But here's the thing: Landale never even got his footing in Atlanta. In 23 regular-season games with the Hawks, he posted 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds. Now he's out at the worst possible moment, right as the playoffs are starting.

What's Next For Atlanta

The Hawks are saying Landale "is progressing in his rehabilitation" and will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks. So we'll get an update then, but don't expect him in Game 1 or Game 2 against New York. That's a tough blow when you're already dealing with the depth issues Atlanta had coming into this season.

The Hawks take the floor against the Knicks on Saturday. Without Landale available to start, it's going to put even more pressure on whoever fills that void. Atlanta's got work to do.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.