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Tyler Dorsey will have to fight for minutes this season

By George Jeliazkov

ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 26: General Manager Travis Schlenk of the Atlanta Hawks introduces new draft picks John Collins, Tyler Dorsey, and Alpha Kaba during a Press Conference on June 26, 2017 at Fox Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 26: General Manager Travis Schlenk of the Atlanta Hawks introduces new draft picks John Collins, Tyler Dorsey, and Alpha Kaba during a Press Conference on June 26, 2017 at Fox Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Rookie guard Tyler Dorsey will have a tough time getting a look into the team as minutes will be scarce at the shooting and point guard positions.

Tyler Dorsey, the 41st pick in the draft, has by no means had an easy transition to the professional life as has fellow rookie John Collins. Summer League saw him call it quits early due to an injury, and he announced that he will not be joining his native Greece in the FIBA games this summer. And things may not be getting easier for the Oregon man, as the start of the season will see him rather far down on Mike Budenholzer’s pecking order.

Kent Bazemore has locked down the starting spot for the 2-guard and Tyler Dorsey will be looking to compete for minutes off the bench along with DeAndre’ Bembry, Malcolm Delaney, and Nicolás Brussino. Bembry had a very impressive outing in Las Vegas and will be looking to establish himself as first choice off the bench. Realistically, Dorsey only has two paths of recourse in his bid to get minutes.

https://twitter.com/ATLHawks/status/892896822011863046

No one likes to see it, but injuries do play quite a large part in the NBA and sometimes shape the fortunes of a team headed into a season, during the stretch, or near the Playoffs. Not to put bad juju on the Hawks, but it’s something that the team needs to account for, and if it happens to be a shooting guard it will give Dorsey a chance to impress and maybe earn a larger role.

The other option is for Tyler Dorsey to double down and really blow away the competition with the skills that impressed Travis Schlenk and company and prompted them to draft him in Brooklyn. For starters, practice is a time to recover and go 50-70% as they prepare for the next game. For players in Dorsey’s position though, practice is everything, it will be his chance to prove that he deserves a spot.

Travis Schlenk commented on the rookie’s abilities and what he brings in, documented by Chris Vivlamore in an article on ajc.com.

"“We are very excited to add his shooting to the team… The one thing about Tyler people don’t realize is, I think, he has the ability to become a secondary ball-handler.”"

Dorsey is by no means simply a spot-up shooter, as he himself has commented that he prefers to shoot off the dribble and is even comfortable with the deeper threes when he spreads the floor. For those unaware of his collegiate career, Dorsey averaged 14.1 points and shot 41.6% from three. That’s what will serve as Dorsey’s meal ticket, his ability to score off the bench and provide a spark.

The Atlanta Hawks will struggle this season, but that doesn’t mean that the players need to as well. Dorsey has been given a golden opportunity to represent a historic franchise in the NBA and now the Hawks #2 has to find his way to the 2-guard spot.

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