Atlanta Hawks: Exploring the Team’s 5 Best Two-Man Lineups
By Chris Guest
#3. Kent Bazemore/Kevin Huerter: -2.7 Net Rating
What this list really proves is that Kevin Huerter is having a terrific year, and he is also seemingly being underrated – probably because the Hawks are terrible, and he isn’t having the flashiest of rookie years. Some of his recent work, however, might changes peoples’ minds:
It’s pretty wild to think that a fairly unheralded 20-year-old unseasoned rookie like Huerter could immediately come in and anchor wildly different lineups that have vastly disparate strengths and weaknesses, but that is exactly Huerter’s role in this two-man grouping with Baze.
The Baze/Huerter combination is producing the fourth-highest defensive rating of any two-man unit on the Hawks and the second-highest assist percentage (68.3 percent). Also, this grouping loves to run, as Huerter and Baze are combining for the second-highest pace among all Atlanta Hawks two-man combinations.
This unit is typified by solid defense and the ability to hang onto the ball and not make mistakes with turnovers. The Bazemore/Huerter grouping is tied for third with a 1.48 assist to turnover ratio, and its turnover rate of 15.8 percent is the sixth-lowest on the team.
The Bazemore/Huerter grouping knows how to play defense and often makes the right pass – a good combination for your current starters at shooting guard and small forward, respectively.