Atlanta Hawks: Exploring the Team’s 5 Best Two-Man Lineups
By Chris Guest
![Kent Bazemore #24 and John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) Kent Bazemore #24 and John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/31aac8165d7d839ab60ed6514368ca15c7071a595a179f88517e4d8f81f37b02.jpg)
#2. DeAndre’ Bembry/Alex Len: -2.1 Net Rating
The only true outlier in this list is this excellent two-man unit, which is the only two-player grouping that doesn’t feature either Huerter or Collins.
While the DeAndre’ Bembry/Alex Len combination isn’t the best offensive unit (11th among all Hawks two-man lineups), where these two players shine collectively is on defense. The Bembry/Len combination is the single-best two-man defensive unit on the Hawks that’s played at least 200 minutes together.
Typifying Bembry’s emergence as one of the best defenders on the team, along with Bazemore, Bembry is featured in all 3 of the top two-man defensive units for the Atlanta Hawks and 4 out of the top 5.
The eye test bears this out as well, as Bembry has gotten into the shirt of multiple opposing ballhandlers and his size, lateral quickness and basketball IQ combine to produce some sterling defensive performances.
This two-man unit is not just a one-sided defensive menace. The Bembry/Len combo has the fifth-highest pace, third-highest true shooting percentage (56.3 percent), third-highest effective field goal percentage (53.4 percent) and is tied for second in total rebound rate (50.7 percent).
An effective all-around two-man unit, let’s hope this pairing sees more minutes together as the season goes on.