The Atlanta Hawks are almost a quarter of the way through the season and they still do not have their starting lineup set. Their starting frontcourt is set with Clint Capela in the middle alongside John Collins and De’Andre Hunter.
The starting point guard is obviously Trae Young but then the question needs to be asked, who should start at the other guard position? The Hawks have tried second-year man Cam Reddish, new recruit Bogdan Bogdanovich, and the bench spark Kevin Huerter.
One of the reasons they have not been able to settle is the injury bug has hit this position hard. Bogdan Bogdanovic is out indefinitely with a fractured knee and Cam Reddish has been out for a few games with a bruised knee,
Atlanta Hawks and the shooting struggles at the two-guard
Unfortunately for the Hawks, Reddish started the season well but went into a shooting slump. He came out of it the game before he got injured, which was most certainly unfortunate timing for both Reddish and the Hawks.
During the middle of Reddish’s slump, coach Lloyd Pierce tried Bogdanovic as the starting two-guard and in that game, he fractured his knee cap in an innocuous-looking fall at mid-court. I won’t say the two-guard spot of the Hawks is cursed like the defense against the dark arts position, but you wonder. He was also struggling with his shot before the injury
Currently, the Hawks are using Huerter who is averaging good numbers. He has taken some of the heat off Young as the point guard tries to break out of his own shooting struggles. With all that in mind, let’s look at each player’s claim for the starting role when they all available.
Atlanta Hawks starting option No. 1) Cam Reddish
As the incumbent starter, we will look at Cam Reddish first. He is the best defender at the position, getting into the passing lanes and putting pressure on the opposition’s offense. This is crucial as Young is a reasonably weak defender.
Given that Reddish is only in his second season, he is going to get even stronger on the defensive end. He is able to switch out with De’Andre Hunter on the other wing and they don’t lose too much due to him being 6’8″
Offensively, Reddish is not going so well. He is shooting the ball at 37.9 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from deep, and 83.3 percent from the line. These numbers are very similar to last year where he started a little over half the season.
If he can’t pick up his shooting then he should not be taking 10.9 attempts per game from the floor. He can hit the outside ball but would be better off taking the ball inside and getting to the line more where he is able to knock it down at over 80 percent.
Atlanta Hawks starting option No. 2) Bogdan Bogdanovic
Bogdan Bogdanovic signed with the Hawks after the Milwaukee Bucks made mistakes in a sign and trade attempt with the Sacramento Kings. As a result, the Hawks were able to swoop him and sign the shooting sensation.
He started the season out well, in two of the first three wins Bogdanovic had double-figure scoring nights. In the win against the Detroit Pistons, he even went 5-of-7 from deep which is just a glimpse of his shooting talent.
Then in the loss against the Brooklyn Nets, Bogdanovic scored 22 points on 6-of-11 from deep. However, that would be his last good shooting game, He would not hit above 33.3 percent of his shots from deep for the next four games, and then came the freak injury when he fractured his knee.
When he returns, Bogdanovic is a really good option to take the pressure off Young. If he can get his shot going again then he should be strongly considered for the starting spot. While he is 6’6″ he lacks a little athleticism which could have a big impact at both ends of the floor
The Hawks will want him to move into this role reasonably soon because they gave him a four year $72 million deal which he has only just started.
Atlanta Hawks starting option No. 3) Kevin Huerter
Right now Kevin Huerter is starting due to injuries to the other two players above. It is safe to say that the 6’7″ two-guard out of Maryland is taking the opportunity with both hands. If he keeps playing the way that he is then the starting job will be his to lose.
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Huerter has the desirable combination of size, athleticism, and shooting. He was a spark off the bench where he averaged 11.6 points 3.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, and 1.1 assists in 26.7 minutes. He is shooting the ball at 42.6 percent from the floor, 35.9 percent from deep, and 77.8 percent from the line.
As a starter, Huerter has averaged 15.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals in 38.7 minutes. It would be easy to attribute the rise in numbers with the increase in playing time but that would be too simplistic.
Huerter is shooting the ball with great efficiency. He is going at 47.4 percent from the floor, 43.8 percent from deep, and has not missed any of his four free throws. Where it is working for Huerter is that he can get to his spots and make his shots.
When Huerter comes off the bench he is often needed to get the Hawks back in the game and has to force his offense. When he starts, his usage rate is 2 percent lower and he can just work with the other players on the court. Right now, even if all three players were healthy Huerter is the best fit at the starting two-guard position.