Atlanta Hawks: 5 secret weapons for the NBA playoffs

Atlanta Hawks secret weapon No. 3) Onyeka Okongwu

If we rewind to the All-Star break, Onyeka Okongwu would have not been on anyone’s radar. The way he has been developed under coach McMillan has been a thing of beauty. He has been given more court time and a greater role when McMillan sees that he is ready.

In the final game of the season, Okongwu had his first double-double with 21 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks. He made 10-of-13 from the field and admittedly, it was against the weakened Houston Rockets.

The reason he was able to do this is that he has developed his understanding of where he needs to be on the court to help the team. Teams will game plan to try and stop Clint Capela, and this is fair enough. The man is the lynchpin for the Hawks defense and his connection with Young on offense is a joy to behold.

Okongwu has a good chance to slip under their radar despite how proficient he is in the pick-and-roll with the veteran Lou Williams. The Hawks have so many other weapons at their disposal that if Okongwu gets into the right spots, he will help the team progress