Thanks to the recent injury report released by the Atlanta Hawks, there is the possibility of both De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish missing more time As a result the rest of the team has needed to step up in their absence.
Reddish has been out of the lineup for more than three months and the Hawks have been able to cover his loss most of the time. It was not an easy task given the depth of the injury issues suffered by the team. However, they have managed Reddish’s injury in a responsible manner.
The problem of Reddish being out was compounded by the loss of Hunter to a knee injury during the regular season. Under the leadership of Nate McMillan, the Hawks managed to weather the storm of these two being out but it was not easy.
The Atlanta Hawks have been building back to full health all season.
The Hawks have had two periods where they were in a lot of trouble with injury. This was prior to McMillan taking over and then during the time towards the end of the season when they had a three-game road trip, including the two heavy losses against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The way the Hawks have worked all season is the next-man-up mentality. They have had a belief in their coach, his systems, and also, most importantly themselves. They have been playing playoff-type games for months now, players have been stepping up over and over again.
They need to keep this up all the way to the end of the season. Here are three players who need to step up in the continued absence of Hunter and Reddish.
Atlanta Hawks player to step up No. 1) Solomon Hill
The Hawks have relied on Solomon Hill for much of the season. He has done everything for the team this season. Throughout the season I have openly wondered if Hill should have been kept in the rotation when all their players come back into the team. He has shown that he has proved his worth.
When Hunter and Reddish were out, the Hawks used both Kevin Huerter and Hill in the starting lineup. Now that McMillan has settled the playoff rotations, he has decided that Huerter is most beneficial coming off the bench which is where he has produced some really good basketball.
This means that he now has Hill in the starting role until Hunter comes back. Hill has made a name for himself on defense, and he has performed his role well for the team when called upon. On top of that, he is a serviceable 3-point shooter who can help space the floor.
Until Hunter comes back into the lineup, Hill is going to have to step up, especially against the Philadelphia 76ers. His play is crucial to stopping the likes of Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons. He also understands the best time to come across and give help defense against Joel Embiid.
Atlanta Hawks player to step up No. 2) Kevin Huerter
Earlier in the season, I wrote about how Kevin Huerter was a true Nate McMillan-type player. He is the glue man who does everything that the team needs it. This is the main reason he is never going to have star stats.
On top of that, Huerter is a playmaker who can take the pressure off Trae Young and Bogdan Bogdanovic with his ball-handling and decision-making. An example of this is at the end of the first game of this series, Huerter was trapped right near his own end line.
Huerter passed the ball over the half-court line, getting it to John Collins who was able to draw a clear path foul, leading to the win. It is this kind of decision making that is crucial for the Hawks if they are going to move forward in these playoffs
Huerter is going to be called upon until Hunter or Reddish returns, getting more court time than he otherwise might. His defense is a crucial part of the Hawks’ ability to taking the game to the 76ers. Without his game, the Hawks are going to struggle to get out of this series.
Atlanta Hawks players to step up No. 3) Tony Snell
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Tony Snell has had a really solid season once he returned from injury. While his return was not a huge moment under Lloyd Pierce, he was one of the many veterans who stood up during the season for the Hawks, when called upon.
He was able to help the team in many areas when he returned. His game was so impactful it was potentially worth keeping him in the starting lineup when the Hawks got their players back. This was not to be the case but Snell has been a defensive force in the league for his entire career.
Snell played solid minutes when he was not injured, doing enough on defense to keep him on the floor. Offensively he was incredible from beyond the arc, he would have led the league with his 56.9 percent shooting from deep except he did not make enough attempts from the perimeter.
With the playoffs starting, he has lost the vast majority of those minutes. He played 25 minutes in the series against the New York Knicks, but he did not play in the last three games. He played just under four minutes in the first game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
He is going to be the player who allows Hill and Huerter to get enough rest. He was plus-nine in the box score in those four minutes against Philadelphia. He needs to replicate this effort every time he hits the floor for the Hawks until the end of the playoffs.