The Atlanta Hawks have one less player on the injury list

Atlanta Hawks. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta Hawks. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Atlanta Hawks have had a season full of injuries. Fortunately for the franchise, the coaching of Nate McMillan has been able to lead them out of it. They finished fifth in the Eastern Conference, with the same record as the fourth-placed New York Knicks.

They would have finished in fourth, except the Knicks won the season series 0-3, meaning they had the tiebreaker. It did not matter for the Hawks though. They won the first and fifth game on the Knicks home floor, giving them the series 4-1.

De’Andre Hunter played the Knicks series but did not play in the first two games of the 76ers series. The Hawks then released that he had sustained another tear in his lateral meniscus, meaning that he would be out for the rest of the season. The Hawks have several players on their roster who need to step up in his absence.

The Atlanta Hawks welcome Kris Dunn back into the lineup.

More from Soaring Down South

Kris Dunn has been out of the lineup due to a non-covid illness for a few games. Despite the fact that he was healthy, Dunn has only played one game in the current playoffs, taking one shot, and collecting one rebound in his three minutes of game-time.

Dunn has scarcely been used since he returned from injury late in the regular season. He is currently the only failed offseason move for this season, but he has not been given the opportunity to show how he can impact the team.

One of the only ways that Dunn will get on the court is if the Philadelphia 76ers get on a run and McMillan uses Dunn to clamp down on defense. This is a good thing because it gives the Hawks another option if they need one.

It would be better for the Hawks if Cam Reddish was able to return as his size would help in the defense of Ben Simmons. However, despite his participation in full practices, Reddish has not been cleared for a return to the lineup.

Next. 5 secret weapons in the playoffs. dark