The Atlanta Hawks are in an improbable battle with the Philadelphia 76ers. I say improbable because just prior to the All-Star break, they were not going to make the playoffs. Then Nate McMillan stepped in the head coaching role and turned it all around.
He implemented structures that helped the players know what their roles were, and the team flourished as a result. However, the one thing he did right was to get Trae Young to buy into the system, meaning that the star point guard was able to grow his game with the team.
Young was incredible all season long, finishing the year with 25.3 points per game which was good enough for 14th in the NBA. On top of that, he averaged 9.4 assists per game which was good enough for second in the NBA. He was one of six players this season to be in the top 20 of both categories. He was the only player to average more than 25 points and nine assists per game.
Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young has stepped it up in the playoffs
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As good as Young was in the regular season, he has stepped his play up a notch in the playoffs. As a result, the narrative around him is starting to change. No longer is he too small, has no interest in defense, or too self-focussed.
Now he is carrying his team, making the right plays more often than not. He is scoring when the team needs it or getting the ball into the best spot for the rest of the Hawks to score. On top of this, he is doing so with a bad shoulder.
In fact, only one player in the history of basketball has averaged 29 points and nine assists over their first ten playoff games. That player is Oscar Robertson who did it back in the early 1960s. When you are doing something that only the Big “O” has done before you know it is special.
Young has the chance to make even more history when he plays his 12th game. He would be the first player in NBA history to average over 30 points and ten assists if he is able to score 32 points and give out five assists. Given the way that he has started his playoff career, I would not bet against him.