Atlanta Hawks: Who starts if Trae Young is out for Game 4?
The Atlanta Hawks have it bad enough being down 2-1 to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals. They might also have to figure out who starts at point guard after Trae Young suffered a bone bruise after stepping on the foot of an official in Game 3. At the time of the injury, the Hawks had a three-point lead.
Head Coach Nate McMillan said he should know more on Tuesday in regards to Young’s availability for Game 4 but, in the meantime, the Hawks have to have a contingency plan.
What can the Atlanta Hawks do if Trae Young is forced to miss Game 4 with an ankle injury?
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One of the problems they face is the player who might immediately come to mind, Lou Williams, is one of the best in the business when coming off the bench. That’s not even a guess or just checking the box scores, he’s a three-time Sixth-Man of the Year.
But in 122 starts, Williams’ stats are better across the board; points, assists, even his efficiency. That’s not to say it’s what’s best for him or the Hawks if he were to start, as he’s only started one game for the Hawks and three games all season.
With the options few and shaky at best once you go beyond that, though, they could be more reliant on his veteran presence than ever.
Young missed nine games this season with various injuries after missing eight total in his first two years.
The Hawks won five of those games in 2020-21.
However, they won’t have Rajon Rondo who they traded in the regular season for Williams but they were 0-2 in his starts. The point guard from three of those five wins, Brandon Goodwin, remains out with a minor respiratory illness.
Kris Dunn has only made four appearances this season, with no starts, and is averaging 1.3 points and 0.5 assists but even he might have to get some time. He does have starting experience and some had been calling for him to see the floor more for the Hawks after Milwaukee’s Jrue Holiday went off in Game 2.
Atlanta has gone non-conventional, starting three wings and no point guard. They got two wins with Bogdan Bogdanovic (who’s still dealing with his own knee issue) and Kevin Huerter as the starting backcourt and Solomon Hill on the wing
But might create more questions if tried here in the postseason.
McMillan had Cam Reddish available but said the Hawks would “pretty much stay with our rotation that we have been playing,” so moving Hill into the starting lineup further stretches an already thin bench.
Whoever winds up starting at point guard for the Hawks, they’ll need to take care of the ball better than the team did in the second half of Game 3 when they had eight of their 12 turnovers. Three of Young’s four giveaways also came in the second half. So even if he suits up, he’ll need to be better.
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Game 4 is crucial for the Hawks. Teams who fall three games to one are 13-for-251 with the 2020 Denver Nuggets the last team to do it (and they did it twice) and the last to do it in a Conference Finals was the 2016 Golden State Warriors.
Having a healthy Young, as unlikely as it may be, would make all the difference in the world.