The Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks have played a tight series in the Eastern Conference Finals. That’s despite the fact that every contest but Game 1 has been decided by at least 11 points. On Tuesday, the Hawks played without Trae Young but got a full-team effort and shot the ball extremely well, especially from downtown.
Cam Reddish made his presence felt on both ends. This is notable because it was just his second appearance this postseason and first action in four months.
The Atlanta Hawks got great two-way play out of Cam Reddish in what was just his second game in four months
More from Hawks News
- Start, Bench, Cut: Sorting through the Hawks’ power forward options
- Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic reacts to earning FIBA World Cup championship bid
- When does training camp start for the Atlanta Hawks?
- Dejounte Murray rips NBA 2K after Atlanta Hawks ratings reveal
- Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic makes special dedication after FIBA win
He played 17 minutes in Game 2 and played well in the loss. But before Game 3, Nate McMillan spoke on Reddish saying the Hawks would stick with their rotations.
The second-year wing didn’t see the floor in that one.
His impact certainly was felt most on the defensive end as he was able to finally slow down Khris Middleton of the Bucks, who had 38 points, 20 of which came in the fourth quarter, in Game 3.
On Tuesday, Middleton was 6-of-17 and 0-for-7 from three. The Bucks swingman was just 3-of-10 from the floor in the first half when Reddish got his two steals and a block.
"“He has length, and he takes pride in defending. He’s one of the few guys in this league that actually, that’s his game. That’s where he draws his energy from.” – via Sarah K. Spencer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution"
The former Duke Blue Devil turned on the offense in the second half, hitting three of his four shots, including both of his threes as the Hawks went on a heater from outside in the third.
Shooters EVERYWHERE 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TOKiIy30cu
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) June 30, 2021
We wondered if Reddish would crack McMillan’s rotations at home and his words before Game 3 were discouraging. After seeing his performance in Game 4 however, it’s going to be hard to keep him out of the rotation even if Young is back for Game 5.
McMillan did say he was on a minutes restriction but that they’d adjust depending on how the 21-year-old felt after logging over 23 minutes. Reddish admitted that he wasn’t yet in game shape so it will be interesting to see what the Hawks do after such an encouraging performance.
They’d been without someone with this kind of skillset since De’Andre Hunter went down.
With Young and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s statuses both up in the air for Game 5, any advantage personnel-wise is huge. Getting a lottery pick such as Reddish, who can provide the kind of two-way play we saw on Tuesday, is invaluable and changes things wholly for the Hawks.
Now their focus turns to Game 5 and capitalizing on what was a truly surprising victory.