The Atlanta Hawks did really well over the offseason. The additions that they wanted to make an immediate impact are already doing just that. Delon Wright is getting up to speed running the second unit and Gorgui Dieng is showing that his signing is going to benefit the Hawks all season, including into the playoffs.
When John Collins went off for the second straight game with foul trouble, Dieng played a massive role for the Hawks, making sure that the Detroit Pistons were not able to come back and snatch the second game that the Hawks should have won.
Dieng played just under 16 minutes for the game which meant that Clint Capela was able to only play to the minutes’ restriction that he started the season under. This is crucial for the Hawks moving forward as he is the lynchpin of their defense.
The Atlanta Hawks are benefitting from Gorgui Dieng and his two-way play
Dieng has been good on defense, yes he did commit foul fouls against the Pistons but that was not the end of the world. He was able to collect them far enough apart that it did not impact the Hawks rotations in the way that Collins’ early fouls did.
Dieng was able to get himself into the right spots on the floor to make life difficult on the Pistons offense. Normally plus/minus is not the best way to judge a player’s effectiveness, but Dieng had a plus 16 against the Pistons. This means he is averaging plus 12 in the three games played, without a negative impact in any game.
Through the first three games, Dieng is averaging 8.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in just 16 minutes per game. This is a huge boost to the second unit, especially as he has also made a 3-point in all three games which helps space the floor.
This team is so deep that when Danilo Gallinari and Onyeka Okongwu come back, there is going to be fierce competition for roster spots. The Hawks might be able to trade Gallinari, getting his contract off the books for next season. The depth chart could also point to an Okongwu trade. This is how well Dieng is playing and if the Hawks go all-in, he may get another deal next season. It is still early days though.