The Atlanta Hawks are blessed with so many quality wings that one of the harder jobs Nate McMillan will have all season is getting them enough court time. While this situation is helped a little when a player is out, that is not ideal for the team.
However, this happened against the Detroit Pistons when De’Andre Hunter sat out the game with a non-COVID illness. This meant that Kevin Huerter got the start and Cam Reddish was able to continue his hot streak off the bench.
Huerter was solid again, there are very few games that he is not, even with his role changing every single night. However, against the New Orleans Pelicans, it should be Reddish that gets the start, not Huerter. This is no respect to Red Velvet, it is just that the matchups suit Reddish better.
The Atlanta Hawks need to start Cam Reddish.
Offensive Reddish has been something else this season. He top-scored in the first game and only Trae Young scored more than him in the second game of the season. He is showing a high level of aggression, mixed in with some really smart play. The evolution of Reddish offensively under Nate McMillan has been a joy to watch.
It is on the other side of the ball where Reddish gets the nod over Huerter. Reddish has shown this season (and before) that he is a lockdown defender who is making life difficult for the opposition offenses by also getting into the passing lanes with his long arms.
His matchup will be Brandon Ingram who is also a very long-armed player who is very difficult to stop given his tremendous shooting touch. This is a matchup that is made for Reddish and will have a huge impact on the outcome of the game.
Without Zion Williamson, who is still recovering from foot surgery, Ingram is a focal point of the offense. With Reddish potentially keeping him quiet, this will go a long way towards helping the Hawks get their third win of the season.