Atlanta Hawks: Studs and duds from frustrating loss to Wizards

Atlanta Hawks stud from frustrating loss to Wizards: Cam Reddish has outplayed some higher-paid teammates

Cam Reddish had 20 points in this one. He shot 57.1 percent from the floor but was only 1-of-5 from deep. He did, however, get 15 of his points in the fourth quarter as the Hawks were still trying to make a comeback.

Coming into the season, management’s challenge to the third-year wing was for consistency. Through five games, he’s the third-leading scorer at 16.2 points per game on 45.2 percent shooting and 44.0 percent from outside. Gorgui Dieng is the only other Hawks player to shoot a better percentage from three-point range at 50 percent.

However, Reddish is also second on the team in three-point attempts.

Both the points and attempts from three are career-highs. Add to that the fact that he is currently averaging 1.2 steals and Reddish is getting after it on both ends.

Hunter (rightfully) got a lot of credit for his work on locking up Brandon Ingram when it mattered most. But Reddish held him to 0-for-3 from the floor and the Pels scored just four points. It was in a little less than half of the amount of time Hunter spent on him.

Reddish hasn’t just risen to the challenge. He’s met it and could be on to the next one.

We recently suggested that the 6-foot-8 forward should be the fill-in should De’Andre Hunter (also 6-foot-8) miss time.

That might not be far enough as there could be some advantage to starting him at shooting guard. So far, he’s played there less than last season. But his length and aggressiveness would blend well with Young, Collins, and Clint Capela — who had a pedestrian (for him) 11 points and four boards.

It would be a major (and at this point unlikely) change to take Bogdan Bogdanovic out of the starting lineup. He hasn’t played poorly. Reddish has just played better. Because while he did have four turnovers, Bogdanovic had five personal fouls.