Kevin Huerter has been on a different kind of heater for the Atlanta Hawks lately
It’s only two games, but the Atlanta Hawks (19-25) are showing us all that they are still the team we thought they could be before this season began. They’ve recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since beating the San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies in late November and their first home wins since around the same time.
The Hawks hadn’t won back-to-back home games since their seven-game winning streak.
A confluence of events, including a trade and several contributors returning to form, has allowed them to overcome to of their biggest pieces from that run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
In the absence of one, Bogdan Bogdanovic, another Hawks wing has stepped up. So much so that it is fair to wonder, once again, if the third-year wing is poised to maintain his starting role even once his veteran teammate is back healthy.
The Atlanta Hawks can take better advantage of Kevin Huerter’s versatility off of the bench
We asked what the ideal role for Huerter was about two weeks ago following their 108-102 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Coincidentally, that was the last time they had won before taking down the Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves. But their effort improved well before the results did and Huerter has been critical in that.
Since returning from health and safety protocols – a period that took him to what he called his lowest point since becoming a professional – the former 19th overall pick is averaging 13.7 points on 43.2 percent shooting from the floor with 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.0 steals.
Unfortunately, he’s shot just 28.8 percent from three and is knocking down just 75.0 percent of his free throws.
The Hawks also went just 2-4 without him and a slew of others.
He’s scored at least 11 points in seven of the nine games he’s played since coming back while drawing starts in five of the contests.
At last check, we went over how his raw numbers were better as a starter but he had a greater impact off of the bench. That may be truer now than it was then. He’s still averaging more as a starter (13.0/3.3/3.3) as opposed to coming in with the reserves (8.6/3.8/2.2). But that trend has been reversed since he’s been back in the rotation.
As a starter, Huerter has put up 12.0 points, 3.8 boards, and 3.8 assists. He is shooting 40 percent from the floor and a miserable 26.7 percent from deep in five games. He’s averaging 10.3/5.0/5.0 while starting the last three games.
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But, in his four games as a top option off of the bench, Huerter is averaging 15.8 points on 47.1 percent shooting from the floor with 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.0 steals.
He’s still shooting just 31.8 percent from outside and a perplexing 66.6 percent at the stripe.
The Hawks have gone 1-3 with him coming in off of the bench and are 2-3 when he starts the game. Neither record is anymore definitive than his raw numbers on their own.
Huerter’s numbers off of the bench are good enough for ninth in the NBA since his return. Who knows if it is sustainable. He’s playing above his season averages in this stretch and his versatility is proving valuable even when his long-ball isn’t falling.
He notched two key steals in the win over Milwaukee but both he and Bogdanovic have struggled defensively.
Much like Onyeka Okongwu and Clint Capela at center, for as good as Huerter has played of late and the results that are coming with it, it would be a surprise to see him retain the starting role when Bogdanovic (who hasn’t been great this season) returns to full strength.
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That might ultimately be for the best too. At 6-foot-7 Huerter provides a little more length than Bogi and still can do some of the ball-handling that the latter does. And, while his deep ball isn’t falling right now, he can get just as hot from downtown.