The Atlanta Hawks have been on a tear lately. They have won six straight and do not have a single player on the injury list. They welcomed Bogdan Bogdanovic back against his old team the Sacramento Kings where he played an amazing game off the bench.
While there are many reasons for the Serbian sharpshooter to start over Kevin Huerter, the Hawks are opting to use him off the bench. This was confirmed by the Atlanta Hawks head coach when asked about whether Bogdanovic would be moved back into the starting lineup.
Such is the character of Bogdanovic, he does not care whether he starts for the team or comes off the bench. All that he wants to do is help this team win and his play, when he is on, is crucial for this team, particularly his shooting.
Why does the Atlanta Hawks’ second unit benefit from the presence of Bogdan Bogdanovic?
The second unit of the Hawks has been huge for the team during this run. Onyeka Okongwu is the defensive heartbeat that sets the tone for the reserve unit. Delon Wright is looking so much more confident and these two are surrounded by some of the best shooters in the league.
Danilo Gallinari is showing that he is getting better with age. He is still shooting the ball well from the outside and monstering opponents in mismatches in the paint. He is also showing some tremendous handles to get himself open. Lou Williams is an offensive sensation who has the ability to heat up at any moment.
What Bogdanovic does is add to the spacing on the floor which allows the rest of the unit to work more effectively. Williams is hard to take one on one but Bogdanovic’s defender cannot leave him to help, meaning that Williams has more space than he has had in years. It is the same for Gallinari and both of these players know how to make the most of this space.
Bogdanovic is also a tremendous playmaker which takes the pressure off Wright and Williams. The way that he connected with Okongwu in the first game back was a thing of beauty. This all helps the second unit either bring the Hawks back into the game or to help take the game away from the opposition. Bogdanovic has been a big part of that since his return.