Bogdan Bogdanovic’s slump hasn’t stopped the Atlanta Hawks (34-34) from winning three straight games. They’ve now stacked up wins over teams that they should beat in the Los Angeles Clippers, Indiana Pacers, and Portland Trail Blazers. It’s given them some cushion in the play-in and a chance to further improve their chances to make the playoffs.
In a historic season, Trae Young has taken things to another level over the last two games with 93 points on 54.9 percent shooting and 50.0 percent from three-point range.
The Hawks also got their latest win without John Collins or Danilo Gallinari.
Gallinari should be available for Wednesday’s tilt versus the Charlotte Hornets. But Collins’ finger is in bad shape that won’t heal properly without the proper precautions. But the Hawks will be in better shape once Bogdnaovic’s efficiency returns.
The Atlanta Hawks need Bogdan Bogdanovic to get going again
In the last four games, Bogdanovic has averaged 10.5 points on 30.0 percent shooting while knocking down just 5-of-32 (15.6%) triples. This is in stark contrast to the 21.0 points he averaged on 46.2 percent shooting across the previous four games. It is even worse than the 31.6 percent mark he was putting up from deep in that previous stretch.
He has averaged 5.5 assists and 4.0 boards with 1.5 steals in this recent stretch, all improvement over the prior four outings.
But the Hawks need Bogdanovic’s three-point shooting as a part of their offense to offset a porous defense. Especially now with Collins’ injury impacting his performance at the very least if he makes it back into the lineup.
Bogdanovic has failed to reach double-digit points in two of the last four meetings.
Even in his most recent 20-point performance, just over a week ago in the loss to the Detroit Pistons, he shot just 2-of-11 from beyond the arc. This has spilled into the fourth quarter, where he had been thriving. Bogdanovic is now shooting just 25.0 percent from the floor hitting 3-of-19 long-distance attempts in the final 12 minutes.
His clutch numbers have taken a similar dip.
The Hawks boast the most efficient lineup in the NBA of any to see at least 100 minutes together. But they need Bogdanovic performing up to his usual level for that to continue.
That same group, which has a plus-30.8 net rating on the season, has fallen to a plus-5.6 net rating over the last five games. Collins has missed the last three of those games, perhaps contributing to Bogdanovic’s slump in some way.
Whatever it is, the Hawks will have a much easier time with the lower-tier teams when Bogi is back to himself yet again. Hopefully, that is soon.