The Atlanta Hawks were struggling at both ends of the court during their losing streak. Since De’Andre Hunter has come back though they have been a totally different team and not just at the defensive end of the court.
After going through a mini-slump, Hunter has come out of it in a big way. He now has seven straight games where he has scored in double figures including the 26 point outburst against the Washington Wizards, which was the difference in the game.
On top of that, Hunter is still defending the oppositions best player most nights. He was struggling on the defensive end as well during that slump but has again come back in a big way on that end of the floor. His ability to shut down players, or in some cases simply slow them down is a big reason the Hawks are moving back up the standings.
The Atlanta Hawks need a healthy De’Andre Hunter.
When Hunter was out at the start of the season, the Hawks struggled. The mini-slump also coincided with Hunter being unwell and the Hawks had a 2-2 record. They were fortunate because one of those games was against the lowly Orlando Magic.
With Hunter it is not just points and rebounds etc which define him, nor is it just the defense. It is when Hunter makes plays and how he does it which makes all the difference. In the last few games he has been the player who has made two clutch 3-point shots, one being the dagger in the most recent game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
However, his off-ball movement is some of the best on the team which opens up the offense for both himself and his teammates. He also has a good knack of dribbling into the paint and putting up a one-handed push shot which can’t be stopped. Then there is the work he has put in on his free throw shooting, and his ability to get to the line is also improving.
Hunter is never going to be the star of this team. He may not even ever acheive secondary star status. What he does is make good plays at the right time and the Hawks benefit. Remember that Robert Horry was never the best player on his teams but he has more championships than Michael Jordan. Hunter is this type of player (Horry, not Jordan), with more skill.