De’Andre Hunter needs to make a name for himself for the Atlanta Hawks to win

When De’Andre Hunter plays well, the Atlanta Hawks usually come away with the win. This is what happened in the game against the Charlotte Hornets in their play-in matchup. However, if Hunter to going to get the reconition that he deserves, the play-in is not a big enough stage.

To put it simply, names and reuptations are made or broken in the playoffs. Look at last season in the Hawks first round matchup against the New York Knicks. Trae Young was called out as a foul baiter and Julius Randle was the darling of Maddison Square Gardens for what he had managed to acheive with the Knicks that season.

Well, Young left that series with the narrative changing about him because of the way that he played. He then reinforced that with the way that he played for the rest of the playoffs. Randle, after the Knicks were bundled out in five games, then went on to have a down season in the one just finished. If the Knicks can find a suitor, Randle will be gone this offseason.

The Atlanta Hawks need De’Andre Hunter to become a difference maker in big games.

During the play-in tournament, because the games were televised nationally the commentators were those for the national audience. During this broadcast one commentator remarked that they were unsure if the Hawks had an elite defender. Now, for those who watch this team closely that is a hurtful statement, however it does shine a light on the league’s perception of Hunter.

This is futher evidenced by the fact that Hunter did not get a single vote for the Defensive Player of the Year. While he is not at that level yet, the Hawks went from an easy beat team when he was out to the unit we saw take the Hawks all the way to the eighth seed.

However, as mentioned earlier, it is one thing to do it during the regular season, it is another to do it on the biggest stage in basketball, the NBA playoffs. So far against the Miami Heat, the Hawks have allowed Duncan Robinson to hit a franchise record eight 3-pointers in Game No. 1 and then Jimmy Butler went for his playoff-high, scoring 45 points.

Both of these players are a natural matchup for Hunter. Given that they are without their defensive anchor Clint Capela, this is Hunter’s chance to really shine and as yet he has not been up to the task. He has the chance to write his legacy if he can help the Hawks win this series, especially if he can do it without Capela.