CJ McCollum flourishing in his new role is a testament to Hawks' new switchability

After one game on the road, the Atlanta Hawks returned home Friday night, where they defeated the Phoenix Suns 110-103. 

Coming off of a win over the Memphis Grizzlies, the Hawks had a perfect opportunity to continue building momentum with a win over another tough Western Conference opponent. The only issue heading in, though, was that the game would be played at State Farm Arena. 

Weird, right? Teams are usually thrilled to play in their home arena after spending a large chunk of the season on the road. It’s been the complete opposite for the Hawks this year. 

Entering Friday night’s cross-conference matchup, Atlanta had won only seven of their 20 games played at home. On the flip side, they have an impressive away record of 14-12, leaving fans to wonder how different the first half of the season could’ve gone if they were their usual selves at home. 

Still, it’s important to take it one game at a time. If the Hawks were going to improve their home record, it needed to start with a win over the resilient Suns. 

Phoenix entered Friday’s game with an impressive 27-17 record, good for fifth place in the Western Conference. While Devin Booker’s shooting splits haven’t exactly been up to standard, Dillon Brooks and Grayson Allen have flourished in larger roles, aiding in the Suns’ unexpected success. 

With Jalen Green back from injury as well, it was up to Atlanta's guards to match their level of offensive dominance and help secure a much-needed victory.

Hawks' newcomer CJ McCollum understood the assignment.

It's been a rocky start to the McCollum era in Atlanta, but his adaptability has been remarkable. Since putting on a Hawks uniform for the first time, he's been forced into a variety of roles. As a veteran on a team full of young weapons, he has the responsibility of leading by example both on and off the court.

In his first few games as a Hawk, McCollum led the team in usage. It was clear that wasn't a recipe for success, so Coach Snyder adjusted his nightly volume. Still off the bench, the 13th-year veteran began learning the system and benefitting others with his scoring punch, both on and off the ball.

His new and more impactful role was on full display Friday night against the Suns. The Hawks got off to a hot start, but came back down to Earth in no time. When they needed a spark, they didn't necessarily rely on McCollum, but he still took command of the offense and generated his fair share of runs.

The newcomer led all Hawks in scoring at the half, recording 16 points on an efficient 7/10 from the field. His offensive production aided in a five-point halftime lead.

The third quarter, however, was a different story. Getting outscored 20-32, it was clear that the Hawks needed their guys to step up in crunch time if they wanted to come away with a victory.

Everyone did. It wasn't a dominant second half from McCollum, but again, he's been more than willing to adapt ever since arriving in Atlanta. Team-ball won the Hawks this game.

Now with two victories in a row, CJ McCollum and the Hawks are beginning to build real momentum on the season.