De'Andre Hunter and 2 more potential X-factors as Hawks host Hornets

Atlanta Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter is a polarizing player.

The No. 4 overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft, Hunter has developed into a useful two-way player rather than the dominant force his draft slot suggests he would be, especially coming out of college at Virginia where the Cavaliers won a championship on that end of the court.

For the Hawks’ second outing, a home tilt against the Charlotte Hornets, the Hawks might need Hunter to harken back to his Cavaliers days.

De’Andre Hunter’s nixed matchup vs Hornets Brandon Miller key for Hawks

Hunter tallied 12 points in the Hawks’ season-opening win over the Brooklyn Nets, canning 2-of-4 triples but shooting 30% from the floor. NBA.com’s matchup data also credited with holding his matchups in the contest to 4-for-9 shooting overall.

However, those matchups were also 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.

Second-year forward Brandon Miller scored just 6 points in the Hornets’ season-opening win over the Houston Rockets on October 23. He played 10 minutes, leaving the contest with hip injury and is out for this game.

With Miller – who posted a 17.3/4.3/2.4 on .440/.373/.820 shooting as a rookie – sidelined, Hunter should be taxed less defensively.

That could, in turn, help his offense.

Hunter was inefficient in the preseason, shooting 23.1% and missing all seven of his attempts from downtown. That was easy to dismiss as the exhibition season. It is more difficult to overlook in the regular season and will be increasingly so as they progress through the slate.

Hunter – who also had 6 rebounds and 2 steals versus the Nets – benefitted from rookie Zaccharie Risacher also having an inefficient night shooting the ball in his debut.

It could get interesting if Risacher gets going first and Hunter's inefficiency (unexpectedly) continues.

Zaccharie Risacher vs the rim

Risacher was 2-for-8 (1-for-4 3P) for 7 points with 1 rebound in his first regular season game. He made his first and last shots, missing everything in between. However, Risacher did not force much if anything. 

And he encouragingly showed no fear of being aggressive, continuing to look for his shot even when on the floor with the Hawks’ top players.

The Hornets do not offer any defensive challenges for Risacher.

That could allow him to find his range. Of course, what that means going forward remains to be seen. Hawks head coach Quin Snyder left the door open for the starting lineups to change, though the rookie could have to string together several strong outings to usurp the veteran.

Dyson Daniels vs LaMelo Ball is a matchup to monitor

Dyson Daniels was everything the Hawks hoped he would be and more in the season opener, providing the proper offense to complement his defense.

Against the Hornets, Daniels’ defense will be key.

Hornets star point guard LaMelo Ball had 34 points and 11 assists versus the Rockets. He was 4-for-12 from three, but he still shot 50% from the floor and – most importantly – 10-for-10 at the free throw line.

Daniels must stay keyed on Ball without fouling lest the undermanned Hornets prove a greater challenge to the Hawks – who will be without Bogdan Bogdanovic – than they should.