Quin Snyder keeping the faith amid Hawks veteran's struggles

The Hawks lost to the Pistons at home in front of a disappointed Atlanta crowd, and Bogdan Bogdanovic could not have played worse. He shot 0-for-9 from the field and 0-for-4 from three with a game-low plus-minus of -15. The 32-year-old sharpshooter is having the worst season of his career, averaging single-digit points for the first time in his career.

Slumping at 9.7 points per game, Bogi has shot career-lows in field goal percentage (36.5%) and 3-point percentage (30.4%). Given the eight-year veteran’s elite Summer Olympics performance that helped Serbia win a bronze medal, his disaster of a season has been especially puzzling.

Bogdanovic’s poor play has led to the fewest minutes per game of his career, but Hawks head coach Quin Snyder isn’t giving up on the Serb.

“You’ve just got to believe in him,” Snyder told Caleb Johnson of 92.9 The Game. “We’ve seen Bogi make shots. He’s done that here. He’s done it through his whole career. When those things are happening and you’re not making them, you’ve just got to keep competing. That's what he's trying to do. Like I said, I believe in him.”

Bogi Buckets needs to rediscover the kind of play that earned him his nickname in the first place. He has now gone two straight games without hitting a three after he had nailed at least one in each of his previous 110 contests.

Despite his on-court struggles, Bogi still seems in good enough spirits to find his footing. After the Pistons loss, he met with members of a local Serbian church to whom he had given tickets for the game.

Bogdan Bogdanovic’s injury woes may be contributing to his struggles

After playing in Atlanta’s season opener, Bogdanovic missed 13 straight games with a hamstring injury. In his first two games back, he shot a combined 4-of-21 from the field. 

Since then, Bogi has missed eight more games with various ailments. From left leg and quad issues to right knee concerns, Bogdanovic’s lower body has failed him this season. Bogi played 79 games last year, but his durability has clearly taken a hit.

Whether Bogdanovic’s shooting woes have stemmed from his slew of injuries, fatigue from playing in the Olympics, or both, the Hawks need their 3-point marksman back. With the trade deadline two weeks away, some Hawks fans will be throwing Bogi into the trade machine. However, no reports have suggested a Bogdanovic departure, and Snyder clearly has faith in his eventual return to form.

Assuming Bogi figures it out, Atlanta should hope it happens sooner rather than later.