Shocking Dyson Daniels revelation has Hawks fans over the moon

Hawks fans were expecting the worst when Trae Young went down with a right MCL sprain, sidelining him for at least a month. The outcome has been quite the opposite, however, as Atlanta's rotation players have all stepped up in his absence.

The skillset of an offensive engine like Young will never be easy to replicate. It was expected that this group would slow down and have an adjustment period with their lead facilitator missing an extended period of time. Dyson Daniels clearly disagreed with this sentiment, as he has taken his game to the next level, leading this Hawks team to a positive record despite the tough schedule and injury woes.

Daniels' season numbers may not look impressive at first glance, but context is crucial in a unique situation like this. Atlanta has had to lean on the defensive-minded guard for an extra level of offensive juice, and to the surprise of many, he has more than delivered.

If someone hears that a player has carried a team on his back on the offensive end, the automatic assumption would be that the player was averaging 20+ points per game. Dyson's impact, however, has not been in the scoring department. In fact, his scoring averages and efficiency have seemingly regressed from last season.

Daniels has changed his game to make up for Young's absence

One particular statistical category has stood out for Daniels, especially in the last three games, where Atlanta has picked up two wins. His assist numbers have skyrocketed. Over his previous three, Daniels is averaging 9.7 assists with only 2.7 turnovers a night.

He recorded 13 assists with only 2 turnovers in the blowout win over the Lakers, unlocking a new career-high in that department. The fourth-year guard was also two rebounds away from a triple-double.

The most impressive part of this is that Daniels has not been starting at point guard. While he is still getting a variety of looks and on-ball opportunities, Quin Snyder has started him at shooting guard in each of these recent games, with either Nickeil Alexander-Walker or Keaton Wallace starting at the one.

The Hawks are now 5-2 since Young went down. While some may overreact and claim this team is better without their 4-time All-Star, fans should instead use this time to celebrate how Daniels and company have blossomed in their new roles, awaiting Young's return.

When he comes back, he will be delighted to share the backcourt with the talented Daniels, who has clearly taken his playmaking game to the next level. Hawks fans have plenty to be excited about as the team now has a record of 6-5, despite all the challenges they have been met with so far.