It's De'Andre Hunter's Time to Shine for Hawks
There are 23 games left in the Atlanta Hawks’ season. While they have faced many ups and downs throughout the journey, the team must make a deep push for the postseason. While the stars, Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, are expected to elevate their play, role players like De’Andre Hunter also have to fill big shoes.
Hawks fans have had a love-hate relationship with Hunter over the past few seasons. While he is known as the team’s third option offensively, he’s had his ups and downs this season. Consistency on offense has been a struggle for Hunter.
There are moments when he is an efficient scorer, while there are also times when he can’t buy a basket. Many can blame former head coach Nate McMillan’s old-school style for why Hunter struggles to find his groove. However, with the second half of the season underway, Hunter has a chance to shine in a new system under new head coaching.
It is an interesting take because Hunter’s numbers will say that he’s having a great season. He’s averaging 16 points per game while shooting 36% from three-point land. When Hunter is engaged within the offense, he can be exciting to watch. The Hawks love the energy he can bring to the table.
Often, Hunter can be labeled strictly as a catch-and-shoot scorer. However, Hunter has shown on many occasions the ability to score off the dribble and create plays for others. When the coaching staff allows Hunter to be active offensively, he can take pressure off others which can lead to a win.
However, that can be the issue. Maybe Hunter’s role isn’t big enough. Maybe he needs more opportunities to utilize his value on the offensive end. While he has had effective moments offensively, it hasn’t been on a consistent basis. Hunter has also had inefficient performances offensively, where he shot less than 40% from the field.
In this situation, no one else is to blame but Hunter. Playing against certain teams and defensive sets, he can become a decoy who makes no impact on the team. The Hawks are 3-9 on the season when Hunter shoots less than 40% from the field. The statistics show that his efficiency plays a major role in their success.
Hunter’s impact on the team is essential for their success. When he is active and engaged, he shows the ability to come big in pressure situations. For instance, in the Hawks’ trip to Utah against the Jazz earlier this month, Hunter was able to shine with 26 points while knocking down a clutch corner three to seal the win. Of course, Trae Young and Dejounte Murray will be the star duo who are looking to lead the Hawks into the NBA Playoffs. However, Hunter will also have to shine in his role as their third option.
