The Atlanta Hawks just lost the game that could have put them into the top three in their conference. This is a huge blow to not only this season, but for years to come if they cannot recover quickly.
The “atlanta constitution sports” is a team that has been struggling for a while. They just suffered a devastating blow that can ruin their rise to the top of the Eastern Conference.
The Atlanta Hawks’ unexpected journey to the Eastern Conference Finals seems like an eternity ago now.
Atlanta was one of the most fascinating teams in the NBA entering the 2021-22 season. The Hawks aimed to expand on last season’s success by extending Trae Young, John Collins, and Kevin Huerter. Head coach Nate McMillan’s club, on the other hand, fumbled out of the gate and was dealt terrible injury news, which threatens to undermine all of Atlanta’s momentum built up before to the start of the new season.
De’Andre Hunter will be absent for around eight weeks after having wrist surgery.
An MRI on De’Andre Hunter’s right wrist showed a tendon issue that would need surgery.
According to the Hawks, he’ll be back in around eight weeks.
November 15, 2021 — Sarah K. Spencer (@sarah k spence)
The Hawks’ playoff run in 2020-21 was significant for the fact that they accomplished it without De’Andre Hunter for the most of the time.
Due to knee concerns, Hunter only participated in 23 games during the regular season. He returned for the playoffs, but only made five games before tearing his right lateral meniscus.
Despite having a whole summer to recuperate, the No. 4 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft was expected to play a key role as one of Atlanta’s top two-way wings. Regrettably, injury has struck once again.
Hunter initially hurt his wrist in a game against the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 8. An MRI indicated tendon injury, which necessitates emergency surgery. The former University of Virginia standout will be gone for eight weeks.
Hunter’s injury, as if things weren’t awful enough for the Hawks already, adds to Atlanta’s early-season woes on the wings. Trae Young is doing well, and John Collins’ $125 million investment in him is paying off. Atlanta, on the other hand, must strike a balance between Kevin Huerter and Cam Reddish.
In Hunter’s absence, the Hawks urgently need Kevin Huerter or Cam Reddish to step up.
Atlanta’s wing depth should have been a strength going into the season. For the Hawks, it’s been everything but that, and they’ll need other players to step up in De’Andre Hunter’s absence.
During the 2021 NBA Playoffs, Kevin Huerter and Cam Reddish both showed glimpses of their lofty ceilings. However, neither team has made much progress thus far in the 2021-22 season.
Huerter is averaging 8.5 points per game and shooting 31.3 percent from three-point range. With 3.0 assists per 36 minutes, he’s shown to be a capable playmaker. Despite this, his perimeter inefficiency reduces his influence, and he must improve as an on-ball defender.
Reddish is averaging 11.4 points per game and shooting a decent 36.7 percent from three-point range. With his length and quickness, he also serves as a defensive playmaker for the Hawks.
Reddish, on the other hand, only makes 40% of his two-point attempts and doesn’t do much in the way of creating for his teammates. The former Duke star must help the team win more games, especially since he was the target of numerous trade speculations at the start of the season.
Huerter and Reddish are critical for the Hawks to fill the vacuum created by Hunter’s absence. Hunter’s defending abilities as one of Atlanta’s finest on-ball defenders will be missed in addition to his floor-spacing. If the Hawks want to stop bleeding, someone has to take a risk.
The Hawks should be concerned about another De’Andre Hunter injury.
On November 3, 2021, De’Andre Hunter dribbles during the first half of a game against the Brooklyn Nets | Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Hunter’s durability is already proving to be a major roadblock in his NBA future.
The 23-year-old is undergoing his third operation in less than a year. Knee ailments plagued the team for the whole of last season, and now the wrist is causing problems. Hunter isn’t the only person to suffer from wrist pain. He was forced to sit out the 2018 NCAA Tournament due to a fractured left wrist.
Physical difficulties are starting to pile up. That’s worrying for both the player and the club, as the Hawks will need Hunter to be healthy and improving in order to reach their full potential as Eastern Conference contenders. He has a lot of power over Atlanta’s future, which looks less appealing if he can’t remain on the floor.
Basketball Reference provided the statistics.
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The “atlanta hawks articles” is a sports article that discusses the status of the Atlanta Hawks. The article talks about how they are struggling to make it to the top of the Eastern Conference.
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