Atlanta Hawks: The Hawks’ second unit is finally cashing in

If there’s one thing we know the Atlanta Hawks did this season, it was spending a lot of money.

It was evident coming into the season that they wanted to improve in the depth department, and that’s exactly what they did with the number of moves they made.

First, it was Danilo Gallinari. Next, it was Kris Dunn. They then followed it up with Rajon Rondo, Solomon Hill, and finished with Bogdan Bogdanovic.

These players were given big money, and with that were also told to take a back seat to what their previous role was on their last team. In other words, Gallinari and Bogdanovic were going from starters to coming off the bench.

This should have been good news for the Atlanta Hawks because that meant the second unit could be one of the best in the league.

That’s when the injuries came.

First, it was Gallinari. Next, it was Rondo. Then followed Bogdanovic. Dunn has yet to play a game this season. What was once supposed to be a formidable second unit became the injury-riddled squad in a short period of time.

The Hawks still have injuries, but the bench is finally getting healthy, and it’s showing during their recent winning streak. The starters come out and get a lead, but when the bench comes in, better things happen.

Since Nate McMillan has taken over as head coach following Lloyd Pierce’s dismissal, Rondo now has sole possession of the backup point guard duties. Earlier in the season, he struggled with his play, but now he suddenly looks like “playoff Rondo”.

This pass is nothing to drool over, but Rondo’s playmaking ability has made him such a great player in his career. It seems as if Rondo has the Dimer badge from NBA 2K, because every time he gets the ball to somebody, they make the shot.  The one player that can attest to that is Gallinari, who has played great in the past two weeks.

The Hawks brought in Gallinari because of how dangerous he can be on the perimeter, and it looks like it’s finally paying off for them.

There’s a lot to be said about the connection that Trae Young and John Collins share on the court, but Rondo and Gallinari may share that same sentiment when they’re on the court together. With Rondo’s vision and Gallinari’s effort to move without the ball, teams haven’t been able to stop the duo.

Bogdanovic showed earlier in the season that he could make a difference on his team, and you could tell the Hawks missed him while he was out. Since returning, he hasn’t been the same dynamic player, but his presence is something to still take into account, especially on the perimeter.

When he, Rondo, and Gallinari are on the floor together, good things happen for the Hawks. They’re the reason they came back in the game against the Kings and increased leads in the games against the Raptors and Rockets.

To make things sweeter for the Hawks, other players have been stepping up on the bench as well.

Ask any Atlanta Hawks fan, and they’ll tell you that Nathan Knight has been something worth watching this season. After a coming-out game at the beginning of the season against the Grizzlies, Knight has continued his strong play filling in for Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu.

His IQ is something to rave about; just ask Trae Young’s dad.

It shows in this play, with just five seconds remaining on the shot clock. We’ve seen players try to make a play themselves which often turns into a bad shot, but Knight stays composed, surveys the floor, and finds the open man. The Hawks ended with a good shot on that possession.

It will be interesting to see if Knight continues to get minutes when Capela and Okongwu return, but it’s safe to say that he has deserved minutes with the way he’s been playing.

You can give the credit to Nate McMillan for turning the Atlanta Hawks around after the All-Star break, but the bench has been a key component of their success recently. What’s even scarier is that teams haven’t seen the Hawks at full strength the entire season. Just imagine what could happen when they finally get healthy.