Atlanta Hawks: 3 reasons why Kevin Huerter is key to their title run

Why Kevin Huerter is key for the Atlanta Hawks: 3. He’s killing the Bucks off the dribble

Since he’s struggled from three in this series, he’s chosen to tune them up where they are apparently unwilling – or unable – to commit to stopping him. The mid-range is evidently becoming his favorite spot, and he especially covets opportunities where he can come off of screens to search for an opening. Whether he moves directly into his shooting motion off those screens is less inevitable than it was when he was younger and much rawer when looking to get his own shot. Now, he has the wherewithal to assess the defense, create off the dribble, and torch the likes of Khris Middleton and Giannis.

Take the play in Game 4 where he and Giannis dueled on-on-one, for example; he makes a series of dribble moves, separates himself from 2020’s Defensive Player of the Year, and creates a canyon of space to get a shot off as Giannis is still off-balance, attempting to recover. Needless to say, that doesn’t happen a lot. I hope Huerter frames the moment and hangs it in his living room.

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There’s a level of surprise that comes with Huerter’s live ascendance until you recognize that he’s always had the tools to make this sort of playmaking formula deadly. That it’s happening on both ends? Go ahead and be surprised, but don’t let that feeling linger. If Young is sidelined and Bogdanovic continues to limp through the playoffs with a bullish refusal to become another statistic for LeBron to reference in a future, enraged tweet, it’ll be Huerter’s offense to pace.

Sure, Lou Williams looks comfortable as a playoff starter, and Cam Reddish is a sight for sore eyes off the bench. But having consistent and instant offense from a player not named Trae or Bogdan is vital for the Atlanta Hawks moving forward.

To fill that void, enter Kevin, or K’Von, or Red Velvet, or whatever you want to call him. Huerter’s game, given its relative simplicity and previously infrequent bursts, is probably viewed as far more unassuming than any of those nicknames. He’s not shimmying nor shushing crowds – not explicitly, that is. But he’s worthy of such limelight moments, and furthermore, capable of turning a series. Don’t be surprised when he sprints with the chance to do so – and then, inevitably, stops on a dime and pulls up in everyone’s face.