Following a stunning journey to the conference finals this past summer, the Atlanta Hawks haven’t had the best start to the 2021-22 season. Atlanta has struggled to find the same flow as they did in the second half of last season, sitting at 5-9.
The good news is that after a slow start last season, the Hawks found their stride and went on to make a deep playoff run. The bad news is that there are some uncanny similarities to last season’s injury bug, which has struck one of their important players. De’Andre Hunter suffered a wrist injury in a loss to the Warriors last Monday, and an MRI revealed a tendon issue that would require surgery and keep him out for two months after he played 21 minutes against Denver on Friday.
Hunter has suffered an early injury for the Hawks for the second straight season, as his meniscus ruined his season a year ago, necessitating a second surgery that terminated his season in the playoffs. This year, it’ll be a wrist injury that keeps the Hawks’ top defensive winger out of the lineup, forcing the team to rely on others to step up. Kevin Huerter was a hero in the Sixers series a year ago, and he earned himself a healthy extension, so expect Atlanta to lean heavily on him in the future, as well as increased responsibility for Cam Reddish.
Hunter is not just a defensive ace, but has become one of their most reliable three-point threats (39.6 percent from deep this season) and his absence will be significant on both ends. They weathered that storm a year ago, but it’s not what Atlanta wanted to have to replicate again, particularly after stumbling early.
