I tuned in to this game right when it started, hoping to catch some primo Trae Young action. But apparently something happened to him, because he wasn’t on the court when the opening tip happened, and he sure as heck doesn’t come off the bench (like his idol, Allen Iverson). I stuck it out for about a quarter, and let me tell you, the Hawks looked discombobulated without their stat-stuffing PG. Recombobulation was in order.
The recombobulator of the day was Kevin Huerter, who, in tandem with John Collins and Brandon Goodwin, handled the offense well enough to push the short-handed Celtics all the way to the end of the game. They didn’t get the win, but remember: tanking. They didn’t want to win. Their players other than Young showing almost but not-quite-enough stuff against one of the best teams in the East is just about the best possible outcome here.
Huerter probably ended up taking a few more shots than he is exactly comfortable taking (or should I say… comfortable TANKING!!!!! hahahaha), but when you’re being groomed to be the second shooting option on your team, the guy who takes a lot of shots but not as many as the first option, you have to learn how to chuck. There will be nights when the first option is either bricking or dead, and you have to pick up the slack.
Shout out to his parents for showing up to this one (you get to see a shot of them after one of the free throws, I thought it was just random Hawks fans at first), proudly wearing Hawks gear amongst hordes of snarling Celtics fans. I hope they turned to the people next to them and said “You see that red-haired guy out there kicking your team’s butt? That’s our son.” while smirking.