The Atlanta Hawks made a change to their starting lineup prior to the game against the Brooklyn Nets, placing C.J. McCollum in the starting lineup and removing Jacqueri Risachar from the bench. Rescher struggled during the season, and head coach Quin Snyder said that when McCollum is in the closing lineup with starters, the statistics show that good things happen.
"That group of guys that finished the game had a net rating 10 points higher than any other combination," Snyder said. "This is our best lineup. Not starting CJ gives us ball handling and some scoring punch off the bench. But we don't get that lineup as much."
Although some may see this as a demotion for Rishaar, Snyder believes it could help the second-year player find a spark in his game.
“I think the biggest thing is that this in no way reflects our and my personal confidence in Zack,” Snyder said. "I thought being in a different phase of the game against different matchups with different guys could be really positive for him. And I was glad to see that I think that was the case. He looked relaxed, and he competed. Jack has all the right things. His development is something that will continue, whether he's starting or coming off the bench."
In their win against the Nets, Rissacher finished with seven points and had a strong start to his first stint in the game. As for the players, they don't see a big difference in who is in the starting lineup, as long as everyone continues to do their job.
“I think guys just come in and do their part,” Dyson Daniels said. "Jack was really good coming off the bench. He came in and he was kind of an energy booster for us. Came in and hit a big shot. Whoever starts, whoever comes off the bench, it doesn't really matter. Guys have to come in and play their roles, and guys have to start the right way."
After averaging 12.6 points per game last season, Rischer is averaging 10.3 points this season. There have been moments when he has looked good, but there have also been moments when he has struggled to find a consistent rhythm on both sides of the ball.
On the other hand, the lineup of McCollum, Daniels, Nickel Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu had a +18.7 point differential per Nets game.
"In this case, it's just to the point where it makes sense with CJ," Snyder said. "I think he also settles us in some ways. And the extra ball handling is helpful for us. We've had some tough starts lately, and you get to the five, six minute mark when you know you're going to get that lineup."
As the Hawks look to move forward in the second half of the season, it should come as no surprise that a lineup change will help them.
