The Atlanta Hawks are in the midst of an important homestand that could help them clinch a spot in the Eastern Conference. That means they have to play some of their best ball, and that comes with making changes to the lineup to put them in the best position to win.
Head coach Quin Snyder did just that recently, inserting C.J. McCollum into the starting lineup and moving Zachary Reisacher off the bench. This is not new territory for McCullum, as he has been a consistent starter for most of his career. He was asked about the lineup change at the recent Hawks shootaround.
"It's part of the game. I've played 840 matches in my career," McCullum told reporters. "I've obviously started 10 years in a row, and I'm comfortable with that. When I came here I told them, whatever you need me to do, I'll do. I've played a lot of different roles in my career. I've been a DNP guy to start. I've been to the 7th, 8th and 9th man. I've been a starter. So whatever's needed to help the team, I'll do."
With what McCollum has brought to the Hawks since being traded, they may be looking to keep him in the starting lineup instead of coming off the bench. Meanwhile, Riescher has not performed particularly well in his second season and it is time for a change.
"That group of guys that finished the game, their Nets rating is 10 points higher than any other combination," Snyder said after their game against the Brooklyn Nets. "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."
Not only would this move help the Hawks get off to a strong start to games, but it could also give Resacher a chance to regain his confidence in a new role.
“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."
