After hanging around for three-plus quarters, the Atlanta Hawks ended up losing 113-102 on the road to the Charlotte Hornets.

Three Observations

1. Kevin Huerter!

I know I went on about how Hawks point guard, Trae Young was a realistic Rookie of the Year candidate already in the last recap, however, what Kevin Huerter has been doing of late is equally (if not more) impressive.

We knew the team was going to be handed over to Young once he beat out Jeremy Lin for the starting job in training camp. Yet, there were so many questions surrounding Huerter given the wrist injury that kept him out all summer and some of camp.

In the preseason, Huerter often looked a step behind on both ends of the floor. Fast forward to nearly a month into his first NBA season and for most of his first career start Huerter looked like the best player on the entire Atlanta roster.

Huerter’s ability to do a little bit of everything combined with his determination and will have resulted in some inspired play out of the former Maryland Terrapin.

Even though his box score statistics don’t immediately jump out at you, he made an impact in nearly every area of the game—seven points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals, one block (and most impressive on a team struggling to keep control of the ball, one turnover!)

2. Pierce sits Young in Fourth

For the better part of his rookie year, Trae Young is going to get his feet held to the fire and have to learn on the fly. The entire organization is on-board with letting Young make mistakes now in hopes of speeding up his development in the future.

Last night, Hawks head coach, Lloyd Pierce, couldn’t live with the mistakes Young was making against the Hornets on defense.

To start the year, Young has had a lot of issues with screens. Not being the strongest, Young tends to stop on contact instead of at least making an effort to fight over picks. While getting smashed into by players nearly 100 pounds heavier isn’t the easiest thing to overcome, it’s the fact that Young doesn’t try at times that irks the coaching staff.

Against the Hornets, Pierce decided to sit Young for a stretch in the fourth quarter when he had enough of watching Young continuously get beat on screens on and off the ball.

When Young came back in the game with just under three minutes left there seemed to be an improvement in the effort Young gave defensively.

3. #LetVinceDunk

Yes he already shut down the idea, and yes I know it’s nearly impossible to have a 41-year-old win a dunk contest, but how great would it be to see Vince Carter walk-off into the proverbial dunk contest sunset at All-Star Weekend 2019 in Charlotte.

Even if this is a one-man campaign, the #LetVinceDunk movement has officially begun.

[editor’s note: #LetVinceDunk]

Two Questions

1. Is the Real Jeremy Lin Back?

While not a true homecoming for Jeremy Lin—Lin has played for the Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, and Charlotte—Lin did put forth what was easily his best game of the season (19 points in 18 minutes).

As mentioned above, heading into the season there was a real chance that Lin could’ve been the Hawks’ starting point guard this season. However, once he was relegated to second string it seemed as if the Linsanity days were extinct.

Regardless of what happens on the court, Lin’s going to provide some needed sage veteran advice for the younger players. Yet, on nights when he does find ways to contribute it’s a win-win for Atlanta.

Lin looked much more comfortable on the floor tonight and was once again weaving his way in and out of the paint and converting on looks at the rim.

If this Lin is here to stay, then Atlanta is going to be a tough team to beat despite whatever record they finish the year with.

2. Should the Hawks Tank?

Bringing in three first-round picks this summer definitely helped illustrate the point that the Hawks aren’t concerned with being a contender immediately.

The fact that they coerced former head coach Mike Budenholzer into tanking was the first step in their current rebuild.

Young, Huerter and Omari Spellman have all had flashes of brilliance in their first season in the NBA it certainly couldn’t hurt to add some more talent to this roster.

Atlanta could conceivably end up with three first round picks again in the 2019 NBA Draft (Dallas owes the Hawks a top-five protected first-round pick and Cleveland owes the Hawks a top-10 protected first-round pick), but they also control their own pick this season.

With developing the young players being at the forefront of this year’s expectations, should Atlanta tank to give themselves a better shot at securing a player like R.J. Barrett or Zion Williamson in June?

Tanking is frowned upon by most, but it paid dividends for Pierce’s previous stop (Philadelphia). The lottery odds changed so having the worst record no longer has the added bonus of having the best chances at obtaining the number one pick.

After watching Duke humiliate Kentucky last night, the idea of doing whatever it takes to get a Barrett or Williamson don’t seem too crazy.

One Prediction

1. Kevin Huerter Becomes a Permanent Starter by New Years

With Taurean Prince resting an ankle sprain he suffered late in the Hawks win over the Miami Heat, Pierce opted to promote Kevin Huerter into the starting lineup in Prince’s absence.

Huerter did not disappoint. He was active and engaged from the start of the game. As a secondary creator, he works very well with Young and being a perimeter threat even opens the paint for Young and others to exploit.

Prince is part of Atlanta’s core going forward and once healthy he’ll assuredly get his starting spot back.

But, with the way Huerter has played to begin the year it’s only a matter of time before Huerter cements himself in the starting lineup for the Hawks. That would mean moving Kent Bazemore to the bench.

Bazemore’s name has been in trade rumors leading up to the start of the season and he will be a veteran contributor that playoff teams would love to acquire.

Even if he isn’t traded I think the team will want to give Young and Huerter as much opportunity as possible to develop chemistry as the backcourt of the future.