The Atlanta Hawks are an interesting team with a bright future, but they should consider playing Paul Millsap a bit more. It makes sense that they have limited him to only 32.3 minutes per game based on how head coach Mike Budenholzer comes originally from a San Antonio Spurs franchise that shortens playing time for its stars, but Atlanta isn’t at that team’s level yet.
Playing Millsap more could leapfrog the Hawks to the top of the Eastern Conference, and this could aid the squad in a potential series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. That is the team Atlanta must get through to have any chance of being in the NBA Finals, and Cleveland should be their top priority when it concerns how they are growing as a unit.
As of Monday afternoon, Millsap was averaging 17.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. A man his size leading the team in points, rebounds and steals is absolutely stunning. His skills are unbelievable, and he can’t really be compared to any other power forward in NBA history. Atlanta doesn’t have enough talent off the bench to justify playing him less than 35 minutes per contest.
The bottom line is that the Hawks can improve. Would it be risky to Millsap’s health to play him more minutes? It might be, but then you have to ask whether or not it is worth that risk to possibly contend for a title? You have to swing for the fences when your team is on the verge of contending.
Millsap could make a huge difference by being on the court for a bit longer in every game, and this is based on his fantastic PER of 22.7. That is good for 16th overall in the league, and he would be a nightmare to guard in the playoffs if Atlanta starts using his skills more during the course of each match.
