Thunderous Intentions
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Five players set to break out this postseason

By Derek Peterson

Apr 8, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) calls for the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) calls for the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 7, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) dances after hitting a three-pointer during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. The Hawks won 114-100. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) dances after hitting a three-pointer during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. The Hawks won 114-100. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Tim Hardaway Jr. – SG, Atlanta Hawks

Remember when the Atlanta Hawks traded veteran sharpshooter Kyle Korver to the Cleveland Cavaliers before the trade deadline and the entire basketball world assumed a tear-down was imminent? Turns out the Hawks were just making room for Tim Hardaway Jr. to burst onto the scene.

And burst he did.

When the Hawks agreed to trade Korver to the Cavs on Jan. 7, Hardaway exploded for 22 points. Two nights later, in a two-point loss to the Boston Celtics, Hardaway put up 23. On Jan. 29, Hardaway entered the Hawks’ starting five and they won four of the next six games. Against the Houston Rockets on Feb. 2, Hardaway spearheaded a furious comeback attempt that saw him score 23 points in the game’s final frame and a career-high 33 in the win.

Related Story: Five shooters the Thunder should consider targeting

Hardaway is averaging 16.7 points since the trade that freed him, he’s played the third-most minutes of any Hawk and he’s become the team’s new flamethrower from deep (team-high 5.7 attempts on 36 percent shooting). The most encouraging aspect of Hardaway’s emergence is the fact that he hasn’t been a liability on defense. Atlanta’s defensive numbers are virtually the same when he’s on the floor and when he sits.

All the ingredients are there for a huge postseason: Hardaway will be playing for a contract next season (think Bismack Biyombo’s coming out party with Toronto last postseason), he’s flying somewhat under-the-radar, the minutes are there and the Wizards don’t have a bonafide defensive stopper.

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