Atlanta Hawks: 4 Observations from Pistons Game

Oct 23, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Lamar Patterson (13) dribbles past Detroit Pistons forward Stanley Johnson (3) during the third quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons win 115-87. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

2. Lamar Patterson Played Well, while Tim Hardaway Jr. Didn’t Dress: In a surprising turn of events before Tuesday’s game, Tim Hardaway Jr. was sent to the inactive list by Head Coach Mike Budenholzer, while the newest member of the team, Lamar Patterson, dressed for the game. It curious given the fact that Tim Hardaway’s option was picked up by the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, and the high price for acquiring him this past summer. Not only did Lamar Patterson dress, but played a lot and also played well.

Patterson scored 5 points on Tuesday, making his only shot attempt (a 3-pointer) of the evening. Patterson was also a team high +10 in 18 minutes off the bench. I was very surprised to see Patterson take the place of both Tim Hardaway and Justin Holiday in the rotation (Holiday received a DNP-CD on Tuesday) and play a significant role of the team’s efforts to come back. Though the rotation is definitely not set at this point, I expect Bud to keep experimenting with his lineups.

Next: The Backup Shined