LAS VEGAS — Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers sees one drastic distinction in Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young this season.
“He’s earned the belief of his gamers,” Rivers stated after the Bucks’ apply Friday at T-Mobile Arena in preparation to face the Hawks within the NBA Cup semifinals. “This staff likes enjoying with him. That’s apparent. I could not say that previously, however now they love enjoying with him.”
Young, 26, is a three-time All-Star who led the Hawks to the 2021 Eastern Conference finals, however he has incessantly been criticized for being a poor defender and infrequently portrayed unfavorably as a teammate.
Young, who’s averaging 21.0 factors and a league-leading 12.2 assists, indicated Friday that he considers the detrimental facets of his popularity to be unfair.
“The narrative about me not having the ability to do sure issues or being too mad or annoyed about sure issues is — I imply, simply aren’t true,” Young stated. “I feel you are simply now having the ability to see like with the younger staff now we have, simply a few of the various things we have been doing this yr, I feel simply now you are beginning to type of see it as a result of the outcomes are displaying and we’re profitable now. We’re right here on this ultimate 4 of the Cup, and it is a massive deal.
“I feel that is why you are seeing it and understanding it, however for me I’ve all the time been this manner.”
The Hawks have a younger core headlined by All-Star contender Jalen Johnson, rookie No. 1 total decide Zaccharie Risacher and guard Dyson Daniels, who arrived as a part of the commerce return for Dejounte Murray, a former All-Star whose two-year partnership with Young didn’t produce any playoff sequence victories.
After a sluggish begin, Atlanta has received seven of eight video games, a run that began with consecutive victories over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who personal the NBA’s greatest file.
“When you win, the whole lot else takes care of itself,” Young stated. “That’s type of what’s occurring proper now.”
Rivers stated it was obvious from Young’s play that the guard has been “actually finding out the sport on each ends of the ground.” He particularly credited Young for masking his defensive limitations by determining methods to maintain himself out of actions when groups goal him by speaking and switching.
“When we discuss with Trae and we discuss Trae, the phrase I like to make use of is evolution,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder stated. “Every participant evolves. They simply evolve in numerous methods. He’s been an necessary a part of our younger guys’ progress and having the ability to elevate them. … We know what a proficient offensive participant is, however I feel in his thoughts being profitable as a staff, not simply Trae, we have all obtained to do our half defensively. And he is doing that.”
