Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer has no plans to change his rotation in regard to Pero Antic.
The Hawks reserve center has struggled with his outside shot, particularly from 3-point range, this season. Antic has made 77 of 213 shots, including 35 of 122 from 3-point range (.287), and averaged 5.7 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. Last season, his first in the NBA, the Macedonia native made 123 of 294 shots, including 56 of 171 from 3-point range (.327), and averaged 7.0 points and 4.2 rebounds.
Budenholzer was asked about Antic’s struggles following practice Tuesday.
“It’s the same thing we’ve talked about since Pero got here,” Budenholzer said. “He does so many other things well. I do like it when he shoots it and it goes in. That would be preferable. I do think, (with) some people, there is too much emphasis put on him shooting – making, not making. When you look at his impact on the game and all kinds of different statistical things, he is a huge positive. We tell him to keep shooting. We believe in him and he’ll make shots.”
Antic is in the final year of the two-year contract he signed with the Hawks. He will be an unrestricted free agent following the season. The Hawks have indicated that they would like to re-sign Antic.
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