Most games Jerry Stackhouse stays on the Hawks’ bench cheering his teammates and chasing an elusive NBA championship ring.
After 17 years in the league, Stackhouse’s days as a rotation player likely are over. He has played in fewer than half of his team’s games this season and said coach Larry Drew has him function almost as an assistant coach.
But there are times Stackhouse gets his chance to play and flashes the form that once made him an All-Star in 2000 and 2001 and an effective regular for many years of his distinguished career.
It happened Wednesday against the Cavaliers, when Stackhouse helped ignite a second-quarter rally as the Hawks went on to a 103-102 victory.
“He gave us a lift,” Drew said. “The unfortunate thing with us is, when we are healthy, we are deep. We can’t find minutes for everybody. But as I told him before the season, I need him to stay ready in case we really need him.”
Stackhouse, 37, has played in 21 of 47 games at an average of 9.9 minutes. The Hawks signed Stackhouse before the season in large part because of his leadership qualities. That doesn’t mean he wouldn’t like to be more of a factor on the court.
“Everyone wants to play as many minutes as they can, but I understand the situation,” Stackhouse said. “There’s kind of a pecking order, and when your number is called, you just try to be ready and prepare and be ready to go. I make sure I do what I need off the court in the weight room and stuff so when opportunities come, I don’t drop the ball.”
Stackhouse got the call Wednesday, and he was ready.
The Hawks had only 10 healthy players available and one of four guards, Willie Green, was returning after missing 10 games with injuries. When Green picked up his third foul late in the second quarter, Drew called on Stackhouse, who immediately helped jolt the Hawks and fans at Philips Arena from their slumber.
Stackhouse stole the ball from Cleveland’s Anthony Parker and passed ahead to Jeff Teague for an easy fast-break score. Teague later found Stackhouse for one of his favored corner 3-pointers. Seconds later Teague stole the ball from Kyrie Irving and passed ahead to Stackhouse, who raced for a dunk.
By the time Stackhouse made a 3-pointer for a 54-53 halftime lead, the arena was buzzing and the Hawks had more bounce the rest of the way.
“I can put him in games when the team is flat,” Drew said. “In that second quarter, he really impacted the game.”
The same has happened a handful of times this season.
Stackhouse had five assists and two steals during a 97-90 victory over Western Conference-leader Oklahoma City on March 3. He helped the Hawks rally in the first half of their 89-86 loss at Miami on March 7, when he finished with 10 points and made four of eight shots.
But Stackhouse more regularly influences the locker room.
“He’s a veteran guy who’s been in the trenches, and that’s valuable,” Drew said. “That’s something we’ve needed, someone who can take the locker room and sort of police it. I can see the players truly respect him.”
In addition to Drew, Hawks captains Josh Smith, Joe Johnson and Al Horford were proponents of keeping Stackhouse on the roster.
“From being in the locker room, I’ve got a real heartbeat of the team,” he said. “Those first few [coaches’] seats are tough seats, but when you get someone at one of the end seats to bring something to the game from an insight standpoint, it’s always a positive.”
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