Tim Hardaway Jr. does not think of his NBA Development League assignment as a negative.
Just the opposite actually.
Hardaway was back at Hawks practice Monday after the guard spent Friday and Saturday playing with the Canton Charge on a brief D-League stint.
“It took a lot of weight off my shoulders on a positive note,” Hardaway said. “There is no negativity. I knew what the objective was – to go down there and get some reps and help the Canton team out. I took it as an opportunity for myself to get better and help (fellow Hawks assignee) Edy (Tavares) to get better and for those guys to get better.”
In two games with the Charge, Hardaway averaged 17.0 points, two rebounds and two assists in 32.7 minutes. He was 8 of 29 from the field, including 1 of 14 from 3-point range. Seventeen of his 34 points came from the free-throw line.
Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said he was pleased with Hardaway’s performance. While the guard has been focusing on his defense, Budenholzer saw the assignment as a chance to Hardaway to get in an offensive rhythm.
“It’s weird,” Budenholzer said. “I would say he’s been really diligent about working on his defense and focusing there. I really wanted him to go and play. I wanted him to continue to keep that focus, keep that attention and effort on defense. And then offensively, let it fly a little bit. Again, make or miss. Play a little more aggressive. Find ways to see if you can do both.”
The Hawks traded their first-round pick to obtain Hardaway from the Knicks in June’s NBA Draft. The move will continue to be scrutinized as Hardaway as played sparingly with the Hawks after two seasons with the Knicks.
Hardaway, 23, has appeared in just four games this season with averages of 2.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 11.1 minutes.
When asked if he would welcome another D-League assignment, Hardaway said “You have to do whatever you can and what’s best for the team. It all depends on what Coach Bud wants me to do. Like I said, I’m here for the team and I’m just ready to play.”
Budenholzer said game footage from the assignment will be another player development tool to use in working with Hardaway. The Hawks must use the flexible assignment rule in sending a player to the D-League. It means, as was the case with Hardaway, they can’t always get a player to a team with a similar system. In this case, Budenholzer said it was not an issue.
“Defensively, there’s not as big of differences usually,” Budenholzer said. “That’s an area where we, as a whole team, are trying to improve and get better and Tim, individually, is trying to improve and get better. Offensively, getting shots within the rhythm of whatever offense. There are still a lot of pick-and-rolls whether it’s Canton or what we are doing.”
Notes
* Tiago Splitter went through a complete practice Monday. The reserve center has missed the past seven games a sore right hip. Splitter was not made available to the media Monday. The team did not issue a new injury report which means Splitter will continue to be listed as questionable. It appears he may return to the lineup soon.
“We’ll see how he feels tomorrow when he comes in but he pretty much did everything,” Budenholzer said.
* Al Horford was a nominee for the NBA Player of the Week for games played Nov. 30-Dec. 6. The Pistons’ Reggie Jackson won the award in the Eastern Conference and the Warriors Stephen Curry won in the Western Conference.
For the Week, the Hawks went 2-1 with Horford averaging 16.3 points and 10.0 rebounds.
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