Lou Williams has been pushed to the end of the Hawks bench as coach Mike Budenholzer has gone to bigger defensive lineups.
Williams played just five minutes in the last three games entering Monday’s matchup with the Jazz. He played five first-quarter minutes against the Trail Blazers and sat out games with the Warriors and Clippers. Budenholzer has played rookie Dennis Schroder increased minutes lately. The guard has averaged 18 minutes over the past three games.
“It’s really about wanting to take a look at Dennis and also to get bigger,” Budenholzer said before Monday’s game. “We’ve struggled defensively the last month or two. Our defense just isn’t where it needs to be. Part of that is a little bit being size challenged. We’ve tried some really small lineups and I think we are going to try some different lineups, some lineups with bigger wings.
“Having Pero (Antic) and Paul (Millsap) back (from injuries) means we can play bigger bigs. But really we need to be a little bit bigger, a little better on the boards, a little bit better defensively. And so when you have Lou and Shelvin (Mack) and Dennis and Jeff (Teague), it’s hard to play all of them and not end up with a really small group out there.”
Schroder has struggled with turnovers and the issue has cost him playing time. Budenholzer is hoping to take advantage of Schroder’s speed on the defensive end.
“I think he can really be disruptive defensively,” Budenholzer said. “I think we are going to challenge him to help us improve as a group defensively. At times, we were putting Lou and Shelvin in some tough spots guarding small forwards and guarding guys who were six, eight inches bigger than them.”
Both Williams and Schroder are both listed at 6 foot 1.
Williams is averaging 10 points, 3.6 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 46 games, including six starts, since his return from a torn ACL in his right knee.
The nine-year veteran is in his second season with his hometown Hawks after signing as a free agent in 2012. The previous season, Williams led the 76ers in scoring despite not making a start with a team- and career-high average of 14.9 points.
“I love to compete,” Williams said following Friday’s game against the Warriors. “That is first and foremost. I love to compete. But at the same time, I’m a team guy. Whatever is needed, if we are just trying to find a way to win a basketball game, whether that is me playing or me not playing, I’m for whatever that coach decides.”
Williams spent time following Monday’s shootaround working extra time with assistant coaches.
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