LaMelo Ball and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have been instrumental in their teams’ push into the Eastern Conference postseason contention.
Alexander-Walker’s Blossoming Role
Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s growth with the Minnesota Timberwolves was partly due to accepting his role as a secondary option. However, in his first year with the Atlanta Hawks, he is demonstrating more than just a supporting role.
Alexander-Walker, who averaged 9.4 points per game with Minnesota, has more than doubled that in his seventh season. He averaged 20.1 points per game in the first half of the season, helping the Hawks compensate for Trae Young’s absence and establishing himself as a Most Improved Player candidate.
Alexander-Walker really took off in March.
Atlanta’s Winning Streak
Atlanta has won 18 of its last 22 games, including a 15-2 record in March, which earned Jalen Johnson Eastern Conference Player of the Month honours. The main story in Atlanta is Alexander-Walker’s performance over the last five weeks. The Hawks have capitalised on a favourable schedule.
Alexander-Walker is averaging 24.4 points per game with a 72.3 true shooting percentage in 18 games since March 4. He is among a leaderboard mostly consisting of centres who primarily shoot dunks.
In that stretch, more than half of his shots have been from beyond the arc, where he’s made 49.0 percent of them, while also shooting 60.6 percent on 2s. He scored a career-high 41 points in a win against the Orlando Magic and 36 against the New York Knicks.
Alexander-Walker’s Offensive Prowess
Alexander-Walker has been effective on and off the ball, using his size and release to outmanoeuvre defenders. He’s taken eight 3-pointers a game in this stretch, mostly from above the break.
Alexander-Walker shot 78 percent from the line in Minnesota a year ago. This year, he’s at 90.2 percent for the Hawks and 94.6 percent in his torrid stretch since March 4. In other words, the player who might have been the league’s Most Improved Player through the end of February is also arguably the league’s most impr