The Denver Nuggets’ acquisition of Tim Hardaway Jr. was initially praised, with Hardaway Jr. finishing third in Sixth Man of the Year Award voting. He had been signed to a one-year, veteran minimum contract after a strong season with the Pistons.
However, concerns are now being raised about why Detroit was so willing to let him go.
Playoff Performance Decline
Hardaway Jr.’s playoff performance has been underwhelming. He is viewed as an 82-game player rather than a 16-game one.
His struggles echo those from a year ago when his performance for the Pistons declined during the playoffs.
He has been a liability on defence and an inconsistent shooter on offence. In Game 5, he only played 11 minutes.
Statistical Drop-off
Hardaway Jr.’s career statistics show a decline in the playoffs. He averages nearly 14 points per game on 42% shooting from the field and 36.5% from three in the regular season. But in the playoffs, those numbers drop to 9.7 points per game on 37% shooting and 32.9% from distance.
This season, he scored 13.5 points a night on almost 45% shooting from three. However, in the playoffs, outside of Game 2 where he made all three of his three-point attempts, he has struggled.
In the other four games, he has gone just 4-18 from beyond the arc.
Adjustments Needed
The Nuggets need to consider changes. In Game 5, when the season was on the brink, the Nuggets looked as good as they have all series without him on the court for extended minutes.
While he could still contribute, coach David Adelman may need to limit his minutes. Hardaway Jr. may not be a reliable playoff performer.
He is worth a look with the potential of getting hot. But DA needs to keep him on a short leash.
Hardaway Jr. has bounced around for his entire career, never quite living up to his potential.