Zacharie Risacher surpasses 1,000 NBA points and restarts the machine

This will surely be very anecdotal when we look back on his career. But Zachary Risacher passed a historic milestone against the Magic. The Frenchman thus crossed the 1,000-point mark in his career, becoming the fourth youngest player in Atlanta history to reach this mark. And he did it very nicely. The winger finished as the Hawks’ top scorer solid success against Orlando (127-112). With his 21 points, Zachary Rizaher regained his confidence after a difficult start to the season.

The author of a good second half of his rookie season, the first pick in the 2024 draft was expected to ride this dynamic after his first summer with the French team.

But between clumsiness, an ankle injury and limited playing time (from 12.6 ppg on 45.8% including 35.5% on 3-pointers in 24.6 minutes to 9.4 ppg on 42.2% including 31.6% on 3-pointers in 23 minutes), Zachary Rizacher didn’t really get his season going until then. His career high in the last game against the Cavaliers was an early positive signal. The Frenchman made a welcome contribution in the relay tonight.

16 points in the first period

Very aggressive at the start of the game, the 20-year-old started the game with a well-contested shot from behind the arc, followed by two baskets with a foul, sending Desmond Bain to the bench prematurely.

With Atlanta’s first nine points, and 16 in the first period, Zachary Rizaher contributed fully to get his team on the right track. “I feel like I played the right way, effectively” Habs responded at the press conference. “That’s my goal, you know, to try to make an impact on offense and defense and that’s what I did tonight.”

With 21 points on 7/14 shooting, including 3/5 from 3-point range, Zachary Rizacher had his best offensive performance to start the season. He especially showed his progress in the agreement with Dyson Danielspushed his way into the top ball carriers after Tree Young’s injury.

With the Australian, the tandem forms a constant double edge, on both sides of the court, both on the placed plays and in transition, like Zachary Rizaher’s long shot, which was served by Dyson Daniels on the counterattack and gave Atlanta a 14-point advantage at the very end of the second quarter.

“It’s great to play with Dyson” he is delighted. “He’s solid defensively, but offensively, he’ll also make the right choices. He’s a good creator. It helps that we’ve played together all season. I kind of know where to stand for him to find me. There’s that chemistry that we’re starting to see because we’ve been together all season and training camp.”

On his swing, Zacharie Risacher also wanted to make a show with two alley-oops that he wanted to finish with a reverse dunk… For two failures of no consequence. To succeed, you must begin by trying” smiled the Frenchman, who assured that he would not hesitate to try his luck again. We do not know if this kind of speech and “fantasy” pleases his coach. Quinn Snyder. Tech stuck to his usual rotation anyway, benching his leading scorer on the night for most of the fourth quarter, more than the other four starters on the night. This still sparing use did not fail to impress, both on social networks and in the press room. And Quin Snyder didn’t particularly like that.

Rizaher’s playtime, the subject of tension?

The Hawks coach initially declined to answer a question about whether Zachary Rizacher was still subject to a minutes restriction after spraining his ankle last week.

« This is a topic for our medical staff, I will not go into details about the health of the players” he explained. Before he got annoyed when he was restarted during the time of the French. ” We always try to make sure we don’t focus on just one player. Zak was very good, especially finishing in transition. The guys found him with a 3-pointer, and it was nice to see him come back to himself, play with confidence. It’s one of those situations where if we start critiquing the rotations, the playing time, I could dissect why I made everyone play and why I made the changes when I made them. I’m not defending myself, but I don’t understand this question. »

Satisfied with Zachary Rizaher’s performance, Quin Snyder isn’t changing course: His sophomore is one of the cogs in the machine, his performance of the night, not the end in itself.

« Many players played well and there will be games where Zack plays more and others where he plays less. It will depend on who is available, our combinations… It is important to understand that it is not just one player’s job, but many players’. And that’s how you find success. It’s important that our team doesn’t worry about who has the shots, who has the minutes, all those things that make you focus on your own role. I want guys to play together. And that’s what Zach did tonight, that’s why he played very well. »

It’s up to Rizacher and the Hawks to prove that during back-to-back games against the Raptors and then the Lakers on Thursday and Friday.

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How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.