Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving will make his return on Sunday evening against the Atlanta Hawks after missing nearly two months with a shoulder injury. But while Irving hopes to give the slumping Nets a boost, Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce took time to praise Irving's stand-in at the point guard spot, Spencer Dinwiddie.

Pierce had high praise for Dinwiddie, saying he deserves an All-Star nod come February:

Dinwiddie has excelled in Irving's absence, averaging 22.5 points, 6.4 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game in 37 games this season. He ranked 10th among Eastern Conference guards in the most recent All-Star voting release.

The 26-year-old was even named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week in November, when he helped the Nets jump out to a 9-3 start in their first 12 games without Irving on the floor.

Dinwiddie's usage rate skyrocketed to 35.3 percent in December, and he averaged 27.0 points, 6.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds for the month. However, his efficiency has taken a dip.

Dinwiddie's true shooting percentage was .566 in November, but that number fell to .535 in December as Dinwiddie struggle to find a rhythm from the perimeter.

Things have gotten worse for the former sixth man since the start of the new year. Dinwiddie is currently running a .497 true shooting percentage through the first five games of January.

As Dinwiddie has struggled, the Nets have begun to crumble. Friday's win over the Miami Heat snapped a seven-game losing streak, but the Nets are all the way back in the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference standings.

Dinwiddie's role is somewhat of a question mark now that Irving is set to return. He is certainly capable of playing a combo guard, but Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson might look to use him as a spark plug off the bench.