NFL
By: Edwin Duodu
Before starting the season, it’s safe to say that no one, aside from the Atlanta fanbase, thought this Hawks side would be this good. There were rumors about Nate McMillan coming in as the new coach this year. He probably got as much competitive basketball last year from his former team, the Indiana Pacers. That team ended up being swept by the Miami Heat.
The main task for McMillan was finding a way to elevate the play of this Atlanta Hawks team that went 20-47 the season before. Since his arrival as the head coach and inheriting the group at 14-20, the Hawks have achieved a record of 26-12. They have been one of the teams to play the most consistently down the season’s stretch, and now that firepower has translated to the playoffs.
Many fans rode on the New York Knicks train in the playoffs, believing they would win their matchup against the Hawks. Make no mistake about it; however, Atlanta possessed more talent and was better equipped to win this series. After bouncing the Knicks in five games, the biggest test now comes in the Philadelphia 76ers. After splitting the series, the Hawks now travel back to Atlanta with home-court advantage. The real question is, how are they getting this done? Their answer is fearlessness and their heavy use of the perimeter.
This team has already won three road games against higher seeded teams. An excellent three-point shooting team has already posed problems for the 76ers throughout the first two games and is the main reason why the Hawks will win this series. Feel free to read that statement twice. Aside from Game 2, where one would expect a team such as Philadelphia to respond in dominating fashion, the Hawks have an advantage on the perimeter.
This team can shoot the basketball. Although the 76ers possessed one of the best defenses in the league this season, it’ll still be difficult for them to contain the three-point line consistently. Danilo Gallinari, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Kevin Huerter all shot relatively poor from the three in Game 2. However, they’ll have more opportunities to redeem themselves in Atlanta. The number of shots they get will continue to depend on the penetration in the paint from Trae Young.
As inexperienced as he is, he’s fearless. Young’s attention from defenders once he drives into the paint opens up room for his deadly shooters. If defenders close down on him, he has passing options for a three-point shot. If they back off from Young, he has a floater move that has been a killer in the playoffs so far. Finally, if the big man is attracted, it’ll be an easy lob to Clint Capela, who has been phenomenal so far. That’s what is expected to happen throughout the rest of the series, which is why the Atlanta Hawks will come out on top.
It’ll take a tremendous defensive effort and consistent scoring performances from Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris to keep the 76ers in this series. Philadelphia is now under pressure to steal a game in Atlanta and regain homecourt advantage. That alone should bode well for the Hawks, knowing that they can play freely in addition to having a crowd to cheer the team on.
Many thought the 76ers have the easiest path to the Eastern Conference Finals, and they still might. However, the Hawks are no slouch and probably play with the most confidence of any team in the East. This series will still be tough for them to win, but they’re more than capable of winning it, even without De’Andre Hunter. If the first two games aren’t an indicator of that, then we’ll have to wait until the end of the series to see.
