Game 1: Atlanta Hawks Grades & Reactions vs. Brooklyn Nets

Apr 19, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; A young fan of the Atlanta Hawks waves a flag during the game against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Nets 99-92. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Good:

• The crowd! Everyone got there early and excited, and they did their homework by wearing red because there was a sea of it. When Philips becomes ‘Thrillips’ it’s bad news for the opposition. The city has definitely got the playoff fever and the Hawks always perform better when the crowd erupts in unison over a big shot, or in other cases, a cascade of boos raining down every time Joe Johnson touched the ball. One of the luxuries of working so hard in the regular season is the home court advantage up to the Finals. The energy of the crowd for so many games will make the Hawks a tough out for the next few rounds, it doesn’t matter the matchup.

• Atlanta took control from the get-go and showed great fortitude in staving off any semblance of a run the Nets would have. Sticking to the game plan for a full 48 shows confidence in your teammates and your coach and it’ll pay dividends. It’s also an aesthetically pleasing spectacle as evidenced by Atlanta’s eight first quarter assists against Brooklyn’s zero. The Hawks also took a double digit lead into halftime where they are now 25-0 at home when being ahead at the break all year. Stats like that made you feel the Hawks were always in control of the game.

Next: The Bad