Game 4: Atlanta Hawks Grades & Reactions vs. Brooklyn Nets

Apr 27, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams (8) shoots for three over Atlanta Hawks guard Kent Bazemore (24) during the first quarter in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The Bad:

• The Hawks may have made 13 three-pointers, but Brooklyn made 14, the one extra proved extremely painful and costly by the man of the game Deron Williams. Barclays finally got the time machine they ordered and got a vintage Utah Jazz-esque performance from their floor general. He tied a playoff career high with 35 points, including 16 points in the fourth quarter alone, going 7-11 from deep. The last three of the quarter proved something unworldly was at play. Forced way out from the right elbow, and the clock winding down, Williams chucked up a 27-foot prayer that perfectly swished. Unstoppable defense thwarted by an event so excruciatingly lucky, it was THE shot of the game.

• Another big lead, another big letdown. The Hawks are finding it more and more difficult to lock this team up for good and throw away the key. In Game 3, an 18-0 Nets run sandwiched between two quarters was enough for the win. Tonight, Atlanta had an eight point lead going into the fourth quarter only to see it get rained out by a barrage of threes by the Nets that forced overtime. All the tools are there to win this series, but to achieve it, Atlanta can’t take the foot off the gas at any point in the game. Especially not now with Brooklyn’s confidence getting even higher.

Next: Grades: The Starters