Hawks Embarrass Nets, Advance to 2nd Round
The Atlanta Hawks dismantled the Brooklyn Nets and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. It is the Hawks first trip to the semi-final round since 2011. In their sixth playoff game, the Hawks were nothing less than brilliant, save an insipid second quarter, and the Nets were nothing less than pathetic and morose, their emotions approaching the tone of a funeral.
For the Hawks, this was a question mark game. Would they put Brooklyn out of their misery and advance to the second round? Or would they take for granted their 3-2 lead knowing they had a game 7 in Atlanta in their back pocket?
The questions were answered as soon as the ball was tipped. The Hawks looked like the team that won 60 games in the regular season and the team that beat the Brooklyn Nets by 32 points on April 4th and the team that won 19 games in a row. They resembled the team who was 2nd in the NBA in assists, 10th in points and 10th in defense.
The first quarter was indicative of the Hawks season in which no detail was overlooked as they made the extra pass, moved without the ball, hit their shots and overwhelmed Brooklyn with their offense. It was like watching a machine at work; the parts were perfect, the execution was magnificent, the achievement was unmatched.
Apr 29, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) scores a late basket over Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) during the second half in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Nets 107-97. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Korver regained his three point form, swishing shot after shot. DeMarre Carroll connected on perimeter bombs, unguarded. Paul Millsap had a 3 pointer plus two shots inside. Al Horford scored. Dennis Schroeder scored. The only one who didn’t score was Jeff Teague but Teague made the offense hum with six assists in 9 minutes.
"Coach Budenholzer said of Teague, “he controlled the game and created turnovers in transition.” Korver said of Teague, “it was one of the best games I’ve seen Jeff play. His focus and energy were excellent. His fingerprints were all over this game.”"
The Hawks dropped 36 points on the Nets in the first quarter. Their second quarter followed a familiar script of an offensive drought followed by a Nets comeback, cutting a 13 point lead in half. But once the third quarter began, the Hawks struck again with a vengeance as they dismantled the Nets with a 23-3 run, fueled off of turnovers, porous Nets transition defense and pure skill. The Hawks forced the Nets into bad possessions and whack decision making and general laziness.
Deron Wiliams looked irrelevant. Joe Johnson seemed like another guy in the league in his 30’s. Brook Lopez fulfilled his coach’s prophecy who repeatedly said Lopez was not a post up center. Jarrett Jack and the rest of the Nets crew were not equal to the task. The Nets were an 8th seed that looked like an 8th seed ready to go on vacation.
The Nets approached this game like it was a Tuesday night in February while the Hawks were committed to playing the right way and tearing apart the fabric of the Nets so they were the sum of their parts. You could see the Nets confidence disappear halfway through the third when the Hawks were up by 20. The Nets went into their disappearing act. Their bodies were betrayed by their minds and a lack of toughness. They stopped competing, caring and defending.
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By the 4th quarter, it was a rout, the lead mushroom to 28 and the Hawks exhaled, winning their first game on the road in the playoffs this year and their first road close out win since 1996. Jeff Teague didn’t score a point but he dominated the game with 13 assists. Kyle Korver was back to Kyle Korver, draining threes. Al Horford and Paul Millsap controlled the middle and made high percentage shots. DeMarre Carroll was in foul trouble but was tough guarding Joe Johnson.
There is no way to spin it: this was a huge Hawks victory. It was the only game played in the NBA on Friday night. For once the Hawks were alone on center stage and put in their best performance in a month, reminding the league what their offense is all about. Tomorrow they worry about the Wizards, a series that starts on Sunday but tonight they can revel in their accomplishment. They went to Brooklyn and dismantled the $88 million dollar Brooklyn Nets. They sent them on vacation and at the same time reminded the rest of the NBA the Atlanta Hawks are here to stay.