Soaring Down South
Fansided

Can the Atlanta Hawks Upset the Milwaukee Bucks?

By Dallin Duffy

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 27: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks is defended by Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at Fiserv Forum on November 27, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 27: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks is defended by Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at Fiserv Forum on November 27, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Previewing Friday’s match up between the lowly Atlanta Hawks and top-seeded Bucks.

Can the 6-25 Atlanta Hawks upset the 27-5 Milwaukee Bucks on the road.

Probably not.

But the Hawks have been known to stick around with more talented teams until the final quarter or so.

Recent examples include their losses to the Jazz, Lakers, Pacers, and even the last time they played the Bucks.

The teams currently at the top and bottom of the Eastern Conference standings went into the final quarter with an Atlanta lead. The Hawks eventually lost by nine, which is a good microcosm of the season as a whole.

The Hawks have been terrible, borderline historically awful, in the fourth quarter this season. They’ve lost leads to good teams, mediocre teams and equally bad teams in the final frame, finding it seemingly harder to score and defend in the final 12 minutes.

Atlanta’s roster is already pretty weak, especially when put side-by-side with Milwaukee’s team with championship aspirations.

If the Hawks want to start upsetting teams, including their game tonight with the Bucks, they need to play the full 48.

That’s of course much, much easier said than done, and the fact that two inexperienced rookies are usually playing major minutes down the stretch for Atlanta only makes things harder.

Although we hit on one of the two’s match ups already, this is actually the third meeting on the season for them.

It was the 3rd quarter that did the Hawks in during their first meeting back on November 20th, as even with a 44-point 4th quarter the Bucks won by eight points.

Trae Young has put up respectable numbers in the two games prior, posting a 25-point and a 29-point night. John Collins will get his first crack at the Bucks this season however, as he missed the first two while serving his suspension.

Both would need a big night in order to keep up with the Bucks.

The Hawks certainly could pull the upset Friday night, but they’ll need to play the full game to have a shot.

Tip is scheduled for 7:30 Eastern.

Home/Hawks News