Soaring Down South
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Atlanta Hawks: 3 keys to claiming a decisive Game 5 victory

By Joshua Buckhalter

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 14: Bogdan Bogdanovic #13 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts with Trae Young #11 after hitting a three-point basket against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half of game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at State Farm Arena on June 14, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 14: Bogdan Bogdanovic #13 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts with Trae Young #11 after hitting a three-point basket against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half of game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at State Farm Arena on June 14, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

The Atlanta Hawks came out and surprised most outside of the fanbase (some of them too) by beating the Philadelphia 76ers 103-100 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. They trailed by 13 at the half but used a 31-point third quarter to knot the series up at 2-2. It’s quite the turnaround after many had written them off.

Trae Young had his shoulder heavily wrapped much of the night with an injury he reportedly suffered last game. He said it was sore but the issue is there was no mention of any soreness on the Hawks injury report.

That could mean trouble down the road for the organization. More importantly, it could mean trouble for Young and the Hawks now.

The Atlanta Hawks can take control of the series with a win in Game 5

He finally played loose, letting the game come to him as he’s done so well down the stretch. He began to press as he been met with strong resistance from Philadelphia’s three All-Defensive Team players, Ben Simmons, Matisse Thybulle, and Joel Embiid.

Young’s 18 assists in Game 4 tied with James Harden (Round 1, Game 4) for the most in the playoffs since Rajon Rondo had 21 back in 2018. The last Hawks player to have more in a game was actually current 76ers head coach, Doc Rivers. He had 22 way back in 1988 against the team he would eventually win a ring with as the head coach, the Boston Celtics.

The circle of life aside, it’s been Young’s underappreciated versatility offensively that led to a Hawks victory in Game 4. What will it take to repeat the outcome in Game 5?

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