Atlanta Hawks bench will be the x-factor in Game 2 of ECF
After winning yet another Game 1, the Atlanta Hawks attention is now on to Game 2 and what they will need to do to get a win in that contest. It’s safe to say they didn’t play their best outside of Trae Young and John Collins, but neither did the Bucks so it’s likely a wash there. What they can say, though, is that their bench didn’t perform up to snuff and the Bucks played over its head.
We talked about it before the series as one of the keys to the Hawks winning this series.
Atlanta’s bench had been the second-highest scoring and the most efficient reserve unit in the postseason. They didn’t exactly play like it in Game 1.
The Atlanta Hawks bench needs to step up in Game 2 after a disappointing opener
More from Hawks News
- Start, Bench, Cut: Sorting through the Hawks’ power forward options
- Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic reacts to earning FIBA World Cup championship bid
- When does training camp start for the Atlanta Hawks?
- Dejounte Murray rips NBA 2K after Atlanta Hawks ratings reveal
- Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic makes special dedication after FIBA win
Danilo Gallinari has been huge, averaging 14 points and shooting 46 percent from the floor and 43 percent from deep. But he had just nine points in Game 1 as he often matched up with hard-nosed perimeter defender, P.J. Tucker.
Lou Williams is Atlanta’s own, but he had his worst plus-minus since Game 2 versus the Knicks in Game 1 at minus-12. He went 1-for-5 from the floor, hitting his lone triple for his whopping three points. The rub is Williams is playing backup point guard in a much more traditional way than we’ve seen so the offense has taken a hit.
The third player off the bench has been rookie big man Onyeka Okongwu. His minutes have been inconsistent but when he does get in the game though, he usually makes good things happen.
He played just over two minutes in Game 1 but the Hawks might need his physicality in Game 2 if the Bucks respond as expected.
Quiet as kept, Solomon Hill has given the Hawks some good minutes too. He played 20-plus in Game 1, sticking good defense without fouling.
They have to be better in Game 2 as the Bucks bench might have woken up. They’d been one of the lowest-scoring groups in the playoffs. Some of that was due to Milwaukee’s starters playing deep into games. But they were also one of the least efficient.
In-Game 1 the Milwaukee bench outscored Atlanta’s 20 points to 16.
Bobby Portis went from being inactive in three straight games to playing 29 minutes and scoring 11 points (hence why Okongwu could see more time in Game 2).
Next. Atlanta Hawks: 3 keys to a Game 2 victory and 2-0 lead in the ECF. dark
That can’t happen if the Hawks want to win this series. The Bucks starters are going to get theirs. Even if Jrue Holiday comes back down to Earth, Khris Middleton has a couple of stellar games in him.
Atlanta has to make headway when Milwaukee’s bench is on the floor.