Atlanta Hawks: 3 key adjustments after blowout Game 2 loss
Atlanta Hawks adjustment after blowout Game 2 loss No. 3: The three ball has largely been absent since last round
he Hawks finished the regular season 12th in three-point percentage. But they were fourth after March 1, when McMillan took over. It’s just further proof he should be the coach next season as they had four players shoot over 40 percent from outside and John Collins was right there at 39 percent. The lid has been on the hoop for each of Atlanta’s shooters at different points.
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On Friday, the Hawks shot 25 percent from three for the third game in a row. The Bucks shot 36 percent, league average, and it looked like Warriors East.
Atlanta was getting decent looks too, shots just wouldn’t fall. That’s what felt like the first game, but when they started falling for the Bucks, they didn’t stop. Milwaukee was also more judicious with their threes, shooting 12 total in the second and third quarters after pulling that many in the first quarter alone.
The Hawks shot 3-of-7 from outside in the first quarter but in the middle two periods, they shot 5-for-22. Falling in love with any shot that isn’t falling is a recipe for disaster. Atlanta had been getting by but couldn’t do enough early to keep pace.
They were never going to slow them down. In addition to Lopez, Jrue Holiday went 3-for-4 and his length was critical in flustering Young.
This is why they must find their outside shot.
The Bucks also outscored the Hawks 62-30 in the paint. While the Hawks can close that gap they’ll need to supplement it with perimeter shooting. Again, outside of Young (and Lou Williams), no one else is adept at creating their own offense or setting up others.
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Ball movement can help this just as it would Young individually. Others would get touches, the defense would have to move constantly, and it would take some pressure off of Young.