Atlanta Hawks: Capela, Collins tormented on defense in Game 5 loss
With the dust finally settled, it’s still just one game for the Atlanta Hawks. Sure, the 123-112 loss has them now trailing the Milwaukee Bucks 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals. But they get the chance to make good after coming out flat and never doing enough to make up for it. Remember, it’s first to four and the Hawks are 2-1 at home this series.
There is a pair of players who seemingly let the moment get too big for them though. Clint Capela and John Collins were even out-worked on the glass by the Bucks guards.
Capela finished with just six points and eight rebounds. He did have three blocks but that is only part of the picture on defense and the rest is not so rosy. Brook Lopez went off on Thursday for a playoff career-high 33 points to go with seven boards, four blocks, and two steals.
The Atlanta Hawks big men played extremely poorly on the defensive end in Game 5 in the Eastern Conference Finals
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Lopez had 12 points in the first quarter alone and went 5-for-5 from the floor as he backdoored Capela repeatedly. The last time Capela played as poorly was the blowout loss in Game 2. That might be something to take note of since we’ve already wondered if he ultimately holds the Hawks back from reaching their potential.
Collins is a complicated individual. His box score looks nice with 19 points including going 3-for-5 from three-point range. But he shot just 36 percent on non-triples and continues to be a sieve on defense, this time letting Bucks reserve Bobby Portis rack up 22 points.
Even his offensive production didn’t feel like what his numbers say as he settled for jumpers and hardly attacked the rim.
The soon-to-be restricted free agent will be looking for big money this offseason but he’s shown a lot of inconsistency this postseason. His final stats often look like they did Thursday, but he’s been slow to start, shooting 38 percent from the floor and 23 percent from deep for just 5.8 points in the first half of games in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Someone is probably going to offer him the money he’s looking for. There’s also a price the Hawks should be willing to match.
It’s unclear how close those numbers will be.
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Capela is under contract for two more years. But, if he plays as he did in Game 5 in Game 6, not only will the Hawks be out of the playoffs, they might be shopping Capela this offseason.