The way in which the Atlanta Hawks were eliminated by the New York Knicks was embarrassing. There's no way around it. They need to take the wins wherever they can get them, and watching this second-round series unfold is certainly providing one. The 76ers were beaten down in both of their first two matchups at Madison Square Garden.
The world's most famous basketball arena didn't acquire that tag without reason. It's an incredibly tough environment to thrive in. Only the best of the best can. Atlanta lost the series, but they were at least able to split the first two on the road. It's not an easy thing to do, especially in front of the NBA's loudest fans.
Hawks stealing a game at MSG is a great sign for their core's trajectory
Moral victories aren't always the way to go. It truly depends on the situation at hand. Atlanta can recognize their obvious flaws, but also celebrate what they were able to accomplish. Their late-season turnaround was incredible, and they pushed the Eastern Conference favorites to six games. The ending wasn't a complete wash.
The 76ers, on the other hand, appear depleted. A series doesn't begin until the away team steals a game, and they had a golden opportunity to capture a bit of momentum with a big win on Wednesday night. They even led for most of the first half, before Jalen Brunson and the Knicks took over.
Once New York hits a rhythm, they're one of the most difficult squads to contain. Between the blowout in Game One and the second-half choke in Game Two, Philadelphia suddenly has no momentum in the series. They'll need a remarkable flip in whatever way to re-gain some confidence as they look to make an unprecedented comeback.
Atlanta had a significant amount of hope heading back to their home floor
Everything else aside, they gave their fans something to passionately cheer for. The team spoke highly of their fans all season, and they did the best they could to create a home court advantage, before inevitably being taken over by those who reside in New York.
They fed off the wild crowd in Game Three, resulting in Atlanta coming away with a crucial victory to take the series lead. Of course, this was their final postseason win, but it's one Hawks fans will never forget. They fought to the finish and showed just what they could be at full strength.
There's plenty to be excited about in regards to the trajectory of the Atlanta Hawks. While they eventually lost momentum and got sent home, stealing a game at MSG was all they needed to help build something real. The Philadelphia 76ers missed their chance to do the same, and this series is heading towards a sweep.
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