Moderators lethalweapon3 Posted April 24, 2014 Moderators Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 "This kid helped me beat Lance Stephenson for the Locker Room title belt. Thanks for that steel chair!" WE… BELIEVE? Don’t be surprised to see fan rally towels declaring “WE’RE NOT SO SURE!” when the Atlanta Hawks return to the Highlight Factory for Game 3 of their series with those Fightin’ Pacers (7:00 PM Eastern, SportSouth, NBATV).While guarded optimism reigns supreme in the stands, on the floor, the #8-seed Hawks arrive clutching home-court advantage, and knowing they were just 24 basketball minutes away on Tuesday from engendering a complete Indiana Implosion.A 2-0 deficit would have been an eight-count for the Pacers, just days after Lance Stephenson and Evan Turner were caught dropping knobs on the eve of the playoffs, their teammates not completely certain that it would help their own cause to intervene. No big deal, they insist now. Of course, they’re right, now that they actually pulled together to win a game. But if they don’t come away with at least one road win in the next two games, Michael Buffer may be joining them on the flight home.Paul Millsap and DeMarre Carroll have each uttered the phrase “Humble and Hungry” (“Hongry,” if we’re being phonetically consistent) to describe the contrasted attitude of their team in this series. After one half of hoops in Game 2, our Humble ‘n Hongry Hawks came out with a lead and looking quite satiated, while the top-seeded Pacers were more than happy to be the ones doing some humbling, finally turning the blows they reserved for each other onto their playoff opponents.Head Coach Mike Budenholzer’s approach to this series is yet another contrast to his counterpart Frank Vogel, who’s pulling strings behind the curtain. While Vogel’s making adjustments all over the place, Coach Bud is steady-as-she-goes, insisting the postseason is all about his players “improving” and “getting better” at executing his system as they go along.The Hawks’ starters coughed up the lead early in the second half of Game 2, but rather than seeing birthday boy Shelvin Mack’s misguided and overwhelmed play as a cause for substitution, Budenholzer chalked up the reserve guard’s extended stay to a necessary and valuable learning opportunity. By the time Mack and Lou Williams returned to the bench in the final quarter (for Jeff Teague and Carroll, respectively), a three-point deficit ballooned to 22, while Paul George (27 points, including the routine quarter-ending dagger, 10 rebounds) and his fellow Pacer starters rejoined Luis Scola (13 first-half points off the bench) in experiencing regained confidence.The Pacers learned to stop worrying and love Atlanta’s three-point bombs. Atlanta followed-up a mediocre performance from the perimeter in Game 1 (11-for-30) with a similar effort in Game 2 (10-for-29, including 11 consecutive missed threes). Blanketed at turns by George and Stephenson, Kyle Korver has yet to go off in this series (3-for-11 on 3FGs), while Pero Antić (1-for-5 on 3FGs; 3 rebounds in 25 minutes of Game 2) is looking more like an empty threat. Until Atlanta heats up from outside, Indy can converge on anyone driving into the paint, including Teague (14 points, 5-for-11 on 2FGs, just 2 FT attempts after 10 in Game 1).With Atlanta insistent on remaining spread out across the offensive floor, but not hitting shots, Indiana knows they can force tougher shots from Millsap and driving guards with defensive help in the paint, cut down on the hacking (18 personal fouls in Game 2, 11 fewer than Game 1), and reassert themselves on the glass (30-21 defensive rebounding advantage; 32-33 in Game 1). The Pacers pulled away 101-85 in Game 2 despite taking 11 fewer shots from the field.In Game 3, we’ll get to see whether the Hawks have “improved” with ball movement against the Pacer defense, as Atlanta’s season-low 13 assists in Game 1 was matched in Game 2. Dennis Schröder showed enough confidence with his shot in garbage-time of Game 2 that he may get more of the tutelage time previously set aside for Mack.Antić, the starting center with zero defensive boards in Game 2, has to “get better” at mixing it up on the interior and flustering David West and Roy Hibbert. If he doesn’t, expect more of Elton Brand showing Antić how it’s done (team-leading 7 rebounds in 18 minutes, 3 offensive boards). Korver and Carroll can do a better job in navigating across the paint to get better looks at the rim, while Teague (4 assists, 3 turnovers in Game 2) can make better use of the pick-and-pop game when he’s driving into the teeth of the Pacer defense.If they do most of those things, and do a better job closing out on shooters defensively, the Hawks can return all of the pressure onto Indiana, ramping up the likelihood they’ll resort once again to internal pugilism before the series ends.Go Hawks!~lw3View the full article 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators lethalweapon3 Posted April 24, 2014 Author Moderators Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Lost in that dreadful shooting performance of the second-half of Game 2... ...was the first half... "When it goes in, we win?" Tweet Added - Refresh Page to see it live!If you don't see the Tweet here AFTER REFRESHING PAGE, then it wasn't entered correctly. Please edit and try again.Important: If the Tweet doesn't load, please refresh the page before editing the Tweet as it may need to refresh to parse properly ~lw3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Let's GO Hawks! I've got my victory dance ready! Anybody know if we having a white out? Rally rags? Flags? Thunder sticks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Awesome thread as usual. I love that they are "hongry"...lol. It's simple, we nail out outside shots we will most likely win. Korver and Antić please come alive. Teague, keep doing yo thang!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnice Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 I'm not sure what they will have in there, should have a grey-out just to go outside the box, lol 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 I'm not sure what they will have in there, should have a grey-out just to go outside the box, lol Yeah - I have enough Hawks white tees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruckus Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 I see tonight as a must win. I'm sure the guys do too. I just hope the pressure doesn't affect our play and we go out there and do our thing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryaan Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Am just excited to see the teams reaction follow Paul George... Millsap said Paul George's reaction to his 3 ending the third quarter was noticed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebert Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Again, another game I'll have to watch the next day... It's kind of difficult to sleep when you know that your team is playing in that moment the most important game of the season... Great article as always... We must win tonight... GO HAWKS!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawkItus Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Let's GO Hawks! I've got my victory dance ready! Anybody know if we having a white out? Rally rags? Flags? Thunder sticks? uh oh JB with the victory twerk lol 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Gonna sit at home with my dogs like I usually do. May grab some beer for this game. I think I may need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anxietyreigns Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Been home since aboyt 450p. Ready for tip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacman21 Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 I hope its a good crowd. Just once I would like to watch a nationally televised Hawks game without a shot at the fans 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTB Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 I noticed that none of our guys are saying that it was the pacers defense game 2 but more self inflicted wide open miss shots. I say we win game 3 but shall that happens game 4 will be extremely important. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anxietyreigns Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 I hope its a good crowd. Just once I would like to watch a nationally televised Hawks game without a shot at the fans I don't remember who it was but I remember a national media member recently say that Atl had some of the best playoff atmospheres going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anxietyreigns Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Would be nice if Korver would hit a basket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anxietyreigns Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Can we hit a damn 3? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makaveli96 Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 It would be nice to get a three from SOMEBODY. Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 And those same open shots we missed in the second half are the same ones we are missing now. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anxietyreigns Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Another missed 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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