In a series widely expected to be a lengthy one, the Atlanta Hawks could've sent a deafening message. But instead of punctuating Game 1 with an exclamation point, they merely survived and advanced, limping to the finish and a 102-101 victory.
Rather than setting the tone and reshaping expectations, an uninspired second half made it feel as if Atlanta simply held serve in front of its neon-clad hometown crowd at Ferrell Center Philips Arena.
The first half was filled with utter destruction by the Hawks. Everything seemed to go right behind a suffocating defense that completely neutralized the painted area and an offense that was picking apart an overmatched and seemingly intimidated Boston defense.
This Atlanta squad was the worst offensive-rebounding squad by a wide margin during the regular season, but it consistently pounded the glass and created second-chance opportunities. When the beautiful ball movement or drive-and-dish play led to a miss, like the one below from Kent Bazemore, someone was there to clean up and create an extra possession:
On the other end, Atlanta suffocated Boston behind a defense that ...
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Article written by Adam Fromal
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