Game Thread: Hawks vs Celtics Episode 3 -- The Force Awakens

[Jamaaliver]

Atlanta Hawks need spark from Trae Young to slow Boston Celtics


If the Atlanta Hawks are going to overcome an 0-2 deficit in their first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics, they likely will need an improved performance from Trae Young at home Friday night in Game 3. Dejounte Murray has shot 21-for-49 from the field (7-for-19 on 3-pointers) in the series, but Young’s numbers haven’t been as impressive. Young has scored 40 points in the first two games, but is 14-for-40 from the floor and 3-of-13 on 3-point attempts.

Young was showered with chants of “overrated” from Boston fans when he went to the free throw line in the fourth quarter of Game 2 on Tuesday night.

Young scored 24 points in that 119-106 loss but was 9-for-22 from the floor and missed six of his eight 3-point attempts. He also turned the ball over five times.

“I can be better,” Young said following Game 2. “I didn’t shoot the ball really well. I had some turnovers where I was just driving and it just left my hands, but I’m going to be better at home.”

Thus far the most productive guard in the series has been Boston’s Derrick White, who has scored 50 points in the two games. Among Boston players, only Jayson Tatum has scored more (54).

“We’re just so much more of a dynamic team when (White) is asserting himself and being aggressive,” Tatum said after Game 2. “We’ve talked about him being too passive and looking for guys too much. He’s like too good of a guy. These last few games, being aggressive, making the right play, attacking the rim (and) not necessarily waiting just makes us that much better of a team.”

White scored 14 of Boston’s 29 points in the fourth quarter of Game 2. He finished that game with 26 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots. The late Reggie Lewis is the only other Celtics guard to have at least 25 points and three blocks in a playoff game, doing so in 1992.

White has given the Celtics a reliable third scoring option in the series, behind Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Game 4 in the series will be played Sunday in Atlanta. If the Hawks avoid the four-game sweep, the series will return to Boston for Game 5 on Tuesday.

“I think we’ve touched on some things that we need to continue to do, just do it for longer,” Atlanta coach Quin Snyder said.

Field Level Media

[Jamaaliver]

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[HMFFL]

Celtics are favored by 5.5 points.

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[Jamaaliver]

yep

Sounds about right.

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[afectar]

Hawks defense on the screens is terrible, but watching AL holding his arms out and holding while moving and it not being call is a problem. No excuse for hawks player to be lost, but watch AL on the backdoor screens.

[dms269]

Hawks defense on the screens is terrible, but watching AL holding his arms out and holding while moving and it not being call is a problem. No excuse for hawks player to be lost, but watch AL on the backdoor screens.

I'm sure his daddy and sister will come up with some excuse for it, cause their baby can do no wrong.

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[HMFFL]

Young, Murray, and Hunter are a combined 3 for 16 from three.


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[HMFFL]

130-122 Hawks with the much needed win.

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[DirtybirdGA]

Congratulations to the hawks for staying alive.

[atlantabbq99]

Great job Hawks! and Great job Trae!!!

Bey has shown why he should get paid and not Hunter.

Before the series started i knew the Hawks could dominate the boards because as ATL fans, we all know how bad of a rebounder Horford is. If the Hawks can just shoot a DECENT 3PT PERCENTAGE and out rebound, they will be competitive in every playoff game.

[afectar]

They have no Answer for Murray, He's just to big when he gets into the box. I'm not sure what is going on with our Defense though. Don't think I've ever seen them play this bad on that side of the floor and Hunter seems very slow these days.

Everyone will point at Trae, but it's was everyone.

[Jamaaliver]

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[jayu70]

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They just need time together to figure it out.
Good job, great win!

[jayu70]

Glad to see the Post Quin bench show up.
for this game. The relative inexperience of Bey and JJ was on full display the first 2 games, thileir first playoff games. Home cooking did them well this game.

Bench rankings (Pre-Quin):

22nd in pts per game
5th in FG%
7th in 3pt FG%
21st in Reb/game
27th in Ast/game
24th in Steals/game
20th in Blocks/game
16th in point differential

Bench rankings (Post-Quin):

2nd in pts per game
1st in FG%
4th in 3pt FG%
3rd in Reb/game
24th in Ast/game
11th in Steals/game
2nd in Blocks/game
2nd in point differential

[atlantabbq99]

I totally blame Trae for game 1 and game 2 (and also Collins)..... So Trae should be given alot of credit for game 3.... GREAT JOB!

Trae finally was able to shoot over 50% and get in the lane and use that deadly floater he has. If Trae can just limit himself to only shooting 3 wide open threes a game and focus on throwing up 15 floaters a game, his efficiencies and wins will defiantly go up

[jayu70]

I totally blame Trae for game 1 and game 2 (and also Collins)..... So Trae should be given alot of credit for game 3.... GREAT JOB!

Trae finally was able to shoot over 50% and get in the lane and use that deadly floater he has. If Trae can just limit himself to only shooting 3 wide open threes a game and focus on throwing up 15 floaters a game, his efficiencies and wins will defiantly go up

A team can't shoot 17.5% and 25% from 3, the bench give us nothing and expect to win in G1 and G2, particularly when giving up an insane number of 3s.

Mike Konti pretty much nailed it in his pre game radio interview: less about Trae and Dejounte (they'llget what they get)...more about what we can get from THE OTHERS.

https://www.audacy.com/podcast/dukes-bell-0fcb8/episodes/mike-conti-live-from-state-farm-arena-69f36

[jayu70]

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The Others have to contribute.

[jayu70]

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