Why the Hawks NEED to win Game 4 vs. the Nets
Apr 22, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer talks with players during the fourth quarter of game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Brooklyn Nets at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 96-91. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports
In the literal sense of the word, the Hawks don’t need to win Game 4 vs. the Brooklyn Nets. “A NBA Playoff series don’t start until the home team loses a game”, right?
Well, it’s not all about winning this opening round series for Atlanta. It’s about advancing to bigger and better things – and that means taking care of the Nets now, and more importantly playing better basketball.
The Hawks have been in cruise control for going on three months now. The undefeated month of January that saw an unprecedented NBA Player of the Month Award go to the entire starting five vaulted the Hawks into first place in the Eastern Conference. Securing the top seed was never in doubt. Coach Bud has been able to rest players and it didn’t matter if the team was on top of their game so long as they just tread water until the playoffs.
The problem is, you’re either getting better or you’re getting worse. When you reach a peak of excellence midway through the season it’s hard to keep that motivation to keep getting better. When you clinch everything so early there’s no sense of urgency.
Right now, the Hawks are not the team they were in January. That may be impossible to reenact, but some form of that team should still exist, even without Thabo Sefolosha. But the Hawks are finding it a little harder than expected to turn the regular season switch off and playoff switch on.
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The good news is the Hawks are much better than the Nets. Even playing one of the worst games I’ve ever seen any NBA playoff team play in Game 3 they still had a chance to win the game. The Nets are talented but, well, stupid. They aren’t well-coached or anywhere near the team the Hawks are. A determined effort by Atlanta should put them away in the next two games.
The next two games are crucial. Not in determining the outcome of the series (although the Hawks better not lose the games!) – but in preparation for the second round. The Wizards look like they’ve stepped up their game for the playoffs, so the Hawks can’t sleepwalk through that series and still expect to advance.
Now is the time to get real. To get focused and regain what this team once had earlier in the year. Game 4 presents an opportunity to win a road playoff game and prove the Atlanta Hawks mean business in these playoffs.