Bad Shooting in Second Half Costs Hawks Game 1
By John Buhler
You can’t shoot 5-28 in the fourth quarter and expect to win. That’s exactly what the Atlanta Hawks did in Game 1 of their second round series with the Washington Wizards, as the Hawks fall 104-98 at home.
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I’ll give the Wizards credit this afternoon, as Marcin Gortat and Nene played outstanding defense in the low post. Atlanta did not record its first field goal in the fourth quarter until it was inside of eight minutes. No matter where the Hawks took their shots in the fourth quarter, absolutely nothing was falling for them.
To be fair, Atlanta was less than 36 hours removed from beating the Nets in Brooklyn while Washington had a week off after destroying the Toronto Raptors in round one. Defensively the Wizards prevented points in the paint for Atlanta and the Hawks became too reliant on the three-ball that just wasn’t happening in the second half. My guess is that offensively the Hawks ran out of gas in Game One. This was certainly a possibility on such a quick turnaround in the playoffs.
Al Horford had a double-double early in the game before foul trouble proved problematic for the Hawks stretch five. DeMarre Carroll was Jekyll and Hyde in his game one performance offensively. He was making everything for the Hawks in the first half, but not so much in the second. It was obvious that Atlanta was looking to Kyle Korver to save them in crunch time with his dead-eye outside shot but even he had a rough day from the field.
This was a very physical game and I believe that will continue throughout the duration of the series. Jeff Teague and Wizards SG Bradley Beal rolled their ankles badly. Wizards PG John Wall tweaked his wrist defending the glass.
We shouldn’t panic Hawks fans. Washington is playing their best basketball of the season in the playoffs. I highly doubt Atlanta will shoot that poorly in any more games this series. Atlanta will take on Washington again Tuesday night in Game Two. Then much-needed rest will follow as the Hawks and Wizards won’t meet for Game Three until Saturday evening. While this loss stings, I still believe. Let’s Go Hawks!