2 Key Adjustments Hawks Must Make After Ugly Game 1 Loss To Celtics

It has been an uneven 2022-23 season for the Atlanta Hawks, by no means missing for its share of ups-and-downs. When at their greatest, the Hawks can defeat anybody, however at their worst, they’ve the look of a crew able to give up and go house.

It received so dire for Atlanta at one level, the entrance workplace determined it was time to vary head coaches in the midst of the season, firing Nate McMillan and changing him with Quin Snyder. Even with the squad in flux, bringing Snyder in gave the impression to be a relaxing that was desperately wanted.

By all of it, the Hawks had been in a position to make it to the Jap Convention Play-In Event, and the Miami Warmth had been ready for them. It was a frightening job to return to Miami and win, however Atlanta got here up with their greatest sport of the season, and earned a playoff berth within the course of with an unbelievable victory.

Their reward for the win is a matchup with the Boston Celtics, the reigning convention champions, within the first spherical, and if Sport 1 is any indication, it’s a battle that may take a monumental effort to overcome.

The Celtics regarded dominant through the contest, constructing an enormous lead earlier than cruising to a 112-99 victory. The Hawks regarded torpid within the first half earlier than exhibiting a pulse within the second half. By that point, it was too late and too huge of a gap to climb out of.

With Sport 2 Tuesday evening in Boston, Atlanta has a bit of time to make changes in an try to have a greater efficiency earlier than the scene adjustments to Atlanta. Listed here are a few issues they will do to provide them the perfect likelihood to win.

1. Get off to a greater begin

As talked about earlier, the Hawks received off to a gradual begin in Sport 1, and the sport was basically over earlier than they had been in a position to actually get began. With that mentioned, that doesn’t imply there isn’t something Atlanta may take out of the competition to construct upon. They did compete within the second half, and so they reduce into the Celtics’ lead earlier than being held off.

With out getting too analytical with the suggestions, the Hawks need to get off to a greater begin. They will’t finish the primary quarter down by 10, then have it snowball to 30 at halftime. Come Sport 2, they need to at the very least be within the constructing.

So as to try this, the crew’s star participant must be the one to set the tone. Which means guard Trae Younger has to return out aggressively, whether or not that’s in search of his personal shot, or simply merely attacking to attract extra protection in direction of him to arrange his teammates. Both manner, Younger must have a giant sport if Atlanta desires to compete on this sport and the collection as a complete.

Merely put, they need to know what it feels wish to have a lead.

2. Meet drive with drive

From the opening faucet, it was clear Boston was the extra aggressive crew, with their stars, forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, getting downhill and seeking out their offense. On the defensive finish, the Celtics made positive Atlanta didn’t get something straightforward, with waves of defenders making issues uncomfortable for the visiting Hawks.

In the meantime, Atlanta regarded like a crew that has by no means been within the playoffs earlier than, forgetting what it’s wish to be in heated environments. Let’s bear in mind the crew is generally the identical from the one which made it to the convention finals simply two seasons in the past.

One factor we are able to rely on from the Celtics is physicality, and the Hawks need to match it (if not exceed it). Which means they will’t get pushed round, and shying away from contact can’t be an possibility. They’ve to grasp the hits are coming, and Boston gained’t quit their convention crown with no battle.

It’s understood that is an analytical and data-driven world we stay in nowadays, and the thirst to look go next-level in statistics is right here to remain. Generally, diving deep into numbers is just not wanted, and good, old school coronary heart and want is what’s going to win plenty of these contests, notably within the playoffs.

Finally, it’s the scoreboard that issues, however the path taken is what actually counts. Anybody who noticed Sport 1 of the Hawks-Celtics collection know Boston was the more durable and extra bodily crew. Atlanta has to have the mentality of 1 that claims they may meet them midway, or it is going to be time for offseason actions in brief order.