Hoops Habit
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Atlanta Hawks: Keys To Protecting Home Court

By Adam McGee

Apr 19, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) takes a shot against Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) and forward David West (21) in game one during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 19, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) takes a shot against Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) and forward David West (21) in game one during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Increasing Assists

Apr 22, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard C.J. Watson (32) guards Atlanta Hawks forward Cartier Martin (20) in game two during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard C.J. Watson (32) guards Atlanta Hawks forward Cartier Martin (20) in game two during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

The reason the Indiana Pacers have struggled over the past couple of months is because they lost their identity. Frank Vogel has embedded a hustle and defensive mentality into the Pacers, just like Mike Budenholzer has introduced his ball movement philosophy in Atlanta. With that in mind, it’s stunning to think that the Hawks only had 13 assists in each of the first two games.

Not only were they season lows for the second-best assisting team in the league, but they marked only the third and fourth occasions in the last three years that the Hawks had 13 or fewer assists in a game. Funnily enough, the other two occasions were also against the Indiana Pacers.

For the Hawks to create high quality scoring opportunities, they need to make the extra pass. The team is constructed to spread the floor, so Atlanta needs to focus on utilizing their best offensive weapons. If the Hawks have more than 20 assists, it will mean that the Pacers will have been dragged from corner to corner, and Atlanta will likely win.

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