NBA Playoffs 2013: 5 Things We’ve Learned From Pacers vs. Hawks Series
Al Horford and the Atlanta Hawks will try to even the series in Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers. (Photo Credit: Mark Runyon, Basketball Schedule)
The Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks both have something to prove when their first-round meeting continues on Monday, April 29.
With the Pacers holding a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series, this game will be pivotal in determining who advances to the Eastern Conference semifinals. As the home team has prevailed in each game so far, the Hawks stand a good chance of knotting the series and turning it into a best-of-3.
Typically the team that wins the first two games goes on to capture the series, but history doesn’t always repeat itself.
Here are some observations from a series that is still very much up for grabs as the 2013 NBA playoffs unfold.
1. Adjustments pay dividends: This series had sweep written all over it after the Pacers throttled the Hawks in Games 1 and 2, winning by an average of 16 points and uncharacteristically looking like offensive juggernauts.
On Sunday, April 21, the Pacers posted 34 points in the first quarter on their way to a convincing 107-90 victory, followed by an equally impressive 113-98 win on Wednesday, April 24, in which they outscored the Hawks in each quarter.
When the series shifted to Phillips Arena in Atlanta for Game 3 on Saturday, April 27, the Hawks responded with some changes to their starting lineup that proved to be the difference-maker in a 90-69 blowout.
Kyle Korver was moved to the bench for Game 3. (Photo Credit: Mark Runyon, Basketball Schedule)
To match the toughness and size of Indiana’s frontcourt tandem of Roy Hibbert and David West, the Hawks called upon Johan Petro to make the start–only the second time he has done so in 19 career playoff appearances.
Petro played just 14 minutes–mainly due to foul trouble–totaling only six points, four rebounds and one blocked shot. However, he put his 7’0″ frame to work early, disrupting the Pacers’ game plan at both ends of the floor. Petro was constantly in the action on defense when the Hawks forced misses and generated fast break opportunities to jump out to a 24-17 lead after the first quarter.
More importantly though, this adjustment, which meant a reserve role for sharp shooter Kyle Korver, allowed Atlanta to slide Al Horford to power forward and Josh Smith to the 3 spot.
Smith displayed an array of post moves, leading to emphatic dunks, that proved to be too much for Paul George, who was given the defensive assignment. Horford broke free for 26 points and 16 rebounds and overall, the Hawks held the Pacers to just 27.2 percent shooting from the field.
2. Larry Drew‘s message was finally received: After Game 1, the Hawks’ coach called out his team, saying that they needed to adopt a more physical and passionate approach to have any chance of winning the series.
His team’s response was delayed as the Hawks did not answer his challenge in Game 2, but intensity and toughness were on display in Game 3 as the Hawks did not back down, especially early on.
With the Hawks leading 38-17 at the 6:55 mark of the second quarter, Horford was driving to the basket when a trailing West sent him to the floor–picking up a flagrant foul on the play.
Jeff Teague then picked up a technical foul for shoving West during a brief tussle between the two teams. The Hawks, who showed a refusal to be intimidated, held a 24-point advantage at halftime and cruised to victory.
3. Paul George is the real deal: The Pacers rely heavily on George and he has delivered so far in the playoffs. Recently named the NBA’s Most Improved Player, the third-year forward is the spark plug on a team known for its defense.
Paul George has appeared in 19 playoff games. (Photo Credit: IsoSports, Flickr.com)
In Game 1, he notched a triple-double by recording 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists. To show that performance wasn’t a fluke, George filled up the stat sheet again in Game 2 with 27 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and 4 steals.
And even though he managed just 16 points in Game 3, George was active as he grabbed nine rebounds. How George responds in Game 4 will play a big factor in the Pacers’ ability to advance beyond this round.
4. They can’t keep the score close: With so much at stake for both teams in Game 4, it will be interesting to see if the match goes down to the wire. While the result of Game 3 may be seen as a fluke, mismatches could explain the lop-sided results in this series.
The Pacers are a tough, rugged, and defensive-minded team that prefers a slower pace, although they boast capable scorers in George and West. On the other hand, the Hawks are known for their athleticism, particularly in Smith and Horford, and for employing a more free-flowing, up tempo style of play.
Perhaps as the series progresses, the teams will meet somewhere in the middle.
5. This series has entertainment value: Heading into the playoffs, this series held little intrigue for me, as a sweep by the Pacers seemed like a reasonable prediction. But things are heating up and I was struck by how fun the Hawks are to watch.
At least in the case of Game 3.