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Atlanta Hawks: 5 Reasons We’ve Got Ourselves A Series

By Gerald Bourguet

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
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 /
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Apr 27, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) defends Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver (26) during overtime in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. at Barclays Center. Brooklyn Nets won 120-115 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Brooklyn’s Defense

Speaking of the Nets defense, there’s no question that it’s been one of the biggest unforeseen factors in this series being tied at two games apiece.

During the regular season, the Nets gave up 105.0 points per 100 possessions, ranking them as the NBA’s 24th rated defense. The Hawks, meanwhile, were the league’s sixth ranked offense, averaging 106.2 points per 100 possessions. This seemed like a no-brainer: the Hawks, one of the league’s best offenses, were going to tear Brooklyn, one of the league’s worst defenses, a new butthole.

Instead, the exact opposite has happened, with the Nets holding the Hawks to 99.0 points per 100 possessions — the fifth best mark among all 16 playoff teams. Atlanta’s 99.0 points per 100 possessions ranks them as the 12th best offense of the postseason.

Atlanta’s offense was so potent all season long because of its excellent ball movement that lead to high-percentage, open looks. But so far in this series, the Nets have played physical at every position, discouraging player movement, stopping ball movement and leading to an inordinate amount of isolation plays of stagnant offense.

Back in 337, the Roman Emperor Constantine was on his deathbed. While he abided by Christianity for his whole life, he waited until right before death to be baptized, which allowed him to life his life the way he pleased.

The Brooklyn Nets are exactly like Constantine in that regard; while they might seem reprehensible to some for skating through an entire regular season without playing defense, their sudden conversion on that end couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.

Next: No. 2

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