The Hawks looked brilliant at times, but those moments were few and far between in a 99-92 Game 1 victory over the Brooklyn Nets that was far closer than expected.
The Brooklyn Nets-Atlanta Hawks series was expected to be the most lopsided one in the first round, but we may need to revise that prediction. The Hawks took Game 1, 99-92, but the Nets put up a much bigger fight than expected, turning what was headed towards a blowout into a tight game down the stretch.
The Hawks flew out of the gates, quickly building a double-digit lead with their rapid ball movement and chaotic defensive rotations. The Nets went an entire quarter without picking up an assist and committed six turnovers. But Brooklyn calmed down in the second, moving the ball more effectively, exploiting the Hawks' weak defensive rebounding and isolating the right mismatches. The Nets shot 11-of-17 in the quarter and cut the lead to 10 by halftime.
That momentum carried over to the beginning of the third quarter. The Nets' much-maligned defense stepped up, stifling Atlanta's ball movement with high hands and timely switches. Back-to-back layups by Deron Williams sliced the Hawks' lead all the way down to three within the first four minutes of the period.
The Hawks responded with a 17-4 run that included a Kyle Korver three-pointer and heroics by backup point guard Dennis Schroeder. But the Nets fought back again, taking advantage of Al Horford's brief absence due to a dislocated pinky and Paul Millsap's ineffectiveness to cut Atlanta's lead to five with just over four minutes left.
Ultimately, Atlanta couldn't feel comfortable until the Nets failed to get a three off down five with under 30 seconds left. This was far more difficult than Hawks fans could have expected, but at least their team is up 1-0 in the series.
3 things we learned
1. The Nets cannot guard Kyle Korver
Korver had an active game, scoring 21 points while taking 11 three-pointers, making five. I list the attempts first because the best way to beat the Hawks is to take Korver away, not hope he misses. Once he gets going, it opens up opportunities for the rest of the Hawks. The Pero Antic dunk that punctuated the Hawks' 17-4 third-quarter run only happened because the man guarding Korver wouldn't help off him to stop Horford's roll to the basket.
The Nets just don't have a good matchup for him. Markel Brown is too small, Alan Anderson is too out of form after injury and Joe Johnson and Bojan Bogdanovic are too slow. The Nets will likely switch more often, but there are no easy answers.
2. The Nets found plenty of advantages
Nets coach Lionel Hollins hilariously claimed that his team had "no advantages" before the series began, a line we've mocked endlessly. But he may have found some in the Game 1 defeat, even if they probably won't be enough to make this a competitive series.
Offensive rebounding in particular was a major Nets strength. Lopez wasn't used enough, but he wedged his way for six offensive boards, five of which came in the first half. As I wrote before the series began, the Hawks' pressure defense leaves them vulnerable to space-eating big men and other crashers that attack the offensive glass.
The Nets also defended far more effectively than anticipated, even if they allowed Korver to get loose for too many threes. Jeff Teague and Millsap had rough games, and many of Atlanta's cuts that usually end in buckets weren't there. The Nets benched Brown and stayed with Bogdanovic and Anderson alongside Johnson on the wing, giving them more size and length along the perimeter. That sucked up the space Atlanta is used to having.
These advantages weren't enough to get the victory in Game 1, but perhaps this series won't be as lopsided as anticipated.
3. Brook Lopez needs to be more involved
The Nets' big man put up nice numbers, but Brooklyn isn't going to win any games in this series if he takes single-digit shots. Lopez only had seven attempts, and several of those were on putbacks. He is the Nets' best offensive player and biggest advantage against Atlanta's small frontcourt. The Nets have to use him more.
How they use him more is trickier. The easiest way would be to post him up on either block against Horford or Antic, but the Hawks generally double-team post ups effectively. A better idea is to use him in pick and rolls closer to the basket so he can turn and make an immediate decision once receiving the ball. The Hawks flood bodies to the roll man in these situations, but Brooklyn can beat those traps with decisive passes.
Either way, the Nets need to give their best player more shots.
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