2015 NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
#1 Atlanta Hawks at #8 Brooklyn Nets
Hawks Lead Best of Seven Series 2-0
Game #3 Barclays Center – Brooklyn, New York
Saturday, April 25, 2015, 2:05 pm Eastern, TV: TNT
Opening Line: Atlanta -3
Current Line: Atlanta -2 1/2
Opening Total: 200 1/2
Current Total: 200 1/2
Opening Money Line: Hawks -140 / Nets +120
Current Money Line: Hawks -145 / Nets +125
The Atlanta Hawks won a franchise record 60 games in the regular season, while the Brooklyn Nets barely squeezed into the playoffs with a 38-44 record. While the Hawks have won both games so far in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, it hasn’t been easy. Atlanta is battling injuries to their front court and the effects of resting their starters for so long after clinching home court advantage in the Eastern Conference playoffs so quickly. The two teams meet Saturday in Brooklyn for game #3.
In both games so far, Atlanta built up double digit digit leads early but had to hold on for narrow wins. The Hawks won game one 99-92 and game two Wednesday night 96-91, both in Atlanta. In game two, Atlanta led 27-15 in the first quarter but would settle for a 29-24 lead at the end of the quarter. Brooklyn went on a 12-0 run in the second to take their first lead, but Atlanta still led by 3 at halftime. The Hawks would expand the lead to 8 by the end of the third, but couldn’t shake the pesky Nets. In fact in the fourth quarter, Nets’ guard Deron Williams missed a 15 foot jumper with 11 seconds left that would have tied it. The Hawks made three free throws to seal the win.
The Hawks won despite shooting less than 40% from the field. Part of the reason Brooklyn was able to stay close is they dominated on the boards as they did in game one. Brooklyn has outrebounded Atlanta 96-80 and outscored the Hawks 92-70 in the paint.
Atlanta forward Paul Millsap rebounded from a poor game one performance after missing the last 5 games of the regular season with a shoulder injury. Millsap scored 19 points, with 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Kyle Korver added 17 points, including 4 three pointers, and also had 3 rebounds and 4 steals. Jeff Teague had 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists. Al Horford scored 14 points, and added 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 blocks. Dennis Schroder scored 16 points and had 6 assists off the bench.
Brooklyn guard Jarrett Jack had 23 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists off the bench. Brook Lopez had 20 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks. Joe Johnson had 19 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists. Alan Anderson had 13 points, and 5 rebounds. Deron Williams only scored 2 points, but did have 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals.
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The 60-22 Atlanta Hawks have the second best record in basketball behind the Golden State Warriors who are 67-15. The Hawks won the Southeast Division by 14 games over the Washington Wizards and are the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference by 7 games over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Atlanta is coached by Mike Budenholzer, who was named NBA coach of the year earlier this week. The Hawks had never won 60 games in a season before this year. It was also their first division title since 1994. Atlanta, coached by Mike Budenholzer, is in the playoffs for the eighth straight season but they have never made it past the second round during that run.
Brooklyn, coached by Lionel Hollins, finished third in the Atlantic Division 11 games behind Toronto. When Hollins was head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies, the Grizzlies twice came back from 0-2 series deficits to win the series. The Nets tied with the Indiana Pacers for the last playoff spot in the East, but the Nets won the head to head tiebreaker. Brooklyn is in the playoffs for the third straight season.
Brooklyn is 41-41-2 ATS and the total is 37-47 this season. The Nets were 9.5 point underdogs in game #2 and the total was 202.5. The Hawks are 50-32-2 this season and the total is 42-42.
Atlanta is outscoring teams 103-97 this season. The Hawks are in the top ten in both categories. Atlanta is shooting 46.6% from the field and 38% from 3 point range. The Hawks are #4 or better in both categories. Atlanta is #5 in free throw shooting at 77.5% from the line. Opponents are shooting 43.9% from the field and 34.1% from 3 point range. The Hawks are #7 or better in both categories. Atlanta averages 40.6 rebounds and opponents average 43.6 per game. The Hawks are #28 in rebounding. Atlanta averages 25.7 assists, 13.5 turnovers, 9.1 steals and 4.6 blocks per game.
Paul Millsap averages 16.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He is probable with a shoulder injury. He struggled in game one going only 2/11 from the field with 6 points in his first game back after the injury. Jeff Teague averages 15.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Al Horford averages 15.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. Horford suffered a dislocated pinky in game one and has his hand taped but is probable. DeMarre Carroll averages 12.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Kyle Korver averages 12.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Dennis Schroder averages 10 points, 2.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Thabo Sefolosha is out for the season with a broken leg.
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Brooklyn is being outscored 101-98 this season. The Nets are shooting 45.3% from the field and 33% from 3 point range. The Nets make 75% of their free throws. Opponents are shooting 45.5% from the field and 38.8% from 3 point range. Brooklyn averages 43.2 rebounds per game and opponents average 44.2 rebounds per game. The Nets average 20.9 assists, 13.4 turnovers, 7 steals and 4.2 blocks per game.
Brook Lopez averages 17.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. Joe Johnson averages 14.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. Johnson was an all-star player for the Hawks until 2012 when he signed with the Nets. Deron Williams averages 13.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. He is probable with a finger injury. Jarrett Jack averages 11.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. Mirza Teletovic returned in game two after missing more than two months with blood clots in his lungs. Sergey Karasev is out for the season with a knee injury.
Atlanta is 3-1-1 after a straight up win, 13-30 on two days rest, 1-3-1 in Saturday games and and road games, 2-8 against Atlantic Division teams, 0-4 in first round games, 0-4-1 overall and against Eastern Conference teams. The road team is 7-1 ATS in this series recently. The Hawks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 trips to Brooklyn.
Brooklyn is 5-0 ATS in first round games, 4-0 against Southeast Division teams and on two days rest, 6-1-1 after a straight up loss, 6-2-1 at home, 6-2 against teams with winning road records. The underdog is 4-1 ATS in this series recently.
Atlanta is up 2-0, but they haven’t looked that impressive at times. They beat the Nets by an average of 17 points in the four regular season meetings. I think the Hawks finally play up to their potential and win this game comfortably.
