| 24 April 2010
Milwaukee Bucks 107, Atlanta Hawks 89
Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks power forward, said last Thursday that there was nothing to do in Milwaukee. That's not entirely true. You could lose Game 3, J-Smoove. The Hawks did just that as the Milwaukee Bucks outhustled, out worked and, by virtue of their effort, outscored the Hawks 107-89.
John Salmons has to be one of the most under-appreciated players in the NBA. All he does is play well and get traded to another team, at which point he plays well for his new team. Rinse. Repeat. He led the Bucks in points and steals, with twenty-two and seven respectively.
The Hawks seemed to forget the style of play that got them wins in Game 1 and Game 2. They failed to make defensive switches on key possessions, shot 39% from the field and 20% from three-point range and seemed a bit overwhelmed by the home crowd in Milwaukee, a bit of a surprise since Milwaukee was the team with everything to lose. Of course, it's hard to keep up with a team that is shooting 68% in the first quarter. Championship teams can weather that storm though and let's not forget that it's a seven game series. Atlanta is still in control.
Brandon Jennings might not win Rookie of the Year but he definitely gets my vote for the rookie I am most looking forward to playing as in the new NBA Jam game. You can send me a free copy of said game if you'd like, Midway. I'm more than happy to keep making plugs for you. Boomshakalaka!
Keeping with the adoration of Jennings for a minute, I want to see a goal-to-goal race between Jennings, Russell Westbrook and Aaron Brooks. Let's make that happen.
Scott Skiles has to be thrilled to see his team regain the identity they had before Andrew Bogut went out for the season. If only we had the chance to see them in the playoffs with him in the lineup. Sigh. Oh well. At least I now have a reason to buy that "Fear the Deer" t-shirt. Should I? We have to be wise in these decisions. This is coming from the guy who almost bought a "Fear the 'Stache" shirt when Adam Morrison was at Gonzaga. Wait a second. Unoriginal mother fu...
Why the Bucks Won
You had a feeling the Milwaukee crowd was going to give the Bucks an extra surge in Game 3. That was an understatement. If you saw the game you were witness to a clinic on how to play unselfishly. It doesn't ever hurt when your opponent shoots worse than a Y.M.C.A. rec league squad. But who are we to fault them? It's fun to play at the Y.M.C.A.! Luc Richard Mbah a Moute helped Milwaukee get off to a hot start with defensive intensity. We don't often get to mention him and we swear it's not because we can't pronounce his name. I promise. Can the Bucks ride the momentum of their excellent play in Game 4? I don't know. That's why I'm asking. Three cheers for rhetoric.
Why the Hawks Lost
We can't say it enough. You won't win in the playoffs if you shoot 39% from the field. The Hawks played like had collective amnesia. Okay Mike Bibby and Marvin Williams. This is a basketball. You dribble, pass and sometimes even shoot it into that basket. Actually, they played like a young team on the road with a 2-0 lead in the series, which is to say they played with complacency in a period where they need to play out of their minds to match their opponent. That didn't happen. Joe Johnson was the only Hawk that played well. This shouldn't surprise anyone. There's a reason he is the Hawk most likely to be on the next Team USA roster, not Josh Smith. Say it with me. Consistency is king.
Looking Ahead to Game 4
The Bucks finally have reason to believe that they can play with the Hawks. I'm not sure if they will do it two games in a row. The initial adrenalin surge that comes with playing at home can only last so long. Mike Woodson will make adjustments and Atlanta won't be so flat. On that note, Milwaukee won't be so hot. They are the second-worst shooting team in the NBA. We're going to assume they go back to their old habits. That's not to say that Milwaukee can't win Game 4. Lightning just usually doesn't strike twice. Atlanta is the better team and is eventually going to find a way to close out this series.
Prediction: Hawks win a close Game 4
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