The Associated Press
BOSTON—The Hawks overcame 50 years of sour playoff memories to get by a hobbled Boston team and into the second round of the NBA playoffs.
Their reward is rematch with “King James.”
The Hawks will see a Cleveland team that is rested—and maybe even a little hungrier than it was last year when it swept Atlanta out of the Eastern Conference final despite being at less than full strength.
It’s a tall order but one the Hawks are embracing and even quietly were hoping for.
“I think we’re a better team from last year, I really do,” said Hawks’ guard Kyle Korver.
“I think our identity is more on the defensive end than the offensive end this year,” he added.
“I think we know that we’re gonna have to play really well to beat them.”
The top seed in last year’s playoffs, the Cavaliers lost Kevin Love to a dislocated left shoulder in the first round against Boston—only to see Kyrie Irving suffer a freak broken kneecap in Game 2 of the Finals.
So far this post-season, the Cavs haven’t provided any hint of defect.
Cleveland swept a young Detroit team in the first round, and will have had eight days of rest by the time it opens the second round Monday.
There will be no such luxury for Atlanta, which will have just three days to prepare for the Cavs.
The good news for the Hawks is they have found their touch from the outside over the last two games, connecting on 22 three-pointers.
Atlanta also has gotten better at expanding and then protecting big leads—something it had trouble with during the regular season.
In last night’s close-out win over Boston, Atlanta led by as many as 28 points thanks to a 39-point third quarter, which featured a pair of big runs to help it get separation.
It also earned the respect of the Celtics.
“I think we should give the Hawks credit. They’re better right now,” said Celtics’ coach Brad Stevens.
“It pains me to say that; it’s a sour ending,” he added. “But they just proved it over six games.
“That’s just kind of how my world works,” Stevens reasoned.
“There’s a scoreboard and if you’re on the losing end, then you’re not as good as the other team.”
