Heat takes commanding 2-0 lead, while Hawks trail Indiana 2-0
The Southeast division of the NBA has two teams in the postseason, the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks. Each team is complete opposites thus far in the playoffs. Miami has won its two first games versus the Milwaukee Bucks and can take a commanding series lead tonight with a win in Milwaukee.
The Hawks on the other hand have lost the first two games in their series versus the Indiana Pacers and desperately need a win in game three or will be down three games to zero and on the brink of elimination.
Not many are surprised that the Miami Heat leads their best of seven series versus the Bucks. Miami ended the regular season with the league’s best overall record. The Heat has won 39 of its last 41 games, including a streak of 27 straight and its current streak of 10 games.
Milwaukee on the other hand was the only team in the NBA in either conference to make the playoffs with a losing record at 38-44. The Bucks did play better in game 2 of the series, trailing after three quarters by only three points. However, in just over a minute, the Heat lead was up to 9 points. If the Bucks hope to have any chance, they need to win tonight at home. Milwaukee has never won a series trailing 2-0 and no team in the NBA has won a series after trailing 3-0.
Milwaukee will need to find consistency. In game 1, Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis combined to score 48 points, but no other Bucks’ player scored more than six. In Tuesday’s loss, Larry Sanders and Ersan Ilyasova combined for 35 points and Mike Dunleavy has 16 points in a reserve role, but Ellis and Jennings could only managed 15 points between them.
A loss tonight sealed the Bucks fate as they will be down 3-0, but a win gives them confidence to win another and head back to Miami tied 2-2.
Atlanta finds itself in a deep hole after losing their second game of their best of seven series versus the Indiana Pacers.
The Hawks had no answer for Paul George as the Pacers’ guard scored 27 points, while teammate George Hill chipped in with 22. The Hawks lost game 2 by the score of 113-98 and are reeling as they return home.
Atlanta must find someone on its defense to stop George. In game one, George recorded just the second triple double in Indiana’s history. On Wednesday night in game two, George not only scored 27 points, but also grabbed 8 rebounds, handed out 3 assists and stole the ball on 4 occasions.
The loss was the second consecutive defeat against Indiana of 10 points or more and will work on the minds of Atlanta for the next two days.
Atlanta has had its injuries to deal with as well. Josh Smith the top scorer for the team played on a sprained ankle and got into early foul trouble. He played the entire game with foul trouble and scored just 16 points in the game.
Al Horford became enraged after being handed a technical and had to be restrained by teammates. The Hawks other two big men Ivan Johnson and Johan Petro each got into second half foul trouble.
The Hawks must regroup and take two at home, if they have any hope of returning from the 2-0 hole they find themselves in.
