They'll need that bond for their conference finals opponent, the No. Collins praised McMillan's characterization of the team as a tight fist, each extremity bonded to the next. Huerter referred to him as the head of a snake. On Sunday night, Hawks players spoke of McMillan as almost a basketball guru. This level of confidence would have been unthinkable 16 weeks ago, when McMillan replaced his predecessor, Lloyd Pierce. "We've gone to two of the toughest places and played," Young said. Effusive, Young remarked after the game that he derived a certain pleasure from clinching series in two notoriously hostile buildings in New York and Philadelphia. He also has established himself as one of the league's most charismatic villains in a road arena. Young has been the celebrant in one of the most festive coming-out parties in recent NBA history. While that last one is a declarative fact, it would be unpersuasive to anyone with the Hawks. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, they're the second team under the current playoff format (since 1984) to make the conference finals without an All-Star on the roster, joining the 1994 Indiana Pacers. They stood at 14-20 on March 1, 11th place in the Eastern Conference. Game 7 wasn't about individual production for the Hawks, possibly the most improbable NBA conference finalists in 25 years. "We're a little naive," Huerter said, suggesting that the Hawks' youthful exuberance gives them a self-belief more seasoned teams might not have in such a situation. In sum, it was enough for the Hawks to win a Game 7 on the road in only the third season of a total rebuild. John Collins patrolled the glass with 16 rebounds. Huerter led the team with 27 points and was the best shot-maker on the floor for the Hawks in Game 7, hitting tough jumpers over Tobias Harris and picking on Seth Curry while advancing to the basket. Young's woes were a math problem for the Hawks, who would need hefty contributions from others. Like Young, Holiday redeemed himself with big shots late). Young finished with 21 points on 5-for-23 shooting (the exact same line that the Milwaukee Bucks' Jrue Holiday, the opposing point guard he'll face next, assembled in his Game 7 on the road. He will take a shot if he is open regardless of how many shots he has missed." "He's fearless," Hawks head coach Nate McMillan said. Young's last two made shots from the field before icing the 103-96 win with three free throws, were his two trademarks - a floater in the lane, then a bomb from 29 feet. It would be the last time Atlanta would trail in the series. The Great Thaw for Young began well into the fourth quarter, as he dribbled to a spot at the foul line extended, let Matisse Thybulle breeze by, then drained a jumper that trimmed Philadelphia's lead to two points. If Young wasn't going to score off the high screen on Sunday night, he'd make sure someone else would. Young leveraged the pressure applied on him by the Sixers and connected with teammates, such as center Clint Capela, on multiple alley-oops. By the third quarter, Hawks guard Kevin Huerter had assumed much of the scoring load.ĭespite the struggles from the floor, Young wasn't ineffectual offensively. Ice Trae had been ice cold all night, missing 17 of his first 19 shots attempts from the field. NBA playoffs 2021: Trae Young showed up late, but the party continues for the Atlanta Hawksįor most of Game 7, Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young's patented "shiver" gesture - the one he unleashes to let onlookers know he has transformed into Ice Trae - had a different connotation. You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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