Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily. We are now in the Conference Finals!
It’s one down, three to go for the surprising Atlanta Hawks.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Morry Gash/AP.)
First off, I didn’t make a prediction on this site about the Eastern Conference Finals. So here was mine before Game 1 started:
Anyway, my prediction for the Eastern Conference Finals? A hesitant… pic.twitter.com/1TPCrcDUA5
— 𝗥𝗲𝘆-𝗥𝗲𝘆 🤞🏾✌🏾 (@TheNoLookPass) June 24, 2021
Hesitant because I know the damage the Atlanta Hawks have done. They swiftly eliminated the New York Knicks in the first round. And then they toppled the #1 seed Philadelphia 76ers. So who says they can’t do the same thing to the Milwaukee Bucks?
WELL, GAME 1 HAPPENED, DIDN’T IT? THE AUDACITY OF TRAE YOUNG AND THE ATLANTA HAWKS.
Trae was everywhere. If he’s not making a three, he’s making a floater. If he’s prevented from doing either, he’s finding a teammate. And the brashness was in full display in Milwaukee. He passed it to John Collins OFF THE GLASS for an alley-oop jam. And then a few minutes later, he did this to Jrue Holiday and SHRUGGED before making the three.
That is amazing. He really is a villain.
Still, it’s not like the Bucks were pushovers. Giannis Antetokounmpo must have gotten 481 alley-oop dunks in the fourth quarter. Jrue Holiday had his best game of the playoffs with 33 points and 10 assists. And like the previous game, Khris Middleton was not great for the first three quarters but had a bit of life in the fourth. The Bucks led by four with under two minutes left.
But again, the Hawks don’t care who’s in front of them. Collins made a huge corner three. Then later on, Clint Capela got a big offensive board and putback to give Atlanta the lead. The Hawks were up, 112-111, with under 30 seconds left. So Milwaukee set up a play and came out with an open Pat Connaughton three, which he… didn’t hit anything.
Still, the foul game was played and the Bucks were down three with four seconds left. Middleton missed the game-tying three and the Hawks stole Game 1.
It’s really unbelievable what’s happening here. I’ve seen many people easily pick the Bucks over the Hawks. And sure, on paper, it seems like Milwaukee should dominate. But it was like this for the Sixers against the Hawks, too, and Atlanta came away winning. It’s probably time to stop underestimating these Hawks. After all, this team finished 27-11, which would be a 58-win team for a full season. The Atlanta Hawks are legit.
This is definitely a statement and signature game by Trae Young, who went for 48-7-11. He definitely had help in Collins (23 points, 15 boards) and Clint Capela (12 points, 19 boards). Remember that Bogdan Bogdanovic (who did play) is limited and Cam Reddish and DeAndre Hunter are out. And Trae is STILL only 22 years old. The dude is fearless.
Giannis did his part with 34-12-9. But man, they’re going to have to really dig deep to put away these Hawks. This seems like their best chance to finally get to the Finals. And yet, we have this upstart team that has wrecked everything.
It’s either we continue to see this miracle run by Atlanta or Giannis finally makes it to his first NBA Finals. We’re just getting started.
Bullet Passes
This section is all about the coaches that are getting hired. Ime Udoka will be the new Boston Celtics head coach. Udoka played for 5 teams in the league, most notably for the San Antonio Spurs and Portland TrailBlazers.
He then went into coaching where he spent 7 seasons as a Spurs assistant. He went to Philadelphia last season and then was an assistant for the Brooklyn Nets this season. Udoka had been a hot name for head coaching gigs the last few years and he finally got one in Boston.
By the way, former Chicago Bull and current ESPN analyst Jay Williams said this:
That’s so embarrassing considering Boston has had quite the history of black coaches. Bill Russell. K.C. Jones. Doc Rivers. Udoka is actually the 6th black head coach for the Celtics.
Then Williams comes back with this laaaaaame excuse.
As it relates to the Boston Celtics tweet that came from my account a couple of hours ago… I did not post that & my passcode has now been changed.
— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) June 23, 2021
It’s just SO MUCH EASIER to accept a mistake. Why would anyone still use the “hacking” excuse in 2021? And I promise it’s okay to say you were wrong. Rightfully so, it’s led to more ridicule.
Rick Carlisle is off the coaching market as he’s accepted a return to Indiana. He led the Pacers to the East Finals in his first year there (2003-2004). The next season, his team was involved in the Malice at the Palace incident, which took away most of his best players for the bulk of the year (most notably, the former Ron Artest for the entire season). He left Indiana in 2007 before signing on with Dallas in 2008.
NBA Playoff Scoreboard
June 23, 2021
NBA Playoff Series Count
EAST
#5 Hawks lead #3 Bucks, 1-0.
#5 Hawks defeat #1 Sixers, 4-3.
#3 Bucks defeat #2 Nets, 4-3.
#1 Sixers defeat #8 Wizards, 4-1.
#5 Hawks defeat #4 Knicks, 4-1.
#2 Nets defeat #7 Celtics, 4-1.
#3 Bucks defeat #6 Heat, 4-0.
WEST
#2 Suns lead #4 Clippers, 2-0.
#4 Clippers defeat #1 Jazz, 4-2.
#2 Suns defeat #3 Nuggets, 4-0.
#1 Jazz defeat #8 Grizzlies, 4-1.
#4 Clippers defeat #5 Mavericks, 4-3.
#2 Suns defeat #7 Lakers, 4-2.
#3 Nuggets defeat #6 Blazers, 4-2.
Watch This Play
Trae Young. The guts of this guy for throwing a backboard alley-oop pass to John Collins in the EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS.
WHAT THE HELL WAS THIS pic.twitter.com/Mm6LdhzXpq
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) June 24, 2021
The ECF starts tonight! IT’S GOING DOWN.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.
R.I.P. Nala.