Game Of The Week: Atlanta Hawks vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Atlanta travels to Milwaukee Wednesday for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bucks are undefeated at home this postseason, but it took a Game 7 road win in Brooklyn for them to advance and upset the Nets. It also took Kevin Durant's clown shoes, Kyrie Irving and James Harden injuries, an overtime airball and a lot of grit for Milwaukee to continue their playoff journey. This is a team growing up before our very eyes and moving past blowing a 2-0 lead to Toronto in 2019's Eastern finals and last year's disappointing second round exit at the hands of Miami. Congratulations to the Bucks. Now they get to deal with Trae Young and the surging Atlanta Hawks.  

It's hard to believe Atlanta was 14-20 and in 11th place at the beginning of March. But since firing Lloyd Pierce, the Hawks have gone 27-11 under new coach Nate McMillen to earn their first playoff birth since 2017. Atlanta's star third year guard Young is averaging 29.1 PPG in the postseason and is quickly emerging as one of the best players in the league. 

Milwaukee is undefeated at home his postseason. They're comfortable there. I'd be comfortable there too. Milwaukee is a comfortable place to be. It's the midwest. People are friendly. They have the RiverWalk District. But Atlanta is 5-2 on the road this postseason. They beat Philadelphia in Philly in Games 1, 5 and 7 in the semis. If they can handle Philadelphia, they can handle Milwaukee no problem. 

Well there might be a problem. There might be a few problems. Though Atlanta had no trouble in Philly, the've lost their last seven games in Milwaukee. Maybe the Hawks don't find this midwestern gem as comfortable as I do. A few more reasons for Atlanta to feel uncomfortable: the defensive play of Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, and that other big guy on the Bucks, Giannis Antetokuonmpo. They will make things difficult for Young, Kevin Huerter, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Clint Capela. 

The 6'11'' Antetokuonmpo leads the Bucks with 28.8 PPG and 13 RPG this postseason, and he'll be tough for the Hawks to slow down. So while Milwaukee might not be as hostile as Philly, Anteokounmpo is hostile...to the Hawks defense. IRL he appears to be a really nice guy, and being the superstar that he is, Antetokuonmpo has had to shoulder a lot of the burden of Milwaukee's playoff failures the last two seasons. He appears poised to move with the Bucks beyond the disappointments of postseasons past and actualize his potential as both a regular season MVP and NBA Finals champion. 

The Bucks enter this game as eight point favorites and the favorites among the remaining four teams to win the chip. I like them in this game. I like them to win the championship. I also like Giannis's personality and the city of Milwaukee. But if Trae Young goes off (and we know he can) and the Hawks steal a win in Milwaukee, the whole tone of this series shifts. Milwaukee got past the Nets and their Big (hobbled 3). This was of course still a tough test. They've got a few yet before we can crown them champions. 

My prediction: Milwaukee 108-101. 

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