5 things Atlanta Hawks need to do to beat Milwaukee Bucks in 7 games in Eastern Conference Finals | 2021 NBA Playoffs

Bogdan Bogdanovic #13 of the Atlanta Hawks is defended by Jrue Holiday #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Bogdan Bogdanovic #13 of the Atlanta Hawks is defended by Jrue Holiday #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Without superstar Trae Young, the Atlanta Hawks fell to the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bucks, who also played without their best player in Giannis Antetokounmpo, dominated Atlanta to grab a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series and are one step away from the NBA Finals.

Now, with the series heading back to the Atlanta Hawks' State Farm Arena for Game 6, Young's status is unknown, but some of the Hawks' needs are clear.

Brook Lopez dominated Game 5 in the paint, and the Milwaukee Bucks will surely look for something similar in Game 6, with or without Giannis Antetokounmpo in the opposing team's starting lineup.

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Four of the Milwaukee Bucks starters scored at least 20 points, with Khris Middleton and especially Jrue Holiday having big games.

Now, the Atlanta Hawks are facing elimination and their impressive run in the 2021 NBA Playoffs will be on the line in Game 6.

In this article, we will give you five things Nate McMillan's Atlanta Hawks could do to force a Game 7 and eventually win the series and get to the NBA Finals.

Without further ado, let us take a look.


#5 Hope for Trae Young's recovery

Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks sits on the bench in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks sits on the bench in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Of course, the Atlanta Hawks do not control this one, but if Hawks' fans imagine their franchise playing in the NBA Finals, that dream surely starts behind Trae Young's prowess.

Young injured his right foot when he stepped on the foot of an official in Atlanta's Game 3 loss. He missed the last two games and is still recovering from a bone bruise that might keep him out of the upcoming Game 6 (he is listed as questionable for Saturday's game).

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The Hawks won Game 1 behind Young's 48-point, 11-assist night and the offense starts purely with him. Young is averaging 32.7 points and six assists per game in the Eastern Conference Finals, but his participation might've come to an end.


#4 Protect the basketball

Milwaukee Bucks v Atlanta Hawks - 2021 Eastern Conference Finals.
Milwaukee Bucks v Atlanta Hawks - 2021 Eastern Conference Finals.

This one is purely related to the offensive possessions of the Atlanta Hawks in this series. Protecting the ball against a team like the Milwaukee Bucks, which can get out on transition quickly (especially if Giannis Antetokounmpo is on the floor), is definitely an essential trait for a team, even if Antetokounmpo is not playing.

The Atlanta Hawks have 67 turnovers in the Eastern Conference Finals, while the Milwaukee Bucks have been slightly better in that area (57). The Hawks were eighth in the NBA among the teams which averaged the least turnovers per game during the regular season (13.2).

In the series against Milwaukee, the Hawks are averaging 13.4 turnovers per game, but their two victories have come in games in which they were below their TO average from the regular season.

#3 The Atlanta Hawks must protect the paint

Clint Capela #15 of the Atlanta Hawks makes a save against Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Clint Capela #15 of the Atlanta Hawks makes a save against Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Atlanta Hawks were dominated when Milwaukee Bucks' center Brook Lopez scored 33 points in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, with 26 of those points coming in the paint.

Lopez had a vintage performance with 14 field goals made in 18 attempts and the Atlanta Hawks' defense could not stop him in the key. For the remainder of the series, Nate McMillan's team cannot allow Lopez or any other Bucks player (outside of Giannis if he plays) to become a dominant force in the paint.

If that means making the Milwaukee Bucks a three-point shooting team, that could be a better strategy, as Mike Budenholzer's squad is shooting only 29% from the three-point line in this series.


#2 Bogdan Bogdanovic needs to stay aggressive

Bogdan Bogdanovic #13 of the Atlanta Hawks.
Bogdan Bogdanovic #13 of the Atlanta Hawks.

Bogdan Bogdanovic has been struggling in the Eastern Conference Finals with right knee soreness and his efficiency has not been there for the entirety of the series against the Milwaukee Bucks. He is probable for Game 6.

However, he managed to perform tremendously in the last two games, scoring 20 and 28 points in the fourth and fifth games of the series, respectively.

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In the last couple of games, Bogdanovic has made 13 of his 30 attempts from the three-point line, and the Atlanta Hawks need that kind of production from him going forward.

Bogdanovic has not been efficient in the 2021 NBA Playoffs as his shooting splits are currently 38/32/66, but his last two outings should be encouraging for him and the Atlanta Hawks.


#1 John Collins must step up

John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks.
John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks.

John Collins is arguably the second-most talented player on the Atlanta Hawks' roster and the team's best forward. His athleticism can be a phenomenal tool against the Milwaukee Bucks' physicality and size, but Collins has not been consistent this series.

Collins averaged 17.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in the regular season with amazing shooting splits (55/39/83). However, he is only at 13.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in the NBA Playoffs.

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His efficiency is still there, with 54/36/82 shooting splits in the postseason, but he needs to demand the ball more on offense and establish himself as a scorer.


Also read: 5 Greatest achievements of Chris Paul's career

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