First Thoughts: Atlanta 102, Indiana 91
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Correspondent
Let’s take a quick look at how the Atlanta Hawks knocked off the Indiana Pacers 102-91 on Monday night at Philips Arena in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first round series. The series is now 2-2.
WHY IT HAPPENED: The Pacers again were pitiful in the first half, trailing 57-40 at the break before improving in the third quarter and at least making the final 12 minutes competitive. Josh Smith was outstanding, finishing with 29 points and 11 rebounds. Al Horford chipped in 18 points, while starting guards Jeff Teague and Devin Harris moved the ball with verve, making six assists apiece. Indiana’s Paul George scored 18 points in the second half and wound up with 21. George also took 12 rebounds and had four steals. Indiana shot 38 percent for the game. The Pacers struggled to defend without fouling and still don’t seem in unison at that end of the floor. The Hawks feasted at the 3-point line, going 11-for-24.
WHAT WE LEARNED: The Pacers’ struggles in Game 3 carried over and they are now in for a long series. Neither team has shown the ability to win on the other’s floor. In eight games this season with Atlanta, the home team has won every time. Hawks sharpshooter Kyle Korver hadn’t had a great game yet. He did tonight, posting 19 points and five rebounds. This series has a totally different feel after the Hawks rediscovered their defense and the Pacers’ offense went missing in action. Hawks coach Larry Drew’s decision to guard George with Smith was the turning point, and the onus is on Indiana’s Frank Vogel to find an answer. The Pacers were a losing team on the road in the regular season. Clearly, the playoffs are not the place to fix those issues. Indiana’s longtime horrors at The Highlight Factory took on a new chapter in the past four days.
KEY NUMBER: The Pacers fell behind by at least 19 points for the eighth time in their last 10 games.
TURNING POINT: After Hill’s runner cut Atlanta’s lead to five with 4 1/2 minutes remaining, the Hawks scored on five of their next seven possessions to stretch the lead to nine. The Pacers’ defense ran out of gas, Smith and Korver knocked down some huge 3-pointers, and that put the game on ice.
NEXT: The Pacers have one day to find answers before playing a key Game 5 on Wednesday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
