That was about as much fun to watch as a 1998 Knicks playoff game. There was nothing pretty about it.
The Atlanta Hawks don’t care; they won 83-69 to force a game seven Sunday in Atlanta.
Atlanta had an offensive rating of 98.8 (points per 100) possessions, Milwaukee 82.2. (The Nets on the season had an offensive rating of 98.1 this season, dead last in the league, if you want a measuring stick). Atlanta shot 38 percent, Milwaukee 31 percent. The Hawks shot 38 percent from three, the Bucks. 27%. If you liked the chance to see rebounders in action, this was the game. And really, who doesn’t buy tickets to see shots hit the rim and rebounding.
But rebounding was a key for the Hawks -- they grabbed the offensive rebound on 30 percent of their missed shots. This was the first game since game two where the Hawks looked like the dominant team in the paint.
The Hawks pulled away in a 29-11 run in the third quarter - their defense coming from the bigs that struggled to contain John Salmons and Brandon Jennings in the three losses. Josh Smith seemed quicker, Al Horford was more active. When switched on to the Bucks penetrating guards, they did a better job of guiding to help, not just getting beat.
It forced the Bucks into shooting jumpers. After a few games where those shots fell for the Bucks, they did not in game six. Jennings was 1 of 9 from outside the paint. Salmons was just 2 of 7.
Despite all that, the Hawks did not blow this game open, at least until late. They had just 31 points in the first half on 32.5 percent shooting. The Hawks offense remained too much isolation, very little flow. And if Plan A doesn’t work, well, there is no Plan B. The Bucks did what they had to on defense, they just couldn’t hit a shot.
I have no idea what game seven is going to look like. But please, Lord, don’t let it look like this.