THE ATHLETIC DATE: 05/30/2021

Schultz: Hawks took over when they punched back, and Trae Young doesn’t care about Knicks’ feelings

By: Jeff Schultz https://theathletic.com/2622555/2021/05/30/schultz-hawks-took-over-when-they-punched-back-and- trae-young-doesnt-care-about-knicks-feelings/

ATLANTA — The question entering this NBA playoff series wasn’t whether the Hawks were deeper and more skilled than the . The question was whether a young team in its maiden postseason would fizzle in a tight game in the fourth quarter or the first time a forearm connected with its face or when a foul that almost always was called on a Tuesday in late March somehow wasn’t being called two months later against the NBA’s favorite big-market team.

But this isn’t even close.

The Hawks took control of this series by showing a side we couldn’t be certain they had. They’ve responded to every punch or cheap shot or grab or smack talk — and, yes, probably even have taken the lead with that a couple of times.

The Hawks didn’t just win Sunday. They humiliated New York, blowing open a close game with a 15-5 run to open the second half and leading by as many as 26 points before downshifting and cruising to a 113-96 body slam at State Farm Arena. They won two home games by double digits and hold a commanding 3-1 series lead. Or maybe it’s 3.8-1.

It was enough to make Spike Lee, who sat quietly in the first row with a Knicks “Orange and Blue Skies” pullover on, look like a sympathetic figure. The only thing preventing anybody from screaming the words, “It’s over” right now are the words, “It’s Atlanta.” So we’ll just stop right there.

But what’s clear is we’re watching a team grow up before our eyes. It’s equally clear the Knicks don’t like it. Defense, physicality and a certain degree of bullying figured to be New York’s edge in this series. It was in the second half of the Hawks’ only loss in Game 2. It hasn’t been since. Kevin Huerter said the day before Game 2, “We couldn’t let them push us around and be more intense than us. We feel like the second half of Game 2 they got to their game and kinda punked us a little bit.”

What would the odds have been before the series that the mild-mannered Huerter would get called for flagrant fouls in consecutive games?

The teams traded hard fouls and insults. Trae Young exchanged words (fortunately not punches) with . Huerter grabbed ’s leg after getting hit in the face. Danilo Gallinari elbowed . swatted John Collins in the face with his free forearm, opening a cut on Collins’ upper lip and sending him to the locker room for stitches. Randle also grabbed Gallinari at one point as payback for the hit on Bullock, saying later: “Gallinari had a dirty play. … You take a hard foul or whatever, just to let them know we’re not accepting their shit.”

It was enough to make an old guy feel nostalgic about the 1980s. During a timeout with three minutes left, Bullock clearly had had it so he charged the Hawks’ bench from the other end of the court, presumably to get at Gallinari, and Bullock had to be restrained by teammates, drawing a technical foul.

Gallinari pretended to be oblivious to it all.

“I honestly didn’t know that he was running toward me,” he said. “I was just going back to the bench to get my water. I wasn’t paying attention to what was happening.”

And we were worried about the Hawks before this series?

From Young: “We saw the film in Game 2 and saw how they were playing, what they were doing. We took it upon ourselves to be physical. If they want to be physical, we have to answer it.”

As for the Knicks’ seemingly growing frustration, Young added: “I’m just trying to keep it to . I don’t care if they’re in their feelings or who’s mad at who. It’s just basketball. We’re just trying to win. All of the extra stuff, it is what it is. We’re locked in, and we’re focused on us.”

Nobody is more locked in than Young. His play has been nothing short of remarkable during this series. Of the Hawks’ first 13 points on Sunday, Young had seven of them and assisted on the other six (three assists). He finished with 27 points, nine assists, a and only two turnovers. In four games, he has averaged 27.5 points, 10 assists and 2.7 turnovers. So yeah, he has been kind of important.

He also clearly has gotten into the heads of the Knicks’ players and fans. Neither party has had an answer for him or the supporting cast. Interim coach Nate McMillan said he is becoming more comfortable in his rotations with a healthy group of players, learning what combinations work best. Everything worked Sunday, with major contributions from Collins (22 points, eight rebounds), Gallinari (21) and Clint Capela (10 and 15).

They all walked onto the court Sunday again wearing T-shirts that read, “Believe.” And they do. Trying to close out the series in New York, McMillan said, “will be the toughest game of the series.” But the Hawks’ rhythm and confidence are at all-time highs.

“They’re showing growth,” McMillan said. “I told the guys really the playoffs started that second game in New York because the team that came out in the second half, being physical, was the team we expected the first game. That’s playoff basketball. We have to be able to bring that game to the floor. We’re taking some hits and some fouls and keeping our heads.”

The Hawks are 30-12 in the regular season and playoffs since McMillan took over. Bogdan Bogdanovic, who hit a crushing 3-pointer to close the third quarter, was asked if this has exceeded even what he expected when he signed with the Hawks during the offseason.

“When we all came here, we knew this was a building team,” he said. “But with the players who came this year in free agency and the way they treated guys before, they showed they want to win this year and in upcoming years. It’s not about this year only. They want to build something here that’s going to stay for a long time. It’s not about this season, this week, this month, it’s about long term. I’m proud to be a part of it.”

It doesn’t look like the ride is stopping any time soon.

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