Although the Atlanta Hawks were handled by the Indiana Pacers with relative ease in Game 1, the line is not even close to over. Atlanta offers a high-powered offense and is a lot more than capable of overcoming this early shortage. There are specific matchups the Hawks need to make the most of should they are to come back and get this series. The following is just a position-by-position breakdown of the collection. Level Guard: Rob Teague versus. George Slope As the speed of the overall game will be critical, the backcourt will be key in this series for both groups. If the Hawks can force the pace and get the Pacers playing fast, they will have a substantial benefit. If, but, the circulation of the game is more controlled and the crimes are relegated to working more half-court models, Indiana has the advantage. For the Hawks, Jeff Teague is in charge of having the crime started. He'd success against the Pacers throughout the regular season. Teague averaged 16 factors and 5.2 assists per game against Indiana this year. The Hawks are at their finest when Teague could penetrate off the dribble. If he enters the paint, he can possibly score at the basket or drive among Indianaas big men ahead off Horford. This will produce more scoring opportunities across the basket and increase Atlantaas free-throw attemptsa'a statistic they lagged behind in on Sunday. For the Pacers, their ground general is George Hill. Hill's set of skills is quite much like Teague'sA. Both guards have the opportunity to report. With both calculating more than 45 percent shooting from the floor, they are very productive photographers. Hill averaged 14.2 items, 4.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game. Both pads performed well in Game 1, but if the Hawks are going to prevail in this line, they need Teague to perform better on the defensive end. Firing Guard: Devin Harris compared to. Lance Stephenson If the Hawks are going to outperform the Pacers' guard play, they're going to need generation from Devin Harris. The oft-injured veteran just performed in a single game contrary to the Pacers this season, and his minutes were restricted. Over a seven-game series, reducing minutes is critical. Teague cannot take the purpose guard obligations by himself, and when he's on the seat, Harris must step up and ensure there is not really a drop-off. Harris is going to have to report a lot more than the ten points he registered in Game 1 if the Hawks are going drive the Pacers. Even though Stephenson is averaging less than 10 points per game for the season, his offensive generation has been up whilst the season has spent down. He is calculating 13.2 points per game since March 27, and his strong offensive output was continued by him with 13 points and four assists in Game 1. Stephenson can be a pressure on security. He held Harris to only seven points, documented three steals and had five rebounds. Little Forward: Kyle Korver versus. John George While Korver is the starter for Atlanta, the 3-spot is just a bit of a revolving door for the Hawks. When Korver is striking photos, he's a tremendous advantage for the Hawks crime, but if he is off, he is a goal for other crimes and an obligation on security. In Game 1, DeShawn Stevenson and Josh Smith both had heavy minutes playing small forward. No matter who is playing the position, preventing Paul George is no easy task. In Game 1, he fought from the subject (3-of-13), but he found ways to produce details. George wound up with a 23 factors, 11 rebounds and 12 assists. Where he shot 17-of-18 for the game, he listed the majority of his things at the charity stripe. Power Forward: Josh Smith vs. Mark West Johnson and Ivan Johnson move playing energy forward based on what turning Larry Drew really wants to use. Smith had a significant game in Game 1. He had eight rebounds, 15 points and five helps, but he opportunity under 50 per cent for the game and also had a plus/minus score of minus-21. Along with the entire team, Smith has to produce a more conscious effort to get at the free-throw line. He was 0-of-2 from the point for the overall game. Jackson was one of the few bright spots for the Hawks in Game 1. He scored 10 points and had five rebounds. The most significant information was that in 23 minutes of enjoying time, his plus/minus was only minus-two. If the Hawks could possibly get similar manufacturing from Johnson in the remaining activities of the series, he'll supply a necessary boost to the frontcourt. David West had a workman-like work. He didn't do any such thing magnificent, but his production was constant and he did what the Pacers needed for the game to be won by them him to accomplish. West saved 13 points and seven rebounds in Game 1, and if the frontcourt as whole continues to be a power for Indiana, the Hawks will have a difficult time winning the series. Center: Al Horford vs. Roy Hibbert The essential game will undoubtedly be between Al Horford and the Pacers frontcourt. Between Roy Hibbert and David West, Indiana has bodies down low to produce life burdensome for Horford. The Hawks have quality scorers on the perimeter like Josh Smith and Jeff Teague, but Horford is the engine who makes the crime function. Indiana's size hurts Horford's productivity. He averages three less rebounds per game from the Pacers than his time average, and he also challenges on safety. Brian West averages four more points per game against Atlanta compared to his season average. Many groups have one big guy who Horford would have to account fully for. Indianapolis, but, has great range in the frontcourt. Look for that depth to wear down Horford whilst the series progresses. Horford has the capacity to lead Hibbert from the holder and ensure it is easier for other participants to report round the rim. Hibbert was not at his most useful in Game 1 (he just shot 41 per cent from the subject), but he still includes a remarkable reputation in the paint. Hibbert recorded eight rebounds, six of these being unpleasant, and two blocks (as well as numerous photographs he influenced by simply being in the vicinity). The series will be won by the winner of the Horford-Hibbert matchup.
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