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Hawks Burn Out in Loss to Indiana Pacers to Start a Busy Basketball Weekend

By Camille Paul / December 17, 2019
Back to Back losses over the weekend prove there is still more work that needs to be done for this young Hawk’s squad.
The Hawks had little time to examine and repair any damages from Friday’s game against the Indiana Pacers before taking on the Los Angeles Lakers, who have been dominating the Western Conference.
The Indiana Pacers consistently attacked the Hawks with strong pick and roll plays, back door cuts and ball movement to get the Hawks off balance and beat them at State Farm Arena110-100.

The Pacers shot 50 percent from field goal range and scored 68 of their 110 points from the paint. Malcom Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis recorded Double-Doubles, with 19 points and 12 assists; 12 points and 13 rebounds.

“We knew it would be a mid-pick and roll, we knew it would be a balance of guys,” said Head Coach Llyod Pierce I think they had seven guys in double figures,” said Pierce.
The Hawks started Jabari Parker (Forward), Kevin Huerter (Guard), De’Andre Hunter (Guard), Trae Young (Point Guard) and Damian Jones (Center), a core of talented playmakers who have showed dynamic range in recent games.
De’Andre Hunter and Jabari Parker helped the Hawks stay in the game with their scoring efforts, both in double digits by the first half. However, three-point goals and lay-ups seemed to evade the Hawks, shooting only 21.4 percent from three-point range and 41.5 percent from field goal range.
“When your 0 and 13 from three, it’s just a tough night in general and you gotta open it up a little bit,” added Pierce. “I thought defensively that was the biggest issue don’t think they did anything to us defensively.
Trae Young shot just three for 10 from 3-point range and had a slow start to the game. The Hawks battled against the Pacers but came up short on one on one guard situations and failed to guard the baseline and paint from backdoor cuts and pick and roll plays.
“It’s the defensive end, We couldn’t get enough stops,“ said Pierce “ We couldn’t capitalize on stops in the fourth quarter and had a lot of empty possessions.”
The Hawks made a terrific effort during the 3rd quarter, with a 35-point comeback led by Trae Young and Jabari Parker, to get the game back within 3 points. Similar issues stifled the offense, though, and they were unable to seal the deal in the fourth quarter.
“We all fought so hard to get back in the game, I feel like I let my team down tonight,” said a somber Trae Young after the game. “I was able to get my shot off, but they weren’t going down tonight. Sometimes it’s like that and it sucks. I just got to do better.”
The Hawks didn’t have time to dwell on this loss long and had to face off against and even hotter Lakers Squad the following Sunday.
Lebron James and his squad came to Atlanta with plans of extending their win streak to seven. Unfortunately for the Hawks, their wish came true. Although the Hawks stayed competitive, they could never get an offensive rhythm and lost Kevin Huerter to shoulder injury, again.
The Lakers tie the Milwaukee Bucks for best record, 24-3, while the Hawks go another 4-game losing streak. The Hawks face off against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
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