Bucks Host Hawks To Kickoff Conference Finals
By Dan Bruno
The Milwaukee Bucks play host to the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Fiserv Forum on Wednesday evening.
Both the Hawks, and the Bucks took seven games to advance from the conference semi-finals. The Hawks finished the regular season in fifth place in the East, but they managed to eliminate the 76ers, who finished with the best record in the East. Meanwhile, the Bucks, who finished the season in third place, eliminated the Nets, who had the second best record in the East.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has led the way for the Bucks, averaging 28.8 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists, in the postseason. Khris Middleton has been playing great, able to find his spots and come up with timely buckets, as he is averaging 23.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.5 steals, through the playoffs. Jrue Holiday, who stepped up with a couple key plays in Game 7 of the conference semi-finals, is averaging 15.2 points, 7.5 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals, in the playoffs. P.J. Tucker also played a prominent role in the last series, as he was tasked with guarding Kevin Durant for much of the time, and his presence will again be a major factor for both teams to consider in this series.
On the other hand, Trae Young has been fantastic for the Hawks, averaging 29.1 points, 10.4 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, through the playoffs. However, the Hawks have used a great team effort to get as far as they have, with players including John Collins, Danilo Gallinari, Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Lou Williams and most recently Kevin Huerter, stepping up to make a difference. Huerter was instrumental in the Hawks' Game-7 win, as he finished with 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting. The Hawks will have a tough task containing Giannis, but they have enough firepower of their own to potentially keep the Bucks on their heels.
The Bucks defeated the Hawks two out of the three times they met during the regular season.
Both the Hawks, and the Bucks took seven games to advance from the conference semi-finals. The Hawks finished the regular season in fifth place in the East, but they managed to eliminate the 76ers, who finished with the best record in the East. Meanwhile, the Bucks, who finished the season in third place, eliminated the Nets, who had the second best record in the East.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has led the way for the Bucks, averaging 28.8 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists, in the postseason. Khris Middleton has been playing great, able to find his spots and come up with timely buckets, as he is averaging 23.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.5 steals, through the playoffs. Jrue Holiday, who stepped up with a couple key plays in Game 7 of the conference semi-finals, is averaging 15.2 points, 7.5 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals, in the playoffs. P.J. Tucker also played a prominent role in the last series, as he was tasked with guarding Kevin Durant for much of the time, and his presence will again be a major factor for both teams to consider in this series.
On the other hand, Trae Young has been fantastic for the Hawks, averaging 29.1 points, 10.4 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, through the playoffs. However, the Hawks have used a great team effort to get as far as they have, with players including John Collins, Danilo Gallinari, Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Lou Williams and most recently Kevin Huerter, stepping up to make a difference. Huerter was instrumental in the Hawks' Game-7 win, as he finished with 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting. The Hawks will have a tough task containing Giannis, but they have enough firepower of their own to potentially keep the Bucks on their heels.
The Bucks defeated the Hawks two out of the three times they met during the regular season.