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Jalen Johnson tallies 20 PTS, 7 REB, and 4 AST in Hawks 116-95 loss vs. Cavs

jalen-johnson-tallies-20-pts-7-reb-and-4-ast-in-hawks-loss-vs-cavs

Jalen Johnson tallies 20 PTS, 7 REB, and 4 AST in Hawks loss vs. Cavs

Dejounte Murray drops 29 PTS with 4 STL in Hawks 126-108 loss vs. Pacers

dejounte-murray-drops-29-pts-with-4-stl-in-hawks-loss-vs-pacers

Dejounte Murray drops 29 PTS with 4 STL in Hawks loss vs. Pacers

K L Chouinard

The Hawks practiced yesterday in preparation for tonight's Play-In Game in Miami a year after meeting the Heat in the 2022 postseason.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"We've got a lot of new moving&nbsp;pieces," forward John Collins said after practice, "but I feel like everybody is behind Coach Quin and I'm just excited for him to lead us going into this new postseason.&nbsp;I feel like the guys are ready to go. The energy feels good today."

After the Hawks advanced from last year's Play-In Tournament with wins over Cleveland and Charlotte, they met the Heat in a first-round series that Miami won in five games. The two&nbsp; rivals have occupied the top two spots in the Southeast Division for three consecutive seasons and that success breeds a certain familiarity.

"Four times every year – and one in the preseason just for good measure," Collins said. "We see them a lot. Obviously, they've seen us a lot. It's going to be a dogfight."

One aspect to this series that is new for the Hawks this season: they traded for Dejounte Murray in the offseason. Murray averaged 20.5 points, 6.1 assists and 1.5 steals while setting career-best shooting marks from both the field and the free-throw line. He and Trae Young became the second pair of teammates&nbsp;ever to average 20 or more points and 6 or more assists each (min. 70 games played). Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were the first.&nbsp;

Head Coach Quin Snyder just wants Trae and Dejounte to be the best versions of Trae and Dejounte that they can be.

"I think that has been consistent all season: those guys playing together and learning to play to one another's strengths," Snyder said. "Obviously, this is a flashpoint because of last year. I think the key for those two – as it is for our team – is to play to our strengths as best we can given some different circumstances, but I don't think philosophically that it really changes anything.

Since Snyder took over on Feb. 26, the Hawks have had the 4th-most efficient offense in the league at 119.5 points per 100 possessions, but they will have their hands full against a strong Heat defense.&nbsp;

"They're one of the best-coached teams in the league," Snyder said. "They have an identity. Obviously, they're the best defensive team in the league, so it presents a lot of challenges for us, but I think everybody is excited to be in the postseason."

Snyder also said the Hawks need to be alert to the versatility of Miami's defense, as the Heat will often change what they are doing multiple times in the same game.

"Their base defense is very good, and one of the things that they are also good at is adjusting out of it," Snyder said. "We have to be prepared to react and to read. That's what the postseason is about."

One of the defensive setups that helped the Heat was one where they walled off the paint from the top of the key with two defenders guarding Trae's pick-and-rolls and another two defenders pulled in much farther than usual to help.

"They were showing a lot of help and showing a lot of bodies when I was at the top of the key," Trae said, "so maybe being behind the defense a little bit more (will help). Quin has obviously put in some sets and stuff for me to be behind the defense. We'll see if it helps. I think it will."

Additionally, Trae is elite when it comes to setting up his teammates for success when the bulk of the defensive attention comes his way. He led the NBA in total assists for a second-consecutive season with 741. Collins said that the other Hawks need to be prepared for situations where they are called on to score.

"Everybody has to be ready, going back to being held accountable," Collins said. "Everybody has to be ready to flash when they double, to hit open shots when they overhelp and to make plays."

Then Collins slowed down a beat to reiterate his key thesis.

"Just be ready to make plays," he said. "That's what Miami's defense sort of allows guys to do a little bit in that sense is to make plays. Be ready to step up, earn your keep, do your job on this team and try to win. I feel like that is the biggest part because we can play basketball."

Last season, Collins and the Hawks struggled against the Heat in part to injury. Collins had to deal with plantar fasciitis and finger injury on his shooting hand, while losing Clint Capela in the Cleveland Play-In Game to a hyperextended knee left them shorthanded in the middle at the start of the Heat series.

This season, the Hawks are experiencing better health, and they had no injuries to report leading into tonight's game.

Collins said that ultimately, this game boils down to the want-to factor of who has a bigger desire to succeed.

"I could go on for days with the big words, right? But it comes down to who wants it more," he said. "Who wants to guard? Who wants to win? Who wants to see the Larry O'Brien Trophy? Who wants that ring on their finger? That's all it really takes is that want and that drive to win. I could talk about how many strong guys and big guys (we have) and how versatile we&nbsp;are, but who wants to win?"

Tonight's winner advances to a playoff series against the Boston Celtics. The loser gets one more chance to advance to the postseason Friday against the winner of Wednesday's Chicago-Toronto matchup, and that game's winner advances to a playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks.

To hear Collins say it, the Hawks want to seal their fate tonight and not Friday.

the-hawks-prepare-to-face-the-miami-heat-in-the-2023-nba-play-in-tournament

The Hawks Prepare to Face the Miami Heat in the 2023 NBA Play-In Tournament

atlmrose

Saddiq Bey scored 12 points and went 3-5 from the arc in tonight's game in Charlotte.

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Bey Hits 3 Three-Pointers in Hawks Debut

Dejounte Murray put up 30 points and 7 assists in tonight's win in Dallas.

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Murray Puts up 30 PTS in win @ Dallas

Clint Capela returns after 13 games in home win against Miami with 12 points and 6 rebounds.

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Capela with 12 Points in Return vs Heat

John Collins put up 25 points & 13 rebounds in tonight's 2OT loss at Golden State.