Subscribe
Follow Us
To say that Trae Young was a non-factor in Game 4 of the Atlanta Hawks' series against the Miami Heat is an understatement. The Heat had a clear game plan for the star heading into the game, and it worked to perfection. The result was a resounding win that puts them at one win away from advancing to the second round.
After the game, Young talked about how the Heat defended him in Game 4. The Hawks star pointed out that their opponents made it a point to keep him out of the paint. The result was a performance that saw Young look completely overmatched on offense. (via Chris Kirschner)
I asked Trae Young about only attempting one shot inside the perimeter tonight and if it was Miami's defense causing that or if his foot was bothering him.
"If you're watching the game, you see they have five people in the paint when I have the ball. .. (1/3)
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) April 25, 2022
"They're doing a great job of showing help and not letting me get into the paint. When I'm driving, if I try to drive by somebody, they're sending a double and forcing me to kick it to my teammates. I took 11 shots and probably took a couple of forced ones at the end. … (2/3)
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) April 25, 2022
"I really didn't get too many clean ones. You have to give them credit. We have to do a better job of getting more open looks and getting them off me early so I can create not only for myself but my teammates." (3/3)
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) April 25, 2022
Trae Young's most popular weapon is his three-point threat. The Hawks star drew comparisons to Stephen Curry for his penchant of launching bombs from deep. However, what truly unlocks Young's offensive prowess is his penetration. Getting into the paint allows him to use his floater or dish to his open teammates.
The Heat knew this, and in Game 4, they made a concerted effort to keep Young out of the paint as much as possible. In fact, they never allowed the Hawks star to get inside the three-point arc, making life uncomfortable for him and forcing his teammates to make plays. It worked to perfection, as the mighty Atlanta offense was limited to below 90 points.
It will be interesting to see what wrinkle Young and the Hawks will add to their offense to survive the 3-1 deficit. This absolutely cannot happen to them again, or else they'll be looking at an early exit this season.
