The Atlanta Hawks got their ticket to the NBA Playoffs on Wednesday after their down-to-the-wire victory over the Washington Wizards. Trae Young and company also did it in dramatic fashion with John Collins providing the late-game heroics.
The young Hawks will return to the postseason after a three-year absence. Curiously, the last time they were in the NBA Playoffs, they got booted out of the first round by the Wizards, 4-2. No player from that roster is currently with Hawks, showing how the team has truly souped up in the last few years.
That change in culture is exactly what Young and the Hawks have been leaning on in the last few years. This season, it seems they're reaping the fruits, especially since getting veteran coach Nate McMillan. After their win over the Wizards, shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic revealed that McMillan always gives them a stern NSFW reminder, which has become their mantra of sorts. (via Kevin Chouinard of Hawks.com)
“Coach likes to say, ‘Don't eff with the game.' We learned that quote pretty well.”
Bogdanovic: "Coach likes to say, 'Don't eff with the game.' We learned that quote pretty well. pic.twitter.com/oLLuljHmdc
— Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) May 13, 2021
The Hawks are surely not effing up, as they have gained steady momentum heading into the NBA Playoffs. They had a bit of a scare when Young suffered an ankle sprain a few weeks ago, but fortunately, it wasn't too serious. Bogdanovic's play recently has also helped the Hawks immensely, scoring at least 25 points in three of their four last games.
Trae Young and the Hawks definitely lack experience in the NBA Playoffs, with most of them making their first appearance, but it's hard to go against their NSFW battlecry.
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