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The run the Hawks just had in the Eastern Conference finals reminded general manager Travis Schlenk of the experience he had with the 2013 Warriors, when he was an assistant general manager. That was the first glimpse into Golden State potentially turning into a juggernaut.
The similarities are similar between that Golden State team and this Atlanta team. Both were filled with inexperienced, young players surrounded by key veterans who helped propel them into the postseason. The Warriors took down a 57-25 Denver team in the first round of the playoffs before running into the Spurs, the eventual Western Conference champion. Steph Curry played on a bum ankle that series and the Warriors lost Andrew Bogut.
Hawks Reach Agreement to Make Nate McMillan Full-Time Coach theepochtimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theepochtimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Paul Newberry | The Associated Press
July 4, 2021 11:46 PM
John Collins celebrates with Trae Young
ATLANTA (AP) As the final seconds ticked off on a season that lasted far longer than anyone expected, the crowd rose to its feet to salute the home team.
The Atlanta Hawks sure earned the cheers.
Making an improbable turnaround from what looked like another lost year, the Hawks earned a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2017, knocked off the top-seeded team in the East, and made it all the way to the conference finals.
The Cinderella run finally ended Saturday night with a 118-107 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, who won the series 4-2 and advanced to the NBA Finals to take on the Phoenix Suns.
Nearly a half-century later, they finally have a shot at another title.
Khris Middleton scored 32 points, including a run of 16 straight in a decisive third quarter that carried the Bucks to a 118-107 victory over the upstart Atlanta Hawks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals Saturday night.
Milwaukee won the series 4-2, advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1974. Game 1 against the West champion Suns is Tuesday night in Phoenix.
The Bucks didn’t even need Giannis Antetokounmpo to lock up their spot. The two-time MVP missed his second straight game with a knee injury, but Middleton & Co. had his back.
NBA Finals 2021: Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and the Bucks wildcard as the wait continues on Giannis sportingnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sportingnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.