Milwaukee Bucks: Crucial keys to victory vs. the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1
By Dalton Sell
The Milwaukee Bucks must stop Trae Young in Game 1 versus the Atlanta Hawks
The Bucks have run into their share of stars throughout the first two rounds in the playoffs and they will face another household name in this series with Trae Young.
Despite this year marking Young’s first trip to the postseason, the 22-year-old has looked like a seasoned veteran in this hostile environment. In 12 games thus far, Young’s playoff debut has been unbelievable as he has averaged 29.1 points and 10.4 assists per contest to lead the Hawks to an 8-4 overall record.
Slowing him down will be the top priority for the Bucks defensively, and Jrue Holiday will get the first crack at the budding star. Holiday’s defensive prowess has been sensational throughout the first two rounds of the postseason and he will be put to the test once more with an All-Star guard. Young’s ability to drive with a patented floater or heave a 3-pointer from the logo makes him a tough cover for even the most skilled defenders, meaning Holiday will be busy.
Not having Donte DiVincenzo in this series will hurt as he was another spry defender for the Bucks to utilize in a matchup like this. Instead, Pat Connaughton will likely receive the call to take on Young when Holiday needs a quick breather. Between these two, the Bucks have a pair of solid options to give Young different looks, albeit Holiday is the superior of the pair.
It will be interesting to see what formula this team can devise to keep Young’s contributions to a minimum. He has been on a tear to start these playoffs, and looking to slow him down will be pivotal in the opening game of this series.