Game Thread: Hawks need to make it tough on Lopez

The Nets made a concerted effort to get their 7-foot center Brook Lopez more touches as the playoff series has progressed. He finished with 22 points on 18 shot attempts in Game 3 Saturday.

In Game 1, Lopez had 17 points on seven attempts. In Game 2, he had 20 points on 15 attempts.

Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said his defensive strategy doesn't change - no matter who the Nets are trying to get the ball to.

"It all starts with making his catches tough," Budenholzer said before Game 4 Monday. "I think they have several options that they are going to late. It always starts with whoever it is who is trying to get the ball in a certain spot, making it tough for them to catch there. Our activity and our crowd around it, taking individual pride in guarding him and a lot of the same stuff we’ve been doing regardless of who we are playing. We just have to do it at a high level with no matter who it is they are trying to go to."

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