Game Thread: Hawks still working through postseason scars

The Hawks needed six games to eliminate the Nets in the first round. They find themselves tied 2-2 against the Wizards in the second round going into Game 5 Wednesday. Each team owns a win on the opponent's court.

“Obviously, the playoffs are different,” Kyle Korver said before Game 5. “There are a lot of emotions, intensity and you’ve got to be able to keep your poise and stay focused on the game plan. As a team, the majority of teams you see win championships have some scars too. They’ve got to go through some of the experiences. A lot of the guys you see win, have gone through it a few times.”

Korver referenced a Game 7 loss to the Pacers in last season’s playoffs.

Al Horford said the postseason is about playing harder, smarter and more consistent for as long as possible.

“As a basketball player you always learn but I definitely think that I am learning more and more (in these playoffs),” Al Horford said. “It’s a different position. In the past, we’ve usually been the lower seed. Now, we are the top seed. I feel like you have to learn. A lot of times you try to attack that team and make things happen. This year, I feel like teams view us that way. They are attacking us. It’s a different mindset.”