The message was clear.
If the Hawks were to regain control of their playoff series with the Wizards it would take an aggressive mindset. That tactic would start with the point guards.
Enter Jeff Teague and Dennis Schroder.
The Hawks duo combined for 40 points, 16 assists and just three turnovers in a 106-101 Game 4 victory Monday that evened the Eastern Conference semifinal at 2-2. The series returns to Atlanta for a pivotal Game 5 on Wednesday.
The Hawks finished with 48 points in the paint in the win. Teague and Schroder were responsible for many of the points by either basket or assist. Teague finished with 26 points and seven of his nine field goals were in the paint via layup, floater or short jumper. Schroder finished with 14 points and three of his five field goals were layups.
Coach Mike Budenholzer has used the duo together at times this season. He did so with more purpose in Game 4.
“To have two guards with their speed and their ability to break down a defense and get a second or third pick-and-roll with multiple guys and multiple opportunities is something we used at times during the season,” Budenholzer said in a conference call Tuesday. “Last night, obviously, Dennis played very well and it gives you confidence to increase his minutes. Every game is a little bit different. We’ll see how we are going forward.”
Schroder played 29:15, his high for a playoff game this postseason. He played the final 17:08, including the entire fourth quarter. Teague and Schroder played 13:49 together in Game 4. They combined for 11 free-throw attempts as they were often fouled en route to the basket.
“I kept telling Jeff, ‘Keep going,’” Schroder said after the game. “He was telling me the same thing. It was motivation for us. I was telling him, ‘Go to the basket, they can’t stop you.’”
Both Teague and Schroder finished with eight assists with Paul Millsap and Al Horford being the beneficiary of the increased number of pick-and-rolls and pick-and-pops. Horford had a highlight-worthy dunk on an alley-oop pass from Schroder in the third quarter. Millsap (19 points) and Horford (18) were the Hawks’ other double-digit scorers.
“It’s tough for teams because we can both get in the lane,” Teague said. “We are both really fast with the ball. He can create for others. I can create for others. We both were making shots tonight.”
Schroder, in his second year and getting significant postseason minutes, was not without his miscues. He dribbled out nearly the entire shot clock before getting block by Bradley Beal with the Hawks leading by just three points with 14.9 seconds left. It led to the Wizards’ final possession in which Paul Pierce missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer.
Still, the Hawks were able to play a more consistent ball-movement offense that was the hallmark of a 60-win regular season and a top seed in the conference with the point guard play. With the Wizards intent on taking away the outside threat of Kyle Korver in the series, driving lanes have been open. In Game 4, they Hawks took advantage. Their first five baskets were layups as they scored 18 points in the paint in the first quarter alone.
“We started better,” Budenholzer said of a video review of the game. “We were able to maintain a focus and an attack and aggressive mentality for more of the 48 minutes. We still have a ways to go.”
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