The Hawks are getting big leads – and holding them.
It’s a sign of growth.
The Hawks are 27-1 this season when holding a lead of 10 points or more at one point during a game. They have led by the double-digit margin in each of the games in their current 11-game win streak headed into Saturday’s game against the Bulls.
“I think we have learned,” Paul Millsap said after the Hawks disposed of the Raptors by 21 points Friday night. “We had a short time to learn. I think you remember the times we had a lead and teams would come back. But we learned quickly. We are still learning, still growing.”
The Hawks had trouble holding leads last season and lost several games in which they held big advantages. While some big leads have slipped this season, the Hawks have managed not to lose the lead entirely.
“I didn’t know that stat,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said when asked about his team’s record when holding a 10-point lead. “One thing we’d like to improve on us playing for more of the 48 minutes and, if we are fortunate enough to get a lead, to grow it. Even if we have lost a lead, we’ve been able to find a way to regain our composure, find a way to win the game. It’s the sign of a mature group, a group that keeps its poise and understands what it takes to win games.”
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