Hawks vs. Nets: How Brooklyn Can Avoid Elimination in Game 6

The eighth-seeded Brooklyn Nets have put up an honest fight against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the NBA playoffs, and they'll look to stave off elimination at home in Game 6 Friday night.

Brooklyn is hoping to become the fifth No. 8 seed to beat a No. 1 seed in NBA playoff history, and the first to do so after trailing the series 3-2.

Here's what Brooklyn must do to force a Game 7. 

Get off to a fast start

This seems reductive and oversimplified, but the team leading after the first quarter has won every game in the series.

In Brooklyn’s three losses, they’ve trailed Atlanta by an average of 11.3 points heading into the second quarter, including double-digit deficits in Games 1 and 5. Despite surprising resiliency, the Nets can’t afford to face an uphill battle against a Hawks team ready to close out the series.

The Nets can land no blow bigger than stymying Atlanta in the first quarter, crushing their hopes for an easy victory.

Light a fire under Deron Williams

Never have Williams’ Jekyll and Hyde performances for Brooklyn stood out more than in this series. Via ESPN.com’s Mike Mazzeo:

As Mazzeo points out, Williams carried the Nets to a win in Game 4, but has been missing in action the rest of the series. The Nets don’t have enough attacking threats to continue to win without aggressive play from their point guard.

During the regular season, the difference in Williams’ play in wins versus losses was drastic.

Outcome	FG%	3PT%	PPG	APG	TOPG
Win	42.1	42.7	14.4	7.2	1.9
Loss	35.1	30.1	11.6	6.0	2.6

The Nets need the best of Williams in Game 6, and getting him going towards the basket early could be the spark their point guard needs.

Get Brook Lopez some rest

According to NetsDaily’s Anthony Puccio, head coach Lionel Hollins was honest about Lopez’s struggles late in Game 5:

"

He was gassed. He was gassed the last two games at that point. It's really difficult. He's a big man. We just couldn't at that point afford to sub with another big guy — mainly Mase, and if they go into the hack-a-Mase, then it could've been detrimental.

"

As a starter during the regular season, Lopez averaged 31.9 minutes per game. That number has gone up to 39.8 during the postseason.

As Hollins mentioned, backup center Mason Plumlee’s woeful free-throw shooting has made him a liability in the series. The Nets have other options, though, even if they aren’t inspiring.

Third-string center Jerome Jordan has been relegated to garbage time duty for much of the year, but he’s proven to be a relatively neutral influence on defense. According to NBA.com’s tracking statistics, the player Jordan’s guarding has shot only 0.7 percent better than average for the season.

The wild card could be rookie power forward Cory Jefferson, whose length and athleticism might be able to make up for the 30 pounds he’d be giving up to Hawks center Al Horford. Per Basketball Reference, the Nets defense improved by 10.3 points per 100 possessions with Jefferson on the floor this season, although that was largely with him playing power forward.

At this point in the season, throwing different looks at Horford is a worthy gamble. Horford was fantastic in Game 5, but has failed to match his regular season production due to a hand injury.

If the Nets buy Lopez a few more minutes on the bench early in the game, he can carry them to victory down the stretch.