Ever since the Hawks started 6-0, their goal was to make the top half of the Eastern Conference bracket and win the home court advantage that came with it.
Interestingly enough, it has been their play on the road the past two nights that has pretty much made that a reality, as the Hawks won away from home for the second straight night, topping the Bucks 113-105 in Milwaukee.
The key to this one was the third quarter. After letting the Bucks offense run wild in the first half (I don't know if that's entirely fair - when the opposition is sinking everything they throw at the rim, there's not a whole lot you can do), Atlanta outscored Milwaukee 31-12 in the third quarter to take control.
The Bucks would rally late, but Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson did what they often do, hitting several crucial baskets late in the game to finish it off.
The win moves the magic number to just 1, which gives the team a chance to clinch home court on Friday night at Philips Arena against the Indiana Pacers.
Hawks GM Rick Sund set as a goal for this team to try to win somewhere between 15-17 wins on the road this season. With the win tonight, the Hawks now have 16. While it's not quite something to brag about, it's definitely an improvement over the past, and further proof that this team is heading in the right direction.
Well done guys. Well done.
