This is it! This is it!

This is life, the one you get.

So go and have a ball!

That’s all the Indianapolis-related TV theme songs I got for ya.

Our Fine Feathered Friends got off the schneid(er) with two big wins in Atlanta, re-asserting their homecourt dominance against the Indiana Pacers. To get a chance at closing out the series in Atlanta, they have to keep the momentum going with their first win in Bankers Life Fieldhouse since March 2012. The Hawks have snatched at least one win on this floor in every season since 2008-09.

The Hawks stuffed Johan Petro into Jason Collins’ former postseason role starting in Game 3, and he’s paid off by frustrating the heck out of Roy Hibbert at the outset of the last two games. Petro’s eight rebounds and four points in Game 4 were boosted further with three assists. The move shifted Angry Bird Al Horford to an underwhelming David West, and assigned Josh Smith to do-everything player Paul George.

By do-everything, I mean it. George has been leading his Pacers in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and defensive rating. But when he’s not passing and not getting to the line, his overall effect on the game is minimized. In the two Atlanta games his combined free throw attempts (16) and assists (3) were below his tallies in Game 1 alone (18 free throw attempts and 12 assists). Throw in foul trouble (4.5 PF/G last 2 games) and spotty shooting (10-for-27 on field goals) and his impact on the outcome is all the more limited. Through 4 games, the NBA Most improved Player winner has only improved his shooting percentages marginally (39.3 FG%, 27.8 3FG%) over his 2012 postseason (38.9 FG%, 26.8 3FG%). By George, I think he needs help!

But from whom? The inability to shift George to shooting guard when needed is where Danny Granger has been missed. Look for a boost in playing time for their top gunner in 6’8” Gerald Green (team-leading 2.25 3FG per game) and either Sam Young or rookie Orlando Johnson in hopes George will get less time getting faceguarded by Ivan Johnson and Josh Smith and more time zipping around Kyle Korver and Devin Harris for easier buckets. Lance Stephenson (7.8 PPG; 9 rebounds and 8 assists in Game 4) will try to create more offense off the dribble.

With his jump-hooks and shotblocking, Hibbert has to make his presence felt in the game right out of the gate. The Pacers’ frontline has watched helplessly as the Hawks’ Al Horford (26 points in Game 3) and Josh Smith racked up postseason highs in back-to-back contests, often with Hibbert either isolated on Petro or watching from the sidelines. Horford’s mid-range shooting continues to confound opponents, and Indiana will need a forward to swing over to defend that shot so Hibbert can stay true to the defensive post. Rookie Miles Plumlee may make an appearance tonight if Hibbert has to take an early seat again.

We still haven’t seen the best of Ivan Johnson (2 points, 5 rebounds in Game 4) on the floor in this series. Composure, as always, will be key, as the Hawks don’t need to be unnecessarily thin when Hibbert, George, Ian Mahinmi and Tyler Hansbrough are crashing the offensive boards. Will Mike Scott get an early nod if Ivan struggles again?

Quick, how many shots has Josh Smith blocked in this series? Pencils down. Did you guess one? And who cares? So far, Horford and Petro has made Smoove’s stout help defense in the post a literal luxury. Besides his defensive effect on Indiana forwards, the strong stretches he exhibited in Game 4 has pushed his playoff scoring up to 18.5 PPG on 50.0 FG%, both career highs . His per-possession assist rate (26.3 per 100) is also a career-high. As for shot selection and free throw shooting -- insert broken record here.

Quick, who leads the entire NBA Playoffs in 3-point field goal percentage? Pencils down. Did you guess Anthony Tolliver? Just 8 shots, but hitting 75% of them puts him in the same company as the Spurs’ Red Rocket, Matt Bonner, for dead-eye accuracy. Can he keep it up over short stretches in Indy? He’ll be open, no one’s looking to cover him. Right now, he’ll make for a fine Plan B (ahead of DeShawn Stevenson) in case Korver’s shot goes cold again.

Free throws. What more needs to be said? This is just the type of game where the Hawks don’t want to be looking back at the box score wondering what could have been “if only.” Indy native Teague’s free throw shooting (12-for-15 in the Atlanta games; 19-for-23 in the series) has saved the Hawks’ bacon this far, but Hackahawk remains in effect until someone else proves they can reliably knock those shots down.

Jeff Teague continues to overtake his matchup with George Hill. When he drives and cannot find an open man, he needs to rely more on his Teaguedrop floaters rather than running into Hibbert hoping for a call. Indiana sorely needs Hill (5-for-23 FG, 0-for-9 3FG last two games) and D.J. Augustin to come alive offensively to take the pressure off of Paul George.

Staying at least even on the rebounding, sinking free throws in the clutch, resisting opportunities to succumb to the refs and the Indiana fans, and forcing the Pacers into high-paced basketball whenever possible will make it easier on Atlanta to turn Game 6 into a possible series clincher and a Friday Night Madhouse.

So while you’re here, enjoy the view

Keep on doing what you do

Hold on tight, we’ll muddle through

One Day at a Time! One Day at a Time!

Let's Go Hawks!

~lw3