AJC: Bulls at Atlanta Hawks Game 3: Real home advantage again?

[Hawksquawk]

The postseason Hawks have defied a lot of the expectations created by the regular-season Hawks.

The thought was they can’t win if they don’t make their favored long 2s but after making 43.3 percent during the regular season, they are at just 36.1 percent in the playoffs. You figured defense would be a problem but postseason opponents are shooting just 41.2 percent, second to the Celtics. They didn’t get to the free-throw line much during the season but. . . . well, OK, that one still kind of holds true: .26 free-throw rate during the regular season, .29 during the postseason.

Another big difference: The Hawks have been good at home. Surely part of the reason for that is the atmosphere. Large crowds cheering enthusiastically for the Hawks were a rarity during the season. They were the rule against Orlando.

“I know they’ve been criticized in the past,” Jamal said of fans, “but in the playoffs they’ve been great.”

Smoove said he expects the same tonight.

“The environment is …

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