The Indiana Pacers managed to avoid absolute implosion by getting one win against the Atlanta Hawks at home before the series shifts back to the South. As the No. 1 seed, the Pacers were assumed to sweep the Hawks who entered at No. 8, but that failed to happen. Now, both teams prepare to play a crucial Game 3 in hopes of taking the lead once again.

The Pacers were able to even the series with the Hawks in one quarter. Indiana dominated in the third quarter of Game 2, putting up the defense everyone believed they had. They were able to quiet some of their critics by shutting down Atlanta after sliding in the last seven weeks of the regular season. Now, they are aiming to continue that momentum into Game 3 as several reputations and jobs are on the line.

Larry Bird is denying the report, but NBA sources are saying that Frank Vogel is coaching for his job. The Pacers looked dismal to end the regular season, bringing on criticism of a lack of leadership and discipline. Vogel says that the Game 2 win has helped change the attitude of the team and the recent practices have featured a much more focused roster.

The Hawks on the other hand simply lucked into the playoffs after endearing a roster overhaul and several injuries including Al Horford who was lost for the season. However, in this series against the Pacers, Atlanta has shown real grit and teamwork to overcome the overwhelming size of the Pacers. Kyle Korver and Paul Millsap have been knocking down shots on the outside while Jeff Teague continues to scorch his hometown team on the inside.

Despite the loss, the Hawks played well in Game 2 and are trying to set themselves up for another shocking win in Game 3. The Packers have only won two games in Philips Arena since 2006. They have traditionally not played well in Atlanta, something that could come back to haunt them in the postseason.

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