Forget the Nets' 120-115 overtime victory two nights ago. There is not going to be 235 points scored in this pivotal Game 5 matchup. I don't see the Nets and Hawks combining to break 200.




This isn't Western Conference playoff basketball. It's an Eastern Conference matchup between two, slow, patient and methodical teams. Only six teams have a better defensive efficiency rating than Atlanta. Brooklyn has been frustrating the Hawks. So the Nets aren't suddenly going to play up-tempo when they know the Hawks have struggled in half-court.




Brooklyn averaged 91.3 points in the first three games of the series. Atlanta averaged 92.6 points during the first three contests. That's a combined 183.9 points per game for three of the first four games.




Now the defensive intensity is increased several notches with the series becoming a best two-of-three. There are fatigue issues at this point, too, following Monday's overtime game.




The Nets are plain bad. Deron Williams is too past his prime and banged-up to have a game for the ages like he did on Monday.




The Hawks aren't playing well and have lost their swagger. Until Game 4, the Hawks were shooting less than 40 percent from the field. The Hawks are a jump shooting team - and their jump shooters have lost their confidence and way.