In Part 2 Ben talks about his contributions to the Stepbacks "Top 25 Under 25", his expectations for the Hawks this season, and thoughts on the NBA as it heads into the 2021-2022 season.COME JOIN THE KETTLE

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Ben Ladner from Read and React Part 2: Top 25 Under 25 and Thoughts Going into 2022

Cam Reddish is magnificent off the bench, with 21 points and tough defense, but it is not enough to lift the Hawks past the Bucks.Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton combine for 49 points, and Jeff Teague scores 11 off the bench for the Bucks. The Bucks get a 118-107 win and a 4-2 series win.

Eastern Conference Finals Game 6: Cam Comes Alive But Bucks Knock Out Hawks

The Bucks take a 3-2 series lead with a 123-112 win over the Hawks. Both teams were missing their stars and Brook Lopez shined with 33 points. Four Bucks starters go for 20+ and the Hawks are never able to get a lead as the series shifts back to Atlanta on Saturday night.COME JOIN THE KETTLE!

Eastern Conference Finals Game 5: First Quarter Bucks Blitz Downs the Hawk

The Hawks are without Trae Young for game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Lou Williams steps in and delivers an absolutely wonderful game with 21 points and 8 assists. Bogdan Bogdanovic breaks out of his slump for 20 points and the Hawks are able to run the Bucks out of State Farm Arena and tie the series at 2.The Bucks suffer a brutal injury as 2-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo hyperextends his knee in the 3rd quarter. Jrue Holiday scores 19 points and has 9 assists but both he and Khris Middleton have 4 turnovers. The Bucks bench is outscored 24-35 as the Hawks get the big 110-88 win.The series continues on Thursday for Game 5 in Milwaukee.COME JOIN THE KETTLE!

Eastern Conference Finals Game 4: Lou Steps in to Tie the Series

The Bucks take a 2-1 series lead behind 20 fourth quarter points from Khris Middleton. The Hawks start the game with a 15-2 run and build a 15 point lead before the Bucks are able to close the gap to 5 after the first. The Bucks would get the 113-102 win on a massive 25-7 run in the final quarter.Trae Young had an awesome game with 35 points and 4 assists. It looked like he might be on his way to another 40 point performance but he rolled his ankle stepping on the foot of an official.The Hawks and Bucks meet up for Game 4 in Atlanta on Tuesday night.COME JOIN THE KETTLE!

Eastern Conference Finals Game 3: Middleton Extinguishes the Hawks in the 4th

The Bucks blow out the Hawks 125-91 to even the Eastern Conference Finals at 1-1. Game 3 is in Atlanta on Sunday night.COME JOIN THE KETTLE!

Eastern Conference Finals Game 2: The Bucks Even the Series

Trae Young drops 48 points as the Hawks once again start a series with a Game 1 win. The Hawks are able to take a 1 point lead with 30 seconds left in the game and hold on. John Collins punishes the Bucks for 23 points and 15 rebounds and Clint Capela has a double double as well with 12 points and 19!!! rebounds.The Bucks get 34 points from their 2-time MVP Antetokoumpo and 33 from Jrue Holiday. Poor shooting from deep dooms the Deer as neither Pat Connaughton nor Kris Middleton are able to connect from three to tie the game at the end.Game 2 of the series is Friday in Milwaukee.COME JOIN THE KETTLE

Eastern Conference Finals Game 1: Trae Downs the Deer

Ronald Threesly, K&apos;Von, or Red Velvet - whatever you want to call Kevin Huerter just know that he is going to score. The 3rd year players scored 27 points and carried the Hawks on a night where Trae could not find his shot. The Hawks went into the number one seed&apos;s house for a winner take all game and won.The Hawks had a balanced attack as five players scored double digits. Whether it was Gallo off of the bench, Clint finishing Trae&apos;s lobs, or JC cleaning up on the glass (he would finish with 16 rebounds) the Hawks put together enough to outlast the Sixers and get a series win with a 103-96 win.The Sixers slugged it out with the Hawks, there were 20 lead changes, but could not retake the lead in the second half of the fourth quarter. Embiid was huge again - 31 points and 11 rebounds- but he also had 8 turnovers. Despite the fact the Sixers were about to win on the fastbreak, out scoring the Hawks 23 to 12 in transition, turnovers allowed the Hawks to hang around.The Hawks will start the EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS on Wednesday in Milwaukee against the Bucks.COME JOIN THE KETTLE! 

EC Round 2 Game 7: Huerter Pushes the Hawks to the ECF

The Hawks finally get off to a good start and have a four point lead at halftime. It falls apart as Seth Curry again torches the Hawks with 11 of his 24 points in the third. The Sixers use a 14-0 run start of the second half to build a lead they would never relinquish.Trae Young and Danilo Gallinari hit big shots to keep the Hawks close, and a Trae triple with 2 minutes left would bring the Hawks within one. The Hawks could never get over the hump as the Sixers tied the series at three and send it back to Philadelphia for game seven on Sunday.COME JOIN THE KETTLE!

EC Round 2 Game 6: Sixers Force Game 7

The Hawks seize a 3-2 series lead with a dramatic 109-106 win over the 76ers. Stop me if this sounds familiar - the Hawks get down big early, 26 points in the first half, but are able to get enough stops and get shots to fall to get the win over the Sixers.Lou Williams has 13 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter to pace the Hawks to a 40 point quarter. Trae also has 13 in the fourth - Young would finish with 39 points, 7 assists, 3 steals, and just 2 turnovers.The 76ers got monster performances from Joel Embiid and Seth Curry. In fact no other Sixer scored from the field in the second half. Embiid finished with 37 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists. Seth kept the 76ers ahead for as long as he could, finishing with 36 points on 13/19 shooting. In the end the Hawks got the win they were looking for and head back to State Farm Arena hoping to close out the Sixers on Friday.COME JOIN THE KETTLE! 

EC Round 2 Game 5: Welcome to Lou Willville

The Hawks get a big 103-100 win over the 76ers to even the second round series at two games a piece. The Hawks use a balanced attack as all five starters score double digits. John Collins lights up State Farm Arena with three massive putback slams in the third quarter as the Hawks get back into the game after being down by as many as 18 points in the second quarter.The Hawks put Kevin Huerter into the starting lineup in place of Solomon Hill and the Sixers replaced the injured Danny Green with Furkan Korkmaz.The series continues on Wednesday in Philadelphia.COME JOIN THE KETTLE!

EC Round 2 Game 4: The Baptist Strikes Down the Sixers

The Sixers take a 2-1 series lead in game 3 behind a balanced scoring attack of Embiid, Simmons, Curry, Harris, and Korkmaz. The 76er bench also beat the Hawks bench 48 -32, matching the 16 point win 127-111.Trae scored 28 points and dished 8 dimes, the Baptist had his best game of the series with 23 points and 7 boards, but the Hawks&apos; slow start shooting the ball put them in an early deficit they could not escape.The series continues on Monday in Atlanta.COME JOIN THE KETTLE

EC Round 2 Game 3: The Sixers Take Back Homecourt at State Farm Arena

The Hawks fall in Game 2 102 -118 to the 76ers. The Sixers get a huge lift off the bench from Shake Milton and Joel Embiid has 40 points as well. The Hawks get their own lift off the bench, Danilo Gallinari and Kevin Huerter combine for 41 points, but the Sixers run to start the fourth quarter is enough to even this series at 1 game a piece.COME JOIN THE KETTLE!

EC Round 2 Game 2: Sixers Get a Shake Off the Bench to Even Series

It got tight at the end of the game, but the Hawks are able to get a 128 - 124 win in Philadelphia to take a 1-0 series lead. The Hawks stun the 76ers and their crowd with a 42 point first quarter. The Sixers are able to get within 2 points with 10 seconds to go, but a couple of clutch free-throws from Bogdan put the game out of reach.Trae Young continues his excellent play, putting up 35 points and 10 assists against the staunch 76er defense. He got help from JC (21 points on 7 of 9 shooting) and Bogdan (21 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assist). Red Velvet had a couple of incredible assists late - finding Bogi for a triple and a streaking John Collins for a clear path foul.The 76ers got a fantastic night from their MVP candidate Joel Embiid. Though he was clearly hampered on his injured right knee, the big man put up 39 points and pulled down 9 boards.Game 2 of this series is on Tuesday in Philly before it shifts to Atlanta.COME JOIN THE KETTLE!

EC Round 2 Game 1: Hawks Hold On to Take a 1-0 Lead

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