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Hawks may need Lou Williams to step up again

AP photo by Brynn Anderson / Atlanta Hawks guard Lou Williams keeps the ball away from the Milwaukee Bucks' Jrue Holiday during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals Tuesday night in Atlanta. Williams scored a game-high 21 points with eight assists and just one turnover in the first playoff start of his NBA career, helping Atlanta win 110-88. AP photo by Brynn Anderson / Atlanta Hawks guard Lou Williams keeps the ball away from the Milwaukee Bucks' Jrue Holiday during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals Tuesday night in Atlanta. Williams scored a game-high 21 points with eight assists and just one turnover in the first playoff start of his NBA career, helping Atlanta win 110-88.

By The Associated Press June 30, 2021 4 min read

ATLANTA – Lou Williams was on the training table Tuesday when his coach walked up to deliver some rather startling news: Atlanta Hawks star point guard Trae Young would not be able to play Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals because of an injury.

Williams would be getting the first playoff start of his long NBA career.

“OK,” he replied.

That’s it. No big deal.

“It’s not like a ‘Remember The Titans’ thing happens in the locker room, I can promise you that,” Williams said with a wry smile. “That was the extent of our conversation, and then we had to get ready for the game.”