Atlanta Hawks at Bucks Game 3: By The Numbers
Oh, how I wish this was around back when I started my Iso-Joe count.
As I stated at the time my goal was to try to create some good data to better illuminate the debate on isos so arguments could be based on statistics rather than perceptions. Not to say stats can tell the whole story of Isos or anything else–I’ve already said I initially underestimated the impact the isos can have on the Hawks’ psychology and chemistry–but the numbers obviously would be a tremendous analytical tool.
You might have noticed that I never did offer my final Iso-Joe count. That’s because there were three games or so where I wasn’t confident about my count and I couldn’t go back and check it due to problems with my garbage Comcast DVR. I heard Synergy Sports was going to offer a public version of the software it provides for teams soon. So I decided to wait until it was online so I could get an accurate count of J.J. isos, and not just for the games I counted but the entire season. Plus I also wanted to see data on the Hawks’ other play types so comparisons can be made, which makes the exercise infinitely more useful. Well, Synergy is up now and I signed up for it the other day but (of course) the computer problems I mentioned yesterday so far have prevented me from getting it up and running. But, once I do, I plan to examine Iso-Joes and more.
I see that super commenter Najeh and crew already have cited a Raptors blog that used some of the Synergy stuff. Just like that they have managed to to impeach the persistent complaints from Truth and others that Al is a weak post defender. According to Synergy’s numbers, he is one of the best despite being posted up more than almost any other center. That’s the beauty of this Synergy program–statements like “Al is a poor post defender” can be evaluated statistically instead of argued endlessly using isolated examples, hunches and perceptions.
Anyway, Synergy has some sample reports available for the first-round playoff series. The first thing that jumped out at me from the Eastern Conference playoffs summary is that the Hawks rank last among East teams in defensive points per play. They’ve been the worst East playoff team against pick-and-rolls (and ranked just 25th during the season) and third-best against isolations. On offense the Hawks not surprisingly have run the most isolation plays among East playoff teams but ranked just 12th during the regular season (”all they run are isos”). The Hawks have run the third-most post-ups after ranking 19th during the regular season (”Woody never adjusts”).
Those numbers have to be placed in context since, unlike with regular season stats, teams haven’t played common opponents. But they are cool to look at for some insight. Here are Synergy’s Hawks-Bucks series numbers and definitions for the stats. I’m looking forward to digging in once I figure out my technical issues.
– hawksdawgs at Peachtree Hoops breaks down tonight’s “ball game ball game”. I think he hit on something here about what has become known as the Skiles Dilemma in this series:
One bright spot for the Hawks is our role players have sucked something awful this series. Maybe the road will provide just the reverse psychology they need to get things going. If Mo Evans, Jamal Crawford, and Zaza Pachulia can give average minutes, the front court dominance should continue in some form or fashion for the Hawks to win their third in a row. I have no doubt Skiles will throw something new at the Josh and Al, but I can’t help but think it will be at the expense of guarding Joe Johnson or Jamal Crawford. So that is fine by me.
– Have fun, Hawks fans.
MC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
248 comments Add your comment
drmaryb
April 24th, 2010
7:44 pm
Enter your comments here
Sautee
April 24th, 2010
7:46 pm
northcyde,
LOL, like we’d be WORSE off with Teague playing?
drmaryb
April 24th, 2010
7:48 pm
We need to play like its 1999 and its the 4th Qrtr! (Or NOT)? LOL! But, all jokes aside – we need to play as though the game is on the line & we are inside the two minute warning.
Play like that! Play like you WANT it! Hustle, play defense, rebound, share the ball! & Just WIN damn-it!
Rod from College Park
April 24th, 2010
7:49 pm
Woodson says Jennings is so open because of doubling the post. Why would you double anybody on this team except maybe Salmons?
northcyde
April 24th, 2010
7:49 pm
And some of you believe that Crawford is better than JJ? Wow Crawford . . . don’t sell us out like Flip did last year.
bigdave
April 24th, 2010
7:50 pm
good move Z..
drmaryb
April 24th, 2010
7:51 pm
Kurt Thomas is getting beat up! Yeah!
Come on Hawks….did yall find something TO DO in Milwaukee?
bigdave
April 24th, 2010
7:52 pm
Al need you to show up tonight..
Steven
April 24th, 2010
7:53 pm
offensive rebounding is killing us
bigdave
April 24th, 2010
7:54 pm
doubling what post?
Elliot_C
April 24th, 2010
7:56 pm
Hawks need to get it going, NOW! There’s no time to waste, they cannot let this deficit get any larger. Got to make this manageable before the hole becomes so deep that they can’t dig out of it.
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
April 24th, 2010
7:57 pm
lmao great coaching and strategy by woodson
bigdave
April 24th, 2010
7:57 pm
good job Al passing out of a high % shot in the lane to give to Josh for a long jumper..
u playing like crap.
bigdave
April 24th, 2010
7:58 pm
shut up Nique.. please no jinx tonight..
drmaryb
April 24th, 2010
7:59 pm
Its real hard to beat anybody 3 times in a row!
Ala: Lakers & Cavaliers.
Unless you are truly a BULLY? You begin to feel sorry for the victim. And, you show them pity – in your play.
-sub conciously- (without physical awareness)
These Hawks NEED to fight through those feelings & fight like a “mike-vick” Pitt-Bull. (or just like the BUlls played the Cavaliers). Regardless, we got to come to play every single possession “as though their lives depended on it”, from here to the END.
bigdave
April 24th, 2010
7:59 pm
good hustle Marvin..
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
April 24th, 2010
8:00 pm
Marvin just watched that happen
bigdave
April 24th, 2010
8:00 pm
Al stinking it up.. why is he even entertaining Gadzuric?
bigdave
April 24th, 2010
8:00 pm
naw.. that was Al’s rotation… he’s out guarding Dan Gadz… at the free throw line..
Jody
April 24th, 2010
8:01 pm
Where was the help on that play?
Sautee
April 24th, 2010
8:03 pm
Horford is playing awful. Hope he wakes up.
Steven
April 24th, 2010
8:03 pm
WHERE IS THE HELP!?!?
Steven
April 24th, 2010
8:05 pm
that’s like 6 missed layups as well
bigdave
April 24th, 2010
8:05 pm
yea bytch.
bigdave
April 24th, 2010
8:06 pm
Marvin slapping hands.. they are not our friends.. Marvin.. Al.. all you nice guys.. sheesh..
90’s basketball i miss u!!!
bigdave
April 24th, 2010
8:07 pm
Al go quick please.
Elliot_C
April 24th, 2010
8:07 pm
This game is making me sick. It’s like everything is going wrong, and all I hear is trash talking from Jon Barry.
Kiki
April 24th, 2010
8:08 pm
ESPN’s commentators: Atlanta has brought NOTHING to this game!!.
Sad but true
VenomSpitter
April 24th, 2010
8:08 pm
Man I’m glad I’m not one of those guys who said the hawks were gonna sweep the bucks.
Seriously what were u guys expecting. The Hawks have been an awful road team all season. U guys actually thought that would change in the playoffs LMAOOOOOOOOOOOO Be realistic
bigdave
April 24th, 2010
8:09 pm
good job Marvin.. Joe..
Steven
April 24th, 2010
8:09 pm
Jon Barry isn’t trash talking. He’s telling the truth
bigdave
April 24th, 2010
8:09 pm
Josh.. good job..
Elliot_C
April 24th, 2010
8:13 pm
Well, at least the Hawks managed to win that quarter (20-16). That at least shows that the momentum has shifted a bit. They dug themselves a big whole in the first quarter though, so they’ve got to play excellent for the remainder of the game. On a positive note, most of that first half was the worst the Hawks have played in a long time, so there’s a good chance that we see some serious improvement by the Hawks in the second half.
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
April 24th, 2010
8:14 pm
come on we just have to stop John Salmonella and Tevin Campbell and we’re good.
Elliot_C
April 24th, 2010
8:15 pm
By the way, Marvin’s final shot was ruled a three. So, the Hawks are down by 12 now. That’s not an insurmountable lead, the Hawks just need to play like themselves in the second half.
drmaryb
April 24th, 2010
8:17 pm
We R Missing – “The Difference!”. They’re doubling Joe & he’s still going-off! That man need some help!
We are Joe’s teammates tonight?
terrell
April 24th, 2010
8:18 pm
Now lets see if we can make a comeback like teams usually do against us. No halftime speech Woody. Please!
Elliot_C
April 24th, 2010
8:18 pm
The Hawks need to make a serious effort to attack the paint. Run more plays for Josh and Al!
drmaryb
April 24th, 2010
8:21 pm
GI-JOE!
If not for ISO-JOE? We wouldn’t even be in this game! Just because GI-JOE doesn’t – HOOT & HOLLER? Does NOT mean JOE – IS.- not a SUPER-STAR!
Go Joe – Go Hawks!
bigdave
April 24th, 2010
8:21 pm
Stinger.. says, “no easy one’s in the lane.. this is playoff basketball”
im not sure if our guys no this..
sleepy
April 24th, 2010
8:21 pm
Cmon everyone shouldve expected this . You know those inside baskets we were getting from the post was a result of homecourt energy. This is the exact same play we got from the starters pretty much all season on the road the only difference is that we are missing a Crawford 6-7 pt run.
The energy level needs to get better and we need to push and go to the rim and finish
Najeh Davenpoop
April 24th, 2010
8:22 pm
Too lazy to check if anyone said this already, but shouldn’t this blog be called “By the Nimbers”?
Blast
April 24th, 2010
8:24 pm
Game ain’t over yet, folks. Why are people having a heart attack? We still have 2 quarters to play!
Najeh Davenpoop
April 24th, 2010
8:25 pm
As terrible as the Hawks were that half, it’s actually pretty good that the deficit is only 12. The Hawks need to come out with a hell of a lot more energy and get their heads in the game defensively, but they are only one run away from being right back in this.
Elliot_C
April 24th, 2010
8:26 pm
sleepy, that is not necessarily true. Take a look back at when the final game of the regular season between the Hawks and Bucks in Milwaukee. The Hawks didn’t even have Jamal Crawford available for that game and they played strong and were able to get a convincing victory over the Bucks. The problem tonight is just that the Hawks seem to have taken the Bucks lightly after how they were able to beat them by double digits in the previous two meetings. However, the Bucks came out and punched the Hawks in the mouth, now it is time for the Hawks to respond. I think the Hawks have realized that the Bucks mean business now. Expect to see a different Hawks team in the second half.
drmaryb
April 24th, 2010
8:27 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
LOL!
I can ALWAyS count on you to keep it lite & in perspective around here!
Great Post! LOL! (NIMBERS!)
sleepy
April 24th, 2010
8:30 pm
Just got off the phone with my dad and hes ticked he says this is the game that even though Crawford has two fouls Woody shouldve put him back in and try to get him involved as he knows he was struggling .
he also says that Woody has done a coaching no no . he had guys sitting out and then when the games resume he changes the minutes in the rotation . He says Woody shouldve been doing that the last 5 games .
He was saying that Woody has been leaving in Joe at the end of 1st and 3rd quarters and to start the 2nd and 4th but usually in that we get Crawford involved in the offense and hes the #1 with Joe in for those extra minutes we have Crawford trying to defer too much and its disrupting his game.
I havent checked that but ill take a look after the game
Blast
April 24th, 2010
8:33 pm
Joe is finally making his playoff name.
Wabe
April 24th, 2010
8:34 pm
rotation
Steven
April 24th, 2010
8:35 pm
more second chance points for Milwaukee…