Atlanta Hawks at Magic Game 1: Offensive Talk
Hawks gotta score, too. (Curtis Compton/ccomptoon@ajc.com)
ORLANDO–Quoth super commenter northcyde: “Everyone is talking about doubling Howard and their shotmaking, but no one is talking about our horrendous offensive deficiencies against Orlando.”
Agreed there hasn’t been much talk about the Hawks’ offensive struggles, but Brett LaGree is on it at Hoopinion:
“[T]he dominance of Orlando’s defense against Atlanta’s offense appears not to be an issue of interest on the eve of the series. Seriously, Orlando scored 113.3 points per 100 possessions during the regular season. The Hawks allowed 108.3 points per 100 possessions in the regular season. Orlando scored 111.9 points per 100 possessions in the four games against the Hawks. There’s certainly no reason for the Hawks not to try and do better but they didn’t defend Orlando badly (by their standards) while losing three of four games.
Conversely, the Hawks scored 113.5 points per 100 possessions during the regular season. The Magic allowed 105.1 points per 100 possessions in the regular season. The Hawks scored 93.5 points per 100 possessions in the four games against Orlando. There’s massive room (and need) for improvement when the Hawks have the ball.
Granted, the Hawks held Orlando below 1 point per possession in their March 24th victory and that’s the only recent example the Hawks have of beating Orlando. However, Orlando held the Hawks below 1 point per possession each time they played this season. I don’t think it’s realistic for the Hawks, against whom, it must be remembered, Milwaukee surpassed their season offensive efficiency average in 3 of 7 playoff games, to hold Orlando to 88% of their season offensive efficiency average often enough to win a seven-game playoff series.
The Hawks are going to have to find easier ways to score against the Magic to compete in this series. If they have any new and different ideas about how to accomplish that, they’re keeping them quiet.
I’ll throw in my two cents on the topic by booting up the Synergy Sports machine, which could possibly be the Best. Thing. Ever. The Hawks’ numbers by play type in the four games against Orlando:
Isolation: 67 plays, .93 points per possession, 27/59 FG (45.7%)
P-and-R ball handler: 52 plays, .66 points per possession, 9/42 FG (21.4%)
Post-up: 50 plays, .66 points per possession, 11/37 FG(29.7%)
P-and-R roll man: 13 plays, .895 points per possession, 3/9 FG (33.3%)
Spot-up: 89 plays, .975 points per possession, 31/70 FG (44.3%)
Off screen: 17 plays, .94 points per possession, 6/15 FG (40%)
Cut: 29 plays, .94 points per possession, 12/24 FG (50%)
Offensive rebounds: 19 plays, 1.45 points per possession, 9/11 FG (82%)
Transition: 36 plays, .94 points per possession, 14/24 FG (58.3%)
All other play types: 23 plays, .23 points per possession, 2/9 FG (22.2%)
Judging by those numbers, the Hawks probably shouldn’t try Dwight Howard and Co. in the paint. No surprise there. Without looking at each play, I’m also guessing their problems with the pick-and-roll dribbler scoring has to do with venturing into Orlando’s trees. The Hawks might try getting more stuff going to the basket off pick-and-rolls and cuts, and also create more spot-up opportunities. But those kind of plays require player and/or ball movement and the Hawks seem to do commit to these concepts only intermittently.
As for the Hawks players in those four games vs. Orlando:
Johnson: 139 min., .92 points per possession
Josh Smith: 120 min., .77 points per possession
Horford: 119 min., 1.07 points per possession
Crawford: 116 min., .927 points per possession
Williams: 112 min., .965 points per possession
Bibby: 101 min., 1.18 points per possession
Evans: 61 min., 1.76 points per possession
Pachulia: 61 min., .975 points per possession
Teague:18 min., .695 points per possession
West: 13 min., 2.0 points per possession
Joe Smith: 5 min., 2 points per possession
Clearly, this means Mario should play major minutes in this series.
–I picked the Magic in 5 for the paper but now don’t feel good about it. I think it’s an overreaction after I got suckered into thinking the Hawks would have no clunkers against the Bucks and win in 5. I read too much into that last regular-season road game at Milwaukee. Now I think maybe I’m reading too much into the Game 3 surrender and Game 5 meltdown against Milwaukee. Or maybe it’s because the AJC’s Mark Bradley, 0-3 in the first round, is here for Games 1 and 2. He’s picking the Hawks in 7, so I assume he’s counting on Jeff Schultz to make the trip for the series-clincher.
But, seriously, I look at the Magic and see a team with few real weaknesses, at least not many the Hawks are capable of exploiting. Their ability to get open 3-pointers and play smothering team defense will have the Hawks on their heels all series. Still, I believe the Hawks will give a good showing and lose in six.
– Both Orlando Sentinel columnists pick the Magic. George Diaz says Magic in five but will give them a “mulligan” if they finish it in six. His colleague Mike Bianchi says the Magic should beware the Hawks, whom he thinks will lose in seven:
The Hawks have had their wake-up call, much like the Magic did last year in the opening round against Philly when the inferior 76ers jumped out to 2-1 series lead and came within a Hedo Turkoglu buzzer-beater of going ahead 3-1.
“It’s a good analogy,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said when I asked if the Hawks of this year remind him of the Magic of last year. “They’re coming off a first-round series in which people weren’t inspired by — same as our first-round series last year. I think there are some definite similarities between how people were talking about a year ago and how people are talking about them now.
“That doesn’t translate into this gym. We all know how good they are. We have tremendous respect for them.”
–Super commenter O’Brien says: “It will be very important for Hawks to crash the boards too. In all 4 games this season, we lost the rebounding battle (-12,-10, -9, and -10).”
Smoove hears you: “We’ve got to box people out. They shoot a lot of threes and there are going to be a lot of long rebounds, so even the guards have to come in and help out. If we gang rebound, we will be cool.”
– Apparently Pietrus is fine after turning his ankle the other day.
– I’m out, Hawks fans.
MC
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580 comments Add your comment
northcyde
May 4th, 2010
9:07 pm
Kiki . . if you drive but don’t convert or draw fouls, it’s not going to matter.
The Hawks are going to have to make shots sooner or later. That’s the bottom line.
And driving the basketball is not what we do best. A team just can’t change how they play like that, and expect to be effective. That’ll be like expecting the Bobcats to knock down threes. Just not gonna happen.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 4th, 2010
9:08 pm
“If we’re going to pull this series out, or even make it competitive, our best ISO and shot creators are going to have to carry us.”
They are trying, and they are failing.
If you want to beat good teams in the NBA, you have to move the ball. Every possession on which the Hawks refuse to move the ball and insist on playing isolation, they play right into the Magic’s hands.
Charlotte has half the talent the Hawks do, and they were competitive in three of the four games of that series mainly because they moved the ball and took it inside. Move the ball and take it inside, and good things will happen.
bigdave
May 4th, 2010
9:08 pm
i dont want to hear about iso’s and shooting jump shots.. they will let us shoot ourselves right out of this game. Dwight is just sitting down there b/c he doesnt have to guard or watch anyone. if there was any motion or activity involved within this offense we could actually take advantage of our strengths instead of putting the burden of the offense on 2 people.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 4th, 2010
9:10 pm
Also, you can only use an offense where you isolate and rely on jump shots if you are confident you can decisively control the boards. The Hawks won’t be able to do that at all in this series.
VenomSpitter
May 4th, 2010
9:11 pm
Team in the Lockeroom:
Joe: “Man I don’t know why my tricky dribble ain’t working tonight”
Bibby: “Why can’t I defend anybody, I’m sick of getting torches”
Marvin: *trips*
Teague: “I wish I played for the Bucks”
Woody: “Maybe if I tilt my head to a 90 degree angle the light shinning off my dome will blind the magic”
Collins: “Hamburger mmmmmmmm”
Najeh Davenpoop
May 4th, 2010
9:11 pm
“You don’t live by jumpers, you die by jumpers.”
–Charles Barkley
bigdave
May 4th, 2010
9:11 pm
so basically for an NBA team if 2 people arent hitting shots with regularity we dont have a chance. thats inexcusable. .
Joe trying to get other guys involved cause he will need it. we will need that to beat this team vs. trying to get 30 from Joe. he’s turning the ball over b/c there is no spacing.. or just horrible. nowhere to put the ball..
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
May 4th, 2010
9:11 pm
Woodson’s Strategy: We just have to hope Johns Salmons, Crawford and Bibby can hit jumpers…and let Josh, Horford, Marvin and everybody else get in where they fit in.
VenomSpitter
May 4th, 2010
9:12 pm
Team in the Lockeroom:
Joe: “Man I don’t know why my tricky dribble ain’t working tonight”
Bibby: “Why can’t I defend anybody, I’m sick of getting torched”
Marvin: *trips*
Teague: “I wish I played for the Bucks”
Woody: “Maybe if I tilt my head to a 90 degree angle the light shinning off my dome will blind the magic”
Collins: “Hamburger mmmmmmmm”
Sautee
May 4th, 2010
9:14 pm
Can ANY guard on this team make an entry pass?
What an irony that our best passer to the post is Horford feeding Josh or Zaza.
And our best screener is our PG. That’s whack, man.
These are basic basketball skills that SHOULD NOT be that hard to teach.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 4th, 2010
9:15 pm
LMAO @ VenomSpitter
O'Brien
May 4th, 2010
9:15 pm
Najeh,
northcyde has a point though. For the last 6 years, the Hawks have not been a ball movement or player movement oriented team (regardless of what Woody says). So its hard to expect them to start moving the ball all of a sudden, on the road, against a team like Orlando
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
May 4th, 2010
9:16 pm
lol@Woodson in the locker room = It’s ok, this is fine. We just have to “hold serve” at home just like they did.
WHY???
May 4th, 2010
9:17 pm
Honestly there is nothing Woody can do as long as Howard is being effective, have to remember that he is the best Center in the NBA as well as Defensive player of the year, unless he gets into foul trouble what can we do, we have to play lights out against this team and i think they are now back in our heads again
welikebaseball2
May 4th, 2010
9:17 pm
Mark my words, if the Hawks come out in the 3rd quarter with everyone trying to be a hero & going one-on-one, the Magic will go up by 30. This could get embarrassing. I’d be less frustrated if we were doing what we did in the beginning & the Magic just adjusted…but we’re not…we’re making one, two passes at the most then hoisting jumpers or dribbling into a turnover.
Sautee
May 4th, 2010
9:17 pm
Najeh said: “Every possession on which the Hawks refuse to move the ball and insist on playing isolation, they play right into the Magic’s hands.”
Co-sign, co-sign, co-sign, co-sign, co-sign, co-sign, co-sign…………………………..
Najeh Davenpoop
May 4th, 2010
9:20 pm
“northcyde has a point though. For the last 6 years, the Hawks have not been a ball movement or player movement oriented team (regardless of what Woody says). So its hard to expect them to start moving the ball all of a sudden, on the road, against a team like Orlando”
I can agree with that, but that’s like a baseball team saying they haven’t been a run-scoring-oriented team, or a football team saying they haven’t been a yard-gaining-oriented team. If the ball and the players don’t move, you’re not going to win in the playoffs. And if Woody is not interested in changing that, it’s all the more reason to fire him.
WHY???
May 4th, 2010
9:21 pm
I say let dwight get 50pts if he can, gotta get everyone else out of the flow of the game and stop those 3’s, everytime we double they make that extra pass to a wide open 3, just play him straight up
Big Ray
May 4th, 2010
9:21 pm
Well, nobody played well for us in the second quarter, so about all we have to go on is just how bad we’ve been, and who has been the worst.
I find the beginning of this post to be amusing. Our offensive deficiencies? You play how you practice. We continue to rely on a series of ISOs that are proving unreliable. We saw a defensive wrinkle that was the key to our defeating an inferior team. Will we see an offensive wrinkle that will help us actually put the pressure on the Magic?
At any rate, observations:
1) Josh has got to keep his emotions under control. That’s the key to a lot for us. As of right now, he’s been our most effective player on offense. That’s not necessarily a winning forumula for this team, and I’m putting it mildly.
2) Horford has to continue to be aggressive, but he also REALLY needs to hit that midrange jumper. Dwight won’t defend it heavily, and we need the points.
3) Joe Johnson has got to quit it with that hot sauce, max contract, dribbling off the ankle crap. And his entry passes into the post have absolutely sucked. It’s almost as if he doesn’t want the ball to get to his teammate. He leads the team with 4 turnovers, and has but a single assist. He also leads the team with 5 rebounds, which helps, but cannot possibly overshadow the rest of his game. His body language is starting to go sour already.
4) I don’t know that there is anything Woody can or would even know how to do at this point, other than call a timeout anytime the Magic score more than 6-8 points inside of 60 seconds of playing time.
cp
May 4th, 2010
9:21 pm
smh pathetic. No ball movement, a bunch of 1 on 1, silly turnovers. Cant win games when there are this many guys who are not giving us anything. Bibby giving us nothing, Marvin giving us nothing, bench nothing,. Hell the whole team is sucking out there. I hope this is the last year of Bibby and Marvin. Both are getting torched defensively and give us nothing offensively.
Kiki
May 4th, 2010
9:22 pm
Northcyde,
Great teams always find other weapons to win if the ones that they normally use are not working. I don’t think the jump shot if the only weapon we can use. When you drive to the basket you are going to get points, draw fouls, or be blocked. If you add 2 or 3 guys cutting towards the basket at the same time, you might get easy and-ones or easy lay-ups, even against D12. I can leave with blocked shots and fouls, but i can’t with failed jump shoots.
D12 is messing with everybody’s head right now, and that cannot happen.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 4th, 2010
9:23 pm
“Mark my words, if the Hawks come out in the 3rd quarter with everyone trying to be a hero & going one-on-one, the Magic will go up by 30. This could get embarrassing. I’d be less frustrated if we were doing what we did in the beginning & the Magic just adjusted…but we’re not…we’re making one, two passes at the most then hoisting jumpers or dribbling into a turnover.”
Co-sign. If they just did what they did in the first quarter all game, I’d have no problem regardless of the outcome.
I don’t have a problem with the Hawks playing hard, playing smart, and still losing. Orlando is a better team on paper and that is to be expected. I do have a problem with the Hawks doing the same dumb sh-t that they lose every game doing and getting blown out. That just shows a lack of commitment from the coaching staff on down.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 4th, 2010
9:24 pm
Nice start to the half.
Big Ray
May 4th, 2010
9:24 pm
“northcyde has a point though. For the last 6 years, the Hawks have not been a ball movement or player movement oriented team (regardless of what Woody says). So its hard to expect them to start moving the ball all of a sudden, on the road, against a team like Orlando”
What does that tell you exactly? Is lack of ball movement ok because you’ve never done it before? Winning more games each season is due in part to adding more talent, in addition to the growth of existing players’ talent. Part of it is coaching as well, but at some point, that growth is stunted.
I don’t care if you have Lebron or DWade, you don’t move the ball, you can only go so far.
Rather than a defense, I’d say the above statement is an indictment. 6 years later and “moving the ball” is still hasn’t occurred to you?
Najeh Davenpoop
May 4th, 2010
9:25 pm
J-Smoove picking up the big foul #2 on Howard. Maybe a little flopping there but it’s all good. He’s showing why he was #2 in the DPOY voting.
JB
May 4th, 2010
9:25 pm
Howard is getting around doubles teams from the wing by going baseline easiliy
bigdave
May 4th, 2010
9:25 pm
your center at the top of the key… lol
and people wonder why we cant rebound.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 4th, 2010
9:26 pm
Co-sign Big Ray at 9:24 pm big time.
Big Ray
May 4th, 2010
9:26 pm
Well how about that. Looks like dumb ol’ Josh Smith knew how to draw a charge on DHoward. Huh…
VenomSpitter
May 4th, 2010
9:27 pm
LOL @ Bibby’s sorry self. Put Teague in.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 4th, 2010
9:27 pm
Bibby bricks another jumper.
northcyde, Ree Roe, tiger woo, etc. I’m going to call you out directly right now. Tell me one thing Bibby is doing better than Teague in this game. Just one.
bigdave
May 4th, 2010
9:27 pm
back to the chicken with head cut off defense.. scramble .. scramble.. where’s my assignment.. bucket.
VenomSpitter
May 4th, 2010
9:28 pm
Jumpers=Turnover Josh
bigdave
May 4th, 2010
9:28 pm
Hawks bending over.
JB
May 4th, 2010
9:28 pm
What a weak foul by Josh there. You gotta grab Howard’s arms
Wabe
May 4th, 2010
9:28 pm
Watching the Hawks play games vs the Magic is the most frustrating thing to watch…
We know we stand a slim chance…
They players know they have a slim chance…
The Magic know they’re going to the ECF…
It is what it is. Howard just alters everything.
To those preaching defense…
We have 35 points.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 4th, 2010
9:29 pm
Charlotte was down by 16 at halftime in Game 1 of their series, but they scraped back and made it a game in the 4th. Let’s see if the Hawks have the heart to do the same.
JB
May 4th, 2010
9:29 pm
Najeh, Bibby is reflecting light better than Teague
Wabe
May 4th, 2010
9:30 pm
Najeh,
I’m assuming the frustration’s gotten to you to, huh?
I feel ya.
What the hell does Bibby give us on a night like tonight?
We’re down by A LOT, why not give JT0 a shot?
Najeh Davenpoop
May 4th, 2010
9:30 pm
That’s maybe the second good play Joe has made all game. Let’s hope he’s heating up.
Big Ray
May 4th, 2010
9:30 pm
Four fouls on Josh…takes Josh right out of the game.
Horford has GOT to hit that shot…
Wabe
May 4th, 2010
9:31 pm
The Magic just play around with the hawks…
Dunk-fest.
It’s way too frustrating.
VenomSpitter
May 4th, 2010
9:31 pm
The Hawks have no chance. Sweep break out the brooms.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 4th, 2010
9:31 pm
Right now Bibby is the 4th best point guard on this team, behind Crawford, Teague, and Joe. Horford is not too far behind at #5.
VenomSpitter
May 4th, 2010
9:32 pm
Man why doesn’t woody put teague in. This game is already over.
Big Ray
May 4th, 2010
9:32 pm
Al tied up with Howard, Josh on foul notice, and Marvin standing around.
Stick a fork in us. If we can’t defend/contest shots, they’ll win by 30.
welikebaseball2
May 4th, 2010
9:32 pm
Creeping up on 30, I called it. We share the ball in short spurts. Top of my wish list for next season, someone that will actually install an effective offensive scheme.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 4th, 2010
9:32 pm
Charlotte’s biggest losing margin in their series was 15 points.
Larry Brown >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Woody
Najeh Davenpoop
May 4th, 2010
9:33 pm
Even worse than the 36% shooting for the Hawks right now is the zero 3’s and the 5 free throw attempts. That means they are not attacking the rim OR getting open outside.
In other words, the half court offense has been non-existent as usual.
cp
May 4th, 2010
9:34 pm
smh damn the 3rd quarter just started and it looks like they have already given up.