Atlanta Hawks at Magic Game 2: J.J. is All-NBA but is he fading away?
J.J. can't find his groove.
ORLANDO–A reminder that J.J. is considered to be among the best players in the league, at least by media types: He was named to the All-NBA Third Team, the league announced today. It’s the first time for J.J. and the first time the Hawks have had a player selected since Dikembe in 97-98.
The timing is interesting since J.J. is slumping in the playoffs. He’s not the only one, of course, but he’s the lead dog. Before the playoffs opened, J.J. said he knew that as the Hawks’ veteran star he would take the heat if they don’t meet expectations or get the glory if they make a breakthrough. He said he embraced that role. Now, though, both J.J. and Woody seem to want to avoid putting the onus on him to deliver a big game when the Hawks need it most.
Looking at the other guys on the All-NBA teams, all of them except maybe Bogut would be looked at to be The Man for their team in trying times. J.J. needs help–more from fellow All-Star Horford, second-team All-Defense Smoove, Sixth Man of the Year Jamal and Woody. But if the Hawks’ All-NBA star doesn’t come through it’s hard to see them making this a series. It also could end up costing him in free agency.
– You have to be an Insider to read it, but ESPN.com’s John Hollinger makes a case that Iso-heavy offenses like the Hawks and Blazers run are good for the regular season, not so good for the playoffs.
Atlanta, as the league’s third-best offense, should at least be able to battle these defenses [Milwaukee and Orlando] to a draw. But even before Tuesday’s Game 1 implosion against Orlando, they were struggling. The Hawks can’t make shots, ranking just 14th out of 16 teams in postseason TS percentage. While they’ve still been able to generate second shots (they lead all teams in playoff Offensive Rebound Rate) and have been somewhat successful at avoiding turnovers, the net result put the Hawks 11th among the 16 playoff teams in postseason Offensive Efficiency.
So what is it? Perhaps the Hawks and Blazers have just had some bad games against some pretty good defenses. But between the two, we’ve built up a 31-game sample showing that something more nefarious might be at work.
Obviously, this has important implications for Atlanta’s Game 2 in Orlando on Thursday. Iso-Joe has had its moments; Game 4 of the 2008 Boston series, for instance, when Johnson single-handedly tore apart one of the best defensive teams in history. But in the aggregate, its failures have been far greater than its successes, and it’s notable that the most similar offensive team has faced similar troubles.
Is there something about iso-heavy offenses that makes them vulnerable in the playoffs? We can’t say it with certainty yet, but the case is building rapidly. The Hawks have three games left to show that Iso-Joe can be as effective in May as it is between November and April.
– In Game 1, the Hawks ran two isolation plays in the first quarter, one for Bibby (miss) and one for J.J. (a make, but it came just after a steal and Orlando’s defense hadn’t yet set). They ran four isos in that awful second quarter: Marvin (miss), Zaza (miss), J.J. (miss) and Jamal (miss). Of those six plays, all but two were long, challenged jump shots: Marvin got his layup blocked by Dwight Howard and Jamal missed on a runner near the end of the half.
– I covered Stan Van Gundy so this doesn’t surprise me. The guy is fanatical about not letting his team slip. And the Magic are aware of what happened against ‘Nique’s Celtics in ‘95. Still, I keep wondering what lesson there is to learn from a series they ended up winning, anyway.
– Slam Online ranks the Euroleague players and puts Childress at No. 5.
MC
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815 comments Add your comment
northcyde
May 6th, 2010
9:12 pm
Amazing . . . they’re making open shots . . except Marvin.
Horford looks great tonight.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 6th, 2010
9:12 pm
Somewhere, Ryan Cameron has been yelling out “BOSS” all game.
Mel
May 6th, 2010
9:12 pm
AL is a leader, Joe is naturally quiet, I’ll take that 1-2 punch… Gota stay focus focus focus ( Nba commercial voice lol)
Najeh Davenpoop
May 6th, 2010
9:13 pm
3 on Gortat too. Good strong move again by the Hawks.
VenomSpitter
May 6th, 2010
9:13 pm
Al needs to be paid more money than Joe honestly.
Luke Cage
May 6th, 2010
9:14 pm
LT is trying to hang out with OJ
Najeh Davenpoop
May 6th, 2010
9:14 pm
Just don’t let the Magic get a 3 right now. That’s the only thing that will really swing the momentum their way before halftime.
steven
May 6th, 2010
9:14 pm
marvin with a dumb foul
Luke Cage
May 6th, 2010
9:15 pm
Rashard Lewis has got to be the most overpayed NBA player
VenomSpitter
May 6th, 2010
9:15 pm
Good ball movement
Najeh Davenpoop
May 6th, 2010
9:16 pm
Hawks straight up out-worked the Magic on that possession for the 3.
Luke Cage
May 6th, 2010
9:16 pm
Lovin AL’s play
JSS
May 6th, 2010
9:16 pm
DAGGER!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
May 6th, 2010
9:16 pm
Horford owned Bass on that possession. Anyone questioning whether the Hawks can win with him at center — watch what has happened in this game so far.
sam'l
May 6th, 2010
9:17 pm
Enter your comments here
Wabe
May 6th, 2010
9:17 pm
Horford’s proven why he’s the closest thing to a leader in this 1st half…
His play has lifted this team through this half.
4 quarters guys, please, 4 quarters.
Shock the world.
VenomSpitter
May 6th, 2010
9:17 pm
Now the Magic might make a run to begin the 2nd half. The hawks just need to withstand that.
Melvin
May 6th, 2010
9:17 pm
Stand Ovation for the Hawks 1st half play….
Najeh Davenpoop
May 6th, 2010
9:17 pm
Let me say this too — you gotta give Woody a lot of credit for this game so far. This is a complete, 180-degree turnaround in scheme, mentality, and execution from Game 1, and that doesn’t happen without the coach getting a significant portion of the credit.
sam'l
May 6th, 2010
9:17 pm
I’m proud of these guys……
Melvin
May 6th, 2010
9:18 pm
Hawks took the lead with Bibby on the bench…..Hmmmmmm
NUNNA!!
May 6th, 2010
9:18 pm
DID U HEAR DAT??
Al said last game he didn’t have his legs..
Mel
May 6th, 2010
9:19 pm
need 4 qtrs outa these guys…….remember thanksgiving?
bigdave
May 6th, 2010
9:19 pm
great half…
let Dwight eat, clamp down on those shooters.
Wabe
May 6th, 2010
9:19 pm
Please guys, 4 quarters, and regardless of a W/L, I’ll be happy.
sam'l
May 6th, 2010
9:19 pm
Question here…..3 plays ago……Orlando is given the ball to take it out behind their basket…….The player drops the ball against the back stop and it dribbles away, He then is given the ball again, I think by his own player…and takes it out.
Shouldn’t that be hawks ball under Magic basket?
Go Hawks!!.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 6th, 2010
9:20 pm
Woody needs to make sure the Hawks are not patting themselves on the back for this half. There’s a second half to be played, and as great as an 8-point halftime lead is, that takes 40 seconds to get erased against a Magic team firing on all cylinders. The Hawks have to come out with the same intensity after halftime and try to pick up foul #4 on Howard, who will no doubt be trying to avoid picking up that foul.
Like I said, that 3rd foul completely changed the game. If Howard is on the floor with 2 fouls the rest of that 2nd half, chances are the Magic create a big play or 2 and come back and tie it or take the lead; either way, chances are they would have the momentum. Right now all the momentum is on the Hawks’ side.
Sautee
May 6th, 2010
9:20 pm
Najeh,
Co-sign your 9:17
Mel
May 6th, 2010
9:21 pm
if you had who would u trade Al or Josh??
Blast
May 6th, 2010
9:21 pm
While I’ve been impressed by the Hawks tonight, but we have seen it before where they led Orlando in the half and wilted in the second. Hope they stick to what is working.
3 fouls each on Dwight and Gortat is huge, with really no major Hawks player in foul trouble.
Joe needs to play off the ball more, so he can hit wide open three’s like he got to end the half.
Love the lineup to end the half. I would stick with it to start the 2nd, and bring in Bibby later.
Can Hawks win this game after game 1’s monumental beatdown? Despite the horrendous calls by NBA refs?
Najeh Davenpoop
May 6th, 2010
9:21 pm
“Hawks took the lead with Bibby on the bench…..Hmmmmmm”
You’re not the only one to notice, dude. Without Bibby waving Nelson to the hoop like a damn 3rd base coach, a huge part of the Magic offense gets taken away. With no Howard to draw double teams and no Nelson penetrating at will, the Magic are just a jump shooting team like the Hawks on a bad day.
O'Brien
May 6th, 2010
9:21 pm
Al was surprised when Woody took him out of the first game with 1 foul, so he wasn’t warmed up. He is balling tonight.
I gave Woody a lot of crap for game 1, so I must say “Great job Woody and the Hawks”. Lets keep it going for the second half.
We need this win to build some momentum going home.
missSection120
May 6th, 2010
9:22 pm
Ok guys now stay focus, keep moving the ball and drive drive drive. Good D Marvin! Be ready for the run! Be ready for the run!
sleepy
May 6th, 2010
9:22 pm
The first 4-5 minutes of the 3rd will be key weve got to keep attacking and try and pick up a quick foul on Dwight and I think its quite obvious the magic suck when you make them put the ball on the floor
bigdave
May 6th, 2010
9:23 pm
Wabe ..
i want the win..
MAD-DONNA
May 6th, 2010
9:23 pm
The only thing worse than watching Woody coaching, is watching NBA refereeing!
Najeh Davenpoop
May 6th, 2010
9:24 pm
“if you had who would u trade Al or Josh??”
I’d rather roll with those two at PF and C than trade one of them for size sacrificing skill. Unless you get an All-Star caliber center in return — and let’s face it, how many of those really exist? — I don’t think you sacrifice either All-Star caliber forward, even if one is playing out of position.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 6th, 2010
9:25 pm
Here’s how you know +/- is a slightly screwy stat: Randolph Morris is +10 in this game in 6 minutes.
JOE JOHNSON REALIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 6th, 2010
9:27 pm
Let’s be real here. REALLY REAL!!!!!!!! Joe Johnson is the most overted player EVER! I am as big an atlanta hawks fan as anyone in the universe.I’ve watched every game since the TBS days.Joe loses so many games for us it’s unreal we offered him 65 mil. extension. 1.)He must dribbles in circles and turns it over more times than i can count. 2) one of the worst decision makers ever 3.) he is one of the most unclutch players ever 4.)I make better decisions on the pick and roll and I have one leg and a.d.d!
Le4t him go , start Crawfrord and sign 2 or 3 players. ( a back-up 2 guard , and a power foward/center and heres a crazy idea, a solid point guard!
NUNNA!!
May 6th, 2010
9:28 pm
northcyde
May 6th, 2010
9:12 pm
Amazing . . . they’re making open shots . . except Marvin
——————————————————————————————–
True..He needs to drive more and attack the basket,but we all know that he has no plays ran for him,so,he should attack,attack,and attack when he has the ball..
Wabe
May 6th, 2010
9:17 pm
Horford’s proven why he’s the closest thing to a leader in this 1st half…
His play has lifted this team through this half.
4 quarters guys, please, 4 quarters.
Shock the world.
———————————————————————————————–
DITTO!!
Najeh Davenpoop
May 6th, 2010
9:17 pm
Let me say this too — you gotta give Woody a lot of credit for this game so far. This is a complete, 180-degree turnaround in scheme, mentality, and execution from Game 1, and that doesn’t happen without the coach getting a significant portion of the credit.
———————————————————————————————————–
they had randmo playing center and horford playing power forward,the 1st time he has done so all freaking year..and took da magics BASS to skool for real..
then after howard came back into the game randmo had him cleared out under the hoop,and howard got only 1 rebound on 7 missed shots between atl and orlando..plus,if u ask me,when horford was moved to the 5 that sparked him and he was flashing his moves like da all star he is..
just imagine if we had a decent center and moved horford to the number 5 position..
SICK..SICK..SICK…
i got a great feeling about this game tonite,but,we all know that woody never goes back to what works for him in the 1st half and he will try to implement joe,crawford and bibbs into the offense in the 2nd half..he needs to stick with what is working,but i know he won’t
Blast
May 6th, 2010
9:29 pm
Fans, please don’t pull a ‘Nique’ on me by predicting a win before the clock reads 0.00. Please don’t do that. This is the Hawks we’re talking about. Jerkyll and Hyde, remember?
Let’s wait till the fat lady sings in all her glory!
Najeh Davenpoop
May 6th, 2010
9:29 pm
If a double play counted as two runs instead of two outs, the Braves would have at least five championships.
Wabe
May 6th, 2010
9:29 pm
no doubt bigdave,
But, I won’t forget what happened in game 2. And, just based on the expectations I had going into this game, I can’t complain if we came out a bit short.
A bit short I can live with.
45 points short…that’s another story.
Just wanna see these guys compete.
But, yeah, I do want the win as bad as you.
Wabe
May 6th, 2010
9:30 pm
what happened in game 1*
Mel
May 6th, 2010
9:31 pm
jj realist
he came to play tonite too…
steven
May 6th, 2010
9:31 pm
so does bibby start to open up the half?
northcyde
May 6th, 2010
9:31 pm
Pretty much a dream 1st half offensively. Made all of our FTs, . . . hit most of our wide open looks from midrange and from 3 . . and played solid defense when Howard was out of the game.
Excellent game by Horford so far. JJ doing what he has to do on both ends. And the rest of the guys are active and making plays.
Keep doing what you’re doing Hawks, and you’ll steal Game 2, and have Philips in a frenzy on Saturday evening.
JSS
May 6th, 2010
9:32 pm
@Joe Johnson Realist
See Danny Manning…
Najeh Davenpoop
May 6th, 2010
9:32 pm
“they had randmo playing center and horford playing power forward,the 1st time he has done so all freaking year..and took da magics BASS to skool for real..
then after howard came back into the game randmo had him cleared out under the hoop,and howard got only 1 rebound on 7 missed shots between atl and orlando..plus,if u ask me,when horford was moved to the 5 that sparked him and he was flashing his moves like da all star he is..”
I’m all for bringing in a so-called “true center” who can come into the game off the bench and allow Horford to slide to the 4 to spark him offensively. As you point out, he is a much better offensive player at the 4. Someone like the Celtics’ Kendrick Perkins to come in and play 20 minutes off the bench at center would be ideal for this team. I’m just not willing to sacrifice either Horford or Smoove to make that happen — they are too talented and neither one is as good as they can be yet. I’m still a fan of those two starting at PF and C.
Wabe
May 6th, 2010
9:33 pm
If these guys learned anything, it better have been that without Dwight Howard, they’re really not “outmatched”. Therefore….
ATTACK SUPERMAN EARLY – GET THAT 4TH FOUL ASAP!
Win by any means necessary, I don’t care if we gotta flop to get that 4th on Dwight, someone take one for the team if you gotta. Just get that guy on the bench.