Magic at Atlanta Hawks Game 3: Final(ly) Movement?
The strange thing with listening to the Hawks talk about their problems with stagnating offense is they all seem to agree on the problem:
“Ball movement, like there was in the first three quarters [in Game 2],” J.J. said. “In that fourth quarter, we did a lot of ‘iso’ instead of moving the ball and getting good shots.”
“It all starts with our guards,” Al said. “We have to create movement, we have to have guys moving around. When our guards are doing that, it opens up for us and opens up for them, as well. [The Magic] can’t just sit there and pinpoint.”
“We’ve just got to have more movement and guys have got to make shots,” Woody said. “It’ ain’t scientific or no big secret.”
The Hawks say these things and then they go out and fall back into iso at critical times of the game. When things go bad and the pressure is on, it gets even worse. It’s not always about just missing shots they normally make, it’s about getting better shots, particularly in the playoffs. And the Hawks (and every team) is much better at that when players and the ball are moving.
The Hawks missed some open shots in the first three quarters of Game 2, but didn’t they also get better looks until they faded late?
“Yes but we made shots, though, too,” Woody said. “Joe made a 3, Jamal made a 3. We had some good looks in Game 1 and we didn’t make shots. You can’t have starters and guy coming off bench go 11 for 54 not going to beat nobody in the league.”
According to Hoopdata, in Game 1 the Hawks were 6 of 26 on long jump shots, the bane of basketball number-crunchers, 15 of 25 from closer than 10 feet and 2 of 13 on 3-point shots. In Game 2 they were 7-for-22 on long jumpers, 9 of 20 closer than 10 feet and 6 of 11 on 3-pointers.
If the Hawks stay away from iso, maybe some of those long jump shots become open, spot-up 3-pointers or shots closer to the basket. None of that would solve their considerable problems with defending the Magic, of course. But because of their abilities, talent and temperament the Hawks’ best hope to at least make this a competitive series might be moving the ball and scoring enough points to overcome their defensive deficiencies.
They seem to know iso isn’t the way to do that even if they don’t always show it.
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
621 comments Add your comment
Wabe
May 8th, 2010
11:03 pm
“Horford did not receive any votes on the defensive player of the year polls.”
Since when do you care about voting? Maybe since it started working well for your pointless arguments?
You’ve constantly down-played Horford getting voted into the All-Star game by coaches. Why should you care about votes?
Wabe
May 8th, 2010
11:05 pm
“nor did he get any votes on the All NBA player, Josh was the #2 defensive player and JJ made the all NBA team .”
More polls? More voting?
JJ made the all NBA team?
And Horford didn’t make the All-Star game?
Simpdawg
May 8th, 2010
11:07 pm
At least Al Horford plays with heart. Josh Smith cause the Hawks game two in Orlando with all of his turnovers.
doc
May 8th, 2010
11:09 pm
myk gonna be good to see you around brah. everyone has found their ceiling.
see you onthe next blog.
MC is very good and really brings it.
clyde care to share the sekou stuff?
Wabe
May 8th, 2010
11:15 pm
“You are right I mentioned very rare and current players to build around… Is howard still a center? or did you ignore that ?”
The way you go off about centers, you’d think every name on your little list would’ve been a center…
But, the one and only that came to mind is D.Howard?
Shocker.
Maybe you might be starting to realize, there aren’t too many Dwights around…
Simpdawg
May 8th, 2010
11:15 pm
The Hawks need to get a Head coach. Establish a team identity. Acquire the right players needed to compliment their identity.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2010
11:16 pm
Dear Joe: If y’all had played like the Jazz did tonight and lost, nobody would have booed.
Have fun being a Knick.
Wabe
May 8th, 2010
11:20 pm
I guess I’m mistaken.
I thought he was voted in by coaches…
Hope that makes you feel better.
You’re still the one suggesting we trade our ALL-STAR CENTER for an unnamed center…
“Ignorance has it membership.”
Wabe
May 8th, 2010
11:21 pm
Name one…
Wabe
May 8th, 2010
11:24 pm
And those same fans that voted Shaq in…
Voted A.I. in as well.
Justin
May 8th, 2010
11:24 pm
Obviously Basketball 101 has a chip on his/her shoulder as it relates to Al Horford because the arguments just aren’t coherent. Ex-girlfriend or some other personal reason perhaps. The basketball stats and observations just don’t jive and reality.
slim
May 8th, 2010
11:50 pm
Josh sucks,marvin sucks,jj sucks….mike sucks, they all suck!!!!
HAWKSFAN11
May 9th, 2010
12:17 am
For all of you idots out there saying let joe walk, next year do you really want to see your starting backcourt consist of Bibby and Crawford? Lol, two guys with ZERO defense. Fans say the darnest things.
HAWKSFAN11
May 9th, 2010
12:21 am
If we had d-wade we still would have lost. If you cant hype YOURSELF up for the game, there is NOBODY in the world who can do it for you. You have to motivate YOURSELF FIRST. Stop saying its ALL Joe fault. I See why Joe got mad at the Fans. Instead of bashing ur teams best player, why dont you get behind him so ur ownership can get more guys to compliment him? Now if we lose Joe we are going to have the WORST defensive back-court in the HISTORY of SPORTS!!
slim
May 9th, 2010
12:38 am
Josh Childress sucks!! Marvin Williams Suck!! Sheldon “BIG STIFF” Williams suck!!! Theres your lottery picks HawksFAN11…Billy Knight was Clueless…………………………………Who did he pass up?? Danny Granger, Brandon Roy, Lou Aldange, Andre Iqudollar,Chris Paul, Rudy Gay, Darren Williams.. There goes our Championship run…………………….
2 FOR JOHN DREW
May 9th, 2010
1:24 am
I DON’T THINK CHILDRESS SUCKS ….. HE’S BETTER THAN MARVIN
IF YOU BE TRUTHFUL W/ YOURSELF & PLACE JOSH CHILDRESS …. IN PLACE OF MARVIN WILLIAMS THIS ENTIRE YEAR W/ HIS ATTITUDE, MINDSET, & SKILLSET, BASICALLY MORE AGGRESSIVE NATURE ON OFFENSIVE & DEFENSIVE END …. I TRULY BELIEVE WE WOULD BE IN A BETTER POSITION RIGHT NOW !!!!!!!!!
Ramon
May 9th, 2010
1:47 am
Basketball goto http://www.nba.com/2010/news/05/06/all.nba/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2 and you will see.
Ramon
May 9th, 2010
1:50 am
2 For John, Childress wasn’t a better defender than Marvin, and he couldn’t shoot better than Marvin. So if you placed him in this starting line up, his defender would’ve been able to camp down in the lane and not have to worry about him shooting from the perimeter.
Simpdawg
May 9th, 2010
2:09 am
If JJ decides to sign with the Bulls, the Hawks should resign Josh Childress. Trade Marvin Williams to Portland for Rudy Fernandez, and if the Nets win the draft lottery trade Bibby and our first pick to New Jersey for Devin Harris.
slim
May 9th, 2010
8:56 am
Like I said before JOHN 2 FOR JOHN DREW, Josh Childress sucks!!!! He had no jump shot!! At 6′8″ playing small forward that is a required fundamental in the NBA!! We are really hurting at the most critical position besides the #1, pt. guard position and that is the small forward. Joe Johnson and AL Hartford have issues but they need alot of help. Notice I did not mention the #5.You can still win a champion with a “D” league center…If I were a GM there was no way I would have taken Josh C. over Andre Iqudollar. Who is a far superior player than Josh C. will ever be. Oh by the way he and Rudy Gay are averaging almost 20 points a night at the #3! That would have solved the problem of taking the scoring load off our guards..Unfortunately Marvin, Josh S, are not wired to be bonifide scorers..Its the GM’s job with the help of his multi million dollar staff to figure that out. I don’t blame the players because they don’t have the skill set. I blame the GGGGMMM!!!! Orlando is probably the best team in the league defending the perimeter, that’s why our guards are not getting good looks at the rim and are constantly under duress on the offense. This has been going on for at least 3 yrs when we match up with Orlando!!! Nothing new under the Sun… Notice how Orlando can attack our defenders with there #3 and #4 on the perimeter or they can put in on the floor and attack the rim!! Their #3 and #4 are far more skilled than ours!!! That’s why they are contenders and the Hawks are not..nor will they be unless Rick Sund steps up his game BIG TIME!!!!!!!!
Bucks Fan
May 10th, 2010
5:49 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!