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
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621 comments Add your comment
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
May 8th, 2010
5:56 pm
I still cant believe that brick Bibby shot. That was one of the worst shots ever. It just died when it hit the backboard.
woody is a bum
May 8th, 2010
5:57 pm
joe can’t do sh!t right
Wabe
May 8th, 2010
5:57 pm
Dammit, we need one of those.
bigdave
May 8th, 2010
5:57 pm
a man wide open in the corner. wide open.. !
sleepy
May 8th, 2010
5:57 pm
wasted damn possessions we are trying to win a basketball game here …………………………….
Clyde
May 8th, 2010
5:57 pm
I COULD HAVE MADE A FORTUNE IF I HAD SOME FIRE WOODY T-SHIRTS READY FOR TONIGHT’S GAME.
FIRE WOODY
VenomSpitter
May 8th, 2010
5:58 pm
zaza is 1 of the worst players i have ever seen
Wabe
May 8th, 2010
5:58 pm
START CHANTING!
THE REFS SUCK!
South ga boy in the atl
May 8th, 2010
5:59 pm
I’m gelling u guys that this team cannot go to the next level as currently constituted. JJ and Josh’s body language “I give up”. That’s awful for 2 guys making a combined 25 mil a yr. Josh just loping down the field on defense I just can’t believe his “loser” attitude Josh is so immature and JJ just looks like he doesn’t give a sh#t.
Clyde
May 8th, 2010
5:59 pm
ITS HAD TO BELIEVE TEAGUE COULD DO ANY WORSE THAN WHAT BIBBY IS GIVING US RIGHT NOW.
FIRE WOODY
northcyde
May 8th, 2010
5:59 pm
LOL @ Najeh booing already. No faith in this team whatsoever. Too much negative energy in the building right now. Crowd is trying though. JJ can’t even get a lay-up to fall.
joe is a bum
May 8th, 2010
5:59 pm
joe = bum
bigdave
May 8th, 2010
5:59 pm
mactown..
lol.. i thought it was going to get stuck in between the back of the rim and backboard..
Wabe
May 8th, 2010
5:59 pm
There’s your liability.
Why’s Bibby on the floor?
He hasn’t made a shot since………
terrell
May 8th, 2010
5:59 pm
But we’re still young. lol! Cant believe Woody wont give Teague a shot. Did he not see what Phoenix did last night? Gentry rode his bench to a game 3 victory. And I bet Joe Smith really regrets coming here. At the end of his career and putting up with this nonsense? I thought Woody liked Veterans.
joe is a bum
May 8th, 2010
6:00 pm
put teague in for joe
VenomSpitter
May 8th, 2010
6:00 pm
Joe the super bum LOL
South ga boy in the atl
May 8th, 2010
6:00 pm
Why is JJ smiling after he threw the ball a mile over Josh’s head
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
May 8th, 2010
6:00 pm
the “Just let Joe and Jamal shoot” offense.
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
May 8th, 2010
6:00 pm
lol Bibby was about to get DESTROYED
joe is a bum
May 8th, 2010
6:00 pm
nice fast break team
VenomSpitter
May 8th, 2010
6:01 pm
Bibby was about to get teabagged lol
Clyde
May 8th, 2010
6:01 pm
4 ON 2 AND U GET A TURNOVER. #itsoverfolks
FIRE WOODY
bigdave
May 8th, 2010
6:01 pm
i thought D12 was about to kill Bibby.
cp
May 8th, 2010
6:01 pm
Gotta love the fancy passing when you’ re getting beat down
Clyde
May 8th, 2010
6:02 pm
WOODY SO STUPID HE DON’T EVEN REALIZE HIS STARTERS HAVE QUIT ON HIM.
FIRE WOODY
Typical Moronic Hawks fan
May 8th, 2010
6:02 pm
HOW DO PEOPLE HERE SUPPORT JOE OR WOODY? JOE HAS NO DAMN HEART. HE DOES NOT CARE. HE IS NOT A STAR. HE HASN’T DONE !@#$ IN THIS GAME. IF HE ACTUALLY SHOWED UP WE’D BE DOWN 4
OK NORTHCYDE. TELL US HOW IT’S ALL ON JAMAL WHY WE’RE DOWN AND HOW WOODY AND JJ ARE DOING A GREAT JOB
joe is a bum
May 8th, 2010
6:03 pm
there’s like two people who support joe. everyone is: joe = bum
Sautee
May 8th, 2010
6:04 pm
Joe’s been downgraded to a 10W.
northcyde
May 8th, 2010
6:04 pm
Smoove and JJ ARE playing hard. JJ is attacking but can’t get anything to fall. Smoove is all over the boards, especially offensively.
Hawks can still cut this to under 10 if they lock in defensively
cp
May 8th, 2010
6:04 pm
Gotta love Woodrow for not trying anything new although what he has been doing is flat out failing. I rather lose trying something new rather than this crap I see now.
VenomSpitter
May 8th, 2010
6:05 pm
Is Joe a robot? He never shows emotion.
joe is a bum
May 8th, 2010
6:05 pm
it doesn’t matter how hard joe is playing if he can’t hit a farggin shot
terrell
May 8th, 2010
6:06 pm
Another UNCONTESTED 3. Wtf?????????????
VenomSpitter
May 8th, 2010
6:06 pm
LMAO this clown northcyde is still defending Joe.
Man get off his nuts LOL
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2010
6:07 pm
No sh-t there’s negative energy northcyde. That’s what happens when you pay good money to see your team laying down and taking it in the azz instead of fighting.
Joe Johnson is the 6th best shooting guard in this game right now.
joe is a bum
May 8th, 2010
6:07 pm
if I was out there I’d be playing my arse off too but I’d get thrown on my arse every possession
Clyde
May 8th, 2010
6:07 pm
I WONDER WHAT WOODY’S EXCUSE IS GOING TO BE AFTER TONIGHT’S GAME.
FIRE WOODY
VenomSpitter
May 8th, 2010
6:08 pm
LMAO the hawks are just sorry
bigdave
May 8th, 2010
6:08 pm
lol@ this offense.
northcyde
May 8th, 2010
6:08 pm
Venom . . . don’t talk ish to me while we are losing. No one took that bet. I was hoping that you would’ve jumped in and took it.
Jody
May 8th, 2010
6:08 pm
The off season will be interesting. Max contracts? Really?
Clyde
May 8th, 2010
6:08 pm
WOODY = COY
FIRE WOODY
lewis
May 8th, 2010
6:08 pm
were gonna lose by 50 today
joe is a bum
May 8th, 2010
6:08 pm
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
VenomSpitter
May 8th, 2010
6:08 pm
Damn the hawks are getting raped
joe is a bum
May 8th, 2010
6:09 pm
BOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
VenomSpitter
May 8th, 2010
6:09 pm
NORTHCYDE= THE BIGGEST JOE JOHNSON NUTHUGGER ON THE PLANET
LOL
South ga boy in the atl
May 8th, 2010
6:09 pm
Najeh get some of that strong coffee that they sell at Phillips to keep u awake This is going to be embarrasing. WTF is Josh doing. I guess that was his impersonation of JJ standing a mile away from the basket and waiting until the shot clock runs down to nothing before doing something. “usuall the wrong thing”
Clyde
May 8th, 2010
6:09 pm
IF I WAS AT THE GAME I WOULD LEAVE AT HALFTIME
FIRE WOODY