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
northcyde
May 8th, 2010
6:27 pm
And why bash Marvin? JJ is the one selling us out right now. Marvin is having a Marvin-like game.
Looks like bibby to start the half. Lol . . you better come out on fire then Bibby.
joe is a bum
May 8th, 2010
6:29 pm
the hawks are a bunch of talk..they say all this crap and never follow through with what they say
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
May 8th, 2010
6:29 pm
(mental note to self) – When trailing by nearly 20 at halftime, you cant wait until the 4th quarter to “turn it on.”
I dont know what this team would do without Mike Woodson and his generic messages.
lewis
May 8th, 2010
6:29 pm
hawks standing still on offense
VenomSpitter
May 8th, 2010
6:29 pm
start with a josh jumper. are u serious
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2010
6:29 pm
Also, would it kill Philips Arena to increase their Wi-Fi signal? My 3G connection is better than that weak-azz ish…
Wabe
May 8th, 2010
6:30 pm
May 8th, 2010
6:27 pm
Wabe, these are not elementary school children. We cheer them when they are introduced, cheer when they win, and if they play hard and lose, we’ll cheer for that too. But they are grown men who are clearly not being held accountable by their teammates, coaches, or the organization; there’s no other explanation for playing half azzed in the biggest game of the season. If nobody else will hold them accountable for not giving maximum effort, we should and we will.
Point taken.
joe is a bum
May 8th, 2010
6:30 pm
fade away from j smooooove….brick
VenomSpitter
May 8th, 2010
6:31 pm
Dumbest team in the League. The Atlanta Hawks. THey are the only people in the world who don’t know that u have to stay on the 3 pt shooter.
ANd wat is Josh doin.
Wabe
May 8th, 2010
6:31 pm
Even Bibby’s best defensive stand falls short.
Credit Nelson.
joe is a bum
May 8th, 2010
6:32 pm
you think this team would have been prepared to guard the 3 coming into the series seeing as the magic are the best 3 point shooting team in the league
Black Ceasar
May 8th, 2010
6:33 pm
Phillips might be half full on Monday if Birds lose today. My buddy just said let’s head to Majic City. How ironic….
joe is a bum
May 8th, 2010
6:34 pm
lol nelson took one dribble and was already 5 steps past bibby
joe is a bum
May 8th, 2010
6:34 pm
good time to get a T josh…dumbarse
South ga boy in the atl
May 8th, 2010
6:35 pm
LMAO. Najeh. Just don’t get caught. Lol. Najeh, I’m afraid that this game and series kind of loss is going to be the kind that we have to make significant changes to try and be able to move past it. Next yr if we were in a similar series against, say the MagiC again, this series will be in the back of our players minds. Certain losses can losses cam haunt a team unless they are very mentally tough. Mental toughness is not something I associate with our team. Talent yes, mental toughness and a high basketball IQ are not.
Wabe
May 8th, 2010
6:37 pm
Live by the jumpshot, die by the jumpshot.
VenomSpitter
May 8th, 2010
6:40 pm
UNDERACHIEVERS
THAT IS THE KEY WORD WHEN DECRIBING THE HAWKS
lewis
May 8th, 2010
6:41 pm
stupid is the key word
northcyde
May 8th, 2010
6:41 pm
Pick your poison . . . . Howard made one shot the entire half, now he’s looking to take over. And while Smoove was talking to the ref, he shouldn’t have gotten that tech. He just needs to say nothing.
bigstack19
May 8th, 2010
6:42 pm
This is like the pre-season for Orlando where they get a chance to work out some kinks before they have to play a real team like Cleveland or Boston in the conference finals. The Hawks are done and it shows on the court. As I said before the series started, the Magic won’t even break a sweat while sweeping the Hawks.
Ramon
May 8th, 2010
6:42 pm
Venom, how are the Hawks underachievers when NO ONE from ESPN picked them to finish in the top four in the Eastern Conference. Everyone had Washington and/or Miami ranked higher than them going into the season. So how are they underachievers?
cp
May 8th, 2010
6:43 pm
There is Marvin bashing because I’m tired of seeing this guy not show up in pretty much any game. He is not rebounding, scoring , or playing defense. Dude has no impact on the game what so ever. Ive already talked about how much Joe is sucking out there.
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
May 8th, 2010
6:43 pm
LMFAO@No offensive plan….just “lets go play offense”
wdf???
hawkfan
May 8th, 2010
6:44 pm
MAN I’M GOING TO MISS THESE PLAYOFF GAMES FOR THE HAWKS WITH MIKE WOODSON’S WIRED HUDDLE SPEECHES: WE CAN SCORE TOO!!! HAHAAHA MADE MY DAY
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
May 8th, 2010
6:44 pm
lol@hawkfan
Wabe
May 8th, 2010
6:45 pm
Jeff Teague?
Is Woody desperate?
VenomSpitter
May 8th, 2010
6:45 pm
I don’t give a damn what ESPN has them pegged as. With all the talent on this team they shouldn’t be consistently embarrased.
Once Woody is gone we can see what this team can really do.
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
May 8th, 2010
6:46 pm
He sounded like he was coaching a church league 10-12 year old youth team….not even the teens.
Smooooothv
May 8th, 2010
6:46 pm
I am so smoov though I spell at third grade level and play like an WNBA small forward.
Wabe
May 8th, 2010
6:46 pm
Go ahead and boo them now.
I’m cool with it.
northcyde
May 8th, 2010
6:47 pm
Wow . . . a Teague sighting.
That damn Rashard Lewis is KILLING US. Wow. I’ve never seen him play that well inside and outside. Can’t double everybody. People heading towards the exits right now.
Damn.
VenomSpitter
May 8th, 2010
6:47 pm
Joe has lost about $35 million potential bucks this post-season.
What a phony Joe is. Want that Batman money but can’t even fit Robin’s costume.
TigerWoods
May 8th, 2010
6:47 pm
Joe, it has been nice knowing you. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Good luck with your next team
Wabe
May 8th, 2010
6:48 pm
At least TRY to start up a chant.
You’d send a pretty tough statement to Sund if you could get the arena to start chanting “Fire Mike Woodson.”
VenomSpitter
May 8th, 2010
6:48 pm
Go ahead and tell us how the Hawks still have a chance Northcyde.
Your wrong about damn near everything else u say. 1 time for old times sake.
Wabe
May 8th, 2010
6:48 pm
“That damn Rashard Lewis is KILLING US. Wow. I’ve never seen him play that well inside and outside. Can’t double everybody. People heading towards the exits right now.”
Northcyde, we’re doubling because….
We’re switching.
TigerWoods
May 8th, 2010
6:49 pm
Woody, it has been nice knowing you. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Good luck with your next team
Ramon
May 8th, 2010
6:49 pm
So lets go ahead and start playing the GM game. You’re the GM of the Hawks for an off season. REALISTICALLY, what would you guys do? Remember you can’t just say go sign Wade when you don’t know if Wade would be interested in coming to Atlanta.
VenomSpitter
May 8th, 2010
6:49 pm
Go Teague
TigerWoods
May 8th, 2010
6:49 pm
on other news, may be Chils and Salmon can be had, and we get Teague to develop.
Wabe
May 8th, 2010
6:50 pm
This is the final verdict to Woodrow’s approach.
I’ll say this, Game 3 against Orlando, backs against the wall, down 20+, Woody finally realizes Teague might be good for something…
Wabe
May 8th, 2010
6:51 pm
Why else would Teague actually get to go with starters?
This isn’t garbage time, this is Woody’s hope for a spark.
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
May 8th, 2010
6:51 pm
Venom, you’re right. They are underachievers. I know what Ramon is talking about, a few people did picK teams like Washington, Miami and Toronto to finish ahead of the Hawks in the pre-season…but still several others had them ranked highly too.
All of that is out the window anyway, because when the Hawks jumped out to that good early season start, people were calling the Hawks “Elite” and saying they were a REAL CONTENDER in the east at that point. ESPN even had them ranked #1 in the power rankings at one time.
So…yeah..the media even has gave the Hawks respect…maybe even a little too much. The Hawks just didnt live up to it. So yes…
The Hawks definetly = underachievers.
hawkfan
May 8th, 2010
6:52 pm
thank you oo mac town, i say we just lay down more in game 4 to send a message to the front office and the league on how much the hawks have been exposed
VenomSpitter
May 8th, 2010
6:52 pm
Ya’ll see that look on Woody’s face. That is the look of a man that is gonna be jobless LMAO.
TigerWoods
May 8th, 2010
6:53 pm
i say we are not as competitive as last year vs. Cavs, what do people think? Games with Cavs at home were at least competitive.
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
May 8th, 2010
6:53 pm
John Salmons didnt play well again today.
Sautee
May 8th, 2010
6:54 pm
Ramon,
I actually dreamt this, though I’m not sure I’d DO it.
In my dream (a real one and it surprised me) we did a sign and trade.
It went like this:
Utah gets: Joe Johnson (S&T) and Josh Smith.
Atl gets: Carlos Boozer, Kirilenko, and Ronnie Brewer.
I have NO idea if the salaries match or ANYTHING. Like I said it was a dream.
Before anybody gets started, I as NOT proposing this. But I did dream it.
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
May 8th, 2010
6:54 pm
LMFAO….Joe..
TigerWoods
May 8th, 2010
6:54 pm
Meanwhile Joe misses another 3 pointer. Crowd booing Joe.