Atlanta Hawks: What happened to Joe Johnson’s 3-point shot?

Speaking of jump shots . . .

J.J. is having his least efficient season scoring since he came to Atlanta (while still leading the team in usage percentage). A big part of the reason for that is his 3-point shooting, which is at a career-low 28.9 percent for the season.

If the elbow injury explained the poor shooting before, it doesn’t seem to be a factor now.

Since January, a month when Joe was on a tear, he’s 38 of 122 (31 percent) on 3-pointers. The more time that passes since the surgery, the worst J.J.s 3-point shooting gets: 23 of 65 in January, 13 of 39 in February and 2 of 18 to start this month. He’s 2 for 23 on 3s in his last five games. With his free-throw rate still so low, all of those missed 3-pointers are dragging down J.J.’s efficiency (not to mention his production).

Joe said weeks ago that the elbow feels better. He also says he feels fresher this season because of the games he’s missed–he’s on pace to play 2,642 minutes, his fewest for a full season since he came off the bench for the Suns in 2002-03.

J.J. said open looks haven’t been a problem. So if J.J. is getting good shots and he’s feeling good, why aren’t his 3-pointers falling?

“I don’t know,” he said. “It just happens, man. They will fall [eventually].”

He said he doesn’t change his routine during times like this.

“Playing in this league, this is my 10th year, I just try to keep a short memory,” J.J. said. “I don’t worry about the last game. I just move forward. That’s the kind of attitude you have got to have. So that’s my approach.”

L.D. isn’t sure that’s been working for J.J.

Drew said he went back and looked at video of J.J.s last several games to analyze his 3-point shots.

“If there is one thing that I notice with his 3, at times, he hesitates,” Drew said. “There is kind of a pause there before he lets it go. I don’t know if that if affects him or not. We went back and looked at some tape as far as Utah. We looked at his feet position, his shoulders; whether he is leading with his right side; is he hesitating, is he bunny-hopping into the shot, is he ‘one-two’ into the shot.”

Lester Conner met with J.J. after Thursday’s practice to show him what the video breakdown of his 3-point shots.

“[They were better] when he caught it and went into rhythm and let it go,” L.D. said. “I’m not saying they are always going to go in, but I really want him not even thinking about it. I want him catching it and going right into his shot. A lot of players when they are wide open they will take their time going into the shot. I think that is one of the worst things you can do. You have got to shoot that thing like someone is coming at you.”

Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat