Atlanta Hawks: Drew still says sitting Horford was right move
L.D. slept on it and came to the same conclusion as he did after he game: Sitting his best all-around best player for the final 21:50 of the first half in an attempt to avoid foul trouble was the right move.
Asked today after practice if he had any second thoughts on the decision, Drew provided a similar explanation as last night:
“When he picked up the early two fouls it put it us in a bit of a bind. You don’t anticipate your starters picking up two early fouls like that. When he went to the bench, had we hit a bad stretch at the start of the second quarter to the middle of the second quarter, I would have put him back in. We actually had a really good stretch in the middle of second quarter. With three minutes left we hit a bump in the road and I didn’t want to jeopardize him picking up his third when we were going good.”
By the middle of the second quarter, Atlanta’s 32-22 lead was down to 34-33 because Marvin, Jamal, Hinrich and Joe all missed jumpers; Hinrich lost the ball on a careless turnover; and Dwight went to work against Powell and then Armstrong.
After Al went to the bench, the Hawks gave up 15 offensive rebounds in the rest of the first half. They missed 26 of 41 shots and scored just 38 points on 49 possessions. If L.D. thought the Hawks were having a really good stretch then playing Horford, their best rebounder and most efficient scorer, might have made for an even better stretch.
Also note that Al averaged just 2.6 fouls per 36 minutes this season, the lowest rate of his career. I guess that number would be perhaps three if he were allowed to play regularly with two first-half fouls. Al has fouled out of four of his 335 career games, including playoffs. Among centers who played at least 1,000 minutes this season, Al has the fewest fouls per 36 minutes.
So it’s not like Al is prone to picking up fouls or has to check any Magic players who are particularly good at drawing them. Al doesn’t play a physical defensive style, instead relying on his quick feet to get good position. In other words, he’s not like Zaza, whom L.D. also left on the bench with two fouls. That made more sense because Zaza fouls a lot and is the last decent line of defense against Dwight.
Speaking of which . . .
The Magic were -21.3 points per 48 minutes with Twin on the court during the regular season. After two playoff games, they are . . . . -21.3 per 48 minutes with Twin on the court.
With Zaza on the court, the Magic were +9.8 per 48 minutes during the regular season and are +8.6 in the playoffs. The numbers vs. Etan are +31.1 and +27.4, vs. Powell -4.4 and +9.0. Armstrong didn’t play against Orlando during the regular season with the Hawks; the Magic were +61.7 per 48 vs. him in Game 2.
(All numbers are from NBA.com’s dope new StatsCube feature.)
The Hawks don’t really have anyone other than Twin who can provide much resistance against Dwight but the numbers suggest Zaza should be first in line (though he wasn’t last night). After those two the Hawks are simply hoping that any of the other bigs can somehow hang on.
“It’s always been like that,” L.D. said. “That’s nothing different. We go with Twin and Zaza and then we start using other big bodies and their jobs are to try to make him earn everything. They are battling him; there is a lot of banging going on. We are getting what we want out of those guys in those cases. We have to buy Twin and Zaza time.
“I’m not discouraged by that not one bit. In putting together this team one thing we knew we had to do was get big bodies in here in the event of playing Orlando in the playoffs. Hilton, Etan, Josh Powell–they are big bodies and their jobs are to force Dwight to work for everything. They are going to create fouls and force the issue. I am not discouraged by that.”
Notes
- Al said he has a bone bruise on his right knee. “It’s swollen but it’s good. I plan on playing.”
- Smoove reported no problems with the elbow.
- L.D., Al and J.J. all were in agreement that J.J. needs to pass the ball quicker if the Magic send aggressive double teams at him again in Game 2. Dwight chased Joe out to the perimeter at times, which (theoretically) should leave space on the weak side if the ball swings around quickly and the Hawks attack before Dwight can get back to the rim.
- “Move the ball,” Drew said. “I thought we got a little stagnant. We reverted back to a little too much one-on-one. But looking at the video, we gave up 20 offensive rebounds, they were plus-18 free-throw wise, yet with two minutes to go it was a two-point ballgame. We need to clean up a couple areas. The guys watched guys and saw some things we could have done differently.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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222 comments Add your comment
Rod from College Park
April 20th, 2011
6:50 pm
LD’s explanation is absurd. That’s like being on Marta, and getting jumped by 12 kids on the train, but youv’e got a gun with 12 rounds in the clip, and you only let off two rounds, and proceed to get beat down. Let loose all 12 rounds dummy.
ag
April 20th, 2011
7:02 pm
They should have fired him prior to the playoffs. Even if the Hawks win this series, it will take us being in ECF for him to keep his job
ag
April 20th, 2011
7:09 pm
Marvin averaging 5.5 ppg in playoffs..
Ra'mon
April 20th, 2011
7:10 pm
I think sitting Horford in the first half wasn’t the biggest mistake made last night. I think the mistake was waiting so long to bring Kirk back in during the 4th quarter. I truly believe the entire last 8 minutes should have seen a line up of Kirk-JC-Joe-Josh-Al. Because once Al was that late in the game with only 2 fouls, you had no reason not to play him against D12, and to open up the lanes on offense. In the clutch, having Al at center, gives you a shooter at the 5 where, Dwight can’t just bog down the lane. It also gives you the ability to have JC and Joe playing off of the ball, where they’re most effective at that time.
Another thing was, when Al called Joe off of an ISO for Joe, and ended up taking that awkward jumper, I knew then a big mistake had just been made. At that point, Joe had just started to get in a little zone, and Richardson clearly couldn’t guard him at that moment. Yet Al called Joe from the ball to open up for him to go one on one against Anderson 18 feet from the basket.
Rev in Tampa
April 20th, 2011
7:31 pm
In my mind Drew is still compounding his error of taking AL out for so long it by not recognizing that he did anything wrong. This means that he will do it again. So now SVG knows that all he has to do is run people at Al to get two fouls on him in the first quater. Also, and this will hurt us most, AL WILL KNOW THAT HE WILL GET PULLED UNTIL HALFTIME IF HE GETS TO FOULS. DO YOU THINK IT WILL CAUSE HIM TO PLAY MORE PASSIVELY?
B-Balla-Val-Halla
April 20th, 2011
7:40 pm
Do Hawks play tonite ?
KevinM
April 20th, 2011
7:40 pm
LD is starting to sound a bit stubborn and won’t easily admit the mistake he made. The only thing he can do going forward is to not let it happen again.
And Marvin’s totals should keep him under 20mpg going forward, however many games we have left this year.
ag, I totally disagree with you. LD has already secured his 2nd year.
Sund isn’t going another direction, nor is the ASG. I lost faith in them doing something right a couple of seasons ago. That’s when they did all this resigning of folks at much higher numbers than the results they produced. Like when BK came in, we are going to have to dig ourselves out of our salary misdoings.
I will be surprised if Sund isn’t retained. The ASG isn’t interested in doing better.
drmaryb (*_-)
April 20th, 2011
7:55 pm
Movers and Shakers!
“And with Joe, it’s not just that he should pass the ball quicker but also that he should make his move quicker so that the double team doesn’t have a chance to push him out to the perimeter.”
__________________
In addition to this strategy, when Joe gives the ball up quickly, he has to also move quickly to the paint or run a “Rip/Miller/Allen – CURL” to an open spot to get the ball back and score. Don’t just let the defense totally take your game out of the offense.
Isn’t this fundamental basketball plays/sets/reactions. Instead, these players just stand still and become spectators, no different than me on my couch. They become as useful as a home-bound fan!
rms
April 20th, 2011
8:01 pm
and I thought his name was Twin because it was short for Twinkie!!! Never knew he had an actual twin brother. My bad!!!
ag
April 20th, 2011
8:10 pm
Ra’mon
April 20th, 2011
7:10 pm
Ditto.. Playing AH at center makes Dwight come out of the lane. Dwight really never played defense and when the offense went through another center at the top of the key, he always passed to another Hawk.
Buddy Grizzard
April 20th, 2011
8:13 pm
LD’s explanation is absurd. – Rod
Exactly! LD doesn’t make bad coaching decisions, he makes absurd coaching decisions. I said before the series started that the Hawks would win in7 games DESPITE Las Vegas Larry’s coaching, not because of. I said the Hawks would win based on superior talent to the Orlando Magic.
Well, Las Vegas Larry figured out how to lie to me. Just sit that talent on the bench! Top 5 most efficient offensive player in the NBA? Bench!
GOOD GAME LAS VEGAS LARRY!
ag
April 20th, 2011
8:14 pm
I can halfway agree to Woody-Lite logic for not putting Al in the last 3 minutes to pick up another foul, but this guy has only fouled out 4 times in his career? If I had been an assistant for six seasons, and all during Al’s career, I would have known this and the 2 foul rule would not apply to Al. Also, considering he was checking jump-shot Anderson and spot up shot Bass, I think I would have risked it. If he had to go in and check Howard, then I would have sat him.
Spam & Onions
April 20th, 2011
8:20 pm
Hawks need a big man that can do more than just foul Howard. How about one that can rebound and score ? Howard gets 35 & 12 and we get 0 & 4 from our center. Just MFUGing awful !
ag
April 20th, 2011
8:21 pm
drmaryb (*_-)
April 20th, 2011
7:55 pm
NAIL ON HEAD…I think I move more getting off the sofa during timeouts grabbing my beer than these guys moving without the basketball. It is really very simple, but they just stand on the outside waiting for a pass to shoot a trey. Since Bibby left, no more alley’s to Josh.
ag
April 20th, 2011
8:22 pm
We have a center. He just likes to play PF. Outside of Orlando, Al matches extremely well against all centers in the East.
O'Brien
April 20th, 2011
8:26 pm
Najeh, Wabe,
The Hawks built a lead with Al on the bench. But late in the second quarter when the Magic were on their run (I think there was 3 minutes left in the half), LD brought JJ back in. He should have brought Al back in at that moment.
Shaq's Two Big Feets
April 20th, 2011
8:27 pm
Hawks wishlist for last 4 years : 1) A true center that can score & rebound 2) A true point guard that can score and dish assists. Hawks management delivers neither one in 4 YEARS !
drmaryb (*_-)
April 20th, 2011
8:31 pm
Phantom Work Out!
“In fairness to Marvin: according to either Bradley or Shultz, he put in the best work out(s) in the history of pro sports….”
_____________________
Like a Janet Jackson video with Choreographer Paula Abdul:
That video featured a CHAIR – for crying out loud. Marvin’s work out was against no one! Translation: there was NO live body/movable object underneath the basket!
How challenging was that? They may as well have borrowed Janet’s Video Chair and see if the LEAD azz could scoot around that.
Give me a break, that was no work out!
O'Brien
April 20th, 2011
8:31 pm
According to hoopshype, The Rockets have contacted Mike Woodson for an interview about their vacant coaching position. If he learns from his mistakes, Woody should be better the second time around.
Drmaryb,
Technically, the ASG do not operate on the cheap. They are 7th in payroll. Their problem is they don’t spend their money wisely.
i_am_soulstar
April 20th, 2011
8:41 pm
Come on LD, don’t pull a Woody and let being stubborn cost you your job. If you look in the mirror and see a prince, but the entire town is calling you an ass, it’s time to start checking for a tail.
Tom
April 20th, 2011
8:55 pm
If “Twin” is Collins, then you drastically miss the point of +/-. His PRODUCTION difference against his opponent center is that. His team’s actual point difference per 48 minutes is the highest on the team and the single highest in the league when pushed to a 48-minute average.
Buddy Grizzard
April 20th, 2011
8:55 pm
“Because once Al was that late in the game with only 2 fouls, you had no reason not to play him against D12, and to open up the lanes on offense.” – Ramon
Ramon, I think you should be the next coach of the Hawks. AH did not embarrass himself in the playoffs last year defending Dwight. On the offensive end, AH forces Dwight away from the basket with his range. Back door oop to Smoove?
Buddy Grizzard
April 20th, 2011
8:57 pm
“AL WILL KNOW THAT HE WILL GET PULLED UNTIL HALFTIME IF HE GETS TO FOULS. DO YOU THINK IT WILL CAUSE HIM TO PLAY MORE PASSIVELY?” – Rev
Rev, did you read MC’s blog post? Al Horford has the fewest fouls per 36 minutes of any center with at least 1000 minutes this season. Do you think that has caused him to play more passive defense THIS ENTIRE SEASON????
Slimjr
April 20th, 2011
9:00 pm
“Hey, Slimjr what game were you watching? I thought that the officiating stunk as usual, but for both teams. There is no advantage in the foul calling for the Magic, because Atlanta fouled Dwight every chance they had, because THEY CAN’T GUARD HIM WITHOUT FOULING!! The Hawks are a jump shooting team, you donot go to the foul line when you shoot jump shots. Get over it, we beat you fair and square, and now we are going to beat you again and again in Atlanta. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Go Magic.”
Reply Posted by: DiehardfromDeltona |
Astro Joe
April 20th, 2011
9:01 pm
I missed it, what happened to Etan last night?
And what’s up witht he AJC waiting until the playoffs to run that Jamal story? That came out about 3 weeks ago. Are they just waiting until the national media is around to ask him questions about his lawsuit? Is the AJC trying to distract Jamal? Who is the editor, Otis Smith?
drmaryb (*_-)
April 20th, 2011
9:04 pm
Futility!
“Hawks management delivers neither one in 4 YEARS !”
________________
Actually it’s been 17 YEARS since Mookie & Mutombo!
(check my math, but I believe I’m right)
Slimjr
April 20th, 2011
9:04 pm
Hey Rev, we got em upset down there in Daytona???^^^^^^^^
Rev in Tampa
April 20th, 2011
9:51 pm
Slimjr,
There are rumors floating around on the Magic blog that Dwight sold his house this week. I did not start these rumors but I threw some fuel on the fire. Check out my post. Its so bad that I feel guilty, sort of.
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_magic/2011/04/player-questions-whether-dwight-howard-deserves-award.html#comments
Rev in Tampa
April 20th, 2011
9:53 pm
oops. The link above is where I found the rumors about dwight selling his house.
Here is the link I intended to post:
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_magic/2011/04/jason-richardson-looking-for-offense-leaning-on-defense-video.html/comment-page-1#comment-49303
Atheist In Athens
April 20th, 2011
9:57 pm
Horford IS a PF not a center. Dwight Howard cannot be stopped period by the Hawks !
Go Dawgs !
FatJr.
April 20th, 2011
10:00 pm
I’m pulling for JJ to pull a hammy !
Drmaryb
April 20th, 2011
10:01 pm
Hawks blew the game last night.
i_aints_soulstar
April 20th, 2011
10:03 pm
Just let the Heat & Lakers play right now !
Rev in Tampa
April 20th, 2011
10:04 pm
Buzzy Grizzard,
I think you misunderstand my post. My point is that LD has effectively told Horford he has a 1 foul limit for half the game since he gets pulled for the rest of the 1st half. That has to affect Al’s mindset after he gets one foul in the first half. Who wants to be pulled out of the game because you have a stubborn, knuckle-headed coach.
Bring Back Spud & Cak'
April 20th, 2011
10:18 pm
Larry Drew wouldn’t know a ‘good move,’ if it came up & sat on him. Thanks Josh, Jamaal, Al & Kirk for maintaining some form of dignity & giving a quality effort for this team. As for Mr. Overpriced Quit on Your Team, No-D Joe Johnson; well we’re stuck w/ u. U won. But we as fans need to figure out how to run incompetent owners, managers & coaches out of this town.
Josh, Al, Jamaal & Kirk r quality pieces to build around. Joe Johnson ruins this teams chances of being competitive for the next 5 years – does everyone realize that?! No way we’re touching Orlando, neither this year nor next. Joe Johnson SUCKS & TOTALLY QUIT on this team last year IN THE FREAKIN’ PLAYOFFS no less. JOE JOHNSON u have no spine & we r calling u out.
& I really hope the owners of our team go BANKRUPT, honestly – so that anyone w/ even just a hint of competence can help right the ship before our young players get tired of mediocrity & start to follow Joe’s example.
drmaryb (*_-)
April 20th, 2011
10:25 pm
Grizzly Bears!
Them Grizzlies is balling! Why can’t our Hawks play like that?
Pants on Fire! Defense, then Offense. Tony Parker’s eyes is wide open on that sideline.
The Spurs – Fear the Bear!
Slimjr
April 20th, 2011
10:30 pm
CoasttoCoast am with George Noorey
10pm – 2am PT
Ancient Giants (Wed 04-20)
Renowned researcher with a PhD from Oxford University, Joseph P. Farrell will discuss how the fossil record supports the biblical tales of tyrannical giants and an elite race bent on genetic mutation, which have been ignored by the scientific and academic communities.
Grandad/Rev this “Giant” Researcher may interest you gents…Genesis 6:4, They were GIANTS in the Earth in those days……….Life is truly stranger than fiction!!!!!! These dudes that lived pre flood made Goliath who stood 10′ tall look like a pip squeak and dead lift tonnage in one hand……..Fascinating stuff…….
honest_abe
April 20th, 2011
10:31 pm
quite the disturbing analogy, rod.
Slimjr
April 20th, 2011
10:39 pm
drmaryb, Sir Charles has picked Memphis to win that series…..
Buddy Grizzard
April 20th, 2011
11:11 pm
Rev I was just agreeing with you… just using the caps to bite your style.
Slimjr
April 20th, 2011
11:18 pm
ORLEANS TIED WITH LA GOING INTO THE 2ND QUARTER…
Slimjr
April 20th, 2011
11:22 pm
ORLEANS IS BALLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
drmaryb (*_-)
April 20th, 2011
11:31 pm
Drmaryb
Hawks blew the game last night.
April 20th, 2011
10:01 pm
____________________
Troll, jacking the good ID’s again. He just wants to be me.
Good try – JeJe or TS?
aytunstopable
April 20th, 2011
11:32 pm
Bring Back have you watched any Hawks basketball at all dumb ass?
The Truth
April 20th, 2011
11:39 pm
I know LD doesn’t have the wherewithal to think this way, but the next game would be an excellent time to deploy Jeff Teague. The one thing that could be kryptonite to SVG offense of “hard-double–treble-downing JJ; is a slasher who loves to attack the rim. Teague could exploit Orlando’s offense with reckless abandonment when Dwight leaves Twin to trap JJ. With his speed, Orlando defense couldn’t recover fast enough to adjust. Even if they did, Teague passes out; JJ now has space to operate. As LD offense is currently constructed, if the shots are not falling from the perimeter, the Hawks are exposed with a one dimensional offense. With both Josh and Teague aggressive rim play, this could counter their cheating defense. It could also increase Dwight’s chances of drawing fouls. Hinrich occasionally attacks the rim, but not nearly enough. He like JJ, Jamal and enough Al, are all jump shoot lovers (though Al shoots a higher %). The Hawks will not win this series with a one dimensional offense.
The Truth
April 20th, 2011
11:40 pm
*kryptonite to SVG defense
The Truth
April 20th, 2011
11:42 pm
*Teague could exploit Orlando’s defense
Najeh Davenpoop
April 20th, 2011
11:44 pm
“The Rockets have contacted Mike Woodson for an interview about their vacant coaching position. If he learns from his mistakes, Woody should be better the second time around. ”
That is a HUGE “if”.
drmaryb (*_-)
April 20th, 2011
11:51 pm
Ankle Monitor!
There needs to be a Federal Investigation. This whole team should be fitted with Lindsay Lohan “homing – devices” to find out what they do and where they do it at, on these days and nights leading up to these games where they come out uninspired and lethargic.
I believe these devices can also detect alcohol usage and levels.
As far as Marvin is concerned, I would strap a second and separate monitor onto his azz, since that thing covers so much ground, (the ground hog can’t see his shadow, nor tell if it’s the first day of Summer).
Heck, I believe that azz has it’s very own blood supply and brain.
This may explain why Marvin falls down so much. The fore-brain wants to go to the basket and the hind-brain, like hydraulics, wants to:
“Drop it – Like it’s Hot!”
The hind-brain wins every time, it extends 30 feet and weighs about 50 lbs more. Between Marvin’s two brains? I can’t tell if he is coming or going or if he’s a Romulin from Star Trek. I’m so confused.
SteveW
April 21st, 2011
12:01 am
Well, the Hawks are on the front page of ESPN.com. Rusillo and Hollinger say that LD’s decision to not play Horford for 21 minutes so he doesn’t foul out with only 2 fouls, was the single worst coaching decision in the NBA playoffs of the past 10 years.
He also said (Hollinger) he likes ATL’s chances if the Coaches don’t sabotage the players for ATL.
Spot on.
These national experts sound like the bloggers on this sight.