Atlanta Hawks: They sure do take bad shots sometimes
From what I’m hearing, the TNT talkers spent a lot of time last night ragging on the Hawks for their poor shot selection. This just in. . . .
I can imagine the collective shrugs of my blog people who know this team and have become accustomed to (if not totally accepting of) its weaknesses. I also figure you are annoyed by the national nit-picking of those warts by people just now paying attention to the Hawks and who hadn’t bothered to take a moment to look at numbers which clearly show they love jump shots (and are pretty good at making them).
I assure you it’s nothing personal. The same thing happened at this time last year. People who hadn’t watched the Hawks all year and/or analyze their tendencies were appalled to discover that Joe spent a lot of time dribbling on one side of the floor as his teammates watched or that Josh gets frustrated by calls and loses focus.
I remember my response to puzzled Orlando media types querying me about those topics: “Um, yeah. That’s the Hawks.” And whenever I would make an observation about the team they cover regularly, they would say: “Um, yeah. That’s the Magic.”
So here we are again. The Hawks are getting roasted for being the Hawks. We’ve seen it the last three games: The Hawks built a sizable lead by generally taking good shots and making them, then lost it by generally taking bad shots and missing them (or missing more of the good ones).
It’s not as if the Hawks don’t understand what’s going on.
“We have to be smarter with our shot selection, especially when we are up,” Al said. “I think guys want to put it away with one play, one big three or something. But it doesn’t work that way. If you are not hitting you have to do something different. Attack more, change it up.”
How long have we been hearing that from these guys? It’s April 25 and so it’s doubtful they are going to change their habits now. And, really, oftentimes the Hawks are only encouraged to keep jacking Js by their early success.
Consider Game 4. According to Synergy Sports Technology, the Hawks had five isolation plays in the first quarter and scored a robust eight points, all on jump shots. In the second quarter they scored three points on two isos. In the third they scored three points on five isos. And in the final period, they scored seven points on eight isos.
In all, the Hawks scored 22 points on on 20 isolation plays in Game 4, with all but four of those points by way of jumper. I’m guessing the TNT talkers weren’t ripping the Hawks for shooting too many Js when they had it rolling early.
The problem isn’t that the Hawks can’t score that way but, as Al points out, they still don’t seem to be able to grasp that when that way is not working and then find another way (though J.J. getting to the basket and to the free-throw line in the fourth quarter was a positive step).
“The last couple games then third-quarter shot selection has been a problem,” L.D. said. “Not being patient enough in moving the basketball. When we do move the ball and have been patient we’ve gotten good things out of it. When we start pounding the ball and we start playing a little one-on-one it gets a little stagnant.
“We watch film every day and point these things out. You hope that, particularly in the playoffs, these guys can see where they do get stagnant and they can say, ‘OK, here is what we need to do here, here is what we need to do there,’ because we have shown in this series when we do move the basketball we become tougher to defend. But when we start standing around and pounding the ball and start settling for 3-point shots, we become easy to defend.”
L.D. knows it, the players know it, you know it, I know it . . . hell, anyone who pays attention to the Hawks knows it. And now the national talkers know it, too, since they are watching the Hawks.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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
244 comments Add your comment
The Truth
April 25th, 2011
6:13 pm
“I also figure you are annoyed by the national nit-picking of those warts by people just now paying attention to the Hawks and who hadn’t bothered to take a moment to look at numbers which clearly show they love jump shots (and are pretty good at making them).”
Yes I am
As I watched the replay of the game, Kenny Smith during half time, the new the Czar of the Telestrator ( I suppose contrary to never coaching), was echoing the sentiments of Steve Kerr about the Hawks not playing playoff or championship basketball was an example of showing his bias. He pointed out when JJ received an outlet pass on the weak side, instead of shooting a 3-pt which he miss; he should have driven to the basket. He said he was so sick of watching those kinds of plays in that game, he didn’t want to watch anymore. C’mon Kenny was it really that bad? True, that may have been a better option but many players (even Kobe) will test a “heat-check-jumper” and settle for another open look after scoring from the previous jumper which is what JJ did. Why nit-pick that? To keep it balance, why not also nit-pick the Knicks for choking or the Pacers for blowing leads or the top seeded Bulls and Lakers for not handling business? Why so harshly when evaluating the Hawks in that manner when they are exactly ahead in the series? Even most in Hawksville will agree the Hawks are far from perfect and need to greatly improve to stay in the hunt, but it is just the first round. Hopefully, they will get better.
As stated by many on this blog, this is who the Hawks are; a jumping team. They will likely live or die shooting jumpers; but at least they are playing from their strength. As if Kenny played perfect games with Houston. Please, there was a reason streaky inconsistent Kenny was a journey player for 10 years with all these teams: Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, and Denver Nuggets. Maybe he rags on the Hawks because they didn’t think much of his talent and traded him. His two rings are the results of him being in the right place at the right time playing with one of the greatest centers to ever play the game. With so much attention given to Hakeem Olajuwon, Kenny had uncontested open looks. If you replay Houston’s old games, however, you could nit-pick Kenny’s game all day long. I guess he got amnesia about that now.
Rod from College Park
April 25th, 2011
6:15 pm
FYI
2011 Playoff Averages
Josh Smith – 36.3 mpg, 49% FG, 43% FT, 8.5 rpg, 3 apg, 1spg, 1bpg, 14.0 ppg
Allstar Al Horford – 38.8 mpg, 42%FG, 70%FT, 8.8rpg, 2.5 apg, 0.8 spg, 1bpg, 13.3 ppg
Lets remember that Al Horford is one of our All Stars, and is widely considered by most of the bloggers as the greatest thing since sliced bread. Let’s also remeber that Al Horford has played the 4 position this whole series (where alot a people think he will dominate), and seems to not want to ever defend the position that he was voted an allstar at. Larry Drew resorted to Josh defending Howard before Al, and Al was not even in foul trouble. Makes you go ummmm. I don’t think it’s a mere coincidence that his FG% is way down playing the 4 because most 4’s in the league will come out and guard him on the perimeter, and not leave him wide open, like centers do. It would seem to me, that although Al is a mismatch defensively on Howard, late in the game, he would really help the offense by playing the center postion, and making Dwight come out of the paint to guard him. Especially if he is not in foul trouble.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 25th, 2011
6:26 pm
MC looks like Dion Glover’s big brother.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 25th, 2011
6:30 pm
Rev in Tampa, that was a real nice touch referencing your “cousin Boo-Boo” on that Orlando Sentinel blog.
Rev in Tampa
April 25th, 2011
6:30 pm
Rod,
Good comparison. I like Josh, but I have been upset at his shot selection. I wish you had included Josh’s 3pt. pct. in the playoffs.
Rod from College Park
April 25th, 2011
6:32 pm
Publix,
“JOSH SMITH, you are nothing but an overpaid cry BABY!!! You don’t act like someone who grew up in a tough area of ATL. You are poison to the team and far away from a leader. Your shot selection is horrible and until you realize that your job is to get rebounds, score underneath the basket and block shots, you will NEVER be an ALL STAR.”
While my last two posts may look like I am defending Josh Smith, I really am not. I feel like he takes some terrible shots, and makes some questionable decisions, but he also gets no credit at all from some bloggers. The post above is an example. Who has cried more this series, Josh Smith or Dwight Howard? If Josh is not a leader, then Joe and Al are not either. Honestly we have no leaders. Sometimes his shot selection is bad, but obviously the coach does not feel like scoring underneath, rebounding and blocking shots are his only job, because his offense has Josh standing behind the three point line most of the time, and defending Turk on the perimeter. It’s kind of hard to get a rebound when you are defending a guy who is a perimeter player, aas well as provide help defense, which Josh is so good at. Don’t blame Josh, blame LD, or blame Horford who has cried and wined all year about playing the position that he was voted an allstar at. Josh may never be an All-Star, but in these playoffs, he is outperforming our All Star Al Horford.
Rev in Tampa
April 25th, 2011
6:33 pm
Najeh,
I was wondering if anybody would catch it. I still laugh about that picture of Boo-Boo that you posted some time ago.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 25th, 2011
6:36 pm
“In all, the Hawks scored 22 points on on 20 isolation plays in Game 4, with all but four of those points by way of jumper. ”
Are Joe’s floaters counted as jumpers?
Rod from College Park
April 25th, 2011
6:38 pm
Rev in Tampa,
“Good comparison. I like Josh, but I have been upset at his shot selection. I wish you had included Josh’s 3pt. pct. in the playoffs.”
I did not because they both don’t shoot them, but he is 2 for 11 for 18%. Obviously he should not be shooting them, but its kind of hard to ask him to stop now, when the coach has allowed him to shoot them all year. I think the only thing that prevents him from shooting more is the Atlanta fans screaming NOOOO in Phillips Arena when he gets the ball behind the 3 point line. LOL
Six
April 25th, 2011
6:38 pm
Trade Josh Smith
Jeremy
April 25th, 2011
6:44 pm
Rod,
You are missing the point. With Josh it’s all about his lack of effort, heart, and basketball I.Q that makes him a detriment to the team.
Rev in Tampa
April 25th, 2011
6:51 pm
Jeremy,
I have changed my opinion 180 degrees this year. I used to believe that he played with no heart but I know differently now. He plays with his heart on his sleave. If he is angry or frustrated everybody is going to know it. Unfortunately it also comes out in his game. If he gets to frustrated he shuts down. And the team follows him.
I feel that Rod’s point, however, is that Al should be playing the 5 against Dwight so that Dwight will have to come out of the paint to guard the pick and pop.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 25th, 2011
6:53 pm
I also think it’s funny how all the people who want Smoove to drive forget his single worst possession in yesterday’s game — the one where he passed up an open long 2 from the corner to try to drive on Turkoglu, failed miserably, went nowhere, and ended up hoisting an airball as the shot clock expired.
Yeah, Smoove can drive the lane… when the lane is wide open or when he can exclusively use his left hand. If he has someone in front of him taking away his left hand, he is completely and totally incapable of driving because his handles are FAR worse than his jump shot.
The problem isn’t that he takes jumpers when he’s open. Compared to him trying to dribble that’s not a bad option. The problem is that he is in a position to take jumpers in the first place. Ideally he should be posting up and getting into position to rebound. But how much of him spotting up for jumpers is on him and how much of it is a result of the way the offense is designed?
honest_abe
April 25th, 2011
6:57 pm
josh smith is the man!
Rod from College Park
April 25th, 2011
7:03 pm
“You are missing the point. With Josh it’s all about his lack of effort, heart, and basketball I.Q that makes him a detriment to the team.”
So he does not play with effort, heart, or basketball I.Q, but he puts up the same or better numbers than the guy who is considered the better power forward by many on this blog. That’s interesting!!!!
Peter
April 25th, 2011
7:06 pm
I think both teams are playing badly, only the Magic is less talented, and smaller than the Hawks.
Hawks win this round, and who knows if they change to meet the challenge, or fall back to ISO with JJ and JC.
If they fall back to ISO ball it will be a short second round KO for them.
Rod from College Park
April 25th, 2011
7:07 pm
“But how much of him spotting up for jumpers is on him and how much of it is a result of the way the offense is designed?”
Exactly. Maybe that’s why he was asking Drew what a good shot was earlier in the season. In every motion offense I know off, the object of motion is to get any player on the floor a clean open look. Teams are going to leave Josh open, so what is Drew’s defintion of a good shot?
KevinM
April 25th, 2011
7:08 pm
I like Josh a lot and have always thought we couldn’t be this competitive without him. Saying that, I went to Game 3 and every time Josh shot a rainbow, I closed my eyes and listened to the crowd’s reaction.
The response was never on our favor, even though he actually had one go down.. If LD had any sense, he would tell our 4-wanting-to-be-a-3 to quit jacking up bricks.
Does any coach have any input with our guys? I can tell you Game 3 was actually the first time I recall Josh getting pulled in crunch time. So maybe there’s hope!
Sleepy
April 25th, 2011
7:09 pm
Peter everyone in the playoffs runs isos for their best player(s) PLEASE do not let yourself to be fooled by the media into thinking that everyone else is running the Princeton offense and are making 8 passes before a shot goes up . and that Hawks are just shooting wildly from anywhere .
Rod from College Park
April 25th, 2011
7:10 pm
“I feel that Rod’s point, however, is that Al should be playing the 5 against Dwight so that Dwight will have to come out of the paint to guard the pick and pop.”
Makes a lot of sense to me. Then maybe Joe won’t be so scared to attack the paint. You can’t leave Horford wide open, so why put Josh at center instead of Horford? Joe has already gotten his shot blocked by Dwight 3 or 4 times this series trying to drive the ball.
Wabe
April 25th, 2011
7:11 pm
I won’t sit here and advocate for one player over the other in this debate. But stats don’t paint the entire picture with Josh. Rod pulls out some stats that’d make you assume J.Smith is playing as well as Horford.
Truth is, Josh Smith may have the numbers. I’m not one who thinks he’s completely useless. But, most are tired of seeing this split-moded Josh. He’ll have his good times, but with the good comes the bad, and his bad often hurts the Hawks.
Pointing to numbers really doesn’t mean much here. What the numbers won’t point to are those long jumpers Smith will settle for when there’s more than enough time on the shot clock remaining in a critical possession. Numbers won’t point to the wasted possessions ‘bad Josh’ will be responsible for in the course of a game. Numbers won’t point to some of the silly mistakes that you don’t want to see a guy whose been in the league 6 seasons making. The guy has the potential to be special, but it’s a matter of taking steps forward. Last season, many argued Josh had an All-Star caliber season. Do you think that was the case this season? Last season he limited his looks from the perimeter, has that happened this season?
Again, he needs to take steps forward. When we watch nationally televised games, I can’t remember how many times I’ve heard countless ‘analysts’ and broadcasters mention Smith’s gifted athleticism, but how he continues to take bad shots. You’d hope a guys shot selection as he matures would get better. And in the playoffs, when the game slows down and possessions become scarcer, you’d hope he’d value possessions a bit more. You’d hope your team in general would do this (which they don’t always do). Smith plays the same way. So much so that in game 3, Drew yanked him and went with Crawford – reinserted Smith – the offense immediately stagnated with Smith’s return – and back came in Crawford. I think J.Smith spent 7-8 minutes on the bench in that 4th quarter.
I want to see this guy beast. I think expectations have been a little too high. But, I also think with as much time he’s had to work on his game, he should know what role he plays on this team. I don’t think he’s there yet. I’m not calling for the Hawks to trade the dude or to yank the dude. I just wanna see him take a leap at some point. It seems with every Hawks player, we have guys that have progressed slowly. Nobody’s taken any leaps forward with their game. Smith seemed like he was well on his way last season to putting the entire package together, and he reverted back to his old bad habits. Eliminate the bad habits, play smarter, play to your strengths, stay poised, and progress and nobody will have a problem with the dude.
The guy is a gifted athlete. He has stardom all over him. But only if the dude could get his mind right.
ag
April 25th, 2011
7:14 pm
TRADE J. Smith, he’s been a non-factor in any of these games, he actually almost lost game 3 and tried again last nigth.
????
So many Josh bashers. The last thing the Hawks need to do is trade Josh. He brings a lot of energy to the Hawks. He just needs to be coached up. A more disciplined coach will get more out of him. He actually has been the most consistant Hawk (outside of Jamal).
Najeh Davenpoop
April 25th, 2011
7:15 pm
“everyone in the playoffs runs isos for their best player(s) ”
Most other playoff teams’ shot creators can get into the paint and/or get fouled when they are isolated. The Hawks’ shot creators for the most part either can’t or won’t. When they choose to do so, the Hawks’ offense looks much better, but as long as they display the unwillingness and/or inability to do so, going with iso all the time is not in this team’s best interest.
Wabe
April 25th, 2011
7:16 pm
And the stats are pretty even Rod. And Horford is an All-Star.
But it doesn’t all come down to stats.
The way Josh Smith conducts himself on the floor does hurt the Hawks at times. That’s a fact. Smith is much more known for playing with a wreckless abandon than Horford is.
And also, lets use game 3 as an example here. The stats you paint make it seem that Smith and Horford would be equals. But, late in a game, would you feel more comfortable with coach drawing up a play for Horford or a play designed for J.Smith? For instance, late in game 3, with less than a minute left, the Hawks ran a pick and pop with Horford setting the pick for Jamal – Jamal dishes it to Horford who buries the mid range jumper. Personally, I’m much more comfortable with any look Horford takes than any look that’s drawn up for J.Smith.
The stats may make it seem like J.Smith is equal to or better than Al Horford, but most folks eyes don’t see it that way.
honest_abe
April 25th, 2011
7:16 pm
ok lets try one last time to pound some common sense into this josh smith debate.
the criticism is not based on his numbers or lack thereof. he’s a serviceable player doing what he does right now and the hawks are winning. the argument is that he could be SO much better if he concentrated on the things he does well. i think o’brien had a few stats about what josh was shooting inside the paint as opposed to outside of it and the numbers are what most expect, very drastic. look if cp3 can grab 3 boards surely josh can focus on attacking the offensive glass consistently. he can look to post. anybody see that monster jam when he drove it from the top of the key? that slashing lefty hook seems to work quite well. so why? why settle for those long jumpers early in the shot clock? that’s the frustration. he’s also very aloof. he’ll be looking into the crowd when the hawks are on the offensive end. he’s not very professional, careless with the ball and for the most part looks to play outside of his abilities.
the bottom line is nobody wants josh to do bad. josh’s critics are just as big a hawks fans as josh’s defenders. we’re just people that think he could do a lot better if he’d just grow the hell up!
Wabe
April 25th, 2011
7:21 pm
honest_abe’s on point today.
good stuff.
co-sign.
honest_abe
April 25th, 2011
7:23 pm
maybe not a princeton offense, but most winning teams dont’ resort mainly to isos either. pick and roll?, pick and pop? shooters coming off double screens? just basic plays would be just fine with me. i just can’t stand the stagnation. either jj or jamal just pounding getting doubled and then giving it to someone with little time on the shot clock. hell all teams screw up. it’s the playoffs there’s going to be some great d. but the hawks more than any other playoff team resort this pick up style of basketball and it’s extremely ineffective!
prison mike
April 25th, 2011
7:23 pm
I said this in another forum:
The hawks don’t have a true pg on the roster and are playing crawford, hinrich, and johnson heavy minutes at the 1. This is why we will look good one half and then the exact opposite the 2nd. Kirk is good defender but his offensive game is very similar to that of bibby who is a slightly better passer.
honest_abe
April 25th, 2011
7:29 pm
final point for today. spent way too much time in here.
someone please tell the hawks the game doesn’t end at the 4 minute mark in the 4th quarter. there’s a freaking 24 second shot clock! this isn’t football and you can’t run out the clock so run a damn play!
ag
April 25th, 2011
7:32 pm
Bash Josh day, wow….. Remember the Cleveland series when the Cavs left Josh WIDE open and he MISSED every shot? Josh has worked on his jumper and he understands that teams must pay if they leave him open. Yes, I agree he takes to many jumpers but NBA players have to be able to score on wide open baskets.
ag
April 25th, 2011
7:36 pm
As far as Josh complaining to the refs, well everyone who post would love Dwight in Atlanta. Yet, in his mind, he has not committed ONE foul this series, much less this season! He cries on EVERY FOUL. I have never seen him hold his hand up. You can watch a replay were he almost breaks a guys arm, but see him tell the refs, “I didn’t touch him!”
Yet the same people who don’t like Josh crying to the refs are the same one complaining about JJ being to quiet. The same bloggers also say the same about LD. Josh is one of the few players on this team that wears his heart on his shoulders. Unlike Al (again complaints about him passing to team mates), Josh wants to take the big shot. He is the person who wants to carry the team.
tim
April 25th, 2011
7:39 pm
Josh Smith needs to learn the fundamentals of basketball…how to dribble, shoot, and pass. The guy is bad, but then again so is the NBA. They call themselves “professionals”
Miss 65% of their shots…..this isn’t basketball. It’s garbage!
prison mike
April 25th, 2011
7:39 pm
Smith is playing nearly all his 36 mins. at small forward. He’s obviously too heavy to play there full time. He would be a beast if he lost 15 pounds. Being an elite level athlete, he could do that this summer and we’ll get a chance to see what a deft 6-9 225 pound player could do.
He would need to work on that right hand. He scores with it well enough but can’t seem to dribble with it. I can dribble with my left almost as well as my right but I can’t lay up left to save my life. It must be a righty/lefty thing.
doc
April 25th, 2011
7:40 pm
honest nice seeing you around a bit today. seems like you might have given up the red bulls. heh heh
G
April 25th, 2011
7:50 pm
I don’t get the point of this article. So you are mad that the hawks are being challenged by the media? Just because “this is the Hawks” does not mean it is good and should not be called out. They are a 5 seed beating up a 4 seed they beat up on all season. These bad shots don’t work against great teams.
ant banks
April 25th, 2011
7:51 pm
trade josh smith, jc1, (sign and trade), marvin, 2 1st round picks in ‘12 and ‘13 for d12. horford, d12, jj would give us a BIG 3!!!!!
O'Brien
April 25th, 2011
8:12 pm
Rod,
Larry Drew resorted to Josh defending Howard before Al, and Al was not even in foul trouble.
Keep in mind that sometimes Josh ended up on Dwight because of a switch, not because LD told him to guard Dwight. Also, LD’s plan has been to save his centers from picking up fouls early on so they will be available later in the game.
And I am ok with Al matching up with Dwight when the Hawks are on offense. But when the Hawks are on defense, Al cannot stop Dwight, so it would lead to foul trouble.
As for the Josh vs Al debate, I think Josh is a more talented PF than Al.
However, my problem with Josh is he has too many negative impact plays (turnovers, bad shot selection etc) that can be corrected easily (imo).
I dont put it all on him, because Woody and LD share some of the blame. But if Josh would focus on staying in the paint, and focus on defense, rebounding, and filling the lanes, he might actually make the all star team for a change.
James on Pharr Rd
April 25th, 2011
8:14 pm
It seems like MC took our conversation on the blog last night to heart…..
JJ’s floaters fall in the drive-the lane plays (high percentage shots)
With 3-4 minutes to go, who gives us higher return on a play when we need a big bucket against a solid D…..I know Joe gets pounded on this blog, but I think his game allows for more options on a play. But, then there’s a bunch of people who say we should look at Jamal’s game winners…..
Rod from College Park
April 25th, 2011
8:15 pm
Wabe,
“But it doesn’t all come down to stats.
The way Josh Smith conducts himself on the floor does hurt the Hawks at times. That’s a fact. Smith is much more known for playing with a wreckless abandon than Horford is.”
Many times Al hurts the team by not taking wide open shots, and taking forever to make up his mind when he catches the ball on the block. Can’t explain how many times I have seen Al pass up a wide open shot to pass to Josh standing behind the 3 point line. If we can’t compare stats, then what do we compare? We should just use your eye test without knowing what each player is asked to do by his coach? Dwight Howard conducts himself worse than Josh does on the court, does he hurt his team also?
“And also, lets use game 3 as an example here. The stats you paint make it seem that Smith and Horford would be equals. But, late in a game, would you feel more comfortable with coach drawing up a play for Horford or a play designed for J.Smith? For instance, late in game 3, with less than a minute left, the Hawks ran a pick and pop with Horford setting the pick for Jamal – Jamal dishes it to Horford who buries the mid range jumper. Personally, I’m much more comfortable with any look Horford takes than any look that’s drawn up for J.Smith.”
This is where your obvious bias comes in. I would take a play for Josh in the post, any day over Horford. Horford has absolutely no post game. He has looked terrible in the post this series against Brandon Bass. Josh is better in the post, much better passer, and finishes at the rim better. Also if you don’t remember there was a play very late in the game where they went to Josh in the post, and he hit that lefty hook, but I know, you don’t remeber that. LOL
Booo!
April 25th, 2011
8:32 pm
You guys are killing me with all this Josh smith talk. Marvin Williams Sucks! He’s the problem! If we had a better SF coming off the bench, maybe smoove wouldnt have to play so many minutes there.
Until we get rid of all the sorry players on our roster, why bash smoove? At least he shows up. I don’t even remeber marvin being on the floor last night. Was he even at the arena?
J.W.Grant
April 25th, 2011
8:57 pm
Joe Johnson was trying this best to blow last night game .L.D needs to take him out the game every time he starts hogging the ball . The thing L.D needs to is make j .Smith play in the paint all game
Nate ArchiBALL
April 25th, 2011
9:01 pm
Big drop off in FG% from Al during the playoffs…55% to 42%.
I wonder what Hollinger has to say about these numbers…….
ant banks
April 25th, 2011
9:01 pm
one of the west’s top 3 seeds are not goin’ to make it off the block this year. san antonio, lakers, or dallas. there is NO WAY that all 3 will make it out unscathed.
Wabe
April 25th, 2011
9:01 pm
Points taken Rod.
I wasn’t really talking about post-plays though. I was talking more about any play in general. And end of the game situation and we need a bucket, who would you rather have the play designed for?
Al Horford pick & pop vs. Josh Smith in the post.
It’s debatable. I personally am more comfortable with a play designed for Al Horford than one designed for Josh Smith.
As for the eye test point I was making. The reason Josh Smith catches so much heat from many Hawks fans is because most people are seeing Josh do the same thing. When talking about Josh Smith, everybody speaks of the same bad habits. They speak about the poor shot selection, they speak about his perimeter-favoring ways, they speak about his errand passes. I personally thought Josh was developing into a hell of a passing big guy last season. But, it just seems he tries doing too much with the ball when passing. Too many hero passes, too many cross court feeds – - but I won’t knock on him too much for this. I’m more disgruntled with the dude’s shot selection.
As O’Brien pointed out, many of Josh’s problems are fixable. But, there the same problems we’ve been ranting about for years now, and they’re still existent. That’s why people question the guys mind.
Last point, as far as the “conducting himself” point I was making, I was trying to say his b’ball ways. I think Josh has gotten much better at controlling his attitude in games than people give him credit for. I was leaning more to the way he conducts his b’ball game. But, it is what it is. Again, I don’t try to ‘hate’ on the dude. I just call it like I see it. The dude does things routinely that hurt this team. I’m rooting for the dude to put it together, but how many seasons in his now? And we’re still talking about the same problems.
Ethan
April 25th, 2011
9:07 pm
I’m not shocked nor do I take offense. They take bad shots. A lot of them. J-Smoove and Hinrich at the top of the list. Respect is earned. Keep winning Hawks and maybe things will change.
Wabe
April 25th, 2011
9:11 pm
And you can’t argue Horford not taking open shots hurts this team more than Josh Smith’s insistence on playing on the perimeter.
Al Horford can’t play well in the post as you point out, and thus he plays more perimeter. He’s playing to his strength.
Josh Smith plays better in the post, but insists on playing on the perimeter. He’s playing towards his weakness.
That’s why he’s hurting this team more than Horford does. Criticizing Horford isn’t out of bounds. We can criticize Horford too. But, Josh Smith’s mistakes seem so repetitive, and him not adjusting his game to play to his strengths makes one think he’s either:
a) stubborn
b) immature/lack of a true bball iq
Basketball’s not just a game played on pure talent. You’ve got to learn the game and learn to play the game. Josh Smith has all of the physical abilities, but this guy still has a lot to learn about how to really play the game effectively and how to capitalize on his physical talents. Horford on the other hand doesn’t have the physical gifts Smith possesses, but his time playing college ball may have him ahead of others in terms of how to play the game effectively.
Just calling it like i see it. You can say I’m biased, but I’m just basing my opinion on what I’ve seen watching games.
Wabe
April 25th, 2011
9:16 pm
And I do co-sign that Marvin Williams is straight garbage. I think we can all agree on that. I know Rod agrees.
Mike is back
April 25th, 2011
9:28 pm
MC, very good stuff…It’s laughable that Jet would go through all that trouble…when all he had to do was…read the blog…geeeeeeeeeez.lol
Last year we were the laughing stock of the NBA for being listless against Orlando…know we are up 3-1 on Orlando and we are being admonish for winning…go figure.
It’s kind of good in a way though…somebody gotta get through to these guys…if that don’t do it…than daaaaaaaaang.lol
BUT WHAT’S THE MOTTO FOR THE NBA PLAYOFF…WIN ARE GO HOME…the Hawks can shut a bunch of people TF up…by winning by the next game…word up!!!!
The Truth
April 25th, 2011
9:29 pm
Apparently some Celtics fan feels the same way about Glen Davis taking fewer jumpers as some here in Hawkvilles feels about Josh. It is worth noting in this article states that:
The league average for mid-range shots (16-23 feet) is 39.4% for the 2010-11 season, the Hawks shots above average at 43.3%. However, surprisingly, the Hawks FG % in the playoff breakdown this way:
Josh Smith (Ranks 20/61) @ 49%
K Hinrich (Ranks 26/61) @ 47.5%
Jamal Crawford (Ranks 27/61) @ 47.1%
Joe Johnson (Ranks 37/61) @ 43.5%
Al Horford (Ranks 38/61) @ 42.6%
These stats suggest Josh Smith is leading in FG% (in the playoff) compared to his teammates, go figure.
Here is the playoff TO breakdown:
Joe Johnson (Ranks 10/138) @ 3.2 TOPG
Josh Smith (Ranks 19/138) @ 2.5 TOPG
Jamal Crawford (Ranks 62/138) @ 1.2 TOPG
Al Horford (Ranks 1.2/138) @ TOPG
K Hinrich (Ranks 1.0/138) @ TOPG
So while we all squirm when Josh gets the ball out on the perimeter, these stats numbers suggest JJ is really the player worth squirming about. Again go figure
The Truth
April 25th, 2011
9:32 pm
*Al Horford (Ranks 62/138) @ 1.2 TOPG
*K Hinrich (Ranks 74/138) @ 1.0 TOPG