Magic at Atlanta Hawks Game 6: Larry Drew’s move in ‘chess match’
Hawks players have said more than once that a playoff series is like a “chess match.”
Your move, L.D.
The Hawks have had success defending Orlando’s pick-and-rolls by frequently using a funky scheme, as detailed by Brett Koremenos at hoopspeak.com. (H/T Hoopinion) The alignment didn’t work so well in Game 5, though.
It’s a strategy that has been effective in large part because Hinrich, J.J., Smoove and (sometimes) Jamal all can cover enough ground to make the switch and run out to corner shooters. Those guys also are tall enough that they can bother the shooter even if they don’t make it all the way out. It also helps that the corner defenders who pinch in to help against the ball handler are big guys.
Watching the Magic’s Game 5 pick-and-rolls on Synergy Sports Technology, I noticed that Redick and Jameer changed up. Instead of going all the way to the rim and either looking for the corner 3 (which the Hawks have covered well) or try to get to the basket (where help awaits), Redick and Jameer put on the brakes and shot step-back Js.
Twin and Zaza weren’t mobile enough to challenge those shots while also protecting against Dwight’s roll to the basket. The corner help man couldn’t get over to contest. And the ball handler’s man was trailing the play (and also had to be in position to switch and run to the corner on a kick-out).
It was a subtle change. The Magic got their offense rolling because their guards made better decisions.
“That was clear,” Stan Van Gundy said. “I did not think we forced plays and I didn’t think we got going too fast. We had very few turnovers and, for the most part, we were making simple, solid basketball plays.
“When you get into this mentality with your back to the wall, we didn’t want ‘hero plays’ where a guy is like, ‘I will just take on two guys and score over them.’ That doesn’t end up working. You want to play your game, make simple plays, take open shots and live with the result.”
So how do the Hawks counter that chess move from the Magic?
“You adjust,” L.D. said today, smiling.
Van Gundy noted there are a finite number of (realistic) ways to defend the most common play in basketball.
“There is only so many ways you can guard a pick-and-roll,” Van Gundy said. “We all will make adjustments and try to do what’s best. But it’s not like I have a way to play the pick-and-roll that Larry and his players have never seen and we are going to shock them with it tonight. And it’s not like Larry has got a way to play the pick-and-roll that is going to shock our guys, where Jameer is going to say, ‘Oh, my God I’ve never seen this before.’
“You have got to make plays.”
Notes
- Smoove wasn’t happy about Mike Bianchi’s “Atlanta Birdbrains” column in the Orlando Sentinel. Bianchi was in the locker room today and Josh gave him some typically-candid and colorful feedback.
- “I’m not sure how you’ve got reporters calling people idiots and dummies,” Josh said in an interview. “I don’t understand how people can challenge somebody’s intelligence when you are talking about a basketball game. Some people take it too far.”
- L.D. on his team’s focus: “I think everybody is ready. I’ve seen this group in this situation before. In the playoffs this is the type of position you want to be in. We have an opportunity to close on our home floor. It’s not easy to close out anybody but I’d rather do it in these circumstances.”
- Jamal: “It’s us against the world. It’s funny how before the series everybody was all about Orlando. Then we went up 3-1 and it went back to us, and now it’s back the other way. They are fighting a hungry team.”
- The Magic sent more doubles at Jamal in Game 5. “I watched a lot of tape and I will adjust,” he said. “I’m excited. I see how I can take advantage of different things and get myself going and get my teammates involved and come out with a victory.”
- L.D. though the Hawks played too fast in Game 5. He’s OK with them pushing the pace at home: “We definitely want to get the crowd involved with the pace. We want to get up-and-down and use our athleticism. But we’ve got to be smart about it and not get caught up in a jump-shooting fest with that team.”
- Al on his sagging shooting (19 of 49) since Game 1: “They’ve done a great job defending. This is a game that I’m coming in with the same approach. I’m just going to make sure I get myself going.”
- J-Rich is expected to play after cutting his foot in some glass on Tuesday afternoon. “It’s OK,” Van Gundy said. “We didn’t have him go through the walk-through [today] because we didn’t want to risk him opening up the stitches.”
- Van Gundy on the Magic’s shooting in Game 5: “I was only half-joking when I said a lot of this game comes down to making shots or missing shots.”
- Magic CEO Bob Vander Weider told the Orlando Sentinel that he and team owner Rich DeVos are happy with Van Gundy and GM Otis Smith.
- “I can laughingly say that votes of confidence are the kiss of death,” Van Gundy said today. “I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. But knowing Bob and taking him at face value after working in the organization, you are always happy when your bosses are happy with you. But that’s not where my head is at. I just want to win the series.”
- The Magic won’t necessarily go back to a Dwight-centric offense after they had success scoring other ways. “We found an offensive attack that was working,” Van Gundy said. “It’s not about who scores. We had our best offensive game of the year.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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793 comments Add your comment
Slimjr
April 28th, 2011
6:02 pm
“while Al’s flaws are noticed less since he doesn’t try to do too much, but instead, plays it safe, and if you’re not watching closely, you don’t realize that his lack of confidence is actually hurting the team in subtle, yet significant ways.”
Interesting take on Allstar AL..look out for the stat guru’s to justify why he’s consider an Allstar.btw 19-49 aint cutting it for your ALLStar in these playoffs..
If He played in the western conference he would not even be mentioned in the same breath as an ALLSTAR…I respectfully disagree with some of Najeh and Sautee’s assessment of Al..So big deal??? All humans have something in common; we all have opinions??????
COME ON AL TAKE A BIG STEP AND HELP YOUR GUARDS TONIGHT..HAVE NO FEAR ITS ONLY A GAME?????????????????.
Lukas
April 28th, 2011
6:05 pm
From ESPN 5-on-5:
3. Fact or Fiction: The Magic will force a Game 7 with the Hawks.
LZ Granderson, ESPN The Magazine: Fact. Joe Johnson is a nice guy, but any squad depending on him to come up big in a closeout game is in trouble. What did he do last game, five points and three boards? Last year against the Bucks, dude scored eight in Game 7, and he shot 9-for-30 in the final two games against the Celtics in 2008.
Jordan Heimer, ClipperBlog: Fiction. The Magic shot the Hawks out of Amway Center in Game 5, aided by Larry Drew’s curious decision to sit Kirk Hinrich, his strongest defensive guard, for much of the decisive first half. Buoyed by a revved-up crowd and the triumphant homecoming of psuedo-headbutter Zaza Pachulia, the Hawks recapture their aggressive defense in Game 6, closing out on shooters and the series.
Ian Levy, The Two Man Game: Fact. Jamal Crawford’s jump shot has come back to Earth, just as outside shots have started falling for the Magic. It will take a significant amount of mental toughness to finish off the Magic, but mental toughness and the Hawks have been arch-enemies the past few seasons. In short, I like the Magic’s brand of chaos a lot more than the Hawks’.
Matt Moore, Hardwood Paroxysm: Fact. I’m sorry, but you’d like me to put faith in the Atlanta Hawks? Larry Drew’s Atlanta Hawks? The Hawks had their chance to slam the door shut, and instead they allowed the perimeter flood gates to open in Orlando. Faith no more in Atlanta.
Danny Savitzky, Nets Are Scorching: Fact. What looked to be a disturbing trend showed signs of changing for the better in Game 5, as the Magic finally started hitting some perimeter shots. Dwight Howard can’t do it alone, and even though the Hawks have an advantage in being able to single cover him, Orlando shooters’ success is a barometer for the Magic. Consistent with the law of averages, the Magic will push it to seven.
No respect, AT ALL. Can’t blame them.
Slimjr
April 28th, 2011
6:09 pm
HEY LARRY DONT PICKUP THE PHONE TONIGHT WHEN THE godfather calls..Let voice mail pickup…Tell him you were taking a dump in the bathroom or somethin…….
Who Cares
April 28th, 2011
6:13 pm
Chess match, are you kidding me. You have to have some intelligence to play chess, and unfortunately neither the Hawk’s coach or it’s players have any intelligence when it comes to playing basketball or anything else. These guys are so lost on the court and it is funny when they look over at their coach and he looks like a deer in the headlights. The hawks are a bunch of overpaid, lazy,immature, thugs, and it will show again tonight. Watch these clowns throw up terrible shots, and make lazy passes all night, while they cry to the refs to try and help them out. This team is a disgrace to the city of Atlanta, and hopefully after they lose this series, the even worst ownership will have to sell the team. Moving these thugs out of Atlanta can’t happen soon enough. Hey if they can’t win at basketball, maybe they could all join a chess club. LOL!!
The Real Mandingo
April 28th, 2011
6:18 pm
Jamal is the most clutch player for the Hawks. Get him going early and often and he will lead this team to victory. Tonight, Jamal, who will enthrall, needs to be shakin’ and bakin’, wheelin’ and dealin’, spinnin’ and winnin’, divin’ and strivin’, dancin’ and prancin’, and movin’ and groovin’. Sorry, I couldn’t stop channeling my inner Walter “Clyde” Frazier. You know how “Clyde” does his thing as a NY Knicks TV analyst.
drmaryb (*_-)
April 28th, 2011
6:18 pm
For someone Who Doesn’t Care? That dude sure has a lot to say.
Anyway, Let’s Go!
ag
April 28th, 2011
6:26 pm
Rod, you are dead on. I also think LD plays checkers. I have said it all year we don’t need a center because we have one of the best. Although he hurts us checking Dwight, on offense he can pull Dwight away from the basket. So again, he really has to understand his substitution patterns. I am not that big on Hinrich, although he does a good job, JT needs PT to run these guys. He changes the pace of the game. JT has shot more FT’s in 8 minutes than KH has for the entire playoffs 0-0.
The worst part of it, when we beat Orlando, Marvin will again be a starter despite being a non-factor. 10 of his 12 points came in garbage time on Tuesday.
Jay Dubu
April 28th, 2011
6:27 pm
Tonight is Game 7 for the Hawks. If they don’t close this out tonight, the Magic will beat them in a Game 7.
The last game brought back memories of the blowouts from last season in the 2nd round against the Magic. Let’s hope that the article in the Orlando paper causes the Hawks to play with fire.
The Rock
April 28th, 2011
6:30 pm
@Who Cares,
Since you have been blessed beyond measure with smarts, or as you say, intelligence, why are you watching the dummies play? Those that can do…those that can’t talk!
ag
April 28th, 2011
6:32 pm
Looking at some of our +/-… Crawford -30; Johnson -28, Hortford -24, Williams -18!! Yet, most of the post are about Josh… I don’t get it.
It is very obvious that Josh does not read the blogs because many of you always question his IQ
drmaryb (*_-)
April 28th, 2011
6:35 pm
Play Teague @ PG with Jamal, when Joe @ Kirk come out.
Try It you might like it. Try something new, those two guys have energy galore, esp. If Joe is not on his game early.
vava74
April 28th, 2011
6:37 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
April 28th, 2011
4:02 pm
Agree that Collins may have difficulty in the perimeter but that is waaaay low on the list of killer issues for us. waaaaaaay low.
I’ve seen Collins defend the pick ‘n roll well in many occasions on pure positioning and savvy.
I’ll take that over half hearted efforts by other guys. Where you would be 100% right is that he could be in foul trouble on account of that and diminish his availability when we needed him.
So, that’s all about coaching, mixing and matching.
drmaryb (*_-)
April 28th, 2011
6:39 pm
Keep the score close and let Joe be the closer in the 4th.
vava74
April 28th, 2011
6:41 pm
Rod,
You are dead right on the Al Horford subject: his percentages are good because he only takes good shots (clean looks).
When called to shoot under pressure, his numbers drop dramatically (he basically craps his pants under pressure).
Funny enough, I would venture into saying that against ORL, Al should play SF when Collins is on the floor and ask Josh play PF.
Similarly, when we were about to play MIA a couple of months ago I thought that against MIA Josh should have played C so he could be always under the rim on D to stop and intimidate Wade and Lebron’s drives leaving Al to play Bosh away from the basket.
Slimjr
April 28th, 2011
6:46 pm
Hey @who cares, sounds to me like your describing that local hockey team that cost Gearon and his boys 130 million!!!!!! LOL
ag
April 28th, 2011
6:49 pm
If Biachi cant take a little abuse, he shouldnt dish it out. You’re a grown man, you want to call another person names you expect it in return and live with it, you started the name calling after all.
Who cares.
Reply Posted by: Chris | Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 2:14 PM
Thanks, Bianchi. I knew your big mouth would fire up the Hawks, just like Nelson’s big mouth did.
Reply Posted by: Steve | Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 2:16 PM
Great, Bianchi. You’ve screwed the Magic and fired up the Hawks by acting like a child.
Reply Posted by: Austin | Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 2:26 PM
A few comments coming out of Orlando
Slimjr
April 28th, 2011
6:52 pm
hey @who cares you wouldn’t know what a “real thug” look like if he was staring you in the face…That’s what happens when you brain wash the masses and keep em stuck on ignorance for over a hundred years…………Your real enemy got on a string and you have no clue..now go crawl back into your hole….
ag
April 28th, 2011
6:54 pm
5-12 fg 0-3 3fg 4-4 ft 7 rb 4ast 0 blk 5 steals 14 points in 61 minutes.. stats for Marvin prior to game 5.. 3 ppg.. turrible. But he will start for the Bulls series..
Jborodawg
April 28th, 2011
6:59 pm
Doesn’t matter what “chess” move LD makes if they shoot 30-something percent.
Slimjr
April 28th, 2011
6:59 pm
@vava74
“You are dead right on the Al Horford subject: his percentages are good because he only takes good shots (clean looks).
When called to shoot under pressure, his numbers drop dramatically (he basically craps his pants under pressure).”
Interesting observations ref. Allstar Al’s offense…
That basketball becomes a hot tamale..
ag
April 28th, 2011
7:03 pm
vava74
I think those moves would consider LD playing chess. Heck playing checkers we were blown out by 30. By the way, we got plastered by Chi-Town a couple of times with KH and MW starting. I really think the checker player will not learn to play chess overnight.
The Real Mandingo
April 28th, 2011
7:09 pm
@Who Cares,
Don’t hate because you can’t imitate; man up and congratulate. Now, go to the timeout corner and meditate and try not to hallucinate.
TheAntiMe
April 28th, 2011
7:10 pm
The most important adjustment that the Hawks will need to make is to not tuck their tails between their legs and go run and hide if Orlando takes a lead of 10 points. I truly hope that Joe doesn’t try his one-on-five strategy again tonight.
If the El Foldo Hawks happen to show up tonight instead of the Hawks we watched play in Games 1 – 4 then it matters not what Larry Drew, or the fans, or Harry the Hawk do tonight. Go Hawks!!!!!
The Real Mandingo
April 28th, 2011
7:13 pm
@Who Cares,
…and watch the Hawks seal the fate.
Luke Cage
April 28th, 2011
7:37 pm
LETS GO HAWKS! LETS GO HAWKS!
superiorblogman
April 28th, 2011
7:37 pm
Cam Newton=Josh Smith. The most athletic specimen on the court but his fundamentals are seriously flawed and he will never live that down. I will be flipping between the Cam Newton sweepstakes and the birdbrains. Go Cam Go, Go Birdbrains Go.
bigdave
April 28th, 2011
7:40 pm
LETS GET IT!!!!
BE SPECIAL…
Najeh Davenpoop
April 28th, 2011
7:40 pm
There’s a plane flying around that says no cover at Cheetah if you have a ticket stub. DASG pullin’ out all the stops…
Luke Cage
April 28th, 2011
7:40 pm
Smitty said watch Marvin tonight?
Luke Cage
April 28th, 2011
7:42 pm
Agree with Smitty & 3D, JJ needs a 30+ 7ast game tonight
O'Brien
April 28th, 2011
7:42 pm
Predictions?
I think Hawks win…because they will play desperate
Buddy Grizzard
April 28th, 2011
7:42 pm
James
April 28th, 2011
5:24 pm
Read every word James… Great post… I can’t really add anything
Rev in Tampa
April 28th, 2011
7:43 pm
NBATV goes off the air in Tampa every time the Magic play. Even though they are playing in Atlanta. So I have to watch it with the Magic announcers. Atlanta better come out and punch the Magic in the mouth so I won’t have to listen to these blowhards pontificate on how bad the Hawks are.
cp
April 28th, 2011
7:43 pm
so winning the tip is a good sign? come on Nique smh
bigdave
April 28th, 2011
7:44 pm
ALL DAY JOSH!
Luke Cage
April 28th, 2011
7:44 pm
@Rev in Tampa
go to Firs Row Sports.com, I’m watching the game online right now, this site lets you watch every sport
Melvin
April 28th, 2011
7:46 pm
whats going on with NBATV?
bigdave
April 28th, 2011
7:46 pm
finally we recognize a flashing teammate .. they will leave a defender to help.. keep your head up..
Melvin
April 28th, 2011
7:46 pm
Yeah Josh…
cp
April 28th, 2011
7:47 pm
there u go Josh. attack the rim
Luke Cage
April 28th, 2011
7:47 pm
Thats IQ Josh fans
bigdave
April 28th, 2011
7:47 pm
thats the heart of the Hawk right there folks. Josh Smith.
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
April 28th, 2011
7:47 pm
Hawks have the Magic in check. Hopefully by halftime Drew can say “check mate!”
Mac-Town #maconchevyrider
April 28th, 2011
7:47 pm
That boy Josh Smith ready to end this sh… tonight
bigdave
April 28th, 2011
7:48 pm
way to cut Jason.. good recognition Joe..
Luke Cage
April 28th, 2011
7:48 pm
Cmon Joe
ceeCee
April 28th, 2011
7:49 pm
YEEEEEEEEEEEEAAHH JOSH! LETS SEE THAT EVERY NIGHT! NOT JUST WHEN U GET DOWN!
tremaine
April 28th, 2011
7:49 pm
Boys looking good so far.
cp
April 28th, 2011
7:49 pm
Al has no post up game what so ever
Luke Cage
April 28th, 2011
7:50 pm
Al should move quicker in the post