Atlanta Hawks: Fun with numbers
Hoopdata.com has updated its stats through last night’s games and they reveal that the Hawks are the best team in the league.
After two games. Against bad opponents.
OK, it doesn’t mean much. But what’s the harm in my blog people looking at these lovely numbers before reality rears its (potentially disappointing) head?
The Hawks are No. 1 in defensive efficiency and No. 3 in offensive efficiency. They are No. 1 in opponent effective-field goal percentage and No. 3 in defensive rebounding rate.
Atlanta is No. 5 in true-shooting percentage , No. 3 in 3-point shooting percentage and No. 4 in three-point attempts. The Hawks are No. 9 in free-throw rate and No. 3 in free-throw percentage.
Alas, there are some things that not even a miniscule sample size and lackluster opponents can cure. The Hawks rank No. 16 in block rate and 27 percent of their 161 field-goal attempts have been long 2s after 30 percent of their attempts last season came from the most inefficient distance.
Still, block rates don’t mean as much when the Hawks are holding opponents to .8 points per possession and the long 2s are not as damaging when they are shooting just as many 3s and making them at a good clip. Of course, these developments may not continue once the competition stiffens but the Hawks are dominating lesser opponents and that’s the best result possible at the moment.
Plus, isn’t it fun to look at those numbers no matter the context?
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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154 comments Add your comment
KZ
December 30th, 2011
12:35 pm
First
i_am_soulstar
December 30th, 2011
12:37 pm
Happy New Years blog folks & MC
Rev in Tampa
December 30th, 2011
12:40 pm
This is an interesting article about Dwight coming to Atl.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1003377-nba-trade-rumors-sending-dwight-howard-to-the-hawks-is-best-move-for-magic
vava74
December 30th, 2011
12:40 pm
Marvin may be playing better but against the Wizards he was schooled by Rashard on a few defensive possessions… a bad omen IMO.
We played OK in these couple of games but the opposition was weak. Good to see a lively and active D smothering the opposition but let’s wait for more serious match ups before we jump into conclusions.
vava74
December 30th, 2011
12:41 pm
Oh, by the way:
MC, you are doing a GREAT JOB this season. GREAT JOB.
Thank you!
beejayrufino
December 30th, 2011
12:42 pm
nice blog- hawks is really improving keep it up!
Slimjr
December 30th, 2011
12:45 pm
Stephanie Ready is getting more air time on NBA TV..
Get her a show asap! AYE Captain!
tidog
December 30th, 2011
12:45 pm
The free throw rate and free throw percentage are nice numbers, time will tell which players are going to keep attacking the basket.
vava74
December 30th, 2011
12:46 pm
Rev,
That article is what I call “pure garbage”.
It’s riddled with idiocies which make it as fire proof as a Ford Pinto.
Stating that Horford is “uber-athletic and supremely-talented” is one of the most idiotic statements about the NBA I ever heard.
Horford is reasonably athletic – being that his best characteristic is his MOTOR – he has good resistance and plays with good levels of intensity.
As for “supremely talented” I will not even waste my time debunking that!!!!
Al Horford is a “fine” player, a good character and apparently a good team mate and person.
At the #5 slot, if he puts his mind to it, a very very useful player. At the #4 slot, he is a middling talent.
Slimjr
December 30th, 2011
12:49 pm
Hey wheres our entertainment reporter…Interesting rumors out there about All NBA and his new bride? Hmmmmmmmmmmm….
We want a Championship! Get D12 in here ASAP!
D12 is built for the playoffs. All whatever is built for the regular season, sorta like that Falcons QB?
tidog
December 30th, 2011
12:53 pm
That Falcon QB has been in the league 4 years and been in the playoffs 3 years, thats almost 100% playoff appearance.
BIG DOG
December 30th, 2011
12:55 pm
MC i posted on last blog about Dwight being mention about coming to Atlanta, that rumor is true.
Horford discussion was center piece and the building block for Magic, but the conversation was Horford only no one else.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Slimjr
December 30th, 2011
12:57 pm
All whatever=39 games, avg. 7pts, 4rbs. Championship Nimbers? LMFAO!
Melt= 0-3, ALL beatdowns (3rd Loss will be the Saints game coming up.Or should I say catastrophic meltdown)…..LMFAO!
Riddle Me This
December 30th, 2011
12:58 pm
Ryan gets heat, but he’s have his best statistical season yet. Problem is, the defense under this regime has yet to show up in a big game. Not his fault.
Contrast that with how the defense won those playoff games when Vick was here, as he could barely pass for over 150 yards a la Tebow.
i_am_soulstar
December 30th, 2011
1:08 pm
BTW,
I can’t believe MC posted something even slightly optimistic about the Hawks.
And just when I was beginning to get used to your always-neutral stance.
Michael Cunningham
December 30th, 2011
1:09 pm
@soulstar: happy new year
@vava: thanks
BIG DOG
December 30th, 2011
1:10 pm
Marvin, Horford, Zaza, 2012 and 2013 first round for Redick, Dwight.
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=76ykc9y
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Michael Cunningham
December 30th, 2011
1:11 pm
@big dog: “MC i posted on last blog about Dwight being mention about coming to Atlanta, that rumor is true. Horford discussion was center piece and the building block for Magic, but the conversation was Horford only no one else.”
yes, i’ve written about this already. but it can’t just be Horford because the salaries wouldn’t match, especially if Magic want to include Turkoglu. i am sure Smith wasn’t included in the proposal and fairly certain Joe wasn’t.
Just Joe
December 30th, 2011
1:13 pm
BIG DOG…You can’t trade 1st round picks in back to back years. Since we traded last year’s, the first two picks available will be 2013 & 2015.
BIG DOG
December 30th, 2011
1:14 pm
Horford, Joe, 2012 and 2013 first round pick for Redick, Dwight
Share your trade
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=86tngp5
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
MattP
December 30th, 2011
1:16 pm
We will have to keep Smith to help get Howard to sign the extension. I think Marvin might be good trade bait to add with Horford but it will really depend on next week when we play Heat and Bulls.
Michael Cunningham
December 30th, 2011
1:17 pm
@soulstar: “I can’t believe MC posted something even slightly optimistic about the Hawks.”
you need to consult with the people who think i’m too negative and those who think i’m too positive. and then you all need to decide once and for all the proper reason to hate on me.
seriously, though, if “always neutral” means “always reasonable” then, thanks . . .
Riddle Me This
December 30th, 2011
1:19 pm
Falcons D vs GB in 2002 playoff: 7 pts allowed, Vick 117 passing yds
Falcons D vs STL in 2005 playoff: 17 pts allowed, Vick 82 passing yds
Falcons D vs AZ in 2009 playoff: 30 pts allowed, Ryan 199 passing yds
Falcons D vs GB in 2011 playoff: 41 pts allowed, Ryan 186 passing yds
(No need to post Vick’s two playoff losses with Atlanta)
MattP
December 30th, 2011
1:19 pm
BIG DOG, Magic will more then likely want to get rid of Turk with Howard. If it involves a trade with Johnson we will have to take Turk.
Nique
December 30th, 2011
1:20 pm
We lost Jamal but i think as a whole our 2cnd unit is more solid & we rounded, especially once Kirk comes back.I thill think we’re a big man who serves as a defender of the lane/rim who also has a little bit of offensive, back to the basket post moves away from truly competing like we want to, but I think our 2cnd unit will benifit us this year.
Slimjr
December 30th, 2011
1:23 pm
Fal-cons=47 year riddle….
#Let'sGoHawks!
December 30th, 2011
1:24 pm
Why can’t we just wait until free agency? Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Gearon say in that Q & A, that he would go into the luxury tax for the right player? Just saying..
Slimjr
December 30th, 2011
1:25 pm
We need to try and keep Joe…Need a shooter to spread the floor with D12 in the box…
7>3 in this Time line..
December 30th, 2011
1:28 pm
Ryan= FG Maker
Brees= TD maker! Huh?
Riddle Me This
December 30th, 2011
1:28 pm
Slim can’t doing anything about those stats, as the Eagles have yet to win anything anything with his God Vick.
Rev in Tampa
December 30th, 2011
1:28 pm
Riddle Me This, I have no interest in the Ryan v. Vick controversy. But to be fair in your argument you should also include Vick’s rushing numbers in those games.
Rev in Tampa
December 30th, 2011
1:30 pm
By the way, I have no idea what Vick’s rushing #’s were in those games.
Riddle Me This
December 30th, 2011
1:30 pm
7>3,
You are correct. As leaders, Brees > Ryan > Vick. That much is clear.
MattP
December 30th, 2011
1:32 pm
If we for sure can get Howard to sign an extension I wouldn’t mind letting Horford and Smith go for him. Because Howard will be doing all the work needed in the paint. Like Slimjr said, it would be best to keep Johnson because we will need shooters around D12. From the looks of what they were doing with this roster it looked like they were getting ready to make a move on D12 because they added alot of range.
Keeping Johnson isn’t that bad because we still have the amnesty and if he contract starts becoming a problem they could use it on him and free up alot of space.
BIG DOG
December 30th, 2011
1:33 pm
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7mhfc78
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
7>3 in this Time line..
December 30th, 2011
1:35 pm
Comparing Vick and Ryan is like comparing apples and oranges..Both have their strengths..
Now comparing Drew and Matt is more like apples to apples…Got it? Yep..
BIG DOG
December 30th, 2011
1:36 pm
MattP, Dwight will not come and stay unless Josh is here.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
lovethosedawgs68
December 30th, 2011
1:36 pm
I’m impressed with the Hawks so far, but I’d have to say the biggest difference to me is: Attitude. Teammates genuinally seem happy passing the ball, taking it away, and team rebounding.
Just Joe
December 30th, 2011
1:37 pm
I think it is abosolutely fair to compare Brees’s first 4 years in the league to Ryan’s first 4 years in the league.
Slimjr
December 30th, 2011
1:40 pm
The sooner we get D12 in Atlanta, the sooner he can be integrated and work out the kinks before the playoff run..
BIG DOG
December 30th, 2011
1:41 pm
Teague, Marvin, Turk, Josh, Dwight
Pargo, Green, Tmac, Vlad, Collins OR Zaza if not traded.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
MattP
December 30th, 2011
1:42 pm
BIG DOG, I agree, but will Orlando really want to take Johnson’s big contract. The only players I can see Orlando interested in at Horford and Smith, maybe Marvin depending if he continues to play like this.
Riddle Me This
December 30th, 2011
1:44 pm
Rev in Tampa,
Vick rushed for 64 yds vs GB, and 119 yds vs STL. Which means the combined yardage numbers were about the same for both QBs.
My point is that one guyget the praise even though his defense actually showed up in big games, while the other guy is being blamed for losses when his defense is getting shredded.
BIG DOG
December 30th, 2011
1:44 pm
Teague, Tmac, Marvin, Josh, Dwight
Pargo, Green, Turk, Vlad, Collins OR Zaza if not traded.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
BIG DOG
December 30th, 2011
1:49 pm
MattP Again the trade will not happen unless Josh is here, Dwight and Josh are tight.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Buddy Grizzard
December 30th, 2011
1:50 pm
#3 in 3-point shooting percentage? That’s in spite of Pargo and Green being 33% on 6 attempts per game between the two of them. Kirk come back… save us from the refuse at the end of our bench!
Riddle Me This
December 30th, 2011
1:50 pm
7>3,
Disagree, they’re all QBs, with the same responsibilities: To be a leader and put points on the board.
Mike D’Antoni (offensive guy) and Mike Brown (defensive guy) may use different styles as basketball coaches, but they have the same responsibilities as the man in charge.
Slimjr
December 30th, 2011
1:54 pm
The offense scores two lousy FG’s from quarter 2-4! That’s offensive!!!! lol Meanwhile the opposition’s offense scored 5 TD’s and a FG in quarters 2-4.. Looks like that explosive vaunted Falcons offense played a major role and contributed to the defense getting “shredded”! imho..
The land of excuses…..YAWN…….
Slimjr
December 30th, 2011
1:56 pm
Up next, Hawks in another BLOWOUT Tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO HAWKS!
BIG DOG
December 30th, 2011
1:57 pm
http://youtu.be/awYU4lelYw4