Atlanta Hawks: The Horford effect
Boston–I mentioned in the Game 5 postgame blog that it had been so long since Al Horford played center for the Hawks it was kind of astonishing to see the difference. I’m sure the Celtics must feel the same.
Fired up the Synergy Sports Technology machine to look at Atlanta’s offensive possessions in Game 5. There was, as expected, lots of visual evidence that the threat of Horford (and Horford himself) helped lead to some good scoring opportunities for the Hawks:
- There were four possessions used in which Horford was the roll man. He missed two open pick-and-pop Js in the second quarter and later twice scored rolling to the basket.
- There was one screen-roll in which Horford’s presence led to two free-throw attempts for Marvin Williams. Marvin turned the corner off Horford’s pick and Greg Stiemsma was late coming over to challenge Marvin because he couldn’t leave Horford.
- There were 11 good spot-up attempts in which the defense was influenced by Horford’s presence. Five were by Horford himself, with three of those good looks coming after Kevin Garnett left Al to freelance (habit, I guess). Josh Smith got three good spot-up chances after his man pinched in to help from the weakside on Al’s roll to the basket. Marvin made three 3-pointers off that same action.
- Al dunked on a cut to the basket on a familiar Hawks play: After Joe Johnson rubbed Ray Allen off off a pin-down screen, Brandon Bass took a step out to deny Johnson coming off the screen and Al quickly slipped to the basket to take a nice pass from Josh.
Before Al returned to this series, the Hawks didn’t have a center the Celtics had to worry much about on the roll, on the pop or in the post. Now there is one center they have to worry about for all of those play types. As Jeff Teague put it after Game 5: “He’s a real athletic guy, athletic roller. And his presence to be able to pick-and-pop and he can switch it up and roll, that’s big.”
Horford played 41 minutes and the Hawks had by far their most efficient scoring game of the series. Among the starters, Horford’s 0.9 points per possession were third to Marvin (1.25) and Teague. (1.0). Al’s four turnovers were the only blemish on his line.
Now we’ll see how effective Al can be in Game 6 after playing so many minutes in just his second game back. Can he go 40 minutes again?
“I do not know,” Horford said today before shootaround. “That might be a little bit of a stretch. I’ll come out and give a productive run but those guys [the backups] need to be ready.”
But Hoford latter added that if the circumstances dictate it “then I may have to go 40. There is no plan.”
My guess is the Hawks will need him to do it again.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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129 comments Add your comment
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 10th, 2012
6:57 pm
Sautee … I saw what Walt did there. That’s just crazy thinking to start Kirk over Joe. LOL
Sautee
May 10th, 2012
7:02 pm
Walt Frazier, did the Just For Men hair coloring affect your memory?
Just kidding, man, you “done good” admitting it.
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 10th, 2012
7:02 pm
Nevermind bigdave, I just saw where Najeh posted:
Bill kennedy IS officiating tonight. That’s good. (smiles) Hopefully, this will offset Gearon’s mired comments.
Slimjr
May 10th, 2012
7:12 pm
All is the new Pick and Roll man or Pick and Pop man.
But he’s got to put more arch in that midrange gadget he’s throwin up there…
Unleash the weapon Larry!
The Jones
May 10th, 2012
7:12 pm
MC,
Where you at?
Do you even enjoy your job anymore or are you just going through the motions?
Mike D
May 10th, 2012
7:14 pm
Man TMac better show up tonight!!!
O'Brien
May 10th, 2012
7:15 pm
AJ
What if hawkslose by 20 tonite.Would that change your thought process?
Slimjr
May 10th, 2012
7:17 pm
No Larry the Head Coach better show up tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 10th, 2012
7:18 pm
MIAMI (AP) The Miami Heat and public-address announcer Michael Baiamonte are apologizing to Amare Stoudemire and the New York Knicks for a comment about how the forward was “extinguished from the game” when he fouled out of Game 5 of the teams’ Eastern Conference first-round series.
The Heat say the phrase Baiamonte used represented a momentary lapse of judgment.
Stoudemire injured his left hand after Game 2 of the series when he struck a metal-and-glass case that holds a fire extinguisher near the visitors’ locker room at AmericanAirlines Arena. Paramedics and doctors were summoned to stitch the wound, which stretched across much of the bottom of his hand and kept him out of Game 3.
After Wednesday’s game, Stoudemire was quoted saying that the comment “doesn’t bother me.”
Updated May 10, 2012
© 2012 by STATS LLC and Associated Press.
Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
___________
In other news, Roddy White is in another twitter squabble. Haha, Roddy should just shut his twitter account down for good.
Luke Cage
May 10th, 2012
7:18 pm
SWEET CHRISTMAS!!!
Luke Cage
May 10th, 2012
7:20 pm
Pierce “Fakin’ The Funk” again with this I’m hurt crap.
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 10th, 2012
7:22 pm
“After Wednesday’s game, Stoudemire was quoted saying that the comment “doesn’t bother me.”
_____
Why apologize to Amare’? What he did was stupid, he hurt his team and, there should be jokes, that is fair game IMO. Amare’ should have kept his hands to himself.
Luke Cage
May 10th, 2012
7:24 pm
If Joe Johnson don’t step up tonight he will pass Rashard Lewis as the WORST CONTRACT IN NBA HISTORY!!
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2012
7:29 pm
Michael Cunningham @ajchawks
Zaza (foot) got some shots up today for first time since injury. Says he could play 2nd round if #Hawks advance.
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drmaryb.(*_*).
May 10th, 2012
7:31 pm
Hero Sandwich!
The C’s three consecutive wins are sandwiched between two Hawks wins. I think the C’s have shot their load. The Hawks need to return the favor and, win their three games in a row to advance.
LETS GO HAWKS!!!
Defend
Rebound
Limit TO’s
Score Inside – Outside
Run Run Run
The Jones
May 10th, 2012
7:32 pm
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-blog/2012/05/10/roddy-white-gets-in-another-twitter-squabble/?cp=all
Notice the Falcons’ beatwriter actually replies to his readers
W.R. Terrell
May 10th, 2012
7:32 pm
Reality or the Inevitable, that is the question
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 10th, 2012
7:32 pm
I’m so nervous, I’m pacing the floor!
Luke Cage
May 10th, 2012
7:33 pm
This is the celtics great defense: Pack the paint, stay there for more than 3 seconds because they won’t call it (kg), grab & pull, but when all else fails, whine to the refs & flop in the process.
Slimjr
May 10th, 2012
7:37 pm
dude really was dragging that one leg up the floor in the ATL..
He was not faking it..Its called eating some humble pie!
AG
May 10th, 2012
7:37 pm
Stephen A Smith predicted the Hawks lose by 25 tonight. If we can pull this game off… Funny, last year we beat Boston EVERY game!
Slimjr
May 10th, 2012
7:38 pm
All is going to give KG fits tonight!
doc
May 10th, 2012
7:43 pm
ok i am not an al lover or apologist nor am i an al hater but a yawks fan. he is the only center we have had since motumbo dating back to the early seveties. ill take him and say f u in rev style to the stupids on here with their hate. he has come back waaaay early and every hawk fanvshould bow down to that if they dont have an agenda. he is the onky way to the next level of the second round we got. twin wont get us there and if a see him before damp i will scream.
go hawks, bring it home!!!!!
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 10th, 2012
7:43 pm
Advanced stats
4.0Paul Pierce’s FTA per 36 minutes when Josh Smith is on court vs.
10.2 when Smith is on bench.
Luke Cage
May 10th, 2012
7:43 pm
Why does anyone listen to “Screamin’ A. Smith anymore, he spouts off nonsense just to hear himself speak, dude is a pompus A$$CLOWN!!
Blast
May 10th, 2012
7:44 pm
Pierce ain’t hurt. He’s faking it. Does it all the time.
If Hawks don’t turn the ball over and play smart, they have a chance. Includes great defence because if the Celts come out shooting lights out, it could be game 4 all over.
Ivan called KG a dirty player last week. No media picked on it. The entire world knows KG is a dirty player that gets away with murder because he plays for Boston.
KevinM
May 10th, 2012
7:45 pm
Joe says its all about the first 5 minutes…..LD concurs.
So I guess the other 43 minutes aren’t critical…..
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 10th, 2012
7:45 pm
doc
co-sign
Michael Cunningham
May 10th, 2012
7:46 pm
new blog posted. shutting down this thread.