On the decline
The Hawks’ offensive numbers have declined through the regular season and into the playoffs. Here’s a look at the statistics:
Pre All-Star Game: 47.1 field goal percentage, 38.9 3-point field goal percentage, 103.4 points per game
Post All-Star Game: 45.6 field goal percentage, 36.4 3-point field goal percentage, 1oo.0 points per game
Playoffs: 41.5 field goal percentage, 33.13-point field percentage, 98.3 points per game
It may be premature to say the Hawks’ offense peaked too early this season. Ultimately, that won’t be known until after the playoffs.
It is notable that the statistics have declined from before and after the All-Star break to now in the postseason. The offensive numbers are a concern as the No. 1 seed Hawks are locked in a battle with the No. 8 seed Nets. The Eastern Conference first-round series is tied at 2-2 after the Hawks dropped two straight games in Brooklyn. The series shifts back to Atlanta for Game 5 Wednesday.
“Things that we are trying to do we’ll keep to the practice court and film sessions,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said Tuesday of possible solutions to the offensive woes. “We’ve said it a few times, when we get good chances, we’ve to convert them. That continues to be the case. There is better spacing, better movement off the ball, that I think we are getting a little better rhythm, a little better feel, for. I think the offense (in Game 4 Monday) was better. I think it can continue in that direction. It’s something we take a lot of pride in. Ultimately, we are going to continue to play the way we do. I think we can break through at any moment and have a good offensive showing for the majority or all of the game.”
The Hawks captured the attention of the NBA on their way to a 60-win regular season and the top seed in the conference. There was a 19-game win streak, including a 17-0 month of January. There were impressive wins, one after another, including against the top teams in the Western Conference.
Prior to the All-Star break in February, the Hawks shot 47.1 percent from the field, 38.9 percent from 3-point range and averaged 103.4 points per game. Following the league break, the Hawks shot 45.6 percent from the field, 36.4 percent of 3-point range and averaged 100.9 points. Some of the explanation for the drop off was that the Hawks had wrapped up the conference’s best record, battled some injury and rested players down the stretch in preparation for the playoffs.
The playoffs have arrived and the Hawks have had their hands full with a Nets team they swept four games from in the regular season. In four postseason games, the Hawks are shooting 41.5 percent from the field, 33.1 percent from 3-point range and averaging 98.3 points. The points average includes a 115-point effort in the Game 4 loss.
“The intensity has definitely stepped up,” Paul Millsap said of the playoffs. “I don’t think I’m playing my best basketball personally. I don’t think anybody is. I’ve got to step my game up a little more.”
The Hawks pointed to offensive issues in the first three games of the series. However, defense was the problem in the 120-115 overtime loss in Game 4. They let Nets point guard Deron Williams go for a career-high tying 35 points – after he was limited to a combined 18 points through the first three games.
The Hawks held only a film session Tuesday in advance of Game 5. Both Budenholzer and Millsap said they were encouraged by the results from the work and look forward to getting back on the court.
“All of the above,” Millsap said when asked if the film session was fiery or emphasized teaching moments. “It was very enthusiastic. Guys were definitely focused. We were fired up. We are excited to get back on the court, especially seeing some of the things that lost us the game yesterday. We are fired up about it, ready to get back at it.”
Added Budenholzer, “If you are a competitor, you are unhappy when things don’t go your way. When you can turn that anger into the appropriate focus on the next game, the appropriate attention to tomorrow, that is the positive of the group we have. … Our guys are going to be ready.”
Game 5 is critical in the now best-of-three series. The Hawks can ill afford to drop a third straight and face elimination on the Nets home court Friday.
The series has been evenly matched with the Nets holding a 394-393 edge in total points. The average margin of victory has been just 6.2 points.
“The mindset is still that we can do it, especially after watching film and seeing some of the miscues we had especially down the stretch,” Millsap said. “We felt like we played well enough to win the game. We had an opportunity at the end of the game to win it. It just didn’t go our way. (We are) still pretty confident.
“We’ve played well enough to win each of these games.”
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