The Hawks finally managed to earn a bunch of free-throw attempts, but missed 10 of them in a game they lost by three points.
For a team that often struggles to squeeze out points, there will be more games like Wednesday’s 85-82 loss to Golden State if the Hawks don’t somehow figure out how to make a better percentage of free throws.
“Certainly if we make our free throws, it could have been a different outcome,” coach Larry Drew said. “Free throws are just something you have to step up and concentrate and knock them down. You can practice them over and over again, which we do, but you’ve just got to step up and make them. That’s the bottom line.”
It’s nothing new for the Hawks, who squandered chances for victories against the Eastern Conference leaders in large part because of poor free-throw shooting.
The Hawks missed nine of 25 attempts in a 76-74 loss to Chicago Jan. 3. The Hawks missed 15 of 46 in a 116-109 triple-overtime defeat to Miami Jan. 5.
The Hawks don’t earn many free-throw attempts and make a low percentage when they do. Entering Thursday’s games, they ranked 25th of 30 teams in free-throw rate, according to hoopdata.com, and their 71.6 percentage shooting from the line was fourth-worst in the league.
Much of the team’s struggles can be attributed to forward Josh Smith’s 55.2 percent free-throw shooting. He leads the team in attempts (176) and is the only regular who is shooting significantly less than the NBA average of about 75 percent.
Smith’s struggles are hard to figure after he shot a career-high 72.5 percent from the line last season.
Johnson still ailing
Hawks guard Joe Johnson returned to the lineup Wednesday after missing two games last week with tendinitis in his left knee. He said eight days off wasn’t enough to return to full health.
“It got a little stiff, especially in the fourth quarter,” Johnson said after the game. “Other than that, I was pretty good. I wouldn’t say I’m 100 percent, but I was decent.”
Drew said he thought Johnson “looked like he was dragging [the knee] a little bit” at times. The Hawks had a light practice session Thursday.
Etc.
Drew said Willie Green suffered a back injury Wednesday when Warriors forward David Lee landed on him. Green left the game in the second half and didn’t return. Drew said Green was treated for back spasms Thursday. ... The Hawks, as expected, signed center Erick Dampier on Thursday for the remainder of the season. Dampier completed the second of two 10-day contracts with the Hawks on Tuesday, and the team had to sign him to a guarantee to keep him. Dampier, added for depth after injuries to Al Horford and Jason Collins, has played a total of 30 minutes in six games. ... Drew said Smith was ill Wednesday, suffering from head congestion, but decided to play against the Warriors. “His energy wasn’t the same, and I think a lot of that was because he wasn’t feeling well,” Drew said. ... Collins, out since suffering a torn ligament in his left elbow Feb. 2, said he expects to begin rehabilitation Friday.
About the Author
