Among Larry Drew's main selling points when he interviewed to become Hawks coach was his plan to change way the team plays offense.
But Drew's changes haven't produced more points.
Drew said under his guidance the Hawks would not rely so much on isolation plays. There would be less standing around watching Joe Johnson take on defenders. The Hawks would have balanced scoring.
They are sharing the ball, ranking fourth in the league in the percentage of field goals that are assisted. The Hawks were ranked 21st in that category last season.
But sharing the ball has not translated into offensive efficiency. The Hawks, last season, were the third-most efficient offensive team in the NBA; they ranked 21st in points scored per possession entering Sunday. The Hawks points per game has declined to 95.2 (26th) from 101.7 last season (ranked 13th).
High-scoring guards Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford have seen their production decline. Atlanta's best big men, Al Horford and Josh Smith, have moved their games away from the basket and left the team short on post scoring and offensive rebounding.
Drew's offense was supposed to take the offensive burden off Johnson, who has faded in the last two postseasons. But both Johnson and Crawford have expressed uncertainty about the new approach.
Does Johnson think the offense needs to be altered when the Hawks play Orlando in the playoffs starting this weekend?
“I am not sure,” he said. “We will have to see. We went through the whole season like this. Maybe so, maybe not. Whatever the system is we have to come out and be professionals and play through it.”
Drew says the team's motion offense will pay dividends in the postseason. Playoff opponents have more time to prepare game plans to slow teams that rely heavily on one or two players to score.
So, in theory, the Hawks could be more effective spreading around the scoring in the playoffs.
“I think every guy recognizes the fact that when we move the basketball we are a better ball club,” Drew said.
The Hawks' efficiency has plummeted because the team's turnovers have increased, their offensive rebounding has decreased and their shot selection has worsened.
The least efficient shots in basketball are jump shots from 16 to 23 feet, and the Hawks attempt more of them than any team except the Wizards. The most efficient shots are those at the rim and the Hawks take fewer of them than any team (they take fewer shots than any team from 15 feet and closer).
Smith hasn't taken full advantage of his more efficient scoring at the basket this season because he is on pace to take about 200 fewer of those shots and 200 more from beyond 16 feet. Horford is shooting a career-high 74 percent on attempts near the basket but he's set to take about 100 fewer attempts from that range.
The Hawks shoot a higher percentage on long 2-point shots than any team in the league. But they don't have a reliable Plan B when they don't make those shots because they aren't especially good at scoring in the lane or in transition, earning free-throw attempts or making 3-pointers.
The Hawks have a new offensive identity under Drew but but it has led to poorer results so far. Crawford, like Johnson, said the Hawks might eventually benefit from the duo looking to score one-on-one.
“We have taken a step back offensively, hopefully for the betterment of the team,” Crawford said. “But we will see. I think we will continue to need our scoring, especially in the playoffs. Things slow down and you have to be able to create.”
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