One statistic stood out.
The Hawks scored 58 points in the paint in a much-needed win over the Heat on Wednesday. The victory ended a seven-game losing streak and was just the second in the past 12 games for the struggling Hawks. How badly did the Hawks need that win? “As bad as we need air,” Paul Millsap said.
Dwight Howard scored 23 points and Millsap scored 21 in the win. While it would appear that the big men controlled the inside, their success was a function of something bigger than individual dominance. And it’s something that has been largely missing during the Hawks’ recent funk.
The secret to the Hawks’ success is ball movement. When the team plays with the pass — a mantra that has been repeatedly hammered home to the players – it opens up the offense both on the perimeter and inside.
Consider:
- The Hawks averaged 46.0 points in the paint in their first 11 games. They were 9-2.
- The Hawks averaged 38.9 points in the paint in their next 11 games. They were 1-10.
“We feel like if we have better ball movement and (Howard and Millsap) get it after there is movement, they have a better chance of scoring instead of just force-feeding it in, and then it’s them against the world,” Kyle Korver said. “I keep repeating myself, but if we have better ball movement then we get them in the second and third pick-and-roll, then we get them in the half roll. Then there are options and Paul can make plays, one of our best playmakers. That makes it hard to guard. It’s hard to guard the weakside, which is where (perimeter players) are ready. It’s just better basketball.”
The Hawks made 29 of 50 in attempts in the paint against the Heat. They did so with Heat 7-footer Hassan Whiteside, who ranks third in the NBA in blocked shots, patrolling the inside. Howard finished with nine field goals, all in the paint and including seven dunks. Millsap had eight field goals, five in the paint.
“On the offensive end, we have to move the ball a lot better than we have in the past,” Howard said before the game. “We were doing a lot of things — one pass and shot. We went from the top of the league in moving the ball and getting guys shots to the bottom half. We have to get back to just moving the ball and playing through motions.”
The Hawks rank 18th in the NBA in points in the paint, with an average of 43.2. During the first 11 games, they scored 50 or more points in the paint six times. During the next 11 games, they failed to reach 50 points and their high was 48, on coincidentally their lone win.
While the Hawks struggled, they failed to move the ball on a consistent basis. It led to far too many isolation plays. In addition, with their inability to make outside shots, the opposition was free to send two and three bodies at Howard. Those lob chances disappeared.
It’s just not the multiple crisp passing that opens the inside for the Hawks. They must set strong screens in the pick-and-roll game. This falls on the big men to set and then be the recipients of the final passes.
“If you set screens, it opens up everything,” Tim Hardaway Jr. said. “You get penetration. Get the ball up on the rim. That’s when (Howard’s) most dangerous, coming from behind and getting those follow backs and tip-ins.
“It’s the guards being aggressive. Dennis (Schroder) coming off hitting some jumpers, Malcolm (Delaney) hitting some jumpers, myself, Thabo (Sefolosha). When the big (defender) commits to us, we know that Dwight is there to clean it up, or if we want to, we can throw a lob to him. Also, it’s up to the guy guarding the opposite corner to see if he is going to make a decision. With that being said, Dwight is so athletic (then) just throw it up and he’ll go get it.”
About the Author
