The Hawks held a practice at a Los Angeles-area high school Monday before traveling to Sacramento for Tuesday’s game against the Kings. It’s a good bet the team worked on free-throw shooting. A very good bet.
The Hawks have struggled from the free-throw line through three games this season but none more than Sunday night’s 105-103 loss to the Lakers. The Hawks would not be lamenting a last-second defeat, after rallying from a 21-point deficit, had they been able to make just some of their 12 misses.
It was a meager 14 of 26 (53.8 percent) performance from the free-throw line that did in the Hawks. Many of the misses came in the first half when the Hawks made just 6 of 15 (40 percent) free throws through the first two quarters. By contrast, the Lakers made 20 of 24 (83.3 percent).
“Free throw shooting is one of those things that becomes a little bit contagious,” coach Mike Budenholzer said after Sunday’s game. “I think we’ll keep working on them in practice, before practice and after practice, and put the time in. We are confident our guys are going to make free throws.”
Paul Millsap, a 72 percent free-throw shooter, made six of his 10 attempts. Al Horford (2 of 4), DeMarre Carroll (1 of 2) and Elton Brand (0 of 2) are all better than 70 percent career free-throw shooters. Rookie Dennis Schroder missed 2 of his first 4 career freebies. Millsap may be dealing with a sore elbow. He had elastic therapeutic tape on his right elbow under a protective sleeve Sunday.
The Hawks (1-2) shot 77.1 percent against the Mavericks and 64.5 percent against the Raptors. Entering Monday’s NBA schedule, the Hawks were 27th in the league from the free-throw line at 66.3 percent. Only the Spurs (65.8), Raptors (64) and Bobcats (61.1) were worse.
“It’s hard to understand,” Horford said. “We have a lot of good shooters here and good free-throw shooters. That is something that we need to fix. That part is a little frustrating, for sure, seeing that we shot 50 percent. That can’t be us.”
Last season the Hawks were 26th in the league with a 71.5 percent success rate.
Martin providing scoring punch: Cartier Martin, a late training camp addition, has given the Hawks an offensive spark off the bench. Through three games, the forward is fifth on the team in scoring with 11.3 points per game. He has averaged 22.7 minutes.
Martin scored 17 points in 16:45 of playing time off the bench in the Hawks season-opener at the Mavericks last week. According to Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time since the franchise moved to Atlanta in 1968 that a player had a point-a-minute game (minimum of 10 minutes) off the bench in his debut with the team.
“My job is to go play as hard as I can, defend, try to rebound and when I’m open make shots,” Martin said.
Etc.: Mike Scott, in his second year, has been the first substitute off the bench in all three games. He is averaging 5.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 13.3 minutes. Scott had a season-high 13 points against the Lakers. … Fellow second-year player John Jenkins made his season debut against the Lakers. He had had two points in six minutes. … Jared Cunningham is the only active player who has not played this season. … The Hawks end the three-game road trip at the Nuggets Thursday.
About the Author
