Hawks improved on defense, but struggling to score

Post #121 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Jan 27, 2023 5:18 pm

Finally, Hawks start streaking based on the improvement of the offense. That's the way we were built and what we have to embrace even when trying to improve defensively.

Spoiler:

Post #122 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Jan 27, 2023 5:19 pm

It's unbelievable that a team with Trae running point, with two All Star caliber PGs, isn't top-5 in Pace and passing for the season.

Zach Lowe wrote:Lowe's 10 things: A Change of Pace in Atlanta

When the Atlanta Hawks get moving
This is a pivotal two weeks for Atlanta. Turmoil shook every level of the organization. The Collins trade rumors are hotter than ever. And yet, there is a good team here; their starting five is one of the league's best lineups, and their bench is mostly healthy.

What kind of team do they want to be?

The Hawks are 6-2 in their last eight, and their offense -- moribund much of the season -- is humming. Some of that is unsustainable shooting; the Hawks in that stretch have hit 42% on 3s, 52% from floater range, and 59% on long 2s. It feels like Dejounte Murray hasn't missed a runner in weeks.

Nothing else about Atlanta's fundamentals has changed. They are still Team Mid-Range. They are last in passes per game overall, and in the bottom five even in this stretch.

But the Hawks and Trae Young have shown glimpses of the snappier style that drove their conference finals run two seasons ago. There has been a little less your turn/my turn between Young and Murray, and a little more of this.

Young gets off the ball earlier -- loading that slingshot pass before he arrives at the foul line. Jalen Brunson is leaning away from Bogdan Bogdanovic in the corner -- and toward the paint -- when Young throws it. That nuance of timing forces Brunson to plant, pivot, and make a mad scramble toward Bogdanovic. He's easy prey for a blow-by, igniting the kind of drive-and-kick sequence that invigorates the Hawks.

Young is incredible, but no one wants to watch the same guy dribble the air out of the ball every possession -- especially when everyone has to cover for him on defense.

The Hawks have positioned Young in the corners more often when Murray orchestrates. In the past, Young has spent most of his off-ball time near mid-court -- a bystander. He's a more active threat in the corners. He can fly off pindowns, set random screens, attack close-outs.

Young is also pushing the pace more. He is always at his best doing that -- either one-on-one, or with John Collins and Clint Capela setting their patented double-drag for him. Defenses meet Young early, and he can freeze them with hesitation moves.

Even when Young hunts his own in semi-transition, it just feels more organic -- and less like one player puppeteering.

ESPN Insider

Post #123 » by **Jamaaliver** » Sun Jan 29, 2023 4:08 am

Even the opposition seems to recognize what our weakness is:

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Post #124 » by **Jamaaliver** » Sun Jan 29, 2023 1:43 pm

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Post #125 » by **Jamaaliver** » Mon Jan 30, 2023 5:11 pm

Offense still falls apart when Trae is off the court?

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D21 · Post #126 » by **D21** » Thu Feb 2, 2023 6:27 am

I was thinking about one thing that hurts this team this season, like last season: having a slow start, because of injuries or because of lack of "motivation" like they said last year, is making the team not seen as a real contender, and... make you miss opportunities to signed a veteran that will be cut after the trade deadline.
Each year, they goes to a top team and not being in the top 4 in February is almost a guarantee to see the best teams getting better and you getting nothing more.

Post #127 » by **Jamaaliver** » Sat Feb 4, 2023 3:16 pm

Blueprint for what the Hawks will do defensively in the playoffs?

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Post #128 » by **Jamaaliver** » Sat Feb 4, 2023 4:38 pm

Interesting stat:

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Post #129 » by **Jamaaliver** » Sat Feb 4, 2023 4:40 pm

This might explain why we keep blowing leads...

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jayu70 · Post #130 » by **jayu70** » Sat Feb 4, 2023 6:35 pm

We stop doing what works for 3 3/4s of the game and go into Nate's prevent offense...running clock and isoing.

jayu70 · Post #131 » by **jayu70** » Sat Feb 4, 2023 7:30 pm

Need to pick it up at home.

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?s=20&t=n_hqP0hM1LqJ2VA2I6oETw

Post #132 » by **Jamaaliver** » Sun Feb 5, 2023 4:22 pm

Nice wrinkle from the coaching staff...

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Post #133 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Feb 8, 2023 7:57 pm

Amusing clip of Hawks TRYING DESPERATELY to hide Trae on defense.

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Post #134 » by **Jamaaliver** » Mon Feb 13, 2023 2:06 pm

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Post #135 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Feb 15, 2023 8:05 pm

A list so nice, Trae's on it twice!!!

jayu70 · Post #136 » by **jayu70** » Mon Feb 20, 2023 3:16 am

Our defense, after starting the season much improved has fallen off a cliff. Don't know who.this guy is...but love him. He is pissed.

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Post #137 » by **Jamaaliver** » Mon Feb 20, 2023 4:57 pm

^Starting 5 SEEM TO BE DOING their JOB:

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Post #138 » by **Jamaaliver** » Mon Feb 20, 2023 6:01 pm

A diet filled with Long-2s...gross.

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jayu70 · Post #139 » by **jayu70** » Mon Feb 20, 2023 7:33 pm

I am looking forward for this season to end.

jayu70 · Post #140 » by **jayu70** » Tue Feb 21, 2023 3:08 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:^Starting 5 SEEM TO BE DOING their JOB:

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But it's not translating to real wins though. It's also limited since only 12 teams have guys that played 300 minutes together. (So said someone who dug deeper).

This is also problematic and it's starting to show:

Before Longabardi’s hiring, the Cavs allowed 100.2 points per 100 possessions, the seventh best mark in the league. Since Longabardi took over the defense, the Cavaliers have allowed teams to score 105.4 points per 100 possessions, which, as fate would have it, is good for just 13th in the league. Remember Longabardi’s best season in Phoenix ended up in the team finishing with the 13th best defense in the league. If history were to repeat itself, the Cavs defense would decline under Longabardi, something that is definitely worth watching closely.

It must be considered that the one defensive numeric the Cavaliers value the most is defensive field goal percentage. Inside Cleveland’s locker-room is a board with the league leaders in that category, which serves as a constant reminder for the players how important that number is. It makes sense- if teams are shooting a high percentage against you, the defense isn’t up to par and vice versa.

Using the same parameters to judge how the Cavs defense has performed since Longabardi’s hiring, the Cavaliers allowed teams to shoot 44.3% per game, the 12th best mark in the league. However, since Longabardi took control of the defense, Cleveland has dropped to 18th in the NBA, as teams are hitting 45.9% of their shots against them.

https://www.si.com/nba/hawks/news/hawks-fans-should-be-concerned-by-latest-coaching-hire

https://kingjamesgospel.com/2016/03/20/is-mike-longabardi-a-hindrance-to-the-cavs-defense/