Breaking down the Hawks and Al Horford

[fullcourt]

it really seems like the MO for the Hawks and the identity of the team has been Three Point Shooting

im really not worried at all about the Bulls and Magic in the playoffs. Hawks seem to be able to easily beat both the Bulls and Magic, and almost beat Rose and the Bulls yesterday even though they were missing 3 starters.

it seems to be clear that the Bulls and Magic struggle against the Hawks because the Bulls and Magic suck at defending the three point shot. Bulls couldn't even stop a bench guy like Pargo from lighting up from three. Bulls and Magic have the best post defense in the NBA, but that really doesn't affect the Hawks.

the two teams that have been giving the Hawks the most problems are the Sixers and Heat. now the Sixers and Heat are the total opposite from Bulls and Magic, they have bad post defense but great perimeter defense with Iggy, Lebron, and Wade, and that has taken away what the Hawks love to do, which is shoot threes (the Memphis game can also be thrown in).

but their is one factor that needs to be counted, and that is Al Horford. Hawks can beat 70% of the other teams without Al, but he does help push the Hawks over the top against elite teams with his mid range game. while the Sixers and Heat are able to stop the 3pt shooting of the Hawks, it does help Al set up some mid range shots and cuts to the basket that allows him to have a big game, like he did against the Heat.

Hawks are 1-4 against the Heat and Sixers this season, and that one win was the only one of the four that Horford played in. and even last year, the Hawks dominated the Sixers and Horford got double doubles in all of the meetings.

[Amish Mafioso]

When is Al supposed to be back?