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So we started out the season gangbusters offensively. Through our first three weeks (8-5 record) we were avg 102 ppg. We haven't hit 100 points in over a week and were lucky to halt our losing streak at only 3 games.

Korver being out might explain the last two games, but in general our offensive stats are suffering.

We also seem to be suffering from the Falcons' 'Matt Ryan syndrome': we can only win when our QB (Teague) has a big game.

Any thoughts?
Suggestions?

Regression to the mean. We started hot, but let's be real, it wasn't realistic to assume that our guys were going to keep shooting like 70% from 3. Teague in particular is struggling from deep.

As is we're basically league average, what is what you'd expect given the gaps on our roster.

Teague has decided that he's the man. Either he wins it for us or we lose; either way, he's taking the shots.

Of course, it may be our scheme and Budenholzer's telling Teague to do this. But it's getting frustrating. We have good offensive players.

Maybe it IS Budenholzer; between Teague and Mack, our PGs have taken 19 shots. They're 7 for 19. Millsap's hit his last 3 shots in a row, yet Mack's taken the next 3 shots.

Note: Millsap just got another. He's kinda hot, PGs...

PGs are now 7 for 24. Teague's 3-15. Meanwhile, Millsap's made his last 6 in a row; Horford his last 3 in a row.

Teague's 4-17. Either he's going to win it for us or no one else gets a chance.

7 in a row for Millsap, You'd think...

Game over, Teague ended up 5-18 with an ... "eh" shot at the end.

If no one can tell, I'm really upset with the PG play - whether schemed or individual - when Millsap (especially) and Horford were cooking.

I did notice that Teague seems to have it in his head that he is going to drive most of the time.

Either that or we have players taking shots they have no business taking (Carroll and Martin).

Teague doesn't have a mid range jump shot, so teams are starting to clog the lane. He also panics in crunch time. We lost a few games due to his inability to play under control and go for higher percentage shots. In other words, he's trying to do too much. Now, we do not have anyone who can create their own shot, we have a shooter in Cartier who's not a great shooter, our bench isn't that good either, and as the season goes on, teams learn how to attack your weakest points and that's what's going on. I'm a bit disappointed with Horford though. This is supposed to be his time to shine. He just doesn't have the hunger or desire or maybe the tools to demand the ball and score 20-25ppg every night. I think D. Ferry is evaluating this team and learning that even though Teague and Horford are talented players, they may just not be whom you'd like to build your team around with the system that we have here. It's early in the season though, our players are supposed to be "learning" how to play in coach Bud's offense, so we should give it another month or 2.

azuresou1 wrote:Regression to the mean. We started hot, but let's be real, it wasn't realistic to assume that our guys were going to keep shooting like 70% from 3. Teague in particular is struggling from deep.

As is we're basically league average, what is what you'd expect given the gaps on our roster.

Perhaps, but isn't there a natural progression we could expect also as we became more comfortable/familiar with the system? And as more players became healthy (Jenkins/Williams) shouldn't that have helped.

Our assist are down by 20% the last couple of weeks and are turnovers are up. We all expected Millsap to cool off, but the offense as a whole has stalled.

-Teague in particular has been TOO aggressive. Often at the wrong moments.
-Horford can be a pillar of a top team, but NOT the Centerpiece. (17/10 on 55% shooting with good defense, every team needs that.)
-We need a veteran ball handler on the team to settle down the offense when Teague gets to giddy and the rest of the team gets bogged down.
-We need a wing with size able to create offense on his own. Not really get his own shot, but to put pressure on opposing SGs and SFs.
-Carroll and Martin are nice role players, but we need to limit the amount of time both players are on the court together.

azuresou1 wrote:Regression to the mean.

Which mean? Teague is most of our offense, yet he's shooting 45 points lower than last year from the field and 159 points worse from 3 than last year. If he starts hitting the way he did last year, won't that improve our offense?

I don't see statistical leveling as the reason for our malaise. The problem is our offense is predicated on the PGs going one on one with the world.

I was talking more about our role players. Cartier Martin, DeMarre Carroll... they were all shooting something like 70% earlier on in the season. That obviously isn't sustainable.

Korver being absent is really hurting us. Martin and Carroll aren't reliable enough from deep, so that might explain why Jeff feels compelled to be a one-man offense.

Without Korver, the floor spacing is worse. Worse floor spacing means worse offense for a team that moves the ball the way we do. There is a reason there are always 2-3 shooters on the court in San Antonio.

I like Hawks starters. Your just stuck at medioacre'ness with 15th best Off Eff.

JazzMatt13 wrote:I like Hawks starters. Your just stuck at medioacre'ness with 15th best Off Eff.

Believe it or not, this is our transition year. This is our bottom. Our rebuilding season.

We are currently an average team, but I wouldn't say we're STUCK here.