Hawks Have 3 Days To Heal Backcourt
In the past eight years, the Atlanta Hawks have played in 68 playoff games. Almost all of those games were played within a game or two of each other. Monday night and then a Wednesday night. Thursday and then a Saturday.
The predictable rhythm of this kind of schedule has its upside. Coaches breathe structure. They like the narrow window in which to watch film, practice, get on a plane and then play. Players appreciate the symmetry. They are invested in the habitual grind of sleep, rest, practice, preparation and travel.
Only once have the Hawks had a three day break in the middle of a series. It happened in 2010 against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Hawks won the first two games of the series at home. The Hawks had three days off before they played in Milwaukee.
They lost by 18 points.
May 5, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) shoots against the defense of Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce (34) during the second half in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Wizards 106-90. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
It was a team with Al Horford, Josh Smith, Jeff Teague, Joe Johnson and Jamaal Crawford. In Milwaukee, the Hawks shot 20% from the three point line. Josh Smith and Marvin Williams, both starters, were 3-19 (16%).
The Bucks shot 51% in the game and 43% from three. The Hawks defense was porous, at best. Mostly, it was non-existent. The Hawks could never recover from a 36 point Milwaukee first quarter.
Five years later, the Hawks have a three day rest between playoff games. On the season, the Hawks have played four games with three+ days rest and their record is 2-2.
- Hawks launched more threes on 3+ days rest. But they were less efficient, shooting 33%.
- Hawks had more offensive rebounds, more blocks and more steals on 3+ days rest
- Hawks had more turnovers and fouled more on 3+ days rest.
- Hawks created more turnovers on 3+ days rest, gave their opponent fewer three point shots, but their defense gave up more points.
- Hawks gave up more rebounds, more blocked shots and sent their opponent to the line more often on 3+ days rest.
The schedule is binding so there is no point in complaining. Besides, the Hawks can’t change the days off or their Saturday afternoon match-up in Washington which is scheduled to accommodate television. But there is a silver lining here, an opportunity to study what went awry in the first two games of the series and then to fix it.
The Hawks were far from perfect. Their most pressing issue is the starting guard play. Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver have been overwhelmed by the younger, hyper-talented, more explosive Wizards.
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Jeff Teague’s playmaking skills have been on display and as scintillating as he has been at times, his shooting has fallen off a cliff.
- Regular Season: 46% shooting, 34% from three
- Against Wizards: 26% shooting, 16% from three
- Regular Season: 15.9 points
- Against Wizards: 10.0 points
The Wizards provide a far different challenge for Teague. Gone is the descending athleticism and overall minimalist game of Deron Williams. John Wall is probably the fastest player in the league and Teague’s responsibility is to try to take away what Wall wants to do with the dribble, whether it is sailing to the rim unchecked or dishing out to the perimeter. Teague also has to make Wall defend him, something Wall doesn’t have to go hard at it since Teague’s playoff numbers are pretty miserable.
Through 8 playoff games:
- 10-16 feet: 22%
- 0-3 feet: 40%
- Just inside three point line: 46%
May 5, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver (26) defends Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) during the second half in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Wizards 106-90. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
The traditional wisdom is that whatever Teague isn’t giving you in pure offensive numbers, Kyle Korver will make up for. But Korver has been equally disappointing.
- Regular Season: 49% from three
- Against Wizards: 31% from three
- Regular Season: 49% shooting
- Against Wizards: 34% shooting
- Regular Season: 6.0 three point attempts
- Against Wizards: 11.0 three point attempts
Korver is attempting more threes because the defense is willing to let him shoot behind the arc and take their chances at the missed shot and rebound, or the Korver make. But, Korver is also missing more threes than he did in the regular season which neutralizes the extra attempts. He’s not making shots.
Far more efficient are the Wizards starting guards, whether it be John Wall and Bradely Beal, or Ramon Sessions and Bradley Beal
- Wizards starters: 25 assists, 22 rebounds, 47% from three, 8 turnovers, 87 points
- Hawks starters: 17 assists, 21 rebounds, 29% from three, 5 turnovers, 45 points
The question for Coach Budenholzer to solve in this three day break is how to guard the perimeter more effectively so the Wizards don’t have wide open looks and at the same time how to increase perimeter production from his starting backcourt.
The Hawks still trust Teague and Korver and everything they bring. But, a huge part of the Hawks success this season was the shot making of their starting guards. Without it, the pressure on everyone else increases and the balance the Hawks have been accustomed to quickly disappears.
The NBA is a make or miss league. In this series, Kyle Korver and Jeff Teague are missing. Will 3 days off help?