The Houston Rockets handed the Atlanta Hawks their first loss of the season, 114-121, on Oct. 24. While the Hawks won many areas of the box score, their struggles from behind the arc ultimately cost them the victory. Atlanta shot 13-for-49 from deep, while Houston went 14-for-35.
The Rockets did not take a high volume of three-pointers, but when they did, they were quality looks. After the game, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder pointed out a key area where his team can improve to get back in the win column against the Rockets tonight.
Know the opposition's deadeye shooters
Reed Sheppard started for the resting Fred VanVleet in Atlanta. He finished with 19 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and two steals, shooting 5-for-11 from deep. The third-year guard is not afraid to let it fly from a couple of steps beyond the arc. Atlanta left Sheppard open on the perimeter far too often, and he punished them for it.
Former Hawks guard Bogdan "Bogi" Bogdanović also torched his former squad with 11 points on 3-for-5 shooting from deep in 20 minutes off Houston's bench. Snyder spoke about Sheppard and Bogdanović's impact in his postgame press conference.
"Sheppard and Bogi's threes, those were some breakdowns that we got to clean up. Those guys are really good shooters. We know that. Someone might have a hot night, but we have to limit their attempts ... We can play better," said Snyder.
Snyder was more concerned with the volume of looks these two shooters got rather than their efficiency. Atlanta's defense must do a better job of chasing Sheppard and Bogdanović over screens and communicating on rotations to limit their space beyond the arc.
Houston takes 32.0 3-pointers per game in the young season, good for 28th in the league. Players like Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, and Steven Adams are limited perimeter shooters and like to score in the paint. Atlanta actually won the points-in-the-paint battle, 58-46, on Saturday, but it let the wrong guys see too much space on the perimeter.
Hawks must limit Amen Thompson's drives to the rim
Thompson had 17 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and a steal in 39 minutes against the Hawks. He only shot 4-for-12 from the field but cashed in all nine of his free throws. The 23-year-old did not attempt a single 3-pointer, but the Hawks had trouble keeping out of the teeth of their defense. Three of his six assists led to Bogdanović and Sheppard triples.
Atlanta must do a better job of keeping Thompson on the perimeter and boxing him out tonight. If Kevin Durant and the Rockets get too many extra possessions, it could be a rough night.
Fans can tune in to the game on Atlanta News First or stream it on Prime Video. Tip-off is scheduled for just after 8:30 p.m. ET.
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