PE02 I SCORE ATLANTA
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Woodson’s crew depending on home-court edge to get back in the series nfortunately, the road proved unkind to the Hawks once again as they return U home for tonight’s Game 3 matchup in a serious hole, down 2-0. Two double-digit defeats have been the outcome thus far. However, a poor second half in Game 2 put a damper on what had the makings of a team finally playing with the intensity to compete with the Magic. Atlanta is still in search of putting together a complete game against Orlando, who has yet to lose in the postseason and seem to have saved their best basketball for when it counts the most.
GAME 2 IMPROVEMENT … While the Hawks provided a glimpse of hope on Thursday night especially in the second quarter, where they outscored the Magic 30-17 en route to taking a 57-49 halftime lead, lapses on offense and defense still plagued the team down the stretch. Orlando was able to make short work Atlanta’s lead with an early third-quarter run even though Dwight Howard was out of the game. Howard is averaging 25 ppg and 14.5 rpg in the series with two double-doubles. Tonight, on offense, the Hawks must improve upon Game 2 where their big four Joe Johnson, Jamal Crawford, Josh Smith and Al Horford, combined for 84 of the teams 98 points. Johnson finished the night shooting 5for-16 and Crawford went 7-for-18 from the floor. With the Magic’s sweltering defense and second-chance opportunities at a minimum due in large part to a certain All-NBA firstteam center, the Hawks must find a way to
make the extra pass in order to get their scorers open looks. All too often, Hawks players are trying to create buckets on their own. This was especially the case in the second half of Game 2, when the team hit a cold streak. A bright spot in the game was the play of Al Horford, who hit his mid-range jump shot with consistency. Horford’s ability to score in the lane will be crucial tonight, not only to provide the Hawks with much-needed points as Orlando has scored well into triple digits in both games, but also to stretch Orlando’s defense. On the rare occasion, when Howard is out of the game, there should be more of an attempt to get Horford the ball at the low post. Hawks missed opportunities to do so in Game 2, especially in the third quarter, which could have changed the outlook of the game.
and when to let him go. Both have experienced foul trouble in the series and cannot be forced to the bench when the team needs them on the court. If there is one stat that bodes well for the Hawks tonight, it’s that they are 9-4 over the last three years in the playoffs at Philips Arena. “Go home and win. We’ve been pretty good on our floor,” Hawks coach Mike Woodson told Antonio Gonzalez of the Associated Press. “They took care of their business on their home floor. We’re going to see what we’re made of.” Perhaps the Hawks can once again channel a little magic of their own as they won the last decision between the two teams in Atlanta on an epic gamewinning dunk by Smith. The Hawks recently received more accolades as Joe Johnson was selected to the All-NBA third team. His first selection, Johnson averaged 21.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 4.9 apg during the regular season. It’s been frustrating for Johnson at times during the playoffs. He is averaging just below 20 points per game and is yet to have a game that he left his definitive mark on. Always more solid on defense than he is given credit for, Johnson needs to be clicking in all facets of his game in Game 3 if the SUPER SIXTH MAN: First-year Hawk Jamal Crawford is averaging Hawks want new life in this series. 15.4 points per game for Atlanta, which is second-best on the team. Gupta can be reached at Crawford has consistantly been one of the Hawks' top scoring rgupta@scoreatl.com. threats despite not starting a single game. Photo courtesy of Jon Barash.
SLOWING THE MAGIC … Defensively, Atlanta is really going to have to step up the pressure, because Howard, Rashard Lewis, Jameer Nelson and Vince Carter have provided a four-pronged attack of their own that has made it a nightmare for the Hawks. Orlando specializes in being able to make the extra pass, so it is essential for perimeter defenders to rotate especially on lethal three-point tries. In game 2, Howard, Lewis, Nelson and Carter combined for 93 points, almost as much as the Hawks’ team total. Howard is as difficult to guard as they come, therefore Horford and Smith must use excellent judgment on when to foul Superman
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2010 ATLANTA HAWKS/ORLANDO MAGIC ROSTERS 10 MIKE BIBBY • G
33 RYAN ANDERSON • F
Acquired by a trade in 2008, Mike Bibby has been a key piece to the Hawks’ three consecutive playoff berths. Bibby, a former All-American at Arizona, averaged 9.1 points and 3.9 assists per game for the Hawks this year.
Ryan Anderson is in his first year with the Magic and has been a solid contributor off the bench. Anderson averaged eight points and four rebounds per game in the regular season.
34 JASON COLLINS • G
22 MATT BARNES • F
A former Stanford star, center Jason Collins joined Atlanta through free agency this past off-season. Collins is an eight-year veteran who played with the Nets, Grizzlies and Timberwolves before becoming a Hawk.
Having been in the league since 2002, the former UCLA Bruin provides depth and veteran experience that has come in handy this year. Barnes started in 58 games in 2009-2010, averaging nine points and five rebounds.
11 JAMAL CRAWFORD • G
30 BRANDON BASS • F
The former Michigan star is a career 15.5 point per game scorer, but, until this season, had not yet experienced the NBA playoffs. Crawford has flourished in his role as the team’s sixth man.
Brandon Bass is a big-body forward, standing at 6-foot-8 and weighing 250 pounds, but has seen very little action during the playoffs. Bass averaged six points and two rebounds in 50 games this year, his first with the Magic.
1 MAURICE EVANS • F-G
15 VINCE CARTER • G/F
Evans was a career journeyman, playing for a different team in seven consecutive seasons, before landing with the Hawks in summer 2008. Evans has added depth and versatility to the Hawks bench.
The former rookie of the year and the eight-time all star has been a major key in the Magic’s success this season. Carter only averaged 16 points per game this season, but still has the ability to put up big numbers.
15 AL HORFORD • C-F
31 ADONAL FOYLE • C
A two-time national champion at Florida, Horford became an All-Star for the Hawks in his third year in the NBA. Horford, a double-double machine, averaged 14.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game this year.
He is one of the oldest players on the roster, as he was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 1997. Foyle has not played, and will not play a game this season after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery before the season began.
2 JOE JOHNSON • G
13 MARCIN GORTAT • C
Johnson has made the All-Star team four times and has led the team in scoring in each of his five seasons as a Hawk. Johnson eclipsed the career 10,000-point mark earlier this season, in a 110-107 loss to the Bucks.
Known as the Polish Hammer, Gortat has provided good play off the bench when Dwight Howard needs a rest. When the Magic went to the Finals last year, Gortat became the first Polish-born player to appear in the NBA Finals.
33 RANDOLPH MORRIS • C
12 DWIGHT HOWARD • C
The hometown star Morris averaged 23 points, 16 rebounds and 8 blocks per game as a senior at Atlanta’s Landmark Christian High School. Morris signed with the Hawks in the summer of 2008.
Over the past six seasons, Dwight Howard has established himself as the most dominant center in the NBA. He’s the reigning defensive player of the year and won the rebound title this year, averaging 13 boards per contest.
27 ZAZA PACHULIA • C-F
8 ANTHONY JOHNSON • G
Pachulia, from Tbilisi, Georgia, signed with the Hawks back in August of 2005 and has since become a fan favorite in Atlanta. Pachulia is a key contributor off the bench for the Hawks with his tenacity and toughness.
Johnson has been a journeyman in his NBA career, playing for eight different teams since joining the league in 1997-98. Hawks fans should know Johnson well, as he played for the Hawks in 1998-2000 and then again from 2007-08.
32 JOE SMITH • F-C
9 RASHARD LEWIS • F
The No. 1 pick in the 1995 draft, Joe Smith’s 14 seasons in the NBA are more than any other Hawk. Atlanta became the 10th NBA team Smith has played for when he signed with the Hawks in August 2009.
This two-time NBA All-Star has been one of the more consistent players for the Magic. Lewis averaged 14 points per game in the regular season and had one of his best playoff games in his career in Game 2.
5 JOSH SMITH • F
14 JAMEER NELSON • G
“J-Smoove” was born and raised in Georgia. Smith has become one of the most exciting players in the NBA to watch, with his high-flying dunks on offense and bucket-denying blocks on defense.
The former St. Joseph Hawk is having his best year with Orlando, as he made his first all-star game appearance this year. The point guard has been money in the playoffs, averaging 22 points per game.
0 JEFF TEAGUE • G
20 MICKAEL PIETRUS • F
The Hawks’ first pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, Jeff Teague is the only Atlanta rookie. A college star at Wake Forest, Teague averaged 18.5 points, 3.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game in his final collegiate season.
The swingman from France is in his second year with the Magic and has been a great contributor on the bench. Pietrus scored 13 points in Game 2 and has averaged nearly 10 points per game in the playoffs this year.
7 J.J. REDICK • G
6 MARIO WEST • G West has spent his entire basketball career in the greater Atlanta area. A high-school standout at Douglas County, West played college ball at Georgia Tech before signing with the Hawks in 2007.
Redick is not the player that he was when he was at Duke, but has been a key bench player for the Magic the last few years. He played only four minutes in Game 2, but expect him to be a factor in Game 3.
24 MARVIN WILLIAMS • F
44 JASON WILLIAMS • G
A key piece to the North Carolina championship run in 2005, Williams was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. He has been a regular starter in his last three seasons in Atlanta.
This 10-year veteran has been known for his unorthodox style at the point guard position and his amazing no-look passes. Williams does not see a lot of time on the court, but he provides playoff experience.
MIKE WOODSON • HC
STAN VAN GUNDY • HC Van Gundy has done an amazing job with the Magic since taking over in 2007. He has led the Magic to three consecutive division titles and in the last two years Orlando has won 59 games.
Woodson’s teams have improved in the win column every year since being named head coach in 2004. In his first year, the Hawks won just 13 games while this year they won 53.
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PE04 I SCORE ATLANTA
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PE06 I SCORE ATLANTA
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Howard and Orlando have had the Magic touch thus far in the playoffs ith all the attention LeBron James and the Atlanta native shot just 59.2 percent from 100 percent. Nelson averaged 12.4 points in W the Cleveland Cavaliers got during the the free-throw line during the regular season. 65 regular-season games, but in addition to regular season, it would be easy to forget that On Thursday, however, he drained 13 of 18 his two playoff performances against the the Orlando Magic are the reigning Eastern Conference Champions. Well, they are making it easy to remember now. Playing like they have a title to defend, the Magic are 6-0 in these playoffs following a four-game sweep of Charlotte and two victories over the Hawks earlier this week at Amway Arena. Atlanta showed signs of rebounding from a 114-71 blowout loss in Game 1, but Orlando took the visitors’ best shots before pulling away for a 112-98 win in Game 2 on Thursday night.
HOW DO YOU STOP HOWARD? … While the Hawks caught a break in their first-round series with Milwaukee with center Andrew Bogut sidelined due to a broken thumb, they are suddenly making a leap from playing one of the smallest teams in the league to going up against one of the biggest, most physical foes. Kurt Thomas, Dan Gadzuric and Ersan Ilyasova are nice players. Dwight Howard? In a bit of a different league. They call him ‘Superman’ for a reason, folks. Howard (18.3 ppg. 13.2 rpg in the regular season) towered over the Hawks for 21 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks in just 29 minutes of Game 1 work, then he dominated Game 2 with 29 points and 17 boards. Atlanta backup center Jason Collins logged exactly one minute of action on Thursday and picked up three fouls—each one in an attempt to defend Howard. Hack-a-Howard is not a bad strategy, as
from the charity stripe. “He took some hard hits on the offensive end of the floor,” said Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy. “That's led to some frustration and at times retaliation on his part. He got hit damn hard tonight, blows that would have dropped a lot of people, certainly me. I think he held his composure well.”
Hawks, he also torched the Bobcats for 32 points on two different occasions. “Jameer's the key,” Orlando forward Matt Barnes said after the Game 1 rout. “He's the floor general. He gets everybody involved.”
HAWKS GROUNDED … Nelson’s health may be music to the Magic’s ears, but it certainly has not helped the Hawks, whose frustration against Orlando is reaching a peak. After losing three of four against its Southeast Division rivals, Atlanta talked about how it could its speed to offset the Magic’s superior size. Instead, the Hawks had no fast break of any kind in Game 2 while Orlando caught Josh Smith lagging behind at the offensive end on multiple occasions. The Hawks finally figured out how to hammer away down low against Milwaukee, but the Magic are allowing nothing of the sort. Don’t be fooled by Al Horford’s 24-point performance in Game 2; Big Al was simply on fire and scored almost all of his points with mid-range jumpers (and six free throws). Smith had 18 points on Thursday, but he turned the ball over five times because of reckless forays into the Howard-owned lane. Dimon can be reached at rdimon@scoreatl.com.
FULL NELSON … As if ‘Superman’ is not enough by himself, Orlando is one of the deepest teams in the league and it has the ability to pull out victories in different ways. After all, that is usually the case when a ballclub chalks up 59 wins in the regular season and goes six for its first six in the playoffs. The Magic out-rebounded the Hawks by wide margins in each of the four regular-season meetings and the hosts pounded the glass in the form of a 53-35 advantage on Tuesday. Two days later, Atlanta finally got the best of Orlando on the boards, winning that battle 41-35. Enter Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter and Mickael Pietrus. The backcourt trio combined for six three-pointers and 57 points on 20-for28 shooting in Game 2. Carter has 44 points and is 9-for-9 from the line through two contests. Nelson is averaging 19.5 points and 5.5 points while going 15-of-26 from the floor so far this series. The former St. Joe’s star missed considerable time both this season and last with injuries, but he is a different player with his left knee at
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I AM SUPERMAN: Magic center Dwight Howard is averaging 14.8 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks so far in the 2009-2010 postseason. However, Howard is shooting just 49.2 percent from the foul line. Photo courtesy of the Orlando Magic.