Thoughts From Tuesday's Game
Posted by:
Micah Hart on
October 18, 2007 at
1:14AM AFT
I missed the first two home preseason games, so last night was my first chance to see the boys in the new unis and on the new court.
I've been on record as saying I like the new duds, and I stand by that statement.
That being said, let's talk about the game. You know who I like? Al Horford. Man, I really like that guy's game.
For anyone who was there last night, you had to be impressed by the way he handled himself in the paint and running the floor. Several times he ended up leading the break, and his handle is impressive for a guy his size.
Last night was also my first chance to see the team running it's up tempo package, and I was surprised to see how comfortably Anthony Johnson ran it. Not to slight AJ, but he strikes me as more of a halfcourt offensive player. Yet there he was on Tuesday, pushing the pace repeatedly and getting the team into their offense early in the shot clock.
Though the team still has a ways to go before they are running the offense efficiently enough to make it completely successful (like getting back on defense just as quickly to prevent breaks going the other way), I felt like I saw enough to know that two players look to benefit from the tempo in particular: Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams.
It may seem silly to list Joe, as he pretty much benefits from any offensive strategy just because he is so freakin' good, but I'm telling you, he looked like the Joe Johnson who was dropping trey-bombs all over Phoenix in his last year there at times last night.
He and Marvin are the team's best perimeter shooters, and each of them found themselves wide open for jumpers early in the shot clock several times last night.
Basically, AJ would push it quickly up the court, and Marvin and Joe would already be in shooting position, usually near the corner, waiting for the ball to get to them.
When you think of the Hawks playing up tempo you may think of the team trying to get to the hole for layups, and certainly that is something the team wants to do, but it's also about getting open shots before the defense gets set. With jump shooters as talented as Marvin and Joe (you can toss Salim Stoudamire in there as well), there should be plenty of opportunities for them during the season if the team can maintain this pace without sacrificing their defense.
Either way, it bears paying attention to see how the offense continues to develop.
After practice today the guys left to go to Charlotte for tomorrow's preseason affair against the Bobcats, a Children's Special that begins at 10:30 am. Yowsa. Make sure to set those alarm clocks a little early so you can hit snooze a few times, guys.
If you are interested in listening to the game, you can check it out live on Hawks.com, which will be streaming the game online.
Meanwhile, there are only three more preseason games to go before they count in the standings. I'm starting to get excited...
