Boxscore
Gameflow (coming soon)
Quick thoughts...
- Sergio Rodriguez es magnifico. If Nate McMillan lets him play more than 16:21 I doubt the Trail Blazers need overtime to win the game.
- The point guard combination I expected to see most of the season had a very effective afternoon offensively. Acie Law IV and Tyronn Lue combined for 25 points on 11 shots, 8 assists, no turnovers, and seven rebounds in 44:36.
- When not scoring early and often, Lue still didn't look like he was moving very well. I can't say I'd be shocked if he all of a sudden missed another month.
- It ended up mattering naught, but Mike Woodson's timeout immediately following Josh Smith's steal which negated a Joe Johnson breakaway that would have tied the game was every bit a microcosm as to why this is (at best) a .500 as the previous offensive possession where four Atlanta offensive rebounds (down 2 in the final minute of overtime, mind you) resulted in a Josh Smith three-point attempts (and miss, natch) with 20 seconds left on the shot clock. Counter-productive, adamant coaching decisions, great effort, and poor shot selection does not have the zip of Welcome to the Highlight Factory but is perhaps more accurately descriptive.
- If Travis Outlaw makes a 21-footer to beat you, so be it. That's a shot you can live with Portland taking on their final possession. The game was lost elsewhere, primarily due to Josh Smith and Marvin Williams combining to miss 20 of their 28 field goal attempts.
- Marvin needs either to finish better in the paint or commit himself to the defensive glass. Both of those weaknesses were on display this afternoon.
- Travis Outlaw exposed Josh Smith's poor lateral movement in overtime. Usually, Josh can recover and contest if not block the shot from behind. Outlaw's too quick for that.
- Joe Johnson (37 points, 7 assists, 0 turnovers, and a little defense on Brandon Roy down the stretch) gets the most out of his ability and circumstances more often than not. Today I think he's both overmatched and underrated.
1 comment:
This would have been a blowout if not for an unusually good night behind the 3 point line by Joe Johnson and TLue. The Blazers have a very impressive looking team with a lot of outside shooting ability. The Hawks need to add some 3 point shooting at the trade deadline or at least before next season.
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