Magic vs Hawks Game thread 1/22/14

[Ibn Battuta 127]

NBA.com preview:

 

ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta Hawks have looked like a potential tough out in the playoffs while taking impressive wins over Houston, Indiana and Miami this month.

 

There's only one catch: All those wins came in Atlanta. The Hawks, who play at Orlando on Wednesday, must improve their dismal 6-13 road record if they are to be considered as a true postseason contender.

 

The Hawks, who are third in the Eastern Conference, snapped a nine-game losing streak against the Heat on Monday night. That win gave guard DeMarre Carroll, one of several newcomers to the Hawks, more reason to believe the road wins will come.

 

"I think we've just got to take the fight to the teams," Carroll said after Monday night's game. "We can't come out lackadaisical. That's just growing. We're all new as a team."

 

Entering Tuesday's games, Phoenix was the NBA's only other team to have an overall winning record and a losing mark (9-11) on the road.

 

The Hawks don't feel they have to make huge adjustments to have success on the road.

 

"There is no difference" in playing on the road, 14-year veteran Elton Brand said with a laugh following Tuesday's practice.

 

"Mentally, for us, the crowd, the noise, that's the difference. But there is no difference. And once we get that through our heads ... "

 

Brand then laughed again. He knows perception can be difficult to overcome, even for a team with a 15-6 home record, including the recent impressive string of wins against such playoff-bound teams as the Eastern Conference-leading Pacers and Heat.

 

Brand, Carroll, Paul Millsap and Pero Antic are among the veterans in their first seasons in Atlanta.

 

Brand and Antic have earned more minutes at center to help the Hawks remain competitive after losing All-Star Al Horford to a season-ending injury last month. Horford was the team's leading scorer and rebounder when he tore his right pectoral muscle on Dec. 26.

 

Antic set a career high with 17 points in Monday night's 121-114 win over Miami.

 

First-year coach Mike Budenholzer said Tuesday the Hawks need to show more "attention to detail" and play with improved mental sharpness on the road.

 

"I think going on the road in the NBA really requires that mental, really, toughness, I guess is the best word, to find a way to win and to do all those things that you do well at home," Budenholzer said. "And you may have to do them even better on the road."

 

The Hawks have played well in some of their road losses, including a 102-100 loss at San Antonio on Dec. 2 and an overtime loss at Miami on Dec. 23. Atlanta has split two games with the Magic, winning at home on Nov. 9 and losing 109-102 at Orlando on Dec. 29.

 

Atlanta (21-19) played one of its best games Monday against Miami. The Hawks showed the mental toughness Budenholzer has sought as they made 25 of 27 free throws, shot 51.9 percent from the field and committed only 13 turnovers.

 

"On the road we seem to have a lot of slippage as a team in that area - turnovers, lack of execution," Brand said.

 

Budenholzer said he's looking for more consistent play from his team as the Hawks play three of their next four games on the road.

 

"Obviously we've played well at home and I think the energy and the effort, if it's higher at home, I think the home court, your fans and all of that may feed into that," Budenholzer said.

 

"But our approach is we want to be the same at home and on the road. Obviously the wins and losses aren't showing that we're the same on the road as we are at home. ... I think our group is getting there. I think in all ways, shapes and forms we can just continue to get mentally tougher."

 

The Magic (11-31) ended a 10-game slide with a 93-91 win over Boston on Sunday before reverting to their losing ways Tuesday in a 101-90 defeat at Brooklyn.

 

Reserve Kyle O'Quinn had 15 points and eight rebounds, and E'Twaun Moore scored 13 for Orlando, which trailed 46-42 at the break but scored only 14 points in the third quarter.

 

"We stopped moving the ball. We stopped playing together. We stopped playing defense. We stopped doing everything. ... We just laid down," said forward Glen Davis. "To be in the game and to have a chance to win the game and we just let it go like that, it's just really disappointing."

 

http://www.nba.com/games/20140122/ATLORL/gameinfo.html

 

 

 

Our guys:

Nelson

Oladipo

Afflalo

Harris

Davis

 

* No official word but I think Vuc will miss the game due to concussion.

 

Hawks projected starting lineup:

Jeff Teague

Kyle Korver

Demarre Carroll

Paul Millsap

Pero Antic

 

* Al Horford is out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle.

 

IB's Key to the Game:

This is a tough one; this is going to sound weird, but the Hawks are actually a good team. They are in the top 10 for 3p% and 2p% which is...pretty cool considering they don't really have much by the way of talent. They have a bunch of solid players like Millsap (who is having an Afflalo-ian season) plus guys like Korver, Teague, and Lou Williams that are just vanilla but get the job done. They've been playing good for the most part without Horford too which is surprising. In fact, they beat the Heat last night. The Hawks for the season have 1,023 assists (only 11 less than the top mark) so the ball moves a lot; rarely do you see the offense stagnate (give coach Budenholzer a lot of credit). You gotta stifle the ball movement IMO to have a chance in this game; they are just too efficient offensively when they move the ball around. Close out on the shooters, and front the entry passes to the post/get hands in the passing lanes. And hopefully Davis doesn't get torched by Antic (big who can space the floor). As always, GOOOOO MAGIC!!!

[barnettej 263]

Please, please play some defense tonight. No more lagging 2ft off your man, specially from the 3 zone.

 

Trust in eachother, and let each take on his responsibility. Double as the last resort at the last possible second, leave no lane for the outlet 3pter pass.

 

Crash the boards and rebound. One man cannot do it all.

 

The win is possible if we can do these things for 4qtrs.

[~O~ 565]

Toss up

[barnettej 263]

Quinn has to roll faster to the rim on the high pick

[Dan Savage 119]

 

Jameer Nelson's first field goal of the game was the 3,000th made of his career.

[barnettej 263]

Our 2 man offense is really killing it tonight.

[s1n1st3r12 27]

 

Jameer Nelson's first field goal of the game was the 3,000th made of his career.

 

Good job Meer

[barnettej 263]

Teague is destroying Arron...

[barnettej 263]

We got it a little closer... Just have to keep battling and

 

Pass the ball more in the second. The second touch does not mean to shoot it.

[s1n1st3r12 27]

Mike Scott always plays well against us, it annoys me cause we have better defenders against his offence.

[barnettej 263]

Korver bothers me.

[Dan Savage 119]

Early Highlights:

 

Jameer Nelson's 3000th field goal:

http://www.nba.com/magic/video/2014/01/22/24MF7OLmp4-3118783/

 

Tobias Two-Handed Slam:

http://www.nba.com/magic/video/2014/01/22/tobiasharri2smov-3118738/

 

Oladipo's Spin Cycle:

http://www.nba.com/magic/video/2014/01/22/oladipospinmov-3118763/

 

NBA TV's First-Half Highlights:

http://www.nba.com/magic/video/games/magic/2014/01/22/0021300623-atl-orl-1h.nba/