20 game update: Synergy Sports

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Josh SmithIn our last episode, Josh was struggling with his offensive consistently in a big way. So is he playing better these days? The answer is a resounding YES.At 19 ppg - 8 rebs - 4 asst - 2 blks - and 1.6 stls over his last 10 games, Josh is showing that type of all around game that he is capable of performing at times. Add to that the 48% FG shooting and the recent hot shooting from 3 point range at 55%, Josh has had a very good stretch of games since around Thanksgiving.Detractors will say that . . "well, we've played the Bobcats 3 times, and ORL, CLE, and WAS once in that stretch of games" . . but I say that you play whatever schedule is in front of you. If it took playing those teams to get him back on track, so be it. He's been good vs the good teams as well.Three weeks ago, these were Josh's top 5 offensive type of playsPost Up . . . 26.8% of shots . . . 38.9% FG . . . 0.66 pppSpot Up . . . 22% of shots . . . . . 22.2% FG . . . 0.50 pppCut . . . . . . . 14% of shots . . . . 45% FG . . . . 0.83 pppIsolation . . . 10.4% of shots . . . 25% FG . . . . 0.59 pppTransition . . . 7.9% of shots . . . 88.9% FG . . . 1.31 pppThese are his top 5 offensive type of plays nowPost Up . . . 25.3% of shots . . . 39.2% FG . . . 0.70 pppSpot Up . . . 22.2% of shots . . . 30.7% FG . . . 0.73 pppCut . . . . . . . 12.9% of shots . . . 59.5% FG . . . 1.10 pppIsolation . . . 11.4% of shots . . . 37.8% FG . . . 0.89 pppTransition . . 10.6% of shots . . 85.2% FG . . . 1.37 pppAlmost all of his offensive numbers are up from a FG% and point per play perspective. And the number I really like to see up are his Transition opportunities. He scored 8 points last night vs Charlotte via transition, and his steal and dunk at the very end of that Denver game sealed the win for us. When he can score easy baskets like that, it only helps to get him going for the entirety of the game.Good job Josh. Keep it up.

[Supporter]

Josh is starting to prove me wrong. I hope our big 3 (Horf, Josh, Jeff) can keep up their play into the playoffs.

[HawkItus]

Confidence or as the trainers call it the Royal Honey. Josh has had the cap removed. Wtih Joe their was only so far he could grow. Now he has Drews confidence, Ferry's confidence, and the team follows his lead. Its all there for his taking.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Al HorfordAt 17 ppg - 11 rebs - and 55% FG shooting the past 10 games, Horford has been the model of consistency all season. And he's really brought it this year, especially with his scoring around the rim. For the first time ever, we're seeing him play about 40% of his minutes at PF. And while his man defense isn't exactly stellar so far this year, he's been very productive with his offense. As long as his teammates can continue to find him for easy points via cuts to the basket, his FG% is going to stay extremely high.Top 5 shot types last timePost Up . . . . . 22.6% of shots . . . 50% FG . . . 0.96 pppCut . . . . . . . . 19.4% of shots . . . 66.7% FG . . 1.29 pppSpot Up . . . . . 15.3% of shots . . . 17.6% FG . . 0.37 pppP&R Roll Man . 12.9% of shots . . . 50% FG . . . 1.06 pppTransition . . . . 9.7% of shots . . . . 90% FG . . . 1.50 pppTop 5 shot types nowCut . . . . . . . . . . . 19.9% of shots . . . 71.7% FG . . . 1.37 pppPost Up . . . . . . . 19.9% of shots . . . 42% FG . . . . . 0.81 pppP&R Roll Man . . 12.6% of shots . . . 48.6% FG . . . 0.95 pppSpot Up . . . . . . . 11.4% of shots . . . 27.3% FG . . . 0.53 pppTransition . . . . . 10.4% of shots . . . . 83.3% FG . . 1.30 pppIf anybody has benefited from the departure of Joe Johnson, it's been Al. Because these days, he's constantly moving in and out of the paint. And because of this, his teammates have been finding him for easy baskets around the rim, or wide open jumpers from about 12 - 16 feet. If that spot up jumper starts to fall, watch out for Al. He could make a run at an All-Star berth, along with Smith.Horford is Mr. Consistency, when it comes to this team. If Josh is the engine of the Hawks, Al is the actual frame of the car.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Jeff TeagueHere's who we need to keep an eye on folks, especially when these games get a little tougher.Versus the elite teams, we're going to need him to stay in attack mode. Overall, he's done a decent job of doing that, but for him to get to that next level as a scoring PG, he needs to assert himself even more. It doesn't help that this kid can't get a foul call to save his life. He virtually lived at the FT line while in college. In the pros though, he can get knocked down to the floor and the refs will just look at him like he's playing park rules basketball. No blood, no foul.13.3 ppg and 6.2 assists over the past 10 games . . but shot 39% FG. And the reason for the FG% drop is that he's taking too many jumpers, and not staying in full attack mode.Top 3 shot types back around ThanksgivingP&R Ball Handler . . . 43% of shots . . . 51.3% FG . . . 0.85 pppTransition . . . . . . . . 20.3% of shots . . 61.1% FG . . . 1.15 pppIsolation . . . . . . . . . 17.2% of shots . . . 33.3% FG . . . 0.68 pppTop 3 shot types nowP&R Ball Handler . . . 35% of shots . . . 35.9% FG . . . 0.67 pppTransition . . . . . . . . . 23.2% of shots . . . 55.4% FG . . 1.10 pppIsolation . . . . . . . . . . 16.7% of shots . . . 32.6% FG . . . 0.75 pppHow do you drop your P&R shooting percentage by over 15 percentage points in a 10 game span? Easy. Just go 3 for your last 21 FG in that situation like Teague has. Way too many late shot clock jumpers where he has to hoist up a shot at the last second. And even when he is attacking lately, the floater isn't falling.Hopefully this is just a little funk that he's in, and not a future trend for the season. He's played well overall so far.

[benhillboy]

All I worry about with Teague is attacking the rim at every oppurtunity. Everything else just flows for him off that.

[AHF]

Thanks for the summaries! Good stuff to read and review.

[MrMeltdown]

Teague is not taking too many jumpers the dude can't finish and is about as annoying as Josh at this point