This could be the most intriguing series of all the matchups during the playoffs. The Orlando Magic are the only team among the top 4 seeds in the Playoffs, among both conferences to have lost thier season series against their lower seeded matchup. Atlanta isn’t very good, but they seem to have Orlando’s number this season, after getting swept during the playoffs last season in a record setting series.
The Magic basically has better season stats against the Hawks in every aspect. The Hawks ended the regular season with a point difference of -0.8, which is incredible given this team is the only team in the playoffs that has a negative point difference, and the Hawks’ play to end the season was so terrible, they got blowned out by the Washington Wizards, lost by 11 to Charlotte, and are coming into the playoffs on a six game losing streak.
Granted the Magic hasn’t done that well themselves either, ending the season with losses coming from the Raptors in a game they should have won, but the good thing was the maturity shown by the team in the loss against the Bulls, a game Dwight Howard was suspended for picking up his 18th technical foul for the year.
Orlando Magic Season Stats
Atlanta Hawks Season Stats
The stats may be telling, but that was different when it cam to the Orlando Magic against the Atlanta Hawks this season. The Hawks basically just manhandled the Magic in their three wins, holding Dwight Howard into less than 20 points and more turnovers than blocks in those three meetings. Hawks defense in those three wins were so good, Orlando couldn’t even crack 80 points in those games, and that focus on shutting Dwight Howard down just kind of knocked the Magic off from their game plan.
The numerous number of different looks Atlanta can throw at Dwight Howard are just short of amazing, Jason Collins, Etan Thomas, Zaza Pachulia, Josh Powell, Hilton Armstrong and Al Horford. It’s like the Hawks know they are going to get Orlando again in the playoffs, and just spent their entire off-season preparing for this matchup, giving up the rest of the season for this. That’s six big men in a twelve man playoff roster. Just amazing actually. Jason Collins has been playing tough defense against Dwight Howard, making him frustrated, but Howard made a pledge that he would assert himself earlier against the Hawks and that would be something to watch.
Last season, Orlando’s defense frustrated Joe Johnson and made Al Horford carry the scoring load, while in the process, kind of exposed Johnson’s limitations as a scorer, but this year’s Hawks are slightly different, with their scoring slight more balanced, and thus lessening the burden on the need for Johnson to carry the scoring load. But still that doesn’t change what has been wrong about the Hawks, it’s been there since Mike Woodson’s been there, and it’s also the reason why some people say Joe Johnson is overrated. Too many times on offense (this season and before), Hawk players just wait around the perimeter and wait for someone to initiate the offense, and that’s where Johnson comes in and shoots a contested shot.
And with the Hawks trading Mike Bibby for Kirk Hinrich, it just made their offense worse than ever. I don’t know what happened to Hinrich, but he used to be more explosive than this, now he’s just an average, defensive minded point man, much like any other backup point guards in the league, and although he does provide better defense. I’d be more comfortable with Bibby shooting a three rather than Hinrich. But with Hinrich, Jameer Nelson’s job just got tougher, the former is taller and longer, while Nelson is only a hint over six inches and will probably have a tougher time against Hinrich than Bibby. But he played well in their last loss against the Hawks, so that’s good news for the Magic.
J.J Redick’s availability during this playoff series could make a huge difference as well, because as much as anyone hates Redick, he’s improved into a player that could run the offense, knows the offense, and plays decent defense, and Quentin Richardson could be the guy for the job to frustrate Johnson, get on his nerves, just like how Matt Barnes did last season against him, and take him out of his comfort zone.
Dwight Howard needs to do this everytime with Jason Collins down the block
Trendy Pick
It’s just so hard to pick the Atlanta Hawks just because they play so badly at times, stagnant offense, not switching on defense, they just make you wanna kill yourself sometimes with the way they play. And if Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and the Orlando bench (mainly Gilbert Arenas) can show up and assert themselves, this could be a quick series.
Orlando Magic in 5.
Wow Your Friends Pick
Jason Collins could be Dwight’s kyrptonite, and holds Dwight to the level of LeBron’s infamous series against the Celtics, and the Hawks get a few big games from Joe Johnson to seal their third straight first round win.
Atlanta Hawks in 6.
Room Service Dime 