NBA playoffs, Atlanta vs. Miami, Game 5: Turning points

[DrReality]

NBA playoffs, Atlanta vs. Miami, Game 5: Turning points

Five factors that have been a difference between wins, losses in this playoff series.

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

The Hawks regained home-court advantage with Monday’s victory over Miami. Still, this first-round Eastern Conference playoff series has not gone the way many expected, especially after the Hawks’ dominant Game 1 performance. Tied 2-2 with Game 5 tonight at Philips Arena, here are five things the series has turned on:

Battle of the boards

The team that has held the rebounding advantage has won every game. The Hawks held 50-35 and 40-33 advantages in Games 1 and 4. They were outrebounded in losses in Game 2 and 3.

In winning the rebound battle, the Hawks limited the Heat to 64 and 71 points. That has been the recipe for success this season.

“Defense has won a lot of games for us,” center Zaza Pachulia said.

The 64 points allowed in Game 1 was a Hawks record for fewest points allowed in a playoff game. They also set playoff marks for lowest second-half total (25), fourth-quarter points (7) and fewest field goals in a game (23).

Looking long range

Miami has lived —- and died —- by the 3-pointer. The Heat shot 57.7 and 52.2 percent from beyond the arc in wins (27-for-49 total). In losses, they shot 17.4 and 25 percent (8-for-29 total).

Dwyane Wade was 1-for-8 from 3-point range in the Game 4 loss.

“[Monday] our goal was to be physical with him,” Pachulia said. “We were not going to give him anything easy.”

Start fast

There have been three lead changes the entire series (not including the opening points) and none in the past two games.

The latest into the game that the eventual winner was trailing was in Game 2 when the Heat was behind 3-2 with 10:10 left in the first quarter. “They are the players, but I’m the one to push the right buttons and get them to play,” Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. “I understand that.”

Where is Joe?

Three-time Hawks All-Star Joe Johnson is averaging 13.8 points a game, more than seven points below his season average. Josh Smith is the leading scorer for the Hawks at 16.5 points a game. Mike Bibby has led in scoring or been tied with another player in three of the four games. When he led the team with 15 points in Game 4, it was the first time in Hawks playoff history that a player led the team in scoring without more than 15 points.

“The thing is we’ve been able to sustain with [Johnson] being mediocre,” Woodson said. “To me, that’s great. It says a lot for the supporting cast. Joe just has to continue to play, and eventually things will turn his way.”

Off the bench

The Hawks’ bench has been a bigger factor, outscoring the Heat’s 84-73. It looks closer than it is. Of those 73 bench points for the Heat, 37 came in Game 2. That’s 51 percent of their total in one game. Daequan Cook scored 20 points, and Michael Beasley had 12.

Flip Murray has scored more than half the Hawks’ bench points with 43. Pachulia had 12 points and 18 rebounds in Game 4.

[DrReality]

Fiesty game.

Al will not return.

[exodus]

The Hawks were 20-22 at the line in the first half. That is a welcome change.

[mattlanta]

Fiesty game.

Al will not return.

Do they know how serious the injury is yet?

[Admin]

Do they know how serious the injury is yet?

All I've heard is that it's a sprained ankle and he won't return. Let's hope it's not a high ankle sprain. I'm thankful it's not his knee that's for sure.

[DrReality]

Just said it is a moderate strain and will have to be evaluated. Could have been worse.

[exodus]

Realistically there is no way to know how bad Horford's injury is right now. You don't really know until the next day or two.

Nice to see Smith and JJ making their foul shots. It is really nice to see Flip make an appearance.

[bird_dirt]

The Hawks’ bench has been a bigger factor, outscoring the Heat’s 84-73....

Flip Murray has scored more than half the Hawks’ bench points with 43. Pachulia had 12 points and 18 rebounds in Game 4.

is it just me, or is woodson trusting his bench more this year? i know a large part of it has to do with injuries, but it seems where he pretty much stuck with a 6-7 man rotation last year, he's now regularly playing flip, mo, zaza (again largely due to injuries). even solo has gotten some minutes tonight, west and acie got a little garbage time-do you think he would've done that last year?

zaza is playing big, even when his stat line doesn't reflect it as much, he's just in the right place doing what needs to be done. flip has been terrific these past couple games. mo hasn't been spectacular, but he hasn't hurt us too much either. i like solo adding a little physical play to the court, even if in limited minutes.

[Duff_Man]

is it just me, or is woodson trusting his bench more this year? i know a large part of it has to do with injuries, but it seems where he pretty much stuck with a 6-7 man rotation last year, he's now regularly playing flip, mo, zaza (again largely due to injuries). even solo has gotten some minutes tonight, west and acie got a little garbage time-do you think he would've done that last year?

zaza is playing big, even when his stat line doesn't reflect it as much, he's just in the right place doing what needs to be done. flip has been terrific these past couple games. mo hasn't been spectacular, but he hasn't hurt us too much either. i like solo adding a little physical play to the court, even if in limited minutes.

Gotta be honest...Flip, Mo, Zaza have been dping GREAT things for us.