A Few Stats
Josh Smith related numbers
- Defensive efficiency with Josh Smith – 88.8 points per 100 possessions conceded
- Defensive efficiency without Josh Smith – 115.2 points per 100 possessions conceded
First five games vs Last four games
- Defensive efficiency first 5 games – 94 points per 100 possessions conceded
- Defensive efficiency last 4 games – 120 points per 100 possessions conceded
Hawks Defensive Efficiency Last Season
- Hawks defensive efficiency last season ranked 18th in the NBA.
- After Mike Bibby arrived, their defense was even worse, ranking 26th in the NBA.
The latest reports I’ve read on Smith’s injury status have stated that he’s one to two weeks away from returning. Unfortunately, we won’t know what this team’s defense is truly capable of until Josh Smith returns, gets healthy … and then the Hawks play a good number of games. Until then we only have odd statistics to ponder at.
Playing without Josh Smith in the line-up is beginning to take its toll on the Hawks.
They will need to hold on tightly until he is able to reurn full-time.
No Josh … and the Hawks are mediocre team, at-best.
Khandor,
Yes, the loss of Josh Smith is certainly taking a toll on the Hawks. Add Al Horford missing last night’s game and Zaza Pachulia playing through an injury and the Hawks are seriously short of quality from their big men.
I watched the Wizards-Hawks game last night, and I was very impressed with the Hawks. A workmanlike effort that saw them beat the Wizards on the backboards and out-hustle them throughout the night. A very good win. Marvin Williams in particular, very scrappy and quality performance from him.
There’s a good argument to be made about the Wizards missing Brendan Haywood more than the Hawks are missing Josh Smith. The Wizards squad is falling apart without the big fella in the middle to anchor their play. Washington are in serious short term trouble – their youngsters aren’t doing enough (except McGee) and their leaders (Jamison/Butler) are voicing their displeasure with their team’s performances regularly.
Despite the respect I have for EJ, if they don’t hold things together a lttle better than they have to this point, by winning at least a couple more games, here and there, Ernie Grunfeld will soon have no choice but to relieve his head coach of that specific responsibility.
Not having both Arenas and Haywood is o lot for them to withstand.