NBA Playoffs Bucks Hawks Game 2: Let Josh Smith Show You A Magic Trick
Having Andrew Bogut around would have helped. It really would have. There’s just so much that happens where the Bucks need someone who’s not just big, but smart enough to suss out things and put certain plays to rest like little children being put down for a nap.
This is such a play.
The Hawks create a cluster here by essentially double screening Ilasova. First Salmons’ man comes through to the other side, shielding his back from Smith who’s just kind of getting excited. Frankensova’s trying to watch Joe Johnson to make sure he doesn’t take Delfino to the rack. Which is good. As we saw with the Mavs. You should probably be ready to help your man. Unfortunately for him, he goes a little too far. He’s now parallel to Smith’s flightpath. Here’s the really dirty part. You’ll notice Bibby sneaking up the bottom side of the play, nudging Salmons’ man to squeeze through, and leaving Brandon Jennings wondering what the hell is going on.
Now on the release, Smith starts galloping towards the rim like Gryphon, Salmons is still chasing his man who’s going baseline, and then bam! (/Madden’d) Bibby screens Ilyasova hard, jarring him and preventing him from even starting to reverse course to cut off Smith at the baseline. Meanwhile, Jennings starts to go after Bibby, realizes what’s happening, and jerks back to try and prevent that which he cannot. You can actually see him go one way, then realize it and back up too late.
See, I included their heights so you would understand why it was such a bad idea. But give the kid credit. He had every intention of going for a pass that he would need to jump off the back of an elephant to catch. Meanwhile, Ilyasova is STILL being cut off by Bibby, which means that even if he misses, the Hawks are going to have a size advantage on the boards. Of course, Smith is eight inches taller, so he’s not going to miss.
It’s easy to say Bogut would have made an impact, but how? Ilyasova still likely would have been on Smith, making the same kinds of mistakes. But you do have to figure Bogut would sniff out what was going on and at least be in a little better position. As is, the Bucks are toast before the pass even gets there.
Dang, Brandon. Dang.
Oster-Tags: Atlanta Hawks, brandon jennings, Josh Smith, Milwaukee Bucks, missuandrew
