The Atlanta Hawks fall behind by 16, so what are they going to do? They're going to jack up jumper after jumper, again. Let's just forget that this type of plan rarely ends in success for Atlanta's basketball team.
Amare Stoudemire has 19 and Danilo Gallinardo poured in 14 to lead the New York Knicks to a 78-65 lead over Atlanta on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Marvin Williams has 13 and Josh Smith and Joe Johnson have poured in 12 each for Atlanta, which is shooting just 41-percent (26-for-46) from the field.
Trailing by as many as 16 late in the third, the Hawks cut the lead to nine, before the Knicks answered with four points to end the frame. Atlanta clearly has a lot of work to do if they want to come back in the fourth quarter. However, in order to get there, they are going to have to figure out a way to attack the inside and then go outside for a stray jumper or two.
New York is not exactly a big basketball team and their defense is atrocious. But with the perimeter game on the blink, Atlanta's going to have to do the dirty work in the paint if they want to try to stage a comeback.
Al Horford has eight points and 10 boards for the Hawks, who must win to keep pace with the Orlando Magic for second place in the Eastern Conference.