The Atlanta Hawks lost Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic, 88-83, but split the first two games of the series on Orlando's home floor and have thus wrested homecourt advantage from the Magic. However, NBA TV analyst Greg Anthony has some reservations about Atlanta's play so far in this series. While he praised Atlanta's defense so far, questions linger about its offense.
↵↵"Atlanta is not a very patient team," the former NBA point guard said on Game Time, NBA TV's nightly wrap-up show. "They’re not very poised. They will take bad shots if you allow them to and that’s what I thought Orlando did really well tonight [in Game 2]."
↵↵The Hawks shot 39.5 percent against the Magic's defense and, even when their shots went in, they had to labor to get them. During a halftime interview on the local Magic telecast, Orlando assistant coach Steve Clifford pointed out nine of the Hawks' first-half points came on deep, buzzer-beating threes. Those shots aren't likely to continue dropping for Atlanta as the series continues.
↵↵Still, the Hawks have done well defensively, limiting Magic players not named Dwight Howard to 31.6 percent shooting through the first two games. If the Hawks manage to keep that trend up, and find ways to attack the Magic's defense, hey can surely take the series.