Contrary to (Un)popular Belief, the Atlanta Hawks' Starting Lineup is Not "Slightly Better" Than the Orlando Magic's Starting Lineup

by Ben Q Rock on Jan 10, 2009 12:35 PM EST in Analysis Comment 11 comments

The Orlando Magic's two wins against the Atlanta Hawks this week went a long way toward showing just how wide the gap between the Southeast Division's first- and second-place teams is. You may recall after the first win, Terence Moore of the Atlanta Journal Constitution wrote the following about the teams' respective starting lineups:

Look at it this way: The Magic are loaded with an impressive frontcourt of Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis to complement [Dwight] Howard. In the backcourt, they have rising point guard [Jameer] Nelson, and promising rookie Courtney Lee. The Hawks' starting five is slightly better than that.

So, let's see how that claim played out during this week's games: how many points did each team score when those lineups were matched-up with one another? The answers is after the jump.

In the first game, which was much more hotly contested than the second one, the teams' starting lineups shared the floor for a total of 18:02. The table below shows a specific breakdown:

Atlanta Hawks Starting Lineup vs. the Orlando Magic Starting Lineup, January 7th, 2009
Period (Duration)	Hawks Starters	Magic Starters
1st (6:28)	9	17
3rd (5:31)	8	11
4th (6:03)	14	9
TOTAL (18:02)	31	37

The Hawks' late rally makes this differential respectable. However, when one considers the Hawks had three full days of rest before the game and the advantage of playing at home, while the Magic were playing their third game in four nights, the strength of the Magic's starting unit becomes clearer.

On to the most recent game:

Atlanta Hawks Starting Lineup vs. the Orlando Magic Starting Lineup, January 9th, 2009
Period (Duration)	Hawks Starters	Magic Starters
1st (5:07)	4	20
3rd (4:16)	5	11
TOTAL (9:23)	9	31

Indeed, the Magic's starters needed only 9 minutes and 23 seconds to more than triple the score against the Hawks' starters in this game, which--as evidenced by Orlando's 38-point halftime lead--was never really a contest.

All told, the tally for the two games is as follows:

Atlanta Hawks Starting Lineup vs. the Orlando Magic Starting Lineup, January 7th and January 9th, 2009
Date (Duration)	Hawks Starters	Magic Starters
7th (18:02)	31	37
9th (9:23)	9	31
TOTAL (27:25)	40	68

When matched-up with one another over the course of their two most recent meetings, the Magic's first unit outscored the Hawks' first unit by a little more than one point per minute. It should now be quite obvious to all observers that the Atlanta Hawks' starting lineup of Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, Josh Smith, and Al Horford is not "slightly better" than the Orlando Magic's starting lineup of Jameer Nelson, Courtney Lee, Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, and Dwight Howard. In fact, the opposite is true.

The author consulted GameFlows from PopcornMachine (1, 2) and Play-by-Play information from ESPN.com (1, 2) in writing this post.

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Comments

I was hoping for a follow up column from Mr. Moore today. No such luck.

by Coup000 on Jan 10, 2009 12:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I was hoping for it too.

I’m still waiting.

Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website

by erivera7 on Jan 10, 2009 3:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

lmao

That emphatically ends the debate

'Coach, Dwight is a nice guy. Dwight don't hit anybody. But Superman will knock the crap out of you.' - D12

by Eyriq the Red on Jan 10, 2009 12:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

when i read that quote from the atlanta dude, i honestly busted out laughing…

by coque429 on Jan 10, 2009 1:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It was pretty ridiculous, yeah.

Homer journalism at its finest.

Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website

by erivera7 on Jan 10, 2009 3:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ben, you just wasted your time

Moore’s comment was ridiculous and there is no need to prove he is wrong. Good job anyway.

by magic fanatic on Jan 10, 2009 1:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Still fun to break things down and prove someone wrong.

That sounded kind of mean, but .. Moore was asking for it with his outlandish claim.

Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website

by erivera7 on Jan 10, 2009 3:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I feel like I let you down

in that I didn’t warn you never to read a Terence Moore column, and, should you read one accidentally do not think about with any seriousness as it will make your brain hurt. Doesn’t really lift the soul, either.

by Hoopinion on Jan 10, 2009 3:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the tip in future situations.

Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website

by erivera7 on Jan 10, 2009 3:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the follow up to the homer journalism today Ben

Left the house after the first quarter, magic up close to 25, checked on my phone about an hour later and it was 100-60, needless to say I was able to enjoy the night without the stress of not knowing how they were doing and the inability to watch. Actually, I caught much of the Cavs/Celtics at the bar, Lebron is an absolute animal. The game he had last night, although not statistically, it really was one of his most dominating performances of his career the way he took over that game.

Also picked up the Free Darko book today, thanks for the recommendation Ben.

by DieSlowKeyshawn on Jan 10, 2009 3:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well then.

Moore is an idiot. The Magic have one of the best records in the league and I can’t remember one of the Orlando beat writers writing something like that.

When Denton states that Hedo is better than LeBron, then Moore won’t be alone. Until then (because it won’t happen), Moore has stated the worst line this year so far by a sportswriter. Great job Ben.

by L Magico on Jan 10, 2009 4:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs