Going into tonight’s game with the Orlando Magic, the Atlanta Hawks were hoping to clinch a playoff spot with a win.  They were in good shape for most of the game, but they allowed Orlando to get back into it late.  After Vince Carter hit a fade away three with 9.9 seconds left, Atlanta had one more chance to win the game.

After Vince Carter’s three, the Magic drop everyone back on defense.  Maybe this is nit-picking, but I would have loved to see the Magic show a little bit of pressure.  Not necessarily press, but at least have one guy pressuring the ball.  If the Magic have Carter defending Joe Johnson the full length of the court, he might have been able to speed him up and force him into a mistake.  Instead, Johnson is able to walk the ball up the court and let things develop.

Joe Johnson gets to the three point line before he is greeted by Vince Carter.  There was a debate in the comments yesterday about whether or not Thabo Sefolosha shot it too soon.  This is the same kind of situation in my opinion.  Joe Johnson could have settled for this three pointer (and it would have been a decent look), but instead he attacks.  I highlighted Josh Smith because I think it is funny he is calling for the ball all the way out there (more on this later).

As Johnson attacks, he sucks in the Orlando defense.  Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and Jameer Nelson all take a step towards Joe Johnson.  Johnson let’s his shot fly with 2.8 seconds left on the clock.

As the shot goes up, the Orlando Magic defenders are in pretty good position to corral the defensive rebound.  However, that is the last good thing they do this possession.  Look at all four players arrowed.  They are all standing flat-footed watching the basketball.  Most likely, they are assuming that the clock will expire before the rebound comes off the rim.

I highlighted Josh Smith a little bit earlier as he was standing at the three point line calling for the ball.  Well now, he is crashing the boards.  I think this really shows the growth of Smith over the past year.  Last year if Smith doesn’t get that basketball, he sulks and watching the shot bounce off the rim as time expires.  Last night, Smith keeps his head and makes the right basketball play by crashing the boards.

By the time Rashard Lewis notices that time won’t be expiring and the rebound is live it is too late.  Lewis jumps, reaching for the basketball but Smith is already on his way to winning the game.  He corrals the basketball and slams it home all in one motion.  Here it is in real time:

One interesting thing to note on Vince Carter’s game tying three.  He actually goes the wrong way around a double-screen.  It actually crosses up the Hawks’ defenders and that is what frees him up for the three.  If Josh Smith doesn’t happen, I am probably writing about that right now.