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  • Hawks at Hornets

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    lethalweapon3

     

    “ARRRGH! LET’S GET THIS, ATL! Oh, hold up, I meant, Houston? LA? Kemba, help… which town are we in???”

    Two “garbage” teams suit up to face one another today at the Spectrum Center, the Atlanta Hawks visiting the Charlotte Hornets (7 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast in ATL, Fox Sports Carolinas in CLT). “Garbage,” that is, to Hornets hear team owner Michael Jordan tell it.

    Lamenting, without so much as a whiff of irony, the rush for NBA players to band together and form “super teams,” Jordan explained to SI, “You’re going to have one or two teams that are going to be great, and another 28 teams that are going to be garbage.” I see you over there counting, and no, this wasn’t pulled from some UNC football player’s math-class paper.

    As disconcerting as this unintended shade might seem to the rank-and-file receiving paychecks signed by His Airness, such an opinion must soothe the ears of General Manager Rich Cho. Despite the Hornets (36-46 in 2016-17) failing to reach the postseason for the fourth time in his six years at the helm, at season’s end last spring, Cho received his option to stick around the Queen City for one more season.

    It’s his job to make sure that his “garbage” floats toward the top of the Eastern Conference playoff receptacle. And the first rule of middle management is, if you don’t quite know what you’re doing, at least try to look busy.

    So, you can kinda-sorta see why Dwight Howard is rocking teal-and-purple now. Howard gets to reunite with coach Steve Clifford, who recalls as well as anybody what a dominant force Dwight was back in the day, when he served as an assistant to Stan Van Gundy in Orlando. Howard feels a kinship with his new coach, although stop me if you’ve heard that one before, and feels as inclined to get back to full-time Dwightball as he has in years.

    Now, I’m not going to entertain the thought that Hawks players broke out in a Soul Train Line Dance upon catching wind of the news, back in June, that their Player’s Choice Award-winner for Teammate of the Year was already heading up I-85. I won’t even amuse myself with the suspicion that the votes were made with some collective dose of half-hearted sarcasm (a la, ex-Laker Metta World Peace), or that perhaps Dwight himself was designated with the choice to pick on behalf of the whole team. But it should go without saying (though it won’t) that the quest to re-engineer Howard into a component oriented for space-and-pace was turning out abysmal for Atlanta.

    But it’s all good up in Uptown, because here, there is precious little design for space, and precious little demand for pace. All-Star guard Kemba Walker (career-high 23.2 PPG and 39.9 3FG% in 2016-17; 24 points and 6 rebounds vs. DET on Wednesday) is only beginning to explore the outer limits of his shot range, and the team’s second-best gunner from last season, Marco Belinelli (20 points off-bench and 3 steals @ DAL on Wednesday), now rocks Georgia Granite Gray, by way of the Dwight trade. Charlotte was a below-average 19th in pace in 2016-17, and there are no signs they’ll be any less-plodding with Howard in tow.

    The challenge for the Hornets involves keeping Howard placated all-season long, with copious minutes and post touches, even though Clifford has already advised that he would prefer to turn to Cody Zeller in the clutch. Hawks fans who recall the Hawks’ visit to Charlotte last November, particularly the second-half, when Dwight punked himself right out of the game, probably understand Clifford’s inclination.

    Lamb. Bacon. Duck. That should represent a scrumptious night out at the charcuterie. What that probably should not signify is the middle trio of anybody’s opening-night NBA starting lineup. Alas, that’s what head Coach Cliff had to trot out before dozens of interested onlookers at Detroit’s new Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday night.

    He has little choice at the wing spots, because Michael Kidd-Gilchrist remains out for undisclosed personal reasons, and Nicolas Batum’s preseason injury to his elbow ligament has him on the shelf until at least mid-November. The pair would be helping Charlotte play solid defense, keeping Marvin Williams and Howard from having to overcompensate in the halfcourt. Williams found himself spread too thinly on Wednesday trying to defend the forward spots, as Tobias Harris and second-year pro Henry Ellenson had field days in the Pistons’ 102-90 victory.

    Rarely is a situation so dire that a team needs to turn to a second-round rookie to open the season. But the Hornets can thank Atlanta for including a second-round swap in the Dwight trade. Charlotte moved up to take point guard Frank Jackson, then traded back down to acquire Florida State swingman Dwayne Bacon from the Pelicans, taken one pick before Atlanta used Charlotte’s pick for Tyler Dorsey.

    Jeremy Lamb acquitted himself well offensively against Detroit, and can be a factor for the Hornets when he’s cutting along the baseline or catch-and-shooting when he’s open. The Hornets have elected to side with Bacon because Malik Monk was less prepared to sizzle as a starting wing. But their inability to slow the Pistons’ roll was evident, as Detroit outscored the Bugs 12-0 on fastbreak points. Dwight and Marvin can do only so much to get back in transition, and Frank Kaminsky can do even less than that.

    The Hornets are not all that hyphy that another hyphenated player is unavailable. Michael Carter-Williams was acquired over the summer to serve as Kemba’s backup, but his nagging knees are betraying him. Add Zeller (bone bruise) to the mix, and you have a sparse skeleton crew for the home opener. Guard Julyan Stone and center Johnny O’Bryant will have to come up from the third-string to play significant bench minutes. Clifford may switch up at small forward and start second-year pro Treveon Graham in place of Bacon.

    Coming off a satisfying win in Dallas, the Hawks must bring their A-game again tonight. Dwight will do all he can to get under Dewayne Dedmon’s skin, but the Hawks center must avoid getting into early foul trouble. Keeping up the carnivorous spirit against Charlotte’s depleted wings, both Taurean Prince (10 points and rebounds @ DAL) and rookie John Collins (14 bench points in his rookie debut) should smell barbeque chicken and attack the paint vigorously.

    Those things should alleviate Dennis Schröder, Kent Bazemore, and super-sub Belinelli from having to carry the freight. Kemba and Dwight will get plenty of touches and shot opportunities, but they are not sufficient as a duo to carry this team by themselves -- specifically, to produce enough offense to keep up on most nights. Pushing the pace and converting turnovers into points would help the Hawks (35 fourth-quarter points in the 117-111 win over the Mavs) play from in front for most of this contest.

    As for Jordan, he has committed himself to being credited as The Guy that finally resurrected Dwight’s Hall-of-Fame-bound career (the people who don’t think he’s headed to Springfield can cut that out, both of ya). If there’s anyone who can get centers blazing a trail to greatness, it’s Michael. Ain’t that right, Kwame Brown? Kwame?

    Let’s Go Hawks!

    ~lw3

    Edited by lethalweapon3

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