benhillboy

That Celtics roster was one of my favorites though. I’m an irrational KG, Ray Allen, and Eddie House guy. Thibs did far more to affect that team than Doc who’s so overrated even he agrees. He has nothing to hang his hat on. All he had to do in LA was realize CP3 needed another ball handler, couldn’t do that. And what great developmental chops he’s shown in Philly when your starting PG is terrified of going to the stripe.

I’ll be watching the three point volume closely. Last series we shot around 36 per game (big drop off after the one loss), I believe the regular season average under Nate was around 40. Getting up good threes and converting at the line are two areas the Hawks excel in while the Sixers struggle. I hear Sixers fans lament the type of fouls Thybulle commits at times. He doesn’t sound like the type of guy you want on Ice Trae The Game.

I never cared for dude outside of the awesome run of ‘18 where they got swept by a team missing Kevin Durant. It has gotten better they lost in 6 to a team missing its “second best” player (I’m taking Porter Jr over Murray all day but that’s another topic) Lilliard is actually a poor man’s Trae. Both porous individual defenders with non-existent off-ball games. But Trae is quickly learning to be a good team defender, Dame is one of the most flat-footed, inactive arm defenders going. He has the quickness and strength to be decent but you only see it in spurts in the fourth quarter. Dame’s basic passes out of double teams aren’t in the same stratosphere with Trae’s creativity and he has no floater, Trae has arguably the best. Lilliard doesn’t like to allow CJ to control at all, Trae is willing to let Bogi assist him with playmaking.

Damn 5 pages on this dude? Y’all got time today lol. I’m just happy as hell I don’t have to hear the same ole tired “they made shots, we didn’t” after every loss. I hear enough of that simplistic dribble from Renee Montgomery. An NBA game ain’t no damn casual shoot around.

I expect him to be better offensively in the next series. He had a offensive rating of 95 in the series (only Gallo was lower at 93). His 107 defensive rating wasn’t notable either (Bogi, Kevin, and Gallo all slightly higher) but that’s clearly a function of how many positions he guards. His assist to turn (3 to 7) and his poor shooting (40%) luckily didn’t hurt us. John killed it at 130 to 104 off the strength of a .665 TS%, only 2 turnovers, and bottling up Randle. I like Luka no question but for all the fanfare he’s getting Trae (120 to 110) is killing his first round ratings (111 to 120) on lower usage. If you dig into the numbers Kleber, Brunson, and Porzingis are making the difference while Luka does the heavy lifting and anchoring. You’re splitting hairs as to who’s running the PNR better they're both virtually flawless.

I’d like to bring back Snell, Mays, and Solo. I’d like for Dunn and Lou to walk. Id love to bring in Horton-Tucker and Kenny Nunn. I’m no capologist so I trust whatever decision Schlenk makes on The Baptist. Always liked the kid but if his departure is ultimately advantageous for the franchise’s future so be it.

They both have made great strides. Nate has instilled in them that Hunter and Capela are elite defenders, just try to help them as much as they help you. Trae is starting to realize his size can actually be a plus on defense. He’s so small when he helps in traffic he’s usually undetected. Then many times players are so scared of committing an offensive foul on him it takes their drive away. If he can make just one notable defensive play per quarter, whether it be a scrambling close out, a rebound tip out, a change of possession deflection, stretching out a blitz for a split second, I’m ecstatic. All of our other key guys have on-ball steals, passing lane jumps, and shot contests in the bag.

This starting 5 is clicking like Dorothy heels. Do y’all see any similarities to the Warriors high-water mark or the Thunder’s run when they were babies? I’m saying this because no one has gotten their money yet. Those two squads made Finals (and won in the Warriors’ case) mostly because they had so many impact players on rookie deals. I’m gonna go out on a limb and call Nate a superior coach to Scott Brooks. I question if Kerr could’ve presided over the turnaround we had, still obviously a great coach. This team isn’t far from those combinations of talent related to payroll at all. I actually had no idea we were 27th in payroll this year (Knicks dead last, props). I don’t know what the cap situation would be next season after John is signed (or replaced with similar production) but it should still be one more season to try to cash in this window that has been blown open by Nate’s coaching, Schlenk’s fits, and Trae’s growth. Not knocking Trae getting his max but that usually doesn’t go well when trying to build a balanced championship level team especially in a “mediocre” market. Nate has the playoff recipe down: get to the line, protect the ball, pressure the hell out of it, and protect the glass. When this team is knocking down 3’s I just don’t see any clear superior team, I’d take my odds with these Hawks all day. The Jazz, The Lukas, Philly, whomever. With Divencienzo hurt I hope the Bucks can get past the Nets tho, I’d hate to lose to those clowns.

I can’t front he got the leg up at similar points in their careers after yesterday. I can’t even crap on the Warriors’ lineup that season either their top 6 were solid (Jack/ Steph/ Klay/ Barnes/ Lee/ Bogut).

A few series numbers that pop: Bogi with 7 steals, probably the same number of deflections as well. Kevin with 7 blocks and a Kyle Korver-like .455 from distance John with 2 stinking turnovers. Randle had 8 in one elimination game wtf (23 total).

Yeah I expect them to crawl outta their holes and blame the Knicks for their poor predictions. The only dude who’s opinion I value is Lowe. I’m not sure what he predicted but at least he would clown himself if he was wrong.

They say the true mark of great player is stepping it up in the playoffs. Trae posted a pedestrian offensive and defensive ratings combo of 117 to 116 this season (probably closer to 118 to 114 under Nate). In more minutes versus a highly ranked defense he turbo-boosted it up to 120 to 110. Just excellent.

He posted a total rebound percentage in the first round of 18.5 (only 2.5 less than Capela) and a crazy 8.9 block percentage (5.4 higher than Capela.). This versus some pretty physical paint vets in Noel, Gibson, and Randle. Somehow he shot more free throws than field goal attempts, all culminating in a 118 offensive rating to 110 defensively for the series. That’s sensational for a rookie. For comparison Playoffs Headliner Trae was 120 to 110. I think he is gonna be special because I value rebounding so much. He covers long distances on his jumps and jumps hard and quick. He always grabs and squeezed with two hands. Then he immediately looks down to make sure he’s coming down safely. He’s even made a few slick passes this season.

Yeah definitely some Nash DNA. He takes and makes shots Nash wouldn’t dream of tho. I can’t recall Nash abusing the floater either.

Ugh why do I have ESPN on? Here they are with the huge headline “The Next Curry?” If you really break Trae down you’d see he’s his own man. Love Steph to death but the passing gap is massive, same with off ball movement. And Trae’s deep shots are more Dame-like. Them people lazy man.

I’d actually take Lou or Kevin as the first scoring guards off the bench over him. Rose’s generalship skills have never been anything to write home about. All the guys sweared by Lou’s mentorship, Rose is virtually a mute who doesn’t even like to communicate on the floor. Kevin is a superior 3 point shooter and defender. And Rose has never been a cog of a sophisticated offense. Let alone his injury history I just don’t think he’d fit or accept a role close to 3rd string. You can never have too many dribble drives but that’s really all he brings consistently.

The Knicks have 7 Free Agents this summer. None of them could earn a comparable roster spot here lol.

Dope jacket. Trae is one of the few well-dressed NBA players, that Ronald McDonald sweatsuit notwithstanding.

“Partially torn meniscus” sounds too serious for someone of Embiids size and injury history. We have the slight edge unless he benefits from some amazing experimental treatment. He’s gonna be limping back to the locker room all series dealing with the physicality of John, Clint, and Yeka.

Those personal edition color-coded Nike Air Command Forces tho I miss the 90s so much.

True dat. The Woody Years smh.

A majority of the voters can’t recognize what he does without the gaudy counting stats but I hope I’m wrong. His advanced stats won’t look eye-popping either because he’s guarding so many smalls and Bigs that he shouldn’t yet succeeds. He has a negative .1 defensive box on the season when his impact looks like a +2 player, same thing I see with Klay every year. Everyone else’s defensive efficiency looks better because of he and Clint, Clint just gets the benefit of the high block and rebound totals. I know the FG% against for Dre this series had to be stupid low.

Where does this series win rank in your Hawks History? This one is pretty damn high up there as I mostly panicked during the 60 win team’s first two series, then felt pity. Larry Drew made a miraculous one-season turnaround as an underdog but it still wasn’t as dominant and wildly entertaining like this one. I figured the Hawks would win this one fairly comfortably but damn the balance on both ends was just awesome. We haven’t had a National coming-out party of a superstar in the playoffs since Nique. Can’t say I remember that one vividly.

I don’t sweat the shooting too tough when we’re getting to the line and not turning over. Made it impossible for them to go on a run. Poor shooting games in road wins will only fortify the defense even more.

Bruh I’m dead. Someone please explain to me why there are mostly cardboard cutouts in the low level in LA?!?!