benhillboy

1 minute ago, Jody23 said:

Anybody else notice this?  What's up with this?

My guess is he dribbles into traffic up near his chest and is a poor team defender at very best.  I didn’t mean for that to rhyme but on the mic I’m fresh.

14 minutes ago, terrell said:

LUka is just too good for us.. Geez

Every team that isn’t a bottom feeder has a player that’s too good for us.

Luka gonna Luka but I was impressed with Lively.  Like Dwight Powell, his screening and defense allows Luka to do whatever the hell he wants.  Arguably as important as Kyrie.

I wouldn’t build around Luka, he’s basically a big ass Trae.  The crazy usages they have (both on pace to be top 3 with Michael Jordan when they qualify) just isn’t conducive to high level team ball versus solid teams.  But his rebounding, ability to overhead pass, and super-efficient 2 point shooting makes him terribly superior obviously.  And he does have to drag that roster wherever they’re gonna go.

That lob to Clint was special even for Trae.  It looked to have grazed not one but two defenders fingertips.

Luka out here pressing on ball?  I see you.  To be fair anyone can steal the ball from DJ tho

A true mark of a bad defense is when fools is out here dunking backwards on you

Trae with the nice shot contest on the Luka missed three.  

Trae played Luka then lol.  Bounce under arm like deodorant 

Meth Bogi can shoot that thang 

Trent need to go to finishing school.  Godd@mn.  Smoked layups are the quickest route to a loss.

1 hour ago, JayBirdHawk said:

Ressler is trying to catch lightning in a bottle similar to the ECF run where we got there under the LT. 

The overwhelming key to that run was that our lead player was still on his rookie deal. That is an executive and coaching miracle of sorts, Schlenk, Nate, and Trae get loads of credit from me for that.  It’s why Orlando, Indy, and Minnesota have taken huge leaps: their best players are still on rookie deals leaving more valuable players fighting for minutes on their teams.  One could make a case that Chet is just as impactful as SGA, them OKC dudes have all out warfare for minutes.

But when you pay $40 mil per for the smallest player in the league who’s shooting metrics are mediocre or near-worst on his own team (let alone the league) there lies the crux of the Hawks’  issues.  The first round pick squandering on DJ takes second-place.

I didn’t realize how serious the offensive foul by Okoro was, the telecast didn’t confirm he actually had a concussion. Trae basically took a flush hook to the tip of the chin by a middleweight.

I can’t imagine how scary your first concussion is.  Hope he’s good asap.

Peep Dean Wade’s second and third threes:

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FG3M&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022300595&PlayerID=1629731&RangeType=0&Season=2023-24&SeasonType=Regular Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612739&flag=3&sct=plot&section=game

Trae trying to account for whatever the hell Bey was doing in poor communication with Clint.  On the second one notice DJ shake his arms in frustration as he and Trae hug Mitchell with Wade casually loading up for a practice shot 

Most teams have these breakdowns from time to time.  With the Hawks it’s possession to possession, you’d think they were one of the youngest teams in the league.  But they ain’t.

Bruh I been slipping.  Watching and rewinding the Hawks’ defense on replay telecasts is comedy gold.  Their communication is just sad sometimes.

On 1/18/2024 at 8:02 AM, AHF said:

Trae could definitely improve his relationship with and handling of the refs but better to be too loud than too quiet.  Coaches need to play the game too to protect their players.

He’s still horrible and they still hate him.  He cries for calls even before they have a chance to grab and blow the whistle

With a half season sample in the bag, the Hawks offensive rating (plummeting fast, now ranked 12th) is slightly better with him off the floor with no capable BU.  

For comparison OKC is 10 points worse with SGA off, Indy is 9 points worse without Hali, and NY 11 points worse when Brunson sits; and they all have very capable BUs, in the case of OKC multiple capable BU PGs.  
 

I long stopped expecting people to see all the ways he hurts an offense, I just provide the facts.

I was slick depressed when he signed a max deal.  Hawks are stuck in the mud for years to come.  High end players don’t want to play with him and teams with value to trade wouldn’t consider.  Damn.

On 1/19/2024 at 5:54 PM, AHF said:

Yeah.  Putting someone with zero personnel or team building experience always works out well.  Hill should be glad he went to Duke and that people in the NBA offices like him because he sure didn't get that job by showing he could scout talent or effectively construct a team. 

Kerr has near zero on his resume in that area as well.  Arguably his best pick (Rudy Fernandez) he traded for cash.  He traded for a washed  up Shaq.  He drafted Earl Clark in the lottery.  He inherited a 61 win team and left them a team that had a losing record for years afterwards.  So if you are counting on his great track record to help guide the team with Hill's inexperience you are sorely mistaken.

Steph’s movement and shot has been carrying him for a decade now and  I always looked at Draymond and Iggy as the de facto coaches of that team.  Kerr is best as an assistant to the assistant in all those administrative roles, probably at his very best on TV.

27 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

 

 

 

I used to always criticize Trae for not giving his body up.  I commend him greatly for doing so this year knowing his body isn’t built for it.  He now has 4 more offensive rebounds than and more than double the charges drawn.

The NBA media has never addressed how terribly soft KD is and how it affects his teams’ unceremonious playoff exits.

I ain’t tripping, I expected the Hawks to lose the last two games along with this one so I’ll take 2-1 all day.  Sacramento’s defense is much more likely to yield the Hawks’ usual 121 points after a whole week of sub-110 totals.

7 minutes ago, Bonkers said:

And the Hawks only gave up 108 pts!!!

The Heat have an easier time beating the Hawks when Trae is out there becuz the Hawks are WAY more predictable with Trae out there. And the defense is obviously better without him

 

Hallelujah I got to watch the Hawks beat the Heat on a Friday without having to watch the inefficient, high usage, turnover prove shitty defense having Dwarf

Thank u Gawd!!!

Let's go DJ

How you really feel Bonk?

Winning a single game without Trae isn’t a big deal tho.  Most teams can manage and function for a game or two without any high end player outside generational guys like Steph, Jokic, and LeBron.  Besides the Hawks have won 43% of their games without him, 45% with.  He’s a 2% milk difference

Exceptional win.

Wow.  Just f&@kin wow.

Dammit man.  That boy can shoot 

Bogi that dude 

Look like a rugby game out there 

Patty out here gunning 

Regardless of the call, great transition defense by Bogi.  He isn’t gifted on that end obviously but I always like his effort and he and Trae are among 4 players with 100 threes and 100 steals.

I like the Bogi dribble through to create that play