RedDawg#8

So you answer questions with a question now? It was a yes or no buddy. Nice try

Passive aggressive much? Those weren't my words. Not close. So you think we are a championship contending team this year? Because I said I hope we are 6 seed and win a series. Which would be 2nd rd. Anything beyond 2nd is contender territory. So you think, right now we are better than Philly, Mil, Bos or Bkn and should beat at least 2 of them in a series this year? Yes or No?

News flash, and I know that you already know this, but we arent winning the Finals this year. We are going to make the playoffs and we are going to lose in the playoffs. That's what this team's destiny is in 2021. If it's in the play in round, that would suck. Other than that you live with it based on the showing. Im hoping for 6th seed or better, with a series win. If we are 6 that means we likely face one of the Bucks, Celtics or Nets in the first round. None of those team scare me, but I can see us losing to each of them on pure playoff experience alone. Its that simple. The goal is public knowledge in Hawk land. Get back to the playoffs. That's the next step, even if it's not the final step. But lets get there first.

Exactly

Happy and content are different vibes. We are where we should be based on expectations before the season. If we won every game that we gave away, we would be number 1 in the East, which while excellent, is not what any of us would have predicted. Its the NBA, not college football. You can lose games, a lot of them actually, and still find yourself in the mix. I have laid out our path the close the first half of the schedule and we are where we should be. A long winning streak wont come for while looking the games ahead. We very well could fall 3 games under .500 here soon, but by the break, we should be a couple game over. And that's just being objective. It aint got nothing to do with LP and his coaching/rotations or Trae's turnovers. Just plain out objectivity. Same!

Great article. Me finally subscribing was the best decision I could have made. No slight to the AJC as they have gotten better, but the Athletic's content is still ahead of them.

Bruhhhhhh, I thought it was just me!!! Lol Im hella double standard now. Like, no sir Bradley, this is for winners only my guy haha

Back to this. I was watching FirstTake and Max made a couple of relevant points that relate to this. He talked about the playoffs and how much coaching matters, drawing up timeout plays, etc.... as well as having guys like Rondo that become much more valuable in the playoffs because of the mental aspects of the game within the game. At the 2:30 Mark It got me thinking: a) we have Rondo who is looking like his regular season form again, but could he turn it on for us in the playoffs and prove his true worth when it actually matters? And b) Is LP low-key actually a good coach? Could he repeat nights like the Nets game in a 7 game series, and out coach the guy across from him? What if, in the midst of injuries, growing pains, shooting slumps, and everything else that has plagued us, what if we have all the ingredients to really make some noise come playoff time?

https://www.nba.com/news/powells-potential-all-star-field Looks like Trae is still getting respect from the media, or at least this writer.

I'm saying smh. This is exactly why I said I stopped anticipating these guys coming back and just believe it when I see them check in the game. It's too much trying to stay patient through these "updates". Even when he comes back, he will be on minutes restrictions for a bit of time. It's the long game. We have who we have, until we have someone else.

Still very early, this is all just a warmup act for the Hawks team we will see after the break. If we can get to ASW wit ha .500 record or better, watch out. We will definitely need contributions from the additions as we make our playoff push.

That dunk and scream by Collins felt like all of the anger and frustration of every GA sports fan used to attack the rim. I felt that deep down in my spirit.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/1/27/22252218/atlanta-hawks-deandre-hunter-trae-young Great write up on what Dre has been giving us so far this season

We are off to a 1-2 start in this stretch, which is actually ahead of pace. Next 6 games: WAS, LAL, UTA, TOR, DALx2. We need to go 3-3. Im assuming we lose to Lakers and Jazz, and am hoping for a split with DAL.

I didn't even know we had a backup center. Looks like we just go small whenever Clint sits.

Neither is Brooklyn's

Yeah, just now hearing this from LP. Still, I would have liked to give him some burn in OT. Or even Gallo. Kev made some good plays, but he also was involved in most of the crucial turnovers too. Could have used a little bit more savvy on the court. Im not mad that the "Core" got the opportunity to bring it home, but once they deny Trae, you need another smart player who can be steady. Kev felt the pressure late.

Had the game on in the background. Finally was able to tune in in overtime. Did Clint foul out? We needed rebounding down the stretch to close out otherwise great defensive possessions. Great game, a "good" loss if you believe in those. Side note, was looking in the rafters at that 2015 Southeast division title banner, and realized we are first place in the division so far this season. Maybe we can capture another banner if we can keep it up. Miami may turn it around once Butler comes back, but I dont fear the other teams.

These are the injury reports that I hate, the day of ones that come early in the afternoon. What happens tonight could range from all sitting out, or all playing. It is such a crap shoot.

The contracts are decent value for the players we brought in, and there are no real FA's available next offseason that would realistically sign here or be worth the contracts they demand. That being said, if the option was to NOT spend the money on these guys and just roll out the roster we would have otherwise had, then I say no it is not a waste. The guys we brought in may not have had a huge impact through 17 games of this season, but their day will come eventually as we have them under contract for multiple years. At some point they will contribute on the court. And if we want to move on from them we still can easily do that too. I'm as impatient about these injuries as the next guy, but I am completely at peace with the guys we brought in.

Embiid, Bam and Vucevic are all balling this year. Embiid is number 1, no question. Bam's earned some extra-respect points with his impact in getting the Heat to the Finals. Clint and Vucevic both have a case for #3. Clint defensively has the edge, but Vuce is really putting work in on offense. We have better record so maybe you say Clint. But you can't sleep on a guy doing this either: Stats agree with my assessment http://insider.espn.com/nba/hollinger/statistics/_/position/c/league/east

Wow. That is awful news. His coverage of the Hawks was part of the reason I fell in love with the NBA. He was one of my favorite sportswriters when he was here. This is terrible news. He will be missed.

Exactly! Of all the non- "National" TV games we have we wait until they throw us a bone to sit out Trae and Capela, the main guys probably responsible for them wanting to add us in the first place. I know they were actually hurt and it wasn't rest, but still. Trae misses maybe 2 or 3 games a year. We only have 2 or 3 national games a year. The odds are quite frustrating that those games would overlap the way they are now.

Knowing us we use it as an excuse to sit everyone down and just play them on Wednesday

Optimus it is. So said he, it shall be done.