RedDawg#8

So, we still bragging about the defensive improvement? I expect better effort in the second half. This is when you miss having a dude on the court to make Lebron respect you. When he smells blood he goes to another level.

Hopefully he won’t need surgery. If it’s a minor sprain they will allow it to heal on its own which is exponentially a much shorter recovery time. He isn’t throwing 90 mph pitches for a living so it’s not a career threatening injury situation that has to be managed with sensitivity like in baseball. It being his right/shooting arm is the only concern but again, stress/usage shooting a basketball is starkly different than what pitcher’s arms are put through.

Nah, but leave it to us Hawks fans to ignore a league wide trend that coincided with the timing Trae’s injury and attribute 100% of our defensive improvement to him being out. We don’t write headlines but our agendas can be just as bad sometimes.

DJ was brought here to bring leadership, among other things. Glad he stepped up after dropping the previous two games.

We probably won tonight because we lost those 2 games. We played more focused and connected than before.

Clint took a time machine back to 2021. He established a presence at the rim and the Clips never recovered. Everyone was active with their hands. We made them uncomfortable and forced them into outside shots which they didn’t knock down.

Man got cut and still came back to practice and everyone was afraid to tell him to leave lol Miss that dude

Jalen being listed as “doubtful” instead of “out” tells me any day now for his return. Likely during the road trip. My optimistic predictions: Jalen returns Friday at the Jazz Kobe returns March 21st at the Suns Trae tries to force his way back March 25 vs the Celtics, and the competitor in him doesn’t let him miss the rematch against them on the 28th. OO is back either the 30th vs Bucks or April 1st vs Bulls.

We are also 2 days into the 3rd week of Trae’s initial 4 week recovery timetable. Kobe has 5 more days until his next evaluation. That last week of March may see a return of the masses if everyone still wants to play again this season

This is my first time seeing OO listed as having sesamoiditis so I had to look up what it was. Says typical recovery takes 6 weeks. We are currently in week 4 from the first report of his initial injury. Week 3 from when they changed his status after he looked like he would return. So, like 2-3 weeks until we may see him again.

Agree with everything said and truthfully, the refs are finally starting to call games the way they promised they would with the rule changes. What we actually saw was them target specific players like Trae and Harden to swallow their whistle, but allow the same BS foul baiting from everyone else, and to your point, it made it appear that Trae was not as valuable because you were seeing good players get rewarded with superstar treatment from the refs. When the game is called or not called evenly, you see true talent rise to the top of the heap. The NBA has to stop being reactionary and political and decide what kind of product do they actually want. You give awards for defensive POY and All Defense team, but you don’t let all players actually defend. You allow Smart and Pat Bev to hand check but Dre can’t breathe on a player. Something has to give. Establish a rule and call it that way. No exceptions for reputation or stardom. If a guy can score, he will figure it out. If a player can truly defend he will adjust.

They can manage Mo and still have him available to play. We are looking like the Covid season Hawks right now not making ANY roster moves to survive these injuries. I swear we cannot afford to go on this trip and have Dre be the only forward on the roster while managing his minutes too. Why are being loyal to the Mathews when we clearly need able bodies in the frontcourt. I get we aren’t competing for anything but we are getting to a point where we cannot field a competitive team.

I’m trying to see what the difference is in Knect from say, Bogi. Are you guys looking at him and getting Tyler Herro vibes? I see a floor of Huerter, with Knect playing naturally more aggressively. He has Bogi’s size and willingness to post, combined with Herro’s attacking mindset. His pace of play is Bogi esque. Both comp’s are gunners from the outside. Those are his ceiling comps if you ask me. Going to depend on role at the next level and if he gets the touches to thrive.

Really would love to see MoGueye get minutes during this time of attrition.

So you telling me that it’s not just because we are better without Trae? Everyone has gotten a boost defensively post all star break? That can’t be right at all. All problems start and stop at Trae Young.

I’m just going to throw it out there early, but the Hawks are a threat to any team in the Play In tournament. Everyone is looking vulnerable. We won’t be able to catch the 7/8 seeds so we are looking at playing (2) win or go home games as the 9/10. Gonna be fun none the less

Ugly game at times, but great win. Please come back soon JJ.

Everything is all fun and games until teams start getting the ball out of your best player's hands. Welcome to stardom Hali, no more one on one all game. Keep up that insane shooting my guy!

Where is Muhammed Gueye

Maybe he was confused because the story started out talking about the series against Indiana which was definitely Bud’s first season. He also said that Al Horford was pulling Hibbert out of the paint that series but I believe Al was out for the season with the torn pec so again, just seems like a mixup of all the facts surrounding that 2 year period between Drew’s last season and Bud’s first. The tank story could still be true because LouWill was here under Drew, and then back the following season under Bud. I don’t think Bud wanted to tank ever. Teague’s version of events are way more entertaining. After researching to jog my memory we played Indy in the first round in back to back years matching both parts of his story. Getting bounced in 6 was Drew’s team. So, he just added elements of Coach Bud and the 2013/14 playoffs to the premise of the 2012/13 seasons/playoffs.

Teague strikes again with another epic story time. This time he drops a nugget about how the Hawks were not trying to make the playoffs in Bud’s first season. They were tanking for Giannis. Teague goes on to say that it was Lou Will himself that said “F the front office, let’s win” and ultimately got in the playoffs as the 8 seed. Starts at the 7:20 mark. So, remember we just missed out on Giannis that draft. Well, looks like we have Lou Will to thank for bucking the system and trying to win games lol

But when Trae shoots them… Anyways, we need more voices like this in the locker room. F the dumb stuff, they just want to win.

Symbiotic coach/star player relationship- check! Up next - team culture/identity

We are 4 years late, but we need to put an elite big man next to Trae. Whatever the cost. Build out the rest of the roster from there with shooters, defenders and high bball IQ. Trae is flawed, but he is the only sacred cow we should have. JJ is very close to being sacred, but I would move him for an established All Star big man.

Hey at least the defense is better and we don’t have to watch hero ball, right?