Official Game Thread: Hawks - Jazz

[lethalweapon3]

A once-promising young NBA player with a somewhat disappointing career arc will reunite with his former teammates tonight, as the Utah Jazz visit the Atlanta Hawks at The Highlight Factory. No, I wasn't thinking about Devin Harris. Welcome Home, Marvin Williams! It will be all cheesy grins and handshakes for our anatine former starting small forward and Rubik's Cube aficionado, out of commission with an inflamed knee. Folks in Salt Lake our still kicking the tires on their once-used Kia, suspecting there's plenty more juice left to be squeezed out of that lemon, if he's used properly. Despite starting Marvin regularly, Coach Ty Corbin has managed somehow to reduce his minutes (25.6 MPG) from last season. Corbin is keeping Gordon Hayward flexible while avoiding a squeeze play among Paul Millsap, South Atlanta High's Derrick Favors, and Al Jefferson, by giving Marvin (8.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 44.1 FG%, 0.9 3PM/G) a quick hook early and heavily rotating his talented bigs in crunch time. But while he can't play tonight, there's plenty more young talent on this roster ready to go. Pure energy can always be expected from DeMarre Carroll, the former Grizzlie and preseason sensation who moved into Marvin's starter spot. He's not a strong shooter, but can fortify Utah's rebounding and defensive needs in Marvin's absence. Meanwhile, Mo Williams' thumb surgery is requiring other youngsters to step up. Hayward is Utah's top scoring wing (13.7 PPG), but has come off the bench since mid-November as his defense has been underwhelming. Alec Burks is getting more consistent shine off the bench and continues to find his NBA jumper (37.1 FG%). During wins against Dallas and Chalotte, Burks got double-digit points in back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Hawks could make hay with good guard play. No guard on the Jazz roster possesses a defensive rating above 105 (Jamaal Tinsley and the recently recalled Kevin Murphy from the D-League allow 107 points per 100 possessions). Jazz guards will swipe at the ball but guide opponents into the teeth of the defense on the inside. Point guards Jeff Teague and Harris (starting together for the first time in awhile) will want to use dribble penetration to kickstart the offense, and should be ready to catch-and-shoot from the perimeter at the end of the shot clock, if necessary. The Jazz guards will try and match the Hawks shot-for-shot from the three-point line. Randy Foye (14th in NBA in 3-point FGM) and Hayward (8-for-10 in his last two games) each shoot above 40 percent. Even Millsap shoots just under one per game (career-high 42.9%) and he will likely goad Josh Smith into an outside shooting contest. Millsap (14.7 PPG, 48.2 FG%) is having a down year from his torrid peripheral All-Star season of 2011-12, perhaps being differential to the other bigs on the floor. But with Mo Williams out he is helping with the passing game (career-high 2.7 APG, 5 assists vs. Charlotte on Wednesday). Jefferson (17.0 PPG) manages to lead the team in scoring and rank 6th in the league for defensive rebounds, while keeping the turnovers to a minimum (7.1 TO%, 5th in NBA). To match the Jazzer-size in the paint (including Enes "Undertaker" Kanter), Atlanta will need productive minutes from Ivan Johnson, Anthony Tolliver and Zaza Pachulia. Even if he moves to power forward again, Al Horford cannot shy away from his duties to vie for offensive rebounds (just one in 36 minutes at Cleveland). In consecutive games, starting centers (Nikola Pekovic and Tyler Zeller) achieved career highs in rebounds against the Hawks. The Cavs had the second-most personal fouls per game, yet the Hawks only managed to bang its way into a paltry two free throws made on Wednesday. The team that's tied with Cleveland for second? The Jazz. Will the Hawks find a way to capitalize this time? Let's hope whoever controls the tempo can keep the game down below four hours this time. Utah's last visit here in March was a four-overtime affair. But it's Friday, and people have clubs to get to! Go Hawks! ~lw3 View the full article

[AHawks89]

Teague Harris Korver Smith Horford

[DJlaysitup]

This is devastating...I was so looking forward to watching ole Marvin out there again...double dribbling and missing dunk attempts...this time for the other team. Alas ...not tonight.

Oh well, maybe it's for the best. He may have remembered his old "spot" and drained a bunch of threes.

This is a fairly key game for us IMO...we need to get a win and turn this ship around

It's Friday night so I'm optimistic again..

GO HAWKS !!!!

P.S. - great game summary as usual lw3

Edited January 12, 2013 by DJlaysitup

[Guest]

I HATE this revolving door of starting line-ups. Championship contending teams don't do this....smh.

Players like routine, I think it's time to just start the rook and look forward.

[Alex]

This team needs to be blown up and started from scratch. Another blow out loss and this one comes at home.

[Ruckus]

This team needs to be blown up and started from scratch. Another blow out loss and this one comes at home.

Up by 2 with 2:41 left. You're a bit premature there buddy.

[Ruckus]

This is the Devin Harris I thought we were getting when we traded for him. Wish he would play like this all the time.

[ryandauwalker]

Man, Devin looks really good. Both PGs are crazy inconsistent but a lot of fun to watch when they're hot

[MrMeltdown]

This team has totally fragmented. A new losing streak starts tomorrow night

[Guest]

This is the Devin Harris I thought we were getting when we traded for him. Wish he would play like this all the time.

If only he can stay healthy.

[ryandauwalker]

This team has totally fragmented. A new losing streak starts tomorrow night

I don't know you personally, but if you were my bud, I'd be worried. We have a comeback win... What do you see? Fragmentation and a losing streak tomorrow. In everything, we have the choice between seeing the positive or negative. It's your choice. And it's pretty unfortunate how often you seek out the negative. It's annoying for us, but it must be worst to look at the world from that perspective. Be positive... It's there if you look for it.

[Guest]

I don't know you personally, but if you were my bud, I'd be worried. We have a comeback win... What do you see? Fragmentation and a losing streak tomorrow. In everything, we have the choice between seeing the positive or negative. It's your choice.And it's pretty unfortunate how often you seek out the negative. It's annoying for us, but it must be worst to look at the world from that perspective. Be positive... It's there if you look for it.

Why are you even bothering, can't you tell he's an attention seeker? Just ignore - he'll eventually go away.

Edited January 12, 2013 by JayBirdHawk

[Colin]

Troubling to see Zaza in foul trouble two games in a row, but man did he play well! Toot

[itsslomotionbaby]

This is the Devin Harris I thought we were getting when we traded for him. Wish he would play like this all the time.

you know devin was starting to give us 20 pts. a game right before he got injured.

[lethalweapon3]

"We gotta stop getting done in by Johnsons in Atlanta."

~utah

[Ruckus]

you know devin was starting to give us 20 pts. a game right before he got injured.

Yeah I know he had some solid outings for us but I don't recall him putting together multiple games in a row. I could be wrong though. I'm just glad he's healthy again.

[Gray Mule]

It's all Ivan's fault. He's the main reason that Utah lost

the game. Blame him. Also, he had the help of those

other bench players who came in and replaced those

sleepwalking starters in the 3rd.

GO HAWKS!!

[AHawks89]

" I think Ivan did a terrific job tonight. Ivan was a huge reason why would won tonight. Since he has played so well when he is given time, I think we will just DNP him the next 5 games" - LD

[DJlaysitup]

Ivan is a bit of a conundrum IMO: Definition of CONUNDRUM (Websters)

1 : a riddle which often has multiple answers

2 a: a question or problem having only a conjectural answer

b: an intricate and difficult problem...but worthy of study.

[TheTruth]

I'm tired of talking about IVAN's need to play regularly on this team. He's no saving grace, but the dude has been a net positive in nearly every game this year--we couldn't say that about him last year. And unfortunately, Drew is still playing him a bit too much like this is IVAN from last season.. Hell, he arguably should be logging more minutes than Zaza this year.

As for Devin, he was huge for us. Having him back, when healthy, gives us a solid-if-not-spectacular PG that is invaluable for us--especially since Teague has been so inconsistent and hasn't taken the reigns as a bona fide starting playmaking PG for us.

Nice comeback win for us tonight. I dog this team out during the chat sometimes, but we all want them to win.

Unleash IVAN, Drew!