Official Game Thread: Hawks - Magic

[lethalweapon3]

So, did anybody call Georgia Power? Because we had a big power outage on Saturday night at the Highlight Factory.

The Atlanta Hawks were up 11 in the middle of the fourth quarter when the offense got stuck on stupid for over five minutes. Jordan Crawford and Brandon Bass flipped the script from a double-digit deficit into a seven-point Celtics victory, the tandem outscoring Atlanta by themselves, 16-6 down the stretch of the final nine minutes. While Atlanta’s defense fell through the roof, Jeff Teague and Al Horford were the only Hawks capable of occasionally finding the basket in that fateful final frame.

What do you do with such a deflating fourth quarter, if you’re the Hawks and things suddenly stopped going your way? Well, you do with the game tape what Glen Davis would do to a check-in computer keyboard at a late-night motel. You grab it, rip it out from its moorings, hurl it across the room, and coolly stroll off into the moonlight. Like a boss.

Atlanta will be looking to get that Celtic green pixie dust off their shoulders and go wire-to-wire for a bounce-back win tonight at Philips Arena against yet another stumbling team, Big Baby’s Orlando Magic (7:30 PM Eastern, SportSouth, FoxSports Florida).

The Hawks may be the NBA’s version of the Trust Fall Patsy, as downtrodden opponents are starting to count on Atlanta being there to break their descents. This was the team that ended the Nuggets’ 0-3 slide at the start to their season (Denver hasn’t lost at home since) and had the Knicks looking halfway functional for a minute (the only win for New York in their last eight games), before providing that late stab of adrenaline through the breastplate of a flat-lining Boston team that had previously dropped six straight.

Tonight, it's Orlando counting on Atlanta to be their trampoline. Since starting out at 3-2 behind a red-hot Nikola Vucevic, Jacque Vaughn’s squad seems to have run out of Magic tricks. Their sole win in the last eight games was a 3-point, scramble-from-behind victory over Larry Drew’s miserable Milwaukee Bucks, needing a career-night of 36 points from Arron Afflalo just to pull it off. This 8-game stretch of Magic games has foes shooting 48 FG% and averaging almost 105 points per game.

Orlando is the only Eastern Conference team still searching for their first road win of the season, and have lost seven straight in Atlanta, and 11 straight overall, to the Hawks. As Claus von Bulow knows, the Magic could sure use a reversal of fortune.

Orlando’s recent woes can’t be blamed on Afflalo. Double-A (honk honk) is in MCO having arguably his most efficient all-around season, averaging 21.6 points per game (12^th in NBA) and shooting 50.7% from three-point distances (6^th in NBA).The seven-year pro is also contributing career per-game highs in assists (4.7), rebounds (5.1), and steals (0.8). Shifted from shooting guard to small forward, Afflalo will be a tough cover for DeMarre Carroll, who hurt his wrist and back when he was shoved to the floor in the third quarter by Jared Sullinger on Saturday.

Vucevic has to be feeling a little strained in the paint. Since getting all but shut down (7 points, on 3-for-10 shooting, and 6 rebounds over 34 minutes) in Orlando’s 104-94 defeat to Atlanta on November 9, he has been slowly sliding out of the top of the NBA standings for points and rebounds, although he remains in the top 5 for defensive rebounding percentage. On Sunday, Nik had his first 20-and-10 game since he single-handedly dominated the Clippers three weeks ago.

Coach Vaughn, however, is beginning games rail-thin in the post around Vucevic, pushing Moe Harkless over to the 4-spot despite trivial production (exactly 5 points in each of his last three games, 3.3 RPG). Horford and Gustavo Ayón need to draw Vucevic into foul trouble, like he has been in the past three games. Nik’s reserve Kyle O’Quinn has been solid in limited minutes but is hampered by an ankle sprain.

The good news for Vucevic is Orlando is getting him some reinforcements, as power forwards Davis and Tobias Harris are working their way back into game shape. A revelation late last season, Harris debuted off the bench for the Magic in their eight-point home loss to Phoenix on Saturday afternoon, but was not terribly spectacular in 16 minutes of action (6 points, 0-for-3 on threes, 1 rebound). The man no one leaves the light on for anymore, Davis dropped a team-leading 20 points on the HEAT in his first game back Sunday after missing 11 months with a broken foot, but regressed the next night (6 points) versus the Suns.

One of Orlando’s big men will have to keep the struggleface on Paul Millsap, who went scoreless against Boston in the final quarter but posted 18 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals in that November 9 encounter with the Magic, along with Mike Scott (17 points vs. Orlando). Andrew Nicholson (19 points and 8 boards vs. Phoenix, 3-for-4 on threes) would be a good play tonight due to his size and versatility.

It doesn’t look like Jameer Nelson will ever get to see Derrick Rose in the second round now. If he seems especially quiet lately, it’s not because he’s stilling chewing crow, but he is biting his tongue. Vaughn had been sitting Nelson in the fourth quarter of close games, electing instead to throw lotto-star rookie Victor Oladipo into the fire at the point position, his first time in that role in his hoops career.

It’s hard to say that maneuver is working, aside from vastly-improved on-ball defense. Opposing backcourts are still having their way – Dwyane Wade racked up 27 points on Saturday, then Gerald Green and Goran Dragic combined for 43 points on Sunday, the latter adding 13 assists with no turnovers. On the other end, Oladipo is shooting as poorly as Nelson (each with 38.6 FG%), but also turns the ball over 4.1 times per game (3^rd highest in NBA) while producing just 3.4 APG.

After Miami wiped out a double-digit deficit in the second half against Orlando on Saturday, Nelson (6.0 APG, 3.0 TO/G) did get in against Phoenix and helped close the Magic’s gap from 14 to three points in the final quarter. No one’s sure if Vaughn will go back to Oladipo again in a close contest, but if he does it speaks to his total comfort with his job security. An Oladipo-Teague pairing has the potential to be a high-pace affair, but might free up Kyle Korver (87 games with a three, and counting) to go streaking in the clutch.

Go Hawks!

~lw3

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[Gray Mule]

Magical time in "Big A" tonight!

An occasional blown game we expect and we've had ours, thanks to

the men in green.

If this happens again, stop the game (time out) and sit five players down

and put in five new guys. Can't put the blame on one player. This was

a team thing and, as a team, they sure smelled!

Time for a new beginning!

GO HAWKS!!

[Nicholasp27]

Let's go hawks!

[DJlaysitup]

Great stuff as usual lw3...Hawks should get a win tonight.

I love the name, Jacque Vaughn, sounds like a pirate...he should wear a puffy shirt on the bench

[Admin]

Raise your hand if you ever thought Mike Scott would be crushing John Jenkins as a 3pt shooter this year. Can anyone explain what happened to our 38% 3pt shooting specialist rookie from last year? He's shooting 1-8 on the season and has looked awful.

[Guest]

I mean I love the way Shelton plays-Nique....LolI like Shelton a lot but Shelvin is ok too...:-|

[Admin]

WOW Nique is going on the line saying Kyle will catch Dana's 3pt streak. Way to step out there on the line with only 1 more game to go!

[Guest]

Raise your hand if you ever thought Mike Scott would be crushing John Jenkins as a 3pt shooter this year. Can anyone explain what happened to our 38% 3pt shooting specialist rookie from last year? He's shooting 1-8 on the season and has looked awful.

Who would have thunk it!!!

However, I will give JJ a bit of a pass for 2 reasons: 1) His back injury and 2) lack of consistent minutes because of his defensive liabilities.

Edited November 27, 2013 by JayBirdHawk

[Admin]

Who would have think it!!!

However, I will give JJ a bit of a pass for 2 reasons: 1) His back injury and 2) lack of consistent minutes because of his defensive liabilities.

I sure hope that's it! I swear that I cannot recall WATCHING a Hawks game and seeing him hit 3's consistently. I know he's done it but it was only in games that I've missed. Every time I see him he looks tight and the shots always rim out.

But I'm very impressed with Michael Scott and his ability to shoot from out there. He's got a nice stroke and he could have a good career ahead of him if he keeps that up with his ability to score inside the arc.

[Guest]

I sure hope that's it! I swear that I cannot recall WATCHING a Hawks game and seeing him hit 3's consistently. I know he's done it but it was only in games that I've missed. Every time I see him he looks tight and the shots always rim out.

But I'm very impressed with Michael Scott and his ability to shoot from out there. He's got a nice stroke and he could have a good career ahead of him if he keeps that up with his ability to score inside the arc.

I'm hoping it is too becaue he has been dissapointing so far. Scott is looking good. Slimmed down for the season and shot looks good. that 'giddyup but slap' after a made 3 is priceless. I guess it's better than this. .

[Admin]

This one has spiraled out of control quickly. Not sure we're gonna be able to come back in this one as we look like we don't care enough to try and win.

[Admin]

I think I'm about done watching Ayón. He's no good on either end. Terrible hands and can't defend to save his life. Unless he's got an easy lane to the basket he offers nothing.

[Gray Mule]

Well, we didn't wait until the 4thquarter this time.

We just gave it all away in the 3rd quarter.

BOO!

[mtnbayou]

If we lose tonight, count this on coach Bud

[Ruckus]

This is disgusting.

[capstone21]

Already stopped watching the game

Tonight the bench just let Orlando kill us in the 3rd.

I also blame Mike for keeping the bench in there when Orlando was going off

Lou is an epic fail at point guard. A big reason why I don't want him on the team. I am just not a fan of undersized shooting guards. Especially undersized shooting guards trying to play point guards. After Mack went down ... why wasn't Dennis put in?

I am still baffled why Teague, Milsap and Horford were kept on the bench. We needed some momentum switch in the 3rd and that keeping the bench in there was just a big mistake.

Sigh.

[AHF]

Raise your hand if you ever thought Mike Scott would be crushing John Jenkins as a 3pt shooter this year. Can anyone explain what happened to our 38% 3pt shooting specialist rookie from last year? He's shooting 1-8 on the season and has looked awful.

Man - I expected so much more from Jenkins this year. The door was wide open and I am starting to wonder if it isn't going to hit him on the rear and knock him out of the league.

[Diesel]

The progression is amazing.

Jenkins vs. Andrew Nicholsen.

Jenkins vs. Jared Sullinger.

Jenkins vs. Plumlee.

Jenkins vs. Festus.

Right now, Jenkins is not turning out to be what many had prayed that he would be. As I whisper this... neither is Dennis. But D-Nice has time. Jenkins time may be up.

[mtnbayou]

This is the WORST home loss I have ever seen. regardless of Sport/grade.

Coach Bud should be ashamed of himself.

and dang, there is just no home court advantage in Atlanta, but hopefully this can change

[Jody23]

Got to give credit to the Magic. They've got some very talented players. On the other hand, the Hawks are not as talented as some want to think.