Official Game Thread: Hawks - HEAT

[lethalweapon3]

^{“If you like your jersey, you can keep it.”}

Playoff positioning is on the line once again at the Highlight Factory, this time for both teams on the floor. The Atlanta Hawks can cement their claim on the final playoff spot in the East, and maybe build some momentum against a first-round opponent, with another victory at Philips Arena against the Miami HEAT (7:30 PM Eastern, SportSouth, SUN Sports Network).

It’s Hip Hop Night and already, the HEAT got what the Hawks need. Miami (54-25) traded places at the top of the conference with a victory back home against the Indiana Pacers. Indy, though, holds a tiebreaker with a superior in-conference record (37-14) to Miami (34-15). Another loss for the defending NBA champs tonight would not only drop them back into a tie, it could cede an eventual conference title game to the Pacers’ homecourt.

So, the HEAT will need all hands on deck to secure a win tonight. You heard that, Dwyane Wade? Flash has been far from feeling like a grandmaster lately. He’s been saddled with hamstring and Achilles issues since March 26 and has been rested for nine straight games. Head Coach Erik Spoelstra would prefer his franchise pillar to be as close to 100 percent as possible when the playoffs start. But with a possible Conference Finals Game 7 site hanging in the balance, he can’t afford any slip-ups in the forthcoming road games at Atlanta (36-43) and Washington.

In Wade’s place, Jonesboro’s Toney Douglas has been starting in the backcourt for 12 of the past 13 games alongside Mario Chalmers. A mid-season acquisition (Miami sent Joel Anthony, two future draft picks, and cash to the Celtics as part of a three-way trade), Douglas has provided defensive pressure but not much else (4.8 PPG, 2.5 APG, 41.7 FG%, 26.9 3FG%) in the starter’s role, although the deal that brought him to Miami will bring the HEAT salary cap relief this summer. Douglas’ presence also keeps sharpshooter Ray Allen (2.4 3FGs/game, 12.9 PPG, 41.4 3FG% last 12 games) coming off the bench as fresh as Doug E.

Also out of action since March 26 has been season-long experiment Greg Oden, ushering Miami mainstay Udonis Haslem (60.3 FG% as a starter; 38.3 FG% as a reserve) back to the top line. Having a second big keeps Chris Bosh from having to log heavy minutes at the 5-spot, and allows likely MVP runner-up LeBron James to shift to the small forward role.

Dealing with insignificant contributions from the centers, uneven performances from Bosh, the excused absences from Wade, and a decline in three-point production (36.7 team 3FG%, down from 39.2% last year), James has become more of a do-everything player than even in his previous MVP seasons. In addition to being Miami’s top scorer (career-high 56.9 FG% and 62.4 2FG%), rebounder, and passer, he’s becoming their most likely three-point shooter (1.5 3FGs per game, slightly behind Allen) and turnover-creator (1.6 SPG, a shade behind Chalmers). He has been able to leave the rim-protection to Bosh and Chris Andersen, as his 0.3 BPG is a career-low.

Rebounding has been a problem all-season long for the HEAT (last in NBA for offensive rebounds and defensive rebounds per-48), although the issues have been tempered by a snail’s pace (93.2 possessions per-48, 27^th in NBA) and smart shot-selection (50.3 FG%, only NBA team shooting above 50%). The absence of boards becomes more pronounced whenever the HEAT take their show on the road, getting outrebounded by an average of over five per game.

With insufficient second-chance opportunities, a bad shooting night eventually spells doom for Miami (3-10 when shooting below 45 percent). DeMarre Carroll and Elton Brand can help the Hawks’ cause by forcing tough shots from James and Bosh, and helping the Hawks win the rebounding battles.

Carroll was a DNP-CD last season in a win-or-go-home regular season finale, when Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson and the Jazz lost in Memphis. Jefferson’s Charlotte Bobcats are already set for the postseason, and Millsap and Carroll remain eager to join them as soon as possible. Conceivably, Atlanta could wait until Wednesday in Milwaukee to try and nail down the final playoff spot. But they know they can leave a far more impressive mark by taking out the East’s top two teams in the space of a week.

Last night, they also managed to beat a shorthanded Nets team that hadn’t lost in Brooklyn in over two months. That was despite a sloppy start and wayward team shooting from the perimeter (1-for-19 3FGs, fewest threes made in almost three years). Escaping with the win and adhering to the Law of Averages should have the Hawks’ shooters coming into tonight’s game feeling confident. But Atlanta’s guards will be challenged along the perimeter by the roving Chalmers and Douglas. Meanwhile, Shane Battier will work through screens to keep up with Kyle Korver, whose mini-Threak concluded last night after 13 games.

Even if the iron remains a little unkind for Atlanta, having James and Bosh treading out to defend perimeter shooters will spread Miami’s defense thin and allow Millsap and Pero Antić ample opportunities to get putbacks and extend possessions (14.4 Miami opponent second-chance points per 100 possessions, 4^th most in NBA).

Go Hawks!

~lw3

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[Guest]

Nothing like reading Lethal's game thread while enjoying a grande skinny Carmel macchiato from Starbucks. Awesome preview. I loved the Ray Allen off the bench as fresh as Doug E reference :-)

I have a feeling we will out rebound the Heat tonight and stamp our ticket to postseason play. Only thing is if we beat the Heat tonight we will most likely get the Pacers in the playoffs but we lose tonight and we face the Heat in round 1.

It's kind of a pick your poison, I'm not sure who I'd rather face. Obviously both teams are tough.

[benhillboy]

If Teague is ultra-aggressive of course we have a good chance. Us and the Warriors author 4 of the Top 10 Offensive Rating Perfeomances versus the Heat last I heard. I think the guys will be playing hard as hell behind Sap and DeMarre because they know Indiana is a much more favorable matchup than the Heat. There is no gameplanning for The Kang, everybody on the Pacers has a glaring, exploitable weakness. The light whispers of George being somehow comparable to LeBron should never be revisited again, no matter how well he may play head-to-head this year if they meet, and I'm a fan of the kid.

Edited April 12, 2014 by benhillboy

[DJlaysitup]

Masters - Southern 500 @ Darlington - Hawks vs Heat.

We should do this every day

[MaceCase]

I'm still trying to figure out who the genius marketer is that got people to not even question putting Heat in all caps. I'm putting my money on Karl Rove.

[DJlaysitup]

Heat is on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjzXlRzM6PQ

[nathan2331]

I'm still trying to figure out who the genius marketer is that got people to not even question putting Heat in all caps. I'm putting my money on Karl Rove.

Didn't even realize that was a thing.

[BackForThe2ndTime]

When Teague balls (is aggressive) this team is more fun to watch and just better.

[benhillboy]

Pretty good defense until the last few minutes. If LeBron would've hit that last shot I would've blew a gasket.

[benhillboy]

Were the tankers at? No props for beating Indy, Brooklyn, and tying the Heat at the half in a week? This team is so hopeless, right? I don't even think many of you even watch the games. More interested in stats, star-watching, and praising other franchises that dont play half as smart or hard as Bud's group. You light up the Anti-Ferry threads, yet are nowhere to be seen on the the Game Threads. What's up with that? Lets go.

Edited April 13, 2014 by benhillboy

[Atlantaholic]

When Teague balls (is aggressive) this team is more fun to watch and just better.

Teague is always the X-factor. That's why his inconsistencies are so frustrating.

[benhillboy]

Teague running circles around them mofos. Too bad the refs are involved now and doing their Help-The-Heat thing. How that wasnt continuation on the DeMarre foul is beyond me.

[benhillboy]

Outstanding Win. Lil Sweet Lou did his thing for the Big Sweet Lou. We've beaten both Indy and Miami twice convincingly, but playing like this I'd much rather face Indy: we'd trash them. Way to clinch in style. Bud coached a circle around Spo, no surprise. The Teague hate should be on hold for at least a week. Lets Goddamn Go.

Edited April 13, 2014 by benhillboy

[PSSSHHHRRR87]

LET'S GO HAWKS!!! LET'S GO HAWKS!!!!!!! And Miami and all of your bandwagon fans:

[MrMeltdown]

Come on Indy win these next two.

[benhillboy]

Bud clearly has had some sleepless nights tweaking the defense, probably with Elton at his side.

[Hawkeyes007]

After destroying the Pacers and beating the Heat, I don't think many teams are going to want to see us in the playoffs. We're a high risk low seed.

[Sothron]

It bothers me profoundly that we have such cheap ass ownership that they would rather get two token home playoff games versus a true rebuild and possibly landing a superstar in the draft. Here's to our quick playoff sweep.

[Atlantaholic]

After destroying the Pacers and beating the Heat, I don't think many teams are going to want to see us in the playoffs. We're a high risk low seed.

Can't imagine Indiana wants to play us after last game lol

[benhillboy]

It bothers me profoundly that we have such cheap ass ownership that they would rather get two token home playoff games versus a true rebuild and possibly landing a superstar in the draft. Here's to our quick playoff sweep.

Follow the Sixers and the Lakers, bruh. They sound like your type of teams. We've beaten the 2 Top teams in the East handily twice, secured the longest active playoff streak in the East, and you're sitting here bitching?!