Official Game Thread: Hawks - Cavaliers

[JETSET]

I'm not on any bandwagon.

They might do a bit better than the 45 wins I predicted, but I still think Toronto or Washington would win in a playoff series.

I think we will all think differently in april.

[Plainview1981]

I think we will all think differently in april.

 

Stat wise... Washington does what the Hawks do... Except that they rebound the basketball.

[jy23]

Didn't get to see the game as usual, nor did I get to record it bc living in TN fox sports always plays the grizzlies games over hawks games and damn it I'm pissed!!! If there was ever a game I wanted to see it was this one. This team seems to play the type of basketball that can win those games that we've been unable to win in april May and possibly June. The teams with joe and josh own lots of games and were talented but you just knew that it wasn't the type of ball that would get u to far when it really mattered...but what we're doing now is a thing of beauty. Don't change a thing about this team. No trades!!!!! Ride it out. Bud and Ferry I believe in you!!!!!

[Atlantaholic]

I've got to give Bud and Danny a lot of credit. The Hawks under the prior regime had no identity(not one anyone would want). They have truly changed the culture of this team and given them an identity. Anyone that's ever tried to change the culture of a bad business team or organization will appreciate how difficult that truly is.

This team is like Chucky you can't kill them. This team is truly 12+ deep every player can contribute and plays with intensity. We are overwhelming people with our waves and waves of players. It's like a military offensive.

I do dub this team. "48 minutes of hell" that's got to be what our opponents think.

 

Underrated little performance of the day to me has to be Kyle Korver's. He didn't score the points or have the stats but I'm telling you watching that white russian dude almost puke out his lungs from having to chase him all over the court was awesome. Love the way our players play the game. 

[Ryaan]

Wow what a game. Best thing about the team is the bench. Now I'm not talking about production, but I'm talking about the celebrations haha!

[AUhawksfan]

"This is a well-coached team that we played. It reminds you of playing San Antonio, that system. They move the ball and get you in uncomfortable positions."

Lebron knows. He's seen enough of the Spurs to recognize a well balanced team and we couldn't have been any moreso tonight. Our offense was ran to a T and honestly don't have anything bad to say about one player tonight.

Seeing Mack drill 3s and Horford go to work got me pumped! Love got abused.

And Schröder should have gotten more assists if players made some open looks. His backdoor to Millsap for the dunk probably got me out of my seat the most.

[High5]

That was the most I have ever enjoyed a regular season game. I know it was the most Teague has ever enjoyed a game and he wasn't even playing. Seriously, that was the happiest sick person ever. Really proud of the team. LeBron, 33-point loss in the previous meeting, no Teague, Millsap gets sent to the bench early, 12-point deficit with no end to their scoring in sight, on the road -- it would have been easy to call it quits. But then Mack (the one receiving the RIP's yesterday) said NOPE. He put the team on his back in that 2nd quarter and then everyone else took over. Horford was just punishing Love. Even when he was blatantly fouled and the refs ignored it, it wasn't enough! The bench was erupting every time down the floor. The Hawks took over that entire arena.

 

I can't say a single bad thing about anyone tonight. Everyone played well and everyone was positive in the +/-. Even Moose got in and started dunking on people. Mack and Horford were the MVPs, but honorable mention to Dennis with the double-double and 10:1 A:TO in his first career start. That's awesome. It's also nice to see our team shoot 16-28 from 3 while Korver was only 1-3. 

 

Keep it going against the West. 

[Gray Mule]

Following some former Hawk players.  Joe's team lost last night.  Josh's team lost last night.

 

We're not gaining any on Toronto and Washington but you can bet that they both know that

we're right behind them, breathing down their neck.

 

Can't believe the come back after being given up for dead and buried in the first quarter.  Most

thought, along with me, "Here we go again."  Remembering our last meeting, the nightmare

was back.  Like gasoline on an open flame, the Cleveland team, led by Love and The King,

exploded!  Little did we know that this was a burnout for them and their night was closing in

on them.

 

Korver had one of the Cavs players running with his tongue handing out all night as the Hawks

offense played four on four and ignored them.  Calm, cool and collected, like they knew what

they were doing.  Not just one or two but every Hawk that stepped on the floor.  Wow!

 

We, the Hawks, know who we are.  We believe.  We may now fall flat on our face for the remainder

of this "hell week" that we're going through.  If so, we will simply look back to last night's game

and remind ourselves of how great it felt to spoil the party for Cleveland.

 

I don't believe that will happen.  Once a ball starts to roll down hill, it's hard to stop it.  We're on

a roll.  We have too many good players from one end of the bench to the starting five on the other.

And remember.  Payne is still out there, maturing and waiting his turn.

 

Life is good.  A great Christmas gift for all of us Hawk fans.  Keep it up.

 

GO ATL HAWKS !!

[BrazilianHawk]

Just what we need, Skip Bayless on our bandwagon. I despise that man.

 

C'mon, man, a bandwagon is never too big. Let's enjoy the ride!

 

GO HAWKS!

 

TY Bud and Ferry!

 

It's certainly a good time to be a true believer!

Edited December 18, 2014 by BrazilianHawk

[lethalweapon3]

Video of last night's Hawks win just made it down to Australia.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wkd-FeTTMA

 

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

I must also add THANK YOU KOONIN AND SPORTSOUTH for re-airing games just like the Braves do!

 

~lw3

[JETSET]

Didn't get to see the game as usual, nor did I get to record it bc living in TN fox sports always plays the grizzlies games over hawks games and damn it I'm pissed!!! If there was ever a game I wanted to see it was this one. This team seems to play the type of basketball that can win those games that we've been unable to win in april May and possibly June. The teams with joe and josh own lots of games and were talented but you just knew that it wasn't the type of ball that would get u to far when it really mattered...but what we're doing now is a thing of beauty. Don't change a thing about this team. No trades!!!!! Ride it out. Bud and Ferry I believe in you!!!!!

A 6 month purchase of ballstreams is worth every penny if you have a little extra money laying around.

Heck its christmas time. Sounds like the perfect gift request.

[MaceCase]

Chills should consider auditioning for the Rockettes if this basketball thing doesn't work out for him.

 

Video of last night's Hawks win just made it down to Australia.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wkd-FeTTMA

 

~lw3

[JETSET]

Stat wise... Washington does what the Hawks do... Except that they rebound the basketball.

Well its a good thing that stats dont win games. Our coaching is miles ahead of Washington. I'm confident that we will be the better team come april.

[lethalweapon3]

@Gray-Mule was right-on about Korver, who had as integral a role offensively as anybody, with the simplest stat line: he only took 3 shots in 33 minutes, the most floor time as anyone. The usually-static Cav defenders were clearly not accustomed to running sideline-to-baseline-to-sideline to chase guys like him all night, just to try and keep him from going off. And once Mack and Schro got it going, their other defenders couldn't play off anybody to help Love and/or Andy V deal with our Twin-MidRises.

 

Cleveland's back in our building in 12 days!

 

~lw3

Edited December 18, 2014 by lethalweapon3

[NBASupes]

Well its a good thing that stats dont win games. Our coaching is miles ahead of Washington. I'm confident that we will be the better team come april.

That's the biggest difference. Both teams fit for what they do. Washington has more talent. We have more depth. But the big difference is coaching. Wittman is an okay coach. He's not as good as Washington coaches of the past. He's on Eddie Jordan's level. Bud coaching talent is elite. He as talented as Pop. Atlanta is a talented team. We fit what we do. We need more low post scoring and size but overall we are fine. 

Edited December 18, 2014 by nbasupes40retired

[Guest]

Anybody else listen to NBARadio this morning on the drive in?  Glorious.

 

Apparently Blatt was "embarrassed" by the loss and apologized to the "good fans who always come out".

 

When Lebrunne was asked if he was embarrassed he snapped at the reporter, "Do you always ask negative questions?".  Reporter said that's what the coach said to which Lebrughn explained that he's "embarrassed by losing in the Finals".  Wha?

 

That team clearly gave up last night.  They hit us early, we responded and they went away and hid.  No fight.  Complete front-running team.

 

Chicago shill, Stacey King, gave us a lot of love.  Said, as many of us did, that team is full of perennial losers.  They probably look at the 14-10 record and think, "Man what's everybody so upset about.  That's 4 games over .500!"  

 

Knick shill, Isola, theorizes the Cavs are a dysfunctional team but also talked us up big-time.

 

I know, I know, it means nothing and next week they'll be back to over-looking us.  Still, made for a fun drive into the ol' office.

[Admin]

Underrated little performance of the day to me has to be Kyle Korver's. He didn't score the points or have the stats but I'm telling you watching that white russian dude almost puke out his lungs from having to chase him all over the court was awesome. Love the way our players play the game.

Did somebody say White Russian?

[Guest]

When Lebrunne was asked if he was embarrassed he snapped at the reporter, "Do you always ask negative questions?".  Reporter said that's what the coach said to which Lebrughn explained that he's "embarrassed by losing in the Finals".  Wha?

That sounds like the type of answer Prince would give if he wasn't cool, continually copied others, and somehow played basketball...

..."why don't you purify yourself in Lake Eerie"

[benhillboy]

I love seeing that point differential spike to 6. We're still the lone East Team who's Top 10 in Defensive and Offensive Efficiency if you're into that type of thing, usually a sign of a contender along with San An, GS, Memphis, and Portland (no Houston, Toronto, or Washington). Sounds good to me.

The offense can't work any better, I'm most impressed with the strides this team has taken on defense. They know the key areas and players' tendencies they want to cut off, then they swarm like gang tacklers cutting off passing lanes while everyone's man is accounted for. Bud has somehow made the guys believe opponents can't move faster than our passing but we can move faster than theirs.

Edited December 18, 2014 by benhillboy