Official Game Thread: Hawks - Jazz

[lethalweapon3]

“…and IIIIIIIII-i-IIIIIII-i-IIIIIIIIII…”

With tonight’s hosts for the Atlanta Hawks, the Utah Jazz (9:00 PM Eastern, SportSouth, ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain) well on their way to another losing season, the predictable NBA fan tweets are flooding in. “Let’s send a tuna fish on rye Utah’s way, and get Derrick Favors!” the typical bright idea goes. “You just know he’s itching to get out of there!”

What people don’t understand is the 23-year-old South Atlantan is friggin’ thrilled living and playing in Utah. Just starting the first year of his four-year contract extension with the Jazz, Favors spent his summer working out in Provo, volunteered to work out with the summer league team, and is not looking to make a beeline out of the Beehive State just to get involved in a new mess with somebody else.

“The main thing I like about Salt Lake City is that it’s peaceful,” said Favors after he signed his extension in 2013. “It’s not loud with a lot of stuff going on. You can go home and get peace of mind. I hope to make this my home and I hope to retire here.” If Derrick does change NBA addresses anytime soon, it won’t be because of his demands.

Favors (9-for-11 FGs at Atlanta on Nov. 12, career-highs of 15.6 PPG, 55.0 FG%, 1.5 APG) serves as an ideal good-soldier for new Jazz coach Quin Snyder. As does Gordon Hayward, who was more than satisfied to return after the Jazz matched Charlotte’s offer sheet in the offseason. Their patience and confidence allows the former Hawks assistant to toil, experiment, and foster a roster that peacefully goes out and competes hard despite typical odds working against them. Plus every once in awhile, they can pull off a quiet palace coup.

Such was the case over a week ago when the Jazzmen swung into the Grindhouse and surprised the Grizzlies, finishing off a 3-3 road trip on a high note. They also gave the Clippers all they could handle on Monday, before graciously bowing out with a 4-point defeat at Staples. Beating the reeling Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday has Utah (11-21) coming into tonight’s game having won three of their past four games.

The biggest impediment for Snyder’s crew is no one in the backcourt can seem to get it going for a significant stretch on offense, whether it’s Trey Burke (36.1 FG%, 30.8 3FG%), rookies Dante Exum (40.4 FG%, 35.1 3FG%), Rodney Hood (31.3 FG%, 28.6 3FG%), or Joe Ingles (38.8 FG%, 25.4 3FG%). To compete nightly, the Jazz may want to shift swingman Hayward (19.2 PPG, 45.8 FG%, 38.9 3FG%) to the 2-spot full-time and go with a bigger starting lineup.

The Jazz’s most deadeye scorer, by default, was Alec Burks (40.3 FG%, 38.2 3FG%, team-high 22 points at Atlanta on Nov. 12), but now his injured shoulder is sidelining him for the season. Paying a $42 million extension that kicks in next season, the Jazz weren’t going to take any chances aggravating Burks’ shoulder any further in what is essentially a season-long team-building exercise under Snyder.

Former summer league standout Ian Clark may find himself with more time to shine in Burks’ absence, along with undrafted free agent pickup Patrick Christopher. Burks was also Utah’s top perimeter defender, so Snyder will have to decide who among Hayward or Hood can help keep Kyle Korver (17 points, 10 boards, 6 assists, 4-for-7 3FGs vs. Utah on Nov. 12) cool.

Hayward and the wayward Jazz shooters will put a lot of pressure on the Hawks to keep Utah’s big men off the offensive glass, most notably Rudy Gobert (15.5 offensive rebound percentage, 3^rd in NBA), Favors (8.3 RPG, 16^th in NBA) and Enes Kanter (12.2 O-Reb%, 17^th in NBA). Despite being the latest representative of France for Vince Carter’s posters, Gobert’s two-way energetic activity (7.3 blocks per 100 possessions, 1^st in NBA) is putting pressure on Kanter to maintain his starting spot full-time.

Korver’s defensive rebounding was tremendously helpful during the November 12 home victory against the Jazz, while Al Horford was still getting up to speed. The presence of Horford was missed in their win against Cleveland this past Tuesday, but he’s over his brief illness and will play, as will DeMarre Carroll, who is over his hydration issues and will be needed to help cover Hayward and help rebound. Carroll and Mike Scott missed the November game against the Jazz.

A former Jazzman like Korver (EDIT: AND Carroll... sorry, JYD!), Paul Millsap had a complete game against Utah in November, posting season-highs of 30 points and 17 rebounds to lead Atlanta (23-8) to their third-straight win. Millsap and Horford should still have fun schooling Favors around the post, and pulling him and Kanter out to defend while opening up driving lanes for Atlanta guards.

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

View the full article

Edited January 3, 2015 by lethalweapon3

[WillyMo]

As long as we don't take these guys lightly we should win by 10-12 points 

Edited January 2, 2015 by WillyMo

[MrMeltdown]

They have the size to beat us up on the boards and protect the rim. Plus we have had some epic meltdowns or no shows so far.

Edited January 2, 2015 by MrMeltdown

[Guest]

Awesome game thread as usual lw3! Is tonight the night we take over sole possession on 1st place in the eastern conference? Toronto @ GS.

LETS GO HAWKS!!!!!!!

[lethalweapon3]

Tweet Added - Refresh Page to see it live!

If you don't see the Tweet here AFTER REFRESHING PAGE, then it wasn't entered correctly. Please edit and try again.

Important: If the Tweet doesn't load, please refresh the page before editing the Tweet as it may need to refresh to parse properly

 

~lw3

[Afro]

Who is their SG now that burks is out?

[DJlaysitup]

Great stuff as usual lw3....almost time for the Atlanta Pagans against the Utah Latter Day Saints  :-)

 

GO HAWKS!!

[PSSSHHHRRR87]

Real shame on Alec Burks.  Hell of a talent and hope his career isn't hampered by injuries.  Korver, DMC, and Sap returning to Utah and this should be an easy win for the Hawks.

[ATLHawks3]

I have a feeling that they're going to be a tough matchup tonight, comparable to what the Milwaukee Bucks did to us. We shouldn't take this team lightly.

Edited January 3, 2015 by ATLHawks3

[lethalweapon3]

Who is their SG now that burks is out?

 

Compton fans, rejoice!

 

Tweet Added - Refresh Page to see it live!

If you don't see the Tweet here AFTER REFRESHING PAGE, then it wasn't entered correctly. Please edit and try again.

Important: If the Tweet doesn't load, please refresh the page before editing the Tweet as it may need to refresh to parse properly

 

Side Trivia: other NBA players who played at Christopher's powerhouse Dominguez High: Tyson Chandler, Tayshaun Prince, Brandon Jennings (pre-Oak Hill transfer), Jordan Hamilton, the late Dennis Johnson, Cedric Ceballos. Also, "Bad Santa" (Kenny Brunner) for you streetball fans out there, and of course Richard Sherman (NFL).

 

~lw3

Edited January 3, 2015 by lethalweapon3

[ATLHawks3]

Compton fans, rejoice!

 

 

Side Trivia: other NBA players who played at Christopher's powerhouse Dominguez High: Tyson Chandler, Tayshaun Prince, Brandon Jennings (pre-Oak Hill transfer), Jordan Hamilton, the late Dennis Johnson, Cedric Ceballos. Also, "Bad Santa" (Kenny Brunner) for you streetball fans out there, and of course Richard Sherman (NFL).

 

~lw3

 

And then..... he injures his knee..

[MrMeltdown]

Hawks bench give away all momentum in the 1st

[TheTruth]

Looks like we were going to bury these guys early, but then UTAH made a run against our bench. Get it together!

[MrMeltdown]

Bud set there and let a 19 pt lead get down to 3 without stopping it. He is too in love with the bench and certain players have too much leeway

[TheTruth]

We will probably win this game by double digits, but I'm still upset we pissed away that hot start.

[MrMeltdown]

Nice close to the Hawks half.

Edited January 3, 2015 by MrMeltdown

[TheTruth]

Teague taking over!

[asdogg]

#putemonskates

[asdogg]

#putemonskates

[ATLHawks3]

#RegularSeasonTeague is just as good as #PlayoffTeague IMO.