Official Game Thread: Hawks at Magic

[lethalweapon3]

“When you wish upon a Star… Makes a difference who you are…”

 

I can’t speak for you, but I am kind of glad, no longer having to care at all about the fate of the Netspick. In a secondary way, Atlanta Hawks fans no longer have to be concerned about tonight’s opponent, the slip-sliding Orlando Magic (7:00 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, Fox Sports Florida), or any other lotto-quality Eastern Conference foe holding down one of the final two available playoff spots.

For a minute there, mere weeks ago, it was looking like the 7-seed was no longer in play. Despite losing defensive glue Jonathan Isaac (severe knee sprain suffered on New Year’s Day) for the balance of January, the Magic responded by going 5-2, highlighted by a win at STAPLES Center, without Evan Fournier, over a Laker team that thought it was safe to rest Anthony Davis.

Unfortunately for coach Steve Clifford’s crew, Orlando’s depth began absorbing too many hits. Knee surgery last month for the already-injured Al-Farouq Aminu, arguably the team’s biggest free agent addition over the summer, effectively concluded his season before it could really get going. Orlando was granted a Disabled Player Exception for Aminu, but not for Isaac, the latter application an indication that he won’t be rushed back by the team any time soon.

In and out for much of the season already, Michael Carter-Williams was missing time due to injury, and by the time he returned to action in mid-January, he tagged out D.J. Augustin, whose patella irritation (still out tonight) has had the lead bench guard unavailable ever since.

Orlando had already weathered the storm of losing recent All-Star pivot Nikola Vucevic for a month. But for a squad that relied on defensive fortitude from Isaac, a discrete set of offensive options around wayward-shooting ballhandler Markelle Fultz, and snail’s-pace ball-control keyed by Augustin and Carter-Williams off the bench as pillars to victory, Clifford’s Magic seem to be just about out of tricks.

One night after upsetting LeBron’s Lakers to get within a game of .500 basketball, Orlando had to endure the dreaded STAPLES back-to-back and got clapped by the Clippers. They’ve been in an O-Town Funk ever since. Two wins, both on the road at charcoaled Charlotte, are all the team can claim from their past twelve contests. Their last victory here at Amway Center, over a month ago, came at the expense of a Wizards team that didn’t even have All-Star wannabe Bradley Beal.

The Magic (22-31) began a three-game homestand getting toyed with by Giannis and top-seeded Milwaukee, a preview of what might be a sad but swift playoff opening round, should no other Eastern lottery teams step it up in the coming months. With just two home games left before the All-Star Break (Detroit arrives on Wednesday), the Magic hopes they can face a squad that tired itself out last night in Atlanta. The Hawks (15-39) needed four quarters and a pair of overtimes to outlast a Knicks team that itself was playing a back-to-back.

Remember that the Magic had already been awaiting several young players to get healthy and emerge as stars for the future. They spent a mid-first-rounder on Atlanta native Chuma Okeke, who tore his ACL while starring for Auburn during last year’s March Madness campaign, with the intention of rehabbing and bringing him along slowly as Aminu and Amile Jefferson played behind Gordon this season. They’ve been pleased that Fultz and center Mo Bamba have been healthy, steady members of the rotation. But they have been forced to rely more on the lotto-pick pair at critical junctures of this season than they likely anticipated. The same goes for third-year bench players Wes Iwundu and Khem Birch.

Having already tripled his volume of starts in Philly before the Sixers discarded him, Markelle passes and shoots inside the arc reasonably well (4.8 APG; 50.1 2FG%). He’d be all the more dangerous with dribble penetration if he had reliable perimeter shooters at the ready. Atlanta ranks 30^th in three-point accuracy (32.6 3FG%, 34.3% since Jan. 1), but the Magic (33.4 3FG%, 33.5 since Jan. 1) are coming on strong for that dead-last spot.

2019 Sixth Man of the Year candidate Terrence Ross’ jumper has plummeted back to Earth this year (32.2 3FG%, 3-for-19 FGs vs. ATL this season). Vucevic and Gordon combined to shoot 0-for-13, and Ross 1-for-4, from deep against the Bucks in Saturday’s 111-95 loss, making Fultz (3-for-7 3FG vs. MIL, a season-high in makes; 26.9 3FG% on the season) look quite the marksman.

At least the Hawks have a point guard in Trae Young (39 points, incl. 13 in 4^th quarter; 5-for-10 3FGs, incl. the game-clincher, vs. ORL on Oct. 26) who can call his own number on occasion. Perhaps, two, at least until Jeff Teague (37.1 2FG%, probable for tonight despite sore shoulder) gets out of his shooting rut. Without Young, Brandon Goodwin saved the day for the Hawks in Orlando back on December 30, sinking big shots inside and out (team-high 21 points, 3-for-4 3FGs), generally catching the Magic off-guard in a 101-93 win.

The former UCF and Florida Gulf Coast star guard isn’t as effective in spot duty. But when Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce has turned to the two-way player and Midseason All-G-Leaguer for major minutes, Goodwin (just 4 minutes last night vs. NYK) has shown he’s up to the task (42.9 FG%, 100 FT%, 24 assists and 12 TOs in games w/ 20+ minutes).

The sole major move by Magic exec Jeff Weltman to bolster team depth was the acquisition of James Ennis, the reserve forward who generally struggled with Philadelphia this season (37.0 FG% since Dec. 31) before waiving his no-trade clause to come to Orlando. Ennis is expected to premiere tonight for the Magic, who waived Jefferson at the Trade Deadline to accommodate Ennis and make 10-day contractor Gary Clark a full-time member.

It is hoped that Ennis’ addition will give Gordon (41.9 FG%, 15.4 points and 3.4 assists per-36, down from 44.9%, 17.0 and 4.0 last season) more latitude to play full-time at the power forward spot, where he is perceived to be more effective. Orlando is 9-4 when AG snares 8 or more defensive rebounds, 3-13 when he grabs fewer than five. The Magic frontline has struggled to this point when plugging in either Iwundu or Ross in place of the sidelined Isaac, so they hope Ennis will be a difference maker defensively.

Along the way to a 42-40 record in 2018-19, their first winning season since 2011-12, Clifford’s Magic were among three opponents to sweep the 29-53 Hawks in four games, and the only one to win them all by double-digit margins. With a chance to improve to 3-0 versus Orlando this season, it is reasonable to wonder whether Pierce and the Hawks finally have the Magic’s number.

Clifford’s 36-46 Hornets similarly swept the 2017-18 Hawks by double-digits in four games. Matt Hill, a longtime Magic video analyst who was the sole assistant initially retained by Clifford when he took over for Frank Vogel in 2018, left shortly thereafter to join Pierce’s staff, and his intimate knowledge may be proving valuable in Atlanta’s competitive turnaround against mainstays Vucevic, Fournier and Gordon (DNP vs. ATL on Dec. 30). The trio was a combined 5-for-28 on threes and has been generally ineffective in second halves versus Atlanta through the first two matchups.

Orlando may catch an extra break keeping up offensively if Atlanta’s De’Andre Hunter (38.3 corner 3FG% on team-high 1.6 attempts per game; team-high 35 minutes, 3-for-6 3FGs @ ORL in December; 48 minutes, 3-for-7 3FGs vs. NYK; questionable, ankle sprain) gets some rest today. Without several wing defenders available for the Hawks, Fournier and Ross must each be on-target today.

Catching up with Orlando and attaining a playoff spot is a bit too much of an ask at this stage for a Hawks team that struggled to put the Knicks to bed last night, and they won’t have a core with a chance to gel until Clint Capela (out, heel bone) and Cam Reddish (questionable, concussion) make their likely returns after the All-Star Break. But it is possible for the Hawks to surge soon past at least one division rival.

A win tonight would raise Atlanta to 5-4 within the Southeast Division (0-3 versus banner leader Miami), an above-.500 mark that neither Charlotte (1-6; 2.0 games ahead of ATL) nor Washington (4-8; 4.5 games ahead of ATL) is likely to claim. By comparison, yesterday’s win over New York vaulted Atlanta to just 4-22 versus the rest of the conference.

Building competitive edges against the rest of the Southeast can bode well for Atlanta, both going into the Break and looking forward to next season. Will they have the legs and the wherewithal to keep building against the struggling Magic tonight? Orlando certainly hopes the answer is no.

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[macdaddy]

I missed the last few days of posting so maybe this was covered but man is Hunter driving me crazy.  Despite scoring decently and hitting a couple big threes he looks lost a lot offensively.   But man defensively the guys is a stud.   We could really use him being a better on the offensive end though to take some pressure off trae and heurter. 

[warcore]

Big game tonight!!! If we win this one, we're only 6.5 games out of the playoffs!

[macdaddy]

LOL.  just looked at the standings and the only East teams with more wins in their last 10 than the Hawks (5 wins) are Celtics, Raptors, Bucks who all have 9 or 10 wins.   Everyone else, 12 teams, are 5-5 or worse.  

[AHF]

The most shocking part of LW3's writeup is that James Ennis somehow had a no trade clause.  

[Spud2nique]

Great write up lw3! Wow, so outside of a couple of wins against the Hornets , the Magic have otherwise lost 10 straight games? Alrighty then. Yes we are in the playoff hunt just as much as the lottery top 3 odds. Which way will the pendulum turn? 

The Magic puzzle me as to what they are trying to accomplish and what kind of team they are putting together. Vucevic has basically been on the trade table for about three years now, Gordon was their high pick that hasn’t panned out because they have no point guard to get him the rock. Isaac is hurt. Ross and Evan don’t fit their timeline yet they are the main contributors on offense?  

 

Its a good time to be a Hawks fan. Let’s make it straight dolls!

 

The Magic are favored by 8.5 o/u 220.

 

GO HAWKS!!!

 

 

[Spud2nique]

19 minutes ago, AHF said:

James Ennis

Was this the same dude that came roasted us in his debut a few years ago playing for the Heat in Miami? Also, wasn’t he with us in camp?

Edited February 10, 2020 by Spud2nique

[PSSSHHHRRR87]

2OT during a back-to-back doesn't bode well... and we had to travel? We'll shall see where the energy level is tonight. Luckily Orlandud is spiraling downward and is just asking for someone to take #8.

[bleachkit]

If we get blown out, Rathbun will mention coming off a back to back, overtime. You can book it.

[NBASupes]

Who's available tonight

[Thomas]

Am sure Trae is gonna be really, really tired but still envision him abusing Fultz rather handily most of the game. Not sure about whats left in the fourth quarter though. Hopefully no overtimes tonight.

[Spud2nique]

11 minutes ago, Thomas said:

Am sure Trae is gonna be really, really tired but still envision him abusing Fultz rather handily most of the game. Not sure about whats left in the fourth quarter though. Hopefully no overtimes tonight.

They have non athletic skilled shooters in Evan and Ross. If they are on we are in trouble but if they are going the way they are and continue, our athleticism should be enough to bully them around. 
 

Having said that you know they are itching to play well at their house. 
 

Usually a spread of 8.5 for the home team guarantees a win, but let’s be line busters and just go take the W tonight and take another step up as a team. Why not?

[Thomas]

13 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

They have non athletic skilled shooters in Evan and Ross. If they are on we are in trouble but if they are going the way they are and continue, our athleticism should be enough to bully them around. 
 

Having said that you know they are itching to play well at their house. 
 

Usually a spread of 8.5 for the home team guarantees a win, but let’s be line busters and just go take the W tonight and take another step up as a team. Why not?

The Magic really are just so weird. Most every year they look like a playoff team after the first couple of weeks and then the ADD kicks in and....

[NBASupes]

A win today and we are 6.5 games back of 8th

[High5]

40 minutes ago, bleachkit said:

If we get blown out, Rathbun will mention coming off a back to back, overtime. You can book it.

I imagine he'll mention it regardless of how we perform. It is a big factor.

[Spud2nique]

14 minutes ago, Thomas said:

The Magic really are just so weird. Most every year they look like a playoff team after the first couple of weeks and then the ADD kicks in and....

Agreed. It’s a marathon. They are great sprinters. I’d also like to add that I referred to Ross as not being athletic. That’s not the case he’s very athletic he just chooses to play the old man pull up game.

[Wurider05]

DJ Augustin better not get off tonight. He always has good games against us. 

[JTB]

 

[macdaddy]

If Trae plays I'd limit him at least in the first half.

[High5]

1 hour ago, macdaddy said:

I missed the last few days of posting so maybe this was covered but man is Hunter driving me crazy.  Despite scoring decently and hitting a couple big threes he looks lost a lot offensively.   But man defensively the guys is a stud.   We could really use him being a better on the offensive end though to take some pressure off trae and heurter. 

He banished Barrett to the bench last night. It was beautiful. Almost as beautiful as Trae putting the clamps on Payton.