Official Game Thread: Hawks at Bulls -- At Long Last, The Season Opener!

[JayBirdHawk]

You Love to see it!

 

 

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

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We all know Young can score; that’s not surprising. He’s a transcendent offensive talent who has the skill set to become one of the greats on that end of the floor. But it was his defensive effort that arguably was key to the most encouraging moments of the night. His off-ball awareness was great. He was fighting through screens and not simply dying. He was hustling and was a willing defender. I’ve said this countless times, but the ceiling of this team rises if Young can simply go from being graded as one of the worst defenders in the league to just a regular minus. If you’re a Hawks fan, you have to love seeing plays like this:

 

 

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“I recall you (myself) asking me a question after our second game last year when we were 2-0,” Pierce said. “I told you we had a long season. We know what happened after that. (Not overreacting is) everything. You’re going to see teams get off to hot starts. You’re going to see teams struggle out of the gates. You’re going to see some unusual things that are going to happen this year. We saw a postponement already. We have to respect this game. We have practice tomorrow. We have to get in some work. We’re off on Christmas and flying. We have a team in Memphis that’s always given us a hard time. Respect is at the top of the list. Work is right next to it. If we’re respecting this game and continuing to work, I think we’ll be fine.”

 

[Carmine]

16 minutes ago, sturt said:

Lots of Twitter love going out for the rookie, I see.

And Kong can't get on the floor fast enough for me, so that those of us who were all-in on Haliburton can feel some reassurance.

Yea, as much as I wanted Hali & he will be a winning player for them for years to come. Barring a trade (Huerter), he wouldn't see the floor. Where I previously thought this pick was a luxury it really is a need because we don't have a player like Onyeka. Having a big who can guard both the paint & perimeter will be invaluable to this team, not to mention his offensive polish. Great situation to learn under Capela as well, Schlenk hit a homerun IMO.

[Peoriabird]

If @AHF doesn't put an end to these ignorant comments I will. 

[JeffS17]

1 hour ago, marco102 said:

 

I really liked Trae's answer to Kirschner's question: when do you know it's going to be one of those nights??  It was distinct to me because there's such a difference between media perception/narratives and reality.  And the reality is Trae feels like he's going to have an amazing game every game, and I believe him when he said that.  That's the type of mentality it takes to make it to the NBA and especially to become one of the top guys in the league.

[JayBirdHawk]

10 minutes ago, Carmine said:

Yea, as much as I wanted Hali & he will be a winning player for them for years to come. Barring a trade (Huerter), he wouldn't see the floor. Where I previously thought this pick was a luxury it really is a need because we don't have a player like Onyeka. Having a big who can guard both the paint & perimeter will be invaluable to this team, not to mention his offensive polish. Great situation to learn under Capela as well, Schlenk hit a homerun IMO.

It is going to be interesting to see how Gwu develops but more importantly how quickly. Particularly his shooting. Per Kirschner latest:

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I thought their interior defense with Clint Capela out with Achilles soreness was weak, and if it wasn’t for the Bulls blowing numerous easy looks, this could have been a different game. The Hawks started Gallinari at the five and Collins at the four. The offense that pairing presents is the equivalent of pointing a flamethrower at an open gas tank. The spacing on the floor is most ideal when a five can shoot the way Gallinari can. It’s also the reason Capela’s starting role likely will be overtaken if first-round pick Onyeka Okongwu can eventually space the floor. We’re not there yet, but a spacing five who can defend at a high level is the perfect center for a team built around Young.

 

[AHF]

2 minutes ago, Peoriabird said:

If @AHF doesn't put an end to these ignorant comments I will. 

No call for personal shots here.  Peo is on this board because he wants to see the team succeed.  We are all hardcore fans here so let’s remember that even if someone doesn’t have a positive outlook on an individual player, coach or GM.

Don’t use Hawks victories or losses to go after each other.

[Peoriabird]

1 minute ago, AHF said:

No call for personal shots here.  Peo is on this board because he wants to see the team succeed.  We are all hardcore fans here so let’s remember that even if someone doesn’t have a positive outlook on an individual player, coach or GM.

Don’t use Hawks victories or losses to go after each other.

Thank you

[thecampster]

1 hour ago, bleachkit said:

Are you insinuating Bogi is a chucker?

Just applauding the funny...not necessarily the content.

[Carmine]

12 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

It is going to be interesting to see how Gwu develops but more importantly how quickly. Particularly his shooting. Per Kirschner latest:

 

Very excited to see this. Schlenk loves his shooters & we know he aint taking a Jaxson Hayes redux at #6.

[NBASupes]

Travie and Lando are the GOAT Pres Ops/GM duo! 

[bleachkit]

36 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

It is going to be interesting to see how Gwu develops but more importantly how quickly. Particularly his shooting. Per Kirschner latest:

 

Non shooting bigs is not where the game is at. Capela is a high level role player for us, which is fine. There are nights when we will need him very much, depending on the match up.

[High5]

23 minutes ago, AHF said:

No call for personal shots here.  Peo is on this board because he wants to see the team succeed.  We are all hardcore fans here so let’s remember that even if someone doesn’t have a positive outlook on an individual player, coach or GM.

Don’t use Hawks victories or losses to go after each other.

It was just a little fun ribbing after comments like these before the game:

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We are going to get creamed!

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There will be plenty of them [excuses after the Hawks lose] believe me!

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Some of you guys are die hards...See after the 1st quarter

But I won't insinuate that @Peoriabird wants the Hawks to lose anymore.

[kg01]

1 hour ago, Peoriabird said:

Thank you

Come on, peo.

Anyways, let's discuss something we can all agree on.  Man do the bulls look bad.  What's their plan?

Lauri and WCJr look terrible, for the most part.  Lavine is simply not a winning player.  Coby has an ill-defined role, to put it mildly.

Williams looked pretty good, not great.

Like, what are they?  I read folks suggesting the Bulls were in the mix with the Hawks, wizards, etc for a playoff spot.  How?

[NBASupes]

36 minutes ago, bleachkit said:

Non shooting bigs is not where the game is at. Capela is a high level role player for us, which is fine. There are nights when we will need him very much, depending on the match up.

That's what being deep is. We don't have to be married to a particular lineup. 

[terrell]

1 hour ago, Carmine said:

Yea, as much as I wanted Hali & he will be a winning player for them for years to come. Barring a trade (Huerter), he wouldn't see the floor. Where I previously thought this pick was a luxury it really is a need because we don't have a player like Onyeka. Having a big who can guard both the paint & perimeter will be invaluable to this team, not to mention his offensive polish. Great situation to learn under Capela as well, Schlenk hit a homerun IMO.

Based on rookie play so far, I still think we have the chance to have the best player in the class.................

[JayBirdHawk]

1 hour ago, NBASupes said:

Travie and Lando are the GOAT Pres Ops/GM duo! 

I'm really digging your new Avi 

[Carmine]

18 minutes ago, terrell said:

Based on rookie play so far, I still think we have the chance to have the best player in the class.................

Quite possibly, I was watching Wiseman on Tues. and he looked very smooth/mobile. Especially considering his lack of an offseason & no preseason games. However, he doesn't seem to have the quick twitch/agility Onyeka has & looks like a pure 5 to me. Onyeka can definitely bring a lot to the table and has more value because he can play & guard multiple positions. Kid says he looks up to Bam, if he even comes close to that they might as well hand deliver us the trophy.

[JeffS17]

50 minutes ago, kg01 said:

Come on, peo.

Anyways, let's discuss something we can all agree on.  Man do the bulls look bad.  What's their plan?

Lauri and WCJr look terrible, for the most part.  Lavine is simply not a winning player.  Coby has an ill-defined role, to put it mildly.

Williams looked pretty good, not great.

Like, what are they?  I read folks suggesting the Bulls were in the mix with the Hawks, wizards, etc for a playoff spot.  How?

I'm sensitive to takes like this after Trae went through the gauntlet of "empty stats",  "can't win",  "not a team/winning player".... BUT I do think that might be true for Lavine.  He doesn't really make his teammates better and it doesn't feel like he cares or tries to.  It could definitely be a coaching/development gap but this is his 7th(?) year in the league now, so I do feel like he has to take responsibility at some point.  I teeter back and forth on guys like Lavine though because some teams are just bad -- organization/coaching/drafting/talent -- and 1 guy can't change that, no matter how good they are.

I'm just happy it feels like we're coming out of the other side of that tunnel and I'm grateful.  A lot of games left but I definitely feel optimistic after that first game.  80+ in a half is insane but the defensive effort is what really makes me happy.  Trae diving for balls, getting in the pass lanes, Cam getting steals, JC stripping for a steal (recorded as a block i guess), etc.  You can tell the guys are truly much more engaged on that end of the floor, which is really encouraging.

[JeffS17]

2 hours ago, JayBirdHawk said:

You Love to see it!

 

 

Been debating on who to use in my flair, but I love this pic so much I'm going to use it for a while (even though it comes out a bit small) because I'm hoping this is a nice metaphor for where we go this season: guys trusting each other, Trae can lean on his teammates, no hero ball, good chemistry, team wins, etc... Spurs-like culture with a Warriors style offense + team effort on D