Official Game Thread: Hawks at Lakers (3:30 PM Tip Time!)

[lethalweapon3]

“So what are you waiting for, Tasha? Nate McMillan and Melvin Hunt to help you plan dessert?”

 

Finally! The pride of Chino Hills, now a Lottery pick and a prized NBA rookie, has come back to Los Angeles!

That’s right. Onyeka Okongwu brings his Atlanta Hawks to STAPLES Center for a pair of games versus NBA title contenders over the coming days. That includes today’s matinee with the defending NBA champ Los Angeles Lakers (3:30 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL; Spectrum SportsNet in LAX).

Only one other current NBA player – momentary Magic Man Aaron Gordon -- has ever been Mr. California Basketball twice. Now, the high school and USC sensation that put Chino Hills on the map makes his grand NBA debut in the Golden State.

I’m sorry, Sir LaVar, were you saying something?

Y’all, did I not just hop onto Ivan Johnson’s Internet barely over two months ago, in a Hawks-Hornets gamethread, to toss laurels in the Big Bald-head Brand Man’s direction? Big Poppa Pout keeping his piehole shut allowed LaMelo Ball to surge up the Rookie Ladder comfortably unfettered. Now, he’s got to look over his shoulder, not just at the Ant Man, but a horde of voracious media seeking out Sonny (and Big Baller Bro Zo) for clarification about Daddy’s salacious statements.

He also had to deal with becoming the secondary Ball story in his first game at STAPLES on Thursday night. LaMelo shot the ball just fine, but a season-high 6 turnovers suggested the Bugs’ best ballhandler was a bit harried, and not just because of the tag team of former Hawk Dennis Schröder and Alex Caruso.

Does Mike or Karen Okongwu have so much as a word critiquing their son’s collegiate or professional development floating out there? The family seemed to be grounded and pragmatic, the patriarch in particular, even before the tragic and accidental loss of their talented eldest son Nnamdi seven years ago. It is quite pleasant to be able to develop the 6-foot-8 younger Okongwu at the team’s modest pace, understandably limited due to the pandemic and the schedule, and not rush things just to sate the elevated expectations of parents and pundits.

Mostly from the sidelines, Okongwu gets to watch and learn as John Collins maxes his value beyond the reach of thirst-trapped general managers around the league. He gets to look to playoff-seasoned vets like Danilo Gallinari and Clint Capela for guidance along the way.

In this low-pressure environment, Onyeka gets to chart his development as a frontcourt reserve alongside, if all continues going well, two-way sensation Nathan Knight. Yek’s not the primary piece that Trae Young and, to a lesser extent, Collins were as rooks, nor the essential starter pieces we hope De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish will soon become. But he is a cog that has time to cultivate in alignment with the Hawks’ long-term needs.

While Charlotte, Minnesota, Golden State, Cleveland, Chicago all need their Top-5 drafted rookies to produce at an elite level in 2021 to keep pace in matchups with the Lakers, anything positive that sixth-pick Okongwu (0.118 WS/48, a shade below LaMelo’s 0.119, which leads all other Top-10 picks by a mile, and all other Lotto picks by a yard) can provide his Hawks (21-20; 0.5 games behind 3-seed Miami, 4.0 games ahead of 11-seed Toronto) in limited minutes is a veritable luxury.

A little West Coast comfort won’t hurt as the Hawks spend the next couple weeks waking up in alternative time zones. Beyond Gwu Tang, another recent West Coast guy, former Sacramento resident Bogdan Bogdanovic, showed hints of coming alive right on time as Atlanta extended its win streak to seven on Thursday. Just as Schröder is doing this season, Rajon Rondo made himself quite at home in Los Angeles last year, enjoying LeBron James’ carpet ride toward a championship. Also making themselves literally at home are L.A. natives, Solomon Hill and Kawhi Leonard’s former high school teammate, Tony Snell. California Love!

The Hawks are also led by a coach that was Carolina born-and-raised but made himself the face of pro ball, as both a player and a coach, in the Pacific Northwest. It should take just a couple more victories over the next eleven days to lock up Eastern Conference Coach of the Month honors for Nate McMillan.

Trae Young has rarely found the teams from Tinseltown to be inhospitable. 11.2 career APG (highest average vs. any NBA team) and 25.6 PPG against the Lakers (28-13 2.0 games behind the West-leading Jazz) in five games; 27.3 PPG and 9.0 APG against Monday’s host, the LA Clippers. The respite McMillan granted in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s resounding 116-93 win over OKC was welcome for Trae ahead of what are hoped to be productive outings in Los Angeles.

Par for the course was Young’s production of 25 points and 16 rebounds assists (thanks, Jay!) to pace the Hawks in January’s 107-99 loss to the Lakers, a game where Atlanta led by a point after three quarters and nearly scrambled back late after letting the lead slip away (11 of the Hawks’ final 13 points assisted by Young). Right along his averages against the Lake Show (6.2 TOs/game vs. LAL) were 7 turnovers, mostly steals at the hands of James and that day’s top scorer for Los Angeles, Anthony Davis (out for another week due to a strained Achilles calf).

If Trae can cut down on the errors, whether unforced or not, he’ll ensure more of the Hawks’ halfcourt plays end with high-quality looks, free throws, and second-chance opportunities. Coach Frank Vogel’s club, settling back into a groove with four straight wins after dropping 7 of 10 prior to the All-Star Break, is 22-3 on the season when they snare seven or more steals (17-1 in games with 8+ thefts), 6-10 otherwise.

With Marc Gasol and two-way forward Kostas Antetokoumpo (Health ‘n Safety) joining AD and Jared Dudley (MCL tear) on the inactive list, the gameplan for LeBron’s Lakers is to hit ‘em where he ain’t. Swing the ball around and inside for paint points when Collins, Capela and Gallinari have height advantages. Penetrate and kick the ball out to shooters, including Snell (like Young, rested in the 4^th quarter vs. OKC), Bogi and Kevin Huerter when James is helping secure defensive boards and protecting the rim. And, as always, get back on defense and make LeBron move laterally in transition.

There’s no reason to wait to pick up wins later on in this road trip. Including the Lakers, who travel later today to play the Suns tomorrow, six of Atlanta’s next eight opponents are playing on either the front end (Lakers, Kings, Suns) or the back end (Warriors, Spurs, Pelicans) of a back-to-back. Only one pair of upcoming games on the docket (Spurs-Pels) are on consecutive nights for the Hawks.

Teams will be limiting players’ minutes and DNP’ing players at the last minute, notably over the next few games as the NBA Trade Deadline nears. With the added potential of a couple key returnees during this road trip to add to Nate Mac’s rotation, the Hawks are congealing just as some opponents could be getting momentarily thinner.

With no Davis, an odd 12:30 PM Pacific tip time, and a big division game versus Phoenix looming, and perhaps a chance to lock down weekly player (JC/Trae) and coach awards, there are plenty of reasons to trip up the Lakers today and keep our team’s win streak rolling.

So, what are we waiting for?

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

"True to Atlanta" Bonus: Lights! Camera! SPRINKLES!

https://news.gsu.edu/magazine/nicci-carr-in-geico-commercial

 

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

The best Knight since Gladys is questionable for this game.

 

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

We could have not just one old friend, in Schröder, in the starting Laker lineup today.

Damian's second 10-day contract expires tomorrow. He'll likely be a keeper!

~lw3

[Spud2nique]

14 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

It is quite pleasant to be able to develop the 6-foot-8 younger Okongwu at the team’s modest pace,

This! Outsiders of Hawks fan, (possibly even some insiders) may look at Yek or Tang (Gwu ) and think, oh man, the Hawks blew it, this kid is unlike any rookie in maturity and understanding that he isn’t needed right now as much as he will be for us next year and beyond, the confidence (not cockiness) is crazy high for him. 
 

Nice early game thread Lw3, despite our early start and was expecting this in 3 hours not now, pleasant surprise. 
 

Lakers are fav by 4, we we are playing pretty well. 
 

Go Hawks! Let’s make it 8! (8 won’t be enough though cuz we aren’t d*ck Van Patten). 

[JayBirdHawk]

19 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Young’s production of 25 points and 16 rebounds

How many assists did Trae have for that Triple double ...

20 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

With Marc Gasol and two-way forward Kostas Antetokoumpo (Health ‘n Safety) joining AD and Jared Dudley (MCL tear) on the inactive list,

Think I read Gasol is back today.

[Spud2nique]

20 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Tony Snell. California Love!

Loved! 

 

21 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Pacific Northwest

Seattle’s got next! -Brent Barry war cry

 

23 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Eastern Conference Coach of the Month honors for Nate McMillan.

Yes sir!

 

24 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Only one pair of upcoming games on the docket (Spurs-Pels) are on consecutive nights for the Hawks.

This is huge for us.. hoping.  

[bleachkit]

We need to go all in on Bradley Beal. Hunter, Collins, Heurter, Snell and 3FRPs. 

J/K

[JayBirdHawk]

3 minutes ago, bleachkit said:

We need to go all in on Bradley Beal. Hunter, Collins, Heurter, Snell and 3FRPs. 

J/K

Wrong thread? 

[bleachkit]

14 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

Wrong thread? 

Perhaps.

[kg01]

2 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

We could have not just one old friend, in Schröder, in the starting Laker lineup today.

Damian's second 10-day contract expires tomorrow. He'll likely be a keeper!

~lw3

If he's a "king", Bruno must be a gall-dang emperor.

Scrubs get titles too now?

[lethalweapon3]

This is the earliest tip time for the Lakers this season, at home or on the road (I think 3 PM Eastern in Memphis back in early January).

It's a weekend matinee warmup as the Lakers will play the Clippers here at STAPLES on a national-TV game on Sunday, April 4. The floor after this game will be switched over to Clippers motif ahead of the Hornets' visit tonight (10 PM Eastern).

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

1:30 boo-boo report has Must See BG (Brandon Goodwin) out due to flu-like symptoms, and Nate Knite questionable (sprained ankle).

As Jay noted, Marc Gasol (H&SP) is indeed off the list and available to play. Keef Morris is likely to start again but has been dealing with a bruised knee. LeBron's probable despite a sore ankle.

 

~lw3

[Gray Mule]

6 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

1:30 boo-boo report has Must See BG (Brandon Goodwin) out due to flu-like symptoms, and Nate Knite questionable (sprained ankle).

As Jay noted, Marc Gasol (H&SP) is indeed off the list and available to play. Keef Morris is likely to start again but has been dealing with a bruised knee. LeBron's probable despite a sore ankle.

 

~lw3

BG sounds kinda like he had a reaction to his Covid-19 shot.  It does this to some people.

[JeffS17]

12 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

This is the earliest tip time for the Lakers this season, at home or on the road (I think 3 PM Eastern in Memphis back in early January).

It's a weekend matinee warmup as the Lakers will play the Clippers here at STAPLES on a national-TV game on Sunday, April 4. The floor after this game will be switched over to Clippers motif ahead of the Hornets' visit tonight (10 PM Eastern).

~lw3

I hope we come in fired up and catch the Lakers sleeping.  I want to see Trae get aggressive in the 1st pick up 10

[bleachkit]

Could the east coast time difference work to our advantage?

[Spud2nique]

43 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Knite

New theme song possibility for our new hero?  
 

 

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, kg01 said:

Scrubs get titles too now?

Not anymore. Cray down, Scurry down, Wiseman bust... oh you meant.. Steve Kerr is gonna have that head of blonde hair turn all white by the end of the year. Oh wait you meant.. 

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[terrell]

1 hour ago, Gray Mule said:

BG sounds kinda like he had a reaction to his Covid-19 shot.  It does this to some people.

Not on 1st dose...Usually..Pretty sure BG was 1 of 4 who didn't get vaccine..Not positive though..

Edited March 20, 2021 by terrell