Official Game Thread: Hawks at Hornets (1 PM Tip!)

[lethalweapon3]

“I’ll allow one chair throw at halftime, Mel. ONE. Make it count!”

 

Excuse the good folks of Charlotte, North Carolina if they’re tuning out of social media tonight, shortly after today’s affair between their Hornets and the Atlanta Hawks (1 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast in CHA and ATL, 92.9 FM in ATL).

Following up on great documentaries reviewing the NFL’s 1983 and the NBA’s 1984 draft classes, NBATV is airing “Ready Or Not”, the stories of the many noteworthy players who put on shiny, baggy suits and shook David Stern’s hand at the 1996 NBA Draft.

Charlotte’s a lovely town, I’m sure, to live in, especially when you’ve got wads of cash to stash, and it’s even a fun place to root on the local teams in teal. But on a couple occasions every year -- some predictable, some not -- a twister of commentary blows across the Queen City, the product of a combination of blissfully unaware Gen-Z’ers and millennials and crabby boomers and Gen-X’ers. The unifying sound, like an oncoming train, blares the same way every time: “The Hornets traded away WHO to get Vlade Divac?”

25 years of defensiveness and diviseness over a trade that’s become the stuff of legend will wear on anybody. When the quarter-century anniversary of the day of the 1996 Draft comes around, on July 29, and again on 8/24 Day, when the “What If?” thinkpieces make their way back around the Internet, Charlotteans will rather just dip into their shells than go around snapping at people. “12 other teams could’ve had him before he fell to us! We weren’t even trying to draft him!” Okay.

While trading away a raw high school prospect named You Know Who was arguably the second-most notorious of own-goals in NBA Draft history (as an aside: get ready, Charlotte’s getting an MLS team next year! Copycats.), it was not necessarily the worst in Bobnets/Horcats team history.

Never mind 2021, former #3 pick Adam Morrison is still crying somewhere over Gonzaga’s 2006 March Madness run, and ACC fans around town sobbed that he couldn’t at least have been Shelden Williams. Missing out on CP3 the year before, and having to settle for Raymond Felton, wasn’t much of a consolation. At least Justise Winslow’s struggles help to make everyone forget about Frank Kaminsky. When they did hit on somebody with a Lottery pick – Emeka Okafor, Kemba Walker – the Charlotte brass failed spectacularly at building around them. Baron Davis might have become the exception, had then-owner George Shinn not literally screwed his way out of town.

In the middle of 2017-18, GM Rich Cho got the MJ Axe in part because, while backup guard Malik Monk (out, sprained ankle) is a’ight, he’s here while Donovan Mitchell, John Collins and Bam Outtadabyou are not. P.J. Washington is passable as a starting forward, by default, but he’s hanging around here at Spectrum Center only because Cho’s replacement, Mitch Kupchak, is still here, too, while his UK teammate drafted next, the sneering Tyler Herro, is not (statistically, passing up Herro for P.J. has been a wash, but the fawning national media can’t seem to tell).

As a backup big with the occasional open three and highlight-reel dunk, Miles Bridges is a’ight, as evidenced by his team-high 26 points in Friday’s 127-118 win against Mike Budenholzer’s Half Dollars in Milwaukee. But he’s here, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is not. If you wish to find a Draft day mistake from 2018, it’s a good idea to start, and end, there.

What may become the 1996 Draft-trade reprise, from 2018, was not the finest hour for Mitch, the beneficiary of the old adage that if you can’t beat the Lakers, hire somebody the Lakers just pushed out. Yet not everything is about the top of the Draft, and not everything Kupchak and the Hornets have done in the past few years have been flops.

Literally the next hour after trading away SGA, Charlotte sent the Hawks a pair of second-rounders for their selection of Devonte’ Graham, who carried the Hornets through the dregs of last season until the pandemic disruption. While his interior scoring skills have been wretched, Graham has been the league’s premier backcourt on-ball defender (NBA-best 4.20 Defensive Real Plus-Minus, as per BSPN; only Mike Conley and Pat Beverley are in the low 3’s), a literal “3-and-D” point guard that could have been a more useful complement as a backup to Trae Young (questionable for today, bruised calf; 4^th-lowest among tracked PGs with a minus-3.23 DRPM).

A couple days later, Charlotte got the least-stiff among Timofey Mozgov, Julyan Stone, Jerian Grant and Bismack Biyombo in a multi-team deal. Biyombo knows his role – block a shot, dunk a ball, try not to get hack-a-smacked, sit the heck down – and plays it well enough that he’s starting now.

With the departure of John Wall and Aaron Gordon to other teams, there remain just two NBA players who have yet to leave the team that drafted them Top-5 in 2013 or any years prior. There’s Jordan Brand ambassador Bradley Beal, with the Wizards at least for now. And there’s Cody Zeller, who has remained serviceable in Charlotte for as long as he can stay upright. The big-bag contract extension he signed in 2016 (we’re gonna need a documentary on that train-wreck of an offseason, too) comes off the books after this season, allowing the Hornets space to be players this summer (autumn?) during free agency.

Living up to his name, Kemba walked in 2019, but Kupchak still managed to get Terry Rozier for his troubles via sign-and-trade. Since leaving Boston, Terry’s jumpshot is no longer scary (40.5 3FG% this year, 40.7 percent last season), and he has embraced his role of being the reliable finisher in the clutch (3.5 clutch PPG, 0.2 PPG more than Young; 52.2 3FG%). Charlotte is 16-6 in clutch situations with a league-best +3.7 team plus/minus, spearheaded by Rozier (+4.0, best among NBA’s highest clutch scorers, min. 15 clutch games played). Mitch also pried agent Gordon Hayward free from Boston’s clutches this past year, netting extra second-rounders in the process, and folks still wonder why the Celtics don’t look so formidable this year.

The flip side of screwing up drafts so routinely is, you tend to find yourself back in similar spots with a chance to make amends. Charlotte lucked out by leapfrogging Atlanta (and Cleveland, New York, Detroit, and Chicago) to wind up with the 3^rd pick in the NBA Draft, and needed only to do so much work as to let LaMelo Ball fall into their laps.

Coupled with the Hornets’ crunch-time viability, Ball and the flashy play that accompanies his flashy family’s name (team-high 7.7 assists per-36), is what made Charlotte a League Pass darling. Until a broken wrist a few weeks ago derailed his nightly threat of achieving triple-doubles (made good, for the first and only time, so far, in Charlotte’s 113-105 win over the visiting Hawks back on Jan. 9), Ball’s 2.9 Win Shares metric was blowing away the rookie competition (your per-48 Win Shares leader in the rookie clubhouse? Onyeka Okongwu, naturally).

You can’t say the Hornets would have fared much better, or any worse, under the tutelage of Steve Clifford, but James Borrego has been proving himself to be capable of designing winning plays when the talent is healthy and growing together. Charlotte has suffered a few big losses in games since the All-Star Break, but no actual disappointing ones, unless you count losing by 30 in Boston last Sunday, just days after the oft-injured Hayward (out for at least three more weeks) sprained his foot. They’re back home following a six-game road trip that took them no further west than Oklahoma City.

A question. When was the last time a reigning Eastern Conference champion kept their coach and their core intact entering the following season, and then failed to win their Division? I’d venture a guess that it has been a minute. Hawks ace assistant Melvin Hunt was with then-player development coach Lloyd Pierce in Cleveland, when GM Danny Ferry’s 2008 Cavs ceded the Central Division to the Rip Hamilton’s Pistons. Coach Bud was primed to pounce, in 2015 with the Hawks and in 2019 with the Bucks, when LeBron bailed from respective locales of Miami and Cleveland, but James was essentially the core, so those teams don’t count.

With apologies to firestarter Solomon Hill, the Miami heat’s biggest loss in the 2020 offseason was starter Jae Crowder, the Villa Rican heading west to Phoenix in free agency. Literally everyone else returned. Miami added a Top-20 draft pick and sought out mid-season upgrades in the form of guys named Oladipo and Bjelica. And it still might not be enough to secure a Southeast Division title.

So, sure, at this stage of the season, this Hawks fan is getting greedy. I want another banner to gawk at when peering up in the State Farm Arena rafters next fall. Context, schmontext. Someone is going to have one that says, “2020-2021 Southeast Division Champions”, with no asterisks sewed in, and I’d much rather that joint be dangling in Georgia, than in North Carolina or Florida. Hawks fans had to wait over two decades for our last division title, why hold out any longer for another?

Atlanta (28-25) can’t win a tie-breaker over the Hornets (27-24, ahead by percentage points for 4^th in NBA East), thanks to the defeats at the latter’s hands during the same week back in early January. But the Hawks could get at least one more win in hand in the race not only for a coveted 4-seed, but the Southeast Division title.

Our futbol brethren, Atlanta United didn’t sit around waiting for old-hat clubs and wannabe regional upstarts to enjoy their days in the spotlight, first. Josef and the Five Stripes entered the sport, named it – We’re the Kings of the South – and claimed it.

Even as Ball sits, the national media is prepping for Jimmy Butler and Bradley Beal to hand LaMelo the baton as the marquee-ready fresh face of the NBA Southeast. Trae Young’s Hawks, however, have a great opportunity to seize not only the division, homecourt advantage over perhaps the Hornets or heat, and a momentous first-round victory, but the prevalent narrative, of who is the Southeast favorite going forward, in the process of it all. Ready, or not.

Barring a playoff meeting, it looks like the Hornets will avoid the wrath of Tony Snell (out, sprained ankle) and, in they’re lucky, Danilo Gallinari (questionable, sore foot), the latter of whom came alive 15 fourth-quarter points in the Friday’s 120-108 win over the Bulls.

Graham, Rozier and the Martin Twins, Zan and Jana, were able to sink their teeth into Young (combined 7-for-28 FGs, incl. 0-for-8 3FGs, 13 assists and 12 TOs vs. CHA in January) largely because he had next-to-no perimeter help. Everyone aside from Kevin Huerter in the 102-94 loss at home on January 26, shot 5-for-28 from downtown. Aside from Hill (3-for-5 3FGs) a few nights later in Charlotte, things didn’t get much better (11-for-40 3FGs everyone else).

The one fellow who could change the outlook today, easing things up for Young (1-for-6 3FGs vs. CHI, but 11-for-14 FTs and copious floaters for 42 points, plus 8 boards and 9 dimes) and/or Lou Williams (15 points and 3 steals vs. CHA w/ LAC on March 20), is Bogdan Bogdanovic. Bogi is eager to avoid a slump after missing all four three-point attempts in Atlanta’s comeback win over Chicago (I’m told Zach LaVine is still at The Farm this morning, trying to break Wilt’s record).

Having outside shooters the Hornets must take seriously will open up the paint (CHA’s minus-1.9 paint points-per 48 is 3^rd-largest differential in NBA East, worst among East playoff contenders) for Clint Capela (22-and-10 vs. CHI), Okongwu and the Hawks’ driving guards. If Atlanta is to avoid a season sweep today, they will want to do as other opponents have done and put Charlotte to bed early, avoiding a late charge led by Scary Terry.

Hornets fans will be tuning in to the game, cheering their team on in hopes of victory in this Sunday matinee of Southeast Division rivals, then turning their watching devices off and unplugging everything for 24 hours. I can’t blame them. It’s not like their team passed up on That Man for Priest Lauderdale or something.

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Once more: don't let Terry get scary!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

To offset the absence of Hayward, Borrego has been plugging Jalen McDaniels into the starting frontcourt, much like younger bro Jaden has been starting lately with the T'wolves. The Hornets' second-rounder in 2019, Jalen (also Juwan Howard's cousin) set his career high with 21 points earlier this week at OKC, following up with 19 points (5-for-9 3FGs and 8 assists combined in the two games) against Milwaukee's non-starters on Friday.

 

~lw3

[kg01]

Hornets gonna whip our arses.  Gonna be a sleepwalking fest with the early tip.  Shiiiii, half the squawk still asleep right now.  I can't imagine how the players are feelin.

[RedDawg#8]

40 minutes ago, kg01 said:

Hornets gonna whip our arses.  Gonna be a sleepwalking fest with the early tip.  Shiiiii, half the squawk still asleep right now.  I can't imagine how the players are feelin.

Yeah, these early tip Sunday games against division rivals have always been some of the ugliest games played dating back years and multiple regimes. Win or lose, we probably aren't going to like the product on the court.

[marco102]

56 minutes ago, kg01 said:

Hornets gonna whip our arses.  Gonna be a sleepwalking fest with the early tip.  Shiiiii, half the squawk still asleep right now.  I can't imagine how the players are feelin.

There's also this. 

 

[Lurker]

Yikes.

I'll watch since I don't have much going on, but I don't have high expectations here.

[hawkman]

Scheduled loss? It will still be interesting to see who steps up. 

[ATLHawks3]

Another development game. Hoping Goodwin, Mays, Gwu, and Knight can step up. 

[JayBirdHawk]

Uuuuummm.......wow.

I guess it's developmental minutes all around.

 

I guess Goodwin gets the start to keep the Lou/Gwu pairing off the bench.

 

 

[ATLHawks3]

They're gonna be playing a lot of zone. Hoping we can beat it. 

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Personally, I would start Lou, to start the game with offensive firepower and a lob passer to Capella.

The group of Goodwin, Mays, Knight, Okongwu, and Bruno actually do not play bad as a unit.

So I would start Lou, Huerter, Bogi, Solo, and Capela.

[Spud2nique]

Nice thread lw3! The great Kobe Bryant 🪦. The Hornets did trade him for Vlade/ E Campbell and whatnot but let’s not forget the fact that he always said he would only play for the Lakers. People forget that sometimes. Epic battles with these guys in the late 90’s that series with Smitty vs Glen Rice will always stick out in my mind. Rip 🪦 Bobby Phillsas well. Looking forward to a 4/5 matchup with these guys, hopefully with us being the 4 and holding homecourt on the series. But first thing is first, let’s steal one today without our superstar Traemendous.

Vegas line started at Hawks -4 yesterday. With Trae and Gallo out, it’s now Hornets -2.5,  a 6.5 point swing. The public is pounding the Hornets. O/U 214.

We need a Lou type miracle. 
 

Go Hawks!

 

 

[RedDawg#8]

This is the Bogi Lou and Clint show today.

Kev, please don't have one of those off games, we need you too.

Im confident in Mays, Knight and OO to give us some good minutes too.

Hill, I fear will do too much thinking we need him to make it rain. BG can go either way, hopefully he plays well too.

 

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, kg01 said:

half the squawk still asleep right now.

just woke up in time for the game. Hope the fellers don’t let me down. I need a morning croissant and my coffee ️.  Let’s just shock the world with our depth. F the twins on the Hornets . My least faaaaavvvvvvorite Maaaaatins (in my Chris Berman voice).

 

GO HAWKS!

[Carmine]

Good take Kev

[Carmine]

I see you Kev!

[ATLHawks3]

Goodwin Bomb.

[Carmine]

BG with the range! Great start, time for an upset.

[hawkman]

BEAT THESE SCRUBS!!!