Official Game Thread: Wizards at Hawks (Manic Monday)

[lethalweapon3]

“Hey, Russ! Rook here says he made way more Triple Doubles than you, back in his day!”

 

The time has come. It’s Banner Szn!

There is no such thing as a FACE Banner (“Finished Ahead of Consensus Expectations 2020-21”). You don’t chase after a “See? Told Ya We’d Make the Playoffs!” Banner. There’s no, “Beat the Odds Despite a Crap-ton of Injuries”, no “Hey, At Least We’re Not Like Cleveland This Year, Huh?” Banners. Travis Schlenk and Nate McMillan can’t ascend a “Phew! Avoided That Pesky Play-In” Banner to the State Farm Arena rafters.

The one tangible, non-fungible token that the coach and his team can offer Tony Ressler and Company is a red-black-and-yellow Banner that reads, “Southeast Division Champions 2020-21”. For all their “Not One, Not Two, Not Three” bluster, the Miami heat would like one made-to-order in those colors, too.

With mere days to go in this goofy NBA season, our refabricated Atlanta Hawks find themselves in the same predicament Pawl, Al, Kowl, and Jeff put themselves in during the waning days of 2015-16’s. Win the week, and you can beat the heat for the Southeast Division crown. Standing in the way, then, and now (7:30 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, NBC Sports Washington, NBATV)? A Washington Wizards team that’s missing key players, a crew with not a whole heckuva lot left to play for, other than being a spoiler to a division rival.

Since the NBA Finalist Hawks of St. Louis captured the Western “Division” title in 1961, this franchise’s history of hurdling a relatively low bar with any measure of frequency or consistency has been, well, a trip. There was 1970, the team’s second season in Atlanta, 1980, 1987, the MJ’s-Not-Here-Anymore-But-Let’s-Never-Speak-of-This-Season-Again year of 1994, and Mike Budenholzer’s Peaklanta season of 2015.

Heavy B and the Boyz, the following season, had the opportunity to leave an indelible imprint, as the clear-cut most accomplished collective of Hawks in the team’s spotty five-decades-long Atlanta history. Unlike a certain baseball team, this Atlanta club had never experienced winning division titles in consecutive years. All they needed to do was to edge, in the standings, a Miami outfit that was, by then, sustaining themselves purely off the fumes of LeGone.

As you all know how much it sticks in my craw ‘til this day (where’s Deontay Wilder, when I need him?), Our Fine Feathered Friends fumbled the flag. They couldn’t pass muster in the penultimate game of the season in Cleveland against LeBron’s reigning and future conference champs. But the make-up date came two days later in the District of Columbia, where the core of the prior year’s 60-game winners were tasked with closing out the season of Coach Randy Wittman, Jared Dudley, Ramon Sessions, Tsunami Papi, Jarell Eddie, J.J. Hickson, Marcus Thornton, Nene, Garrett Temple, Drew Gooden, and I need not go on. Just win that game by a point, Atlanta, and we are back-to-back Southeast Division champions, my friends.

There’s no other way to put it, but in his final regular season game as a Hawk, Al Horford and the crew blew it.  He could have at least left us with another Banner, like ‘94’s, to sneer at. Instead, in the space of just a few games, Joe Johnson was able to leave his Miami heat – yes, you read that right – with a commendation he and Al could not earn for Atlanta during any of their All-Star-studded years here together. While it’s now likely relegated alongside Marc Anthony’s Banner for some record number of sold-out shows, Miami was able to dangle the 19^th division banner in its relatively short 28-year history from an arena beam. All Hawks fans were left with was the blissful memory of shutting up Isaiah Thomas and the 5-seed Celtics in the first-round.

I can hear the mantra through the screen: Division Titles Mean Nothing. And in the grand sense, that’s correct, particularly to us old grumpycats, and especially in an era where Divisions themselves don’t amount to hills of beans, in terms of competitive stature, anymore. As a counterargument, for one-title-from-long-ago franchises like the Hawks, who have since changed cities, and the Wizards, who moved out of the ‘burbs and changed names, they still matter.

Down on The Farm, while gnawing on a cricket taco, some kid that just learned multi-digit subtraction looks up from their seat, at “1993-94 Central Champs!” and “2014-15 Southeast Champs!” and wonders what on Earth happened in the intervening decades (Pro Tip: if you dare to try answering the question, be sure to start during the first quarter). The biggest kid in the stands is Ressler, and he would rather not be here when the 2036-37 Banner goes up, and some wisecrack smart-aleck shouts, “Yo, where are all the Banners since 2015?”

When John Wall and Bradley Beal were waging their annual charge to overtake the Southeast Division, it mattered a lot. For one, there’s no “Look, Ma! We Finally Won 50 Games” Banner to pursue. In a town that spent an inordinate amount of fan energy chasing LeBron, in the standings, then wooing LeBron or a similar superstar, in free agency, the inference that your NBA team is the best that the warmer climes of the Eastern seaboard have to offer goes a long way; having something to point to as proof certainly helps make the case.

It feels like eons ago, but there was a time when four NBA Division titles and a Celine Dion concert attendance record were all Miami had to offer. When Tim Hardaway, Sr., Alonzo Mourning and Coach Pat Riley won their first of four straight division championships, in 1997, it was like Carnival in the streets. It served as a pivotal sign of a dormant sports team in a town with a lot of distractions finally gaining some footing and establishing themselves as a club not to be trifled with. "Watch out, Orlando, here we come!"

That’s about where the Hawks could find themselves in 2021. Five years before, a consecutive Division Banner could have been the signal to Al… and Bud… that they’re still moving in a direction worth sticking around and building around long enough to see through, together. Instead, on the night it should have mattered the most, we got toasted by Razor Ramon Sessions, and thus formally began the search for the exits.

As was the case in 2016’s season-ender for the Wizards, Beal (out today and Wednesday, strained hammy) won’t be an impediment to any lofty divisional dreams we might have here in The ATL. But Wall’s functional replacement, with any due respect, is no Ramon Sessions.

On that note, let’s all check in on The Notorious K.A.B., shall we?

The cherry blossoms around our nation’s Capitol have bloomed just twice since Kamiah Adams-Beal was goaded into grousing about how second-year guard and People’s Choice All-Star Trae Young was “playing cherry-picking basketball.” She apologized, appropriately, but Kamiah’s consternation with guys on non-playoff teams, stuffing stat-sheets and currying favor with fantasy managers to get voted into midseason extravaganzas, ahead of Her Main Man, remained a soapbox worth standing on in 2020. That was, until 2021!

We’re all allowed to evolve in our steadfast positions on matters big and small. (Noting here that Kamiah’s crankiness extended into the Bubble season, with Brad being an All-NBA “snub”… “Put some respect on his name!”, she tweeted). But that transition is eased when, in lieu of a creaky-kneed 30-year-old co-star whose prominence historically depended on his top-flight end-to-end speed, team president Tommy Sheppard and Wizards management paired Beal with a strong, quick, 32-year-old former league MVP whose stat-accumulating prominence, in the present day, remains historic.

If you’re like me, you applauded heartily as Russell Westbrook tied The Real Big O’s all-time Triple Doubles mark (33 points, 19 rebounds, 15 assists for #181) in Washington’s 133-132 OT victory Saturday, in the fieldhouse of the re-enlivened Pacers. All that meant, for me, was that Hawks fans would not have to endure both the pursuit of tying Oscar Robertson’s once-seemingly untouchable record, on a Monday, and surmounting it, on a Wednesday (the Hump Day game is now at 7 PM on ESPN, because we know the nation can’t wait to celebrate De’Andre Hunter’s regal return).

The old saw was how Westbrook’s play was detrimental to ultimate team success. That take’s dead-and-buried, now that the Thunder and Wizards teams Russ played for have now won over 75 percent of games where he messed around, trailing only Magic (78.3 percent) and LeBron (76.8 percent) according to NBA.com. Westbrook hasn’t been cleaning the glass and dishing purely to ham-and-eggers, but neither was Magic, and at least after around, oh, 2008, neither was James.

Brad’s better half was not in a good mood, back on January 31, and neither was her hubby. Two nights after Trae Young dropped 41 on the Wizards in D.C., in a resounding 116-100 Hawks win that seemed to have righted Atlanta’s sails, season-leading scorer Beal was acting Kevin Love-glum throughout the first half, as the next club in town, the superteam Nets, were about to drop Washington to 3-13 on the season. Braddie and The Brodie had yet to gel on the floor, Davis Bertans and the supporting cast looked lost, and the season already seemed to be getting away from them all.

Then came the spark they had been waiting for. Westbrook and Beal combined for 37 fourth-quarter points, a corner three from Russ capping a stunning and victorious comeback to win. The new Mrs. Beal could not contain her venom, sniping at NBA Twitter for clowning her and her husband’s non-playoff-bound team on The Interwebs. When one follower suggested that some owed her a personal apology after the final horn, she bristled, “They can keep it and shove it up their (Dellavedovas).” Ouch!

Thankfully, time, and a horde of sympathetic fan, player and media votes for an NBA All-Star starter spot despite a sub-.500 record, has healed all wounds. Spurred on by the All-Star love, Beal joined Westbrook in lifting Washington out of a 6-17 hole to reach the Break at 14-20. The post-Break drop from Beal’s sugar high took some time to overcome, the Wizards lapsing back into irrelevance at 17-32. But their 15-4 closing run, to date, has the dynamic duo looking like they won’t be an easy out at Play-In time, or perhaps any time after.

Going forward, Russ can focus solely on padding his career record from the next young upstart who dares to take a Luka his lead and make a run after it. His coach, Scott Brooks, whose job at the helm has likely been saved by Westbrook’s recent brilliance and collaboration with Beal (31.4 PPG, 2^nd in NBA), and the rest of the Wizards still have other things worthy of chasing.

Washington (32-36) is all-but assured of moving on from State Farm Arena, this week, to the State Farm NBA Play-In Tournament (“Like a good sponsor…”) next week. Yet it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that it’s the Wizards greeting Brad Stevens’ backsliding Celtics in Boston for the East’s opening 7-8 game. For teams doomed, if you will, to the Play-In, the objective now is to be in position of needing to play in just one game, not two, to determine their postseason fates. The 9-seed Wizards need only to slip ahead of Charlotte (1.0 games ahead w/ the tiebreaker) to accomplish that.

Failing that, it ought to be helpful to play a 9-10 elimination game in front of your own adoring fans. Before Beal exited with his injury at the close of regulation, Washington needed every one of his 50 points (19-for-31 FGs; rest of team incl. Russ 30-for-79) to claw back into a draw with the Pacers. The win leapfrogged Washington (0.5 game ahead of IND) over their Hoosier hosts, and they will not want to return there anytime soon.

Beal’s absence puts the onus on Ish Smith (7 rebounds, 4 assists in 19 minutes), and two-way gunner Garrison Mathews, to provide some spoiler spark. Raul Neto (2.3 SPG) was plugged into the starting unit in mid-April with rookie Deni Avdija (fibula hairline fracture) likely sidelined for the season, and he’ll be needed to offer his best T.J. McConnell impression versus in disrupting Young and the Hawks’ ballhandlers, who were decidedly listless and sloppy until the turnaround proved to be too late when the Hawks blew yet another SCRAP game, on Thursday evening in Indy.

John Collins (25 points, 7 rebounds @ IND) must make concerted efforts to box out his old chum, as former Hawk Alex Len, a starter at the pivot due to the early-season exit of Thomas Bryant, and former Bulls forward Daniel Gafford will try to keep the second-chance opportunities alive. At the other end, with Westbrook hunting around the paint for defensive rebounds, the Hawks have to make quick shots off smart passes, providing Russ precious few stat-padding caroms to secure.

There’s no Rondo around to get under Westbrook’s cuticles this time around. And while there may not be a Hunter, whose injury absences due to knee problems began with that January 29 game in D.C., there wasn’t a Bogdan Bogdanovic, a regular-rotation Tony Snell, or a Lou Williams available either. They should be able to beat Neto, Bertans, and Chandler Hutchison off the dribble to create whatever shots they desire. Russ’ acrobatic shots and needle-threading passes, when they lead to scores, are cap-tippable. But a four-quarter effort, today and Wednesday, to win the turnover and rebounding margins will render his Wizards capsize-able.

This is effectively playoff homestand practice for the Hawks (37-31, seeking a season-high 8-game home win streak) as well. Advancing, or at least appearing as a threat to advance, entails taking the consecutive home dates you're given with a singular opponent and making sure they’re winning ones. If all goes well this week, this pair of games will be a warmup for Games 1 and 2, or 3 and 4, in a couple weeks. If things go disastrously bad, this confident Wizards team, with Beal back in tow, could become Atlanta’s (first) Play-In opponent this time next week.

But the Hawks won’t play well if they get preoccupied with the hot coals beneath them. They have a prize, up high, to keep their eyes on. Unlike Medina Spirit’s laurels, a Banner for an NBA Division Title can never get snatched away. It’s time to run for the roses.

Alright, Atlanta. The objective is clear, and in sight. You’ve worked hard just to get to this stage. Now, get out there, before your home fans, and have yourself a Banner week.

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Magic Numerology: Clinching Top-6 involves Atlanta winning any 2 of the remaining 4 games on the docket. With no wins, clinching would likely take a combo of the Hornets losing any of their final 4 games and the Celtics losing any 2. As it stands, Atlanta can finish no worse than 8th by losing every game and then shenanigans happening.

Boston's rematch with 6-seed Miami (ATL Magic Number: 4) is tomorrow, while Charlotte gets a visit from Denver. 4-seed New York (ATL Magic Number: 6) hosts Charlotte and then New York on the final two eves of the regular season.

 

~lw3

[kg01]

I'm scared, folks.  This game has all the makings.  Short-handed opponent, we're fully rested, we've got guys returning from injury ... got way too much stuff going for us to avoid snatching defeat from the jaws of victory here.

Hope I'm wrong.

[sturt]

[Dnice]

Hopefully the non-Beal results continue

[Final_quest]

I take comfort in the fact that our season will either be a huge success or colossal failure based on the results tonight.  

After win vs. Phoenix = Possible NBA champs

After loss vs. Indiana = Hawks suck

[macdaddy]

1 hour ago, kg01 said:

I'm scared, folks.  This game has all the makings.  Short-handed opponent, we're fully rested, we've got guys returning from injury ... got way too much stuff going for us to avoid snatching defeat from the jaws of victory here.

Hope I'm wrong.

"Hey kg.  I ain't from around here man.   I'm unaffected by the Fulton county jinxes. When in FG range i don't run backwards.  I close the game out."

[lethalweapon3]

Tony Snell pops up on the 5:30 boo-boo report with his sore Achilles. Like De'Andre Hunter (sore knee), he's listed as questionable, likely subject to the dreaded Game-Time Decision.

No new Wizards on the report aside from the predicatables (Beal, Avdija, Bryant).

 

~lw3

[kg01]

40 minutes ago, macdaddy said:

"Hey kg.  I ain't from around here man.   I'm unaffected by the Fulton county jinxes. When in FG range i don't run backwards.  I close the game out."

Coach, is it wrong that I hope Westbrook gets a 10-10-10 triple double to set the record thus rendering the upcoming BSPN coronation on Wednesday wholly and entirely moot?

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

 

[Spud2nique]

3 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

, “They can keep it and shove it up their (Dellavedovas).” Ouch!

Relatable in every game thread apparently . 

3 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Banner week.

Awesome stuff as usual lw3!

 

-GO HAWKS!!!

 

[Spud2nique]

3 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

“Hey, Russ! Rook here says he made way more Triple Doubles than you, back in his day!”

This is so not funny.

-Sturt  

smile Sturt, if you’re smiling you can’t be mad! 

[JayBirdHawk]

 

So does Solo start?

[RedDawg#8]

Why are the injuries always clumped together at the same positions? All of our SF's just have to be on nicked up, it couldn't be the 3rd string PG or the 3rd string center that never plays?

Edited May 10, 2021 by RedDawg#8

[TheNorthCydeRises]

3 hours ago, kg01 said:

I'm scared, folks.  This game has all the makings.  Short-handed opponent, we're fully rested, we've got guys returning from injury ... got way too much stuff going for us to avoid snatching defeat from the jaws of victory here.

Hope I'm wrong.

 

I'm the opposite.

I'm fully expecting the Hawks to blow them the hell out.  20+ points or more.  The only shot they have is both Clint and John get in foul trouble.

And if Westbrook is going to get his triple double tonight, he better play 40+ minutes and grab most of his rebounds without Clint and John in the game.

Those concerns about us possibly losing may be valid in the Wednesday game that is on ESPN.  And even that is a very slight chance.

I'll be highly disappointed if this team doesn't flat out roll tonight.

[bleachkit]

32 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

 

So does Solo start?

No, Kevin.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Isiah Thomas on NBA TV says it's time to give Trae his props for playing winning basketball, and not "playing for numbers".

Like Trae putting up numbers was a detriment to the team.

Yes, he has been looking to get his teammates more involved.  But the flip side of that is that his teammates are making shots too.  That's the Bogi/Gallo/Lou effect. 

But make no mistake though, Trae Young balling out is NOT a bad thing for the Atlanta Hawks.  14 - 1 when he scores 32 or more points.

It's crazy though.  When other players around the league put up big numbers, they're celebrated beyond belief.  When Trae does it, he's just "chasing stats".   

That's a bunch of BS.

[ATLHawks3]

Really happy to see that Hunter is back in the lineup. Hopefully this game goes smoothly for him and he can get into a rhythm quicker.

[Thomas]

1 minute ago, TheNorthCydeRises said:

Isiah Thomas on NBA TV says it's time to give Trae his props for playing winning basketball, and not "playing for numbers".

Like Trae putting up numbers was a detriment to the team.

Yes, he has been looking to get his teammates more involved.  But the flip side of that is that his teammates are making shots too.  That's the Bogi/Gallo/Lou effect. 

But make no mistake though, Trae Young balling out is NOT a bad thing for the Atlanta Hawks.  14 - 1 when he scores 32 or more points.

It's crazy though.  When other players around the league put up big numbers, they're celebrated beyond belief.  When Trae does it, he's just "chasing stats".   

That's a bunch of BS.

Perfectly said.

[bleachkit]

3 minutes ago, TheNorthCydeRises said:

Isiah Thomas on NBA TV says it's time to give Trae his props for playing winning basketball, and not "playing for numbers".

Like Trae putting up numbers was a detriment to the team.

Yes, he has been looking to get his teammates more involved.  But the flip side of that is that his teammates are making shots too.  That's the Bogi/Gallo/Lou effect. 

But make no mistake though, Trae Young balling out is NOT a bad thing for the Atlanta Hawks.  14 - 1 when he scores 32 or more points.

It's crazy though.  When other players around the league put up big numbers, they're celebrated beyond belief.  When Trae does it, he's just "chasing stats".   

That's a bunch of BS.

Feel free to ignore IT. He was a great player, but I'm not a fan of his commentary. Like Nique, he holds onto tired conventional wisdom that is often not applicable to the modern game.