Take a bow, *General* Schlenk

[sturt]

Originally, you were given the "Colonel Schlenk" nickname out of simple humor given how your last name and your shiny scalp intersect naturally with the old Hogan's Heroes boss... and yes, some suspicion that you possibly could prove almost as inept, given enough time.

But now, you have taken that nickname and forced everyone to set it aside... for a higher rank.... one that is a more serious tribute to your skills as a strategic mastermind and talent assessment savant.

All hail, General Schwartzk.... er... Schlenk.

 

And that Opie/RedVelvet/KHurt/[Add newest nickname] was the star tonight was just emblematic of the kind of team you've been able to piece together where, if the lead dog isn't getting it done, there are all these others who legitimately have gotten it done at one time or another this post season and regular season. There have been games when BogBog's contribution was top tier. When Collins was. When Capela's was. When LouWill's was. When Dre's was. And games when Gallo, like tonight, was an undeniably huge asset in the arsenal, as could also be said for The Big OO (not to be confused with the Big O, of course).

And what about what hindsight says about the decision to hand over the driver's seat to Nate McMillan?

No more Colonel. You are, indeed, the General, and this is well beyond anything most any of us envisioned so soon... you being the humble sort, I would guess you'd echo that sentiment.

Strategy well planned, and well executed. This group has so exceeded expectations for preseason 2021-22 that it's now one of 4 teams that truly can hope to win 8 of their next 14 games, and a 2020-21 NBA championship. Things just got really, really real.

 

[NBASupes]

We lit!

[benhillboy]

Shout out to Rod Higgins for assisting The General.

Shout out to Dotun Akinwale and Danko Miholic for the awesome scouting.

Big up to Dwight Lutz and Maksim Horowitz. Clearly they have a grasp of this analytics sh@t.

Peace to Jim Sleeper, who never sleeps on the advance scouting.

I’m a pretty damn good pro player scout but I’m no Stephen Giles.

Lastly shout out to Dipesh Mistry and the crew breaking down film to unlock 2K Gallo. The next Erik Spo over here.

All the senior managers, equipment guys, personnel people, trainers, thank you.  All we see is the play on the floor but getting to this level and beyond truly takes a solid franchise.

[NBASupes]

2 minutes ago, benhillboy said:

Shout out to Rod Higgins for assisting The General.

Shout out to Dotun Akinwale and Danko Miholic for the awesome scouting.

Big up to Dwight Lutz and Maksim Horowitz. Clearly they have a grasp of this analytics sh@t.

Peace to Jim Sleeper, who never sleeps on the advance scouting.

I’m a pretty damn good pro player scout but I’m no Stephen Giles.

Lastly shout out to Dipesh Mistry and the crew breaking down film to unlock 2K Gallo. The next Erik Spo over here.

All the senior managers, equipment guys, personnel people, trainers, thank you.  All we see is the play on the floor but getting to this level and beyond truly takes a solid franchise.

A team effort for sure and thanks to LP. I know a change had to be made but thanks for your contribution as well. When Chelsea fired Frank Lampard and won the champions league, they still gave props to Frank even if he wasn't was Tuchel was for them like Nate for us.

[ATLHawks3]

8 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

A team effort for sure and thanks to LP. I know a change had to be made but thanks for your contribution as well. When Chelsea fired Frank Lampard and won the champions league, they still gave props to Frank even if he wasn't was Tuchel was for them like Nate for us.

Yeah we've gotta give our credit to LP. Allowed guys like JC, Trae, Huerter, Hunter, Reddish to all get their feet wet and go out and play without the pressure of the expectation to win. Now that they've matured, that experience given to them has taken us to ECF now. Thank you coach, and good luck on your next venture. 

[RandomFan]

A leader of men with a shiny dome and is ruthless to the competition? I'll go with Darth Schlenk

[bobrathbun4pres]

2 hours ago, ATLHawks3 said:

Yeah we've gotta give our credit to LP. Allowed guys like JC, Trae, Huerter, Hunter, Reddish to all get their feet wet and go out and play without the pressure of the expectation to win. Now that they've matured, that experience given to them has taken us to ECF now. Thank you coach, and good luck on your next venture. 

this. Ive always thought LP was a perfect rebuild coach but never could move to a full time guy to get a team to the post season. best of luck to him i hope he gets there. 

[NBASupes]

28 minutes ago, bobrathbun4pres said:

this. Ive always thought LP was a perfect rebuild coach but never could move to a full time guy to get a team to the post season. best of luck to him i hope he gets there. 

The worst thing LP could have did was overachieve. We got Okongwu for that BS we saw last year. He was critical tonight. 

[gurpilo]

I don't know if we understand how difficult is what we have achieved.

This is a real young team on his 3rd rebuilding season and is in Conference finals with significant injuries like Hunter and Reddish and some holes in the rotation, like backup C and PG.

Our core players are all below 24, that means that if we keep them all, they can perform for 6 additional years at least and are 3-4 years away from their peak. That is an insane future we are looking ahead. And is a real core with Young, Huerter, Hunter, Reddish, Collins and Okongwu. Even Capela is young enough to play for 6 additional years.

We will be able to attract FAs now.

Future is bright, now is time for Schlenck to keep the team together and fill the small goles in FA, we need a backup PG and a Big C and we are set. This team can only improve and that is scary for the league.

Edited June 21, 2021 by gurpilo

[RandomFan]

For what it's worth, LP retweeted this. Hopefully it's a lesson learned by him. 

It's not enough to be a great X's and O's coach in the NBA, which most people acknowledge that LP is; you've gotta do those two things in the tweet more than the X's and O's part, and I think that is where LP needed to grow and improve. 

[gurpilo]

I think Schlenck has the golden opportunity to build a contender this offseason with very little investment.

He can fix a 13 man rotation that now is

Young/?/?

Bogi/Huerter

Hunter/?/Reddish

Collins/Gallo

Capela/?/Okongwu

Backup PG, a wing and a backup big C, that is what we need.

If Schlenck thinks he can fill one of these holes on draft day, that is good but definately backup PG and backup C should be FAs.

In my opinion if we add players like Cameron Payne, Dwinddidie, Rose, Mcconnell, Bullock, Ennis, Craig, Holmes, Dieng, Whiteside, Noel, López, Mcgee we can really go for the ring Next year, with the likely improvement if Young, Huerter, Hunter, Collins and mainly Reddish and Okongwu... We can really compete to win.

 

 

[Watchman]

A (Partial) listing of things I was wrong about...

1.  I didn't  think much of Schlenk.  He proved me wrong.

2.  I thought Trae was a step or half-step below a superstar.  He's the real deal.

3.  I thought Okongwu was too small.  He came up big in the playoffs.

4.  I thought we overpaid for Bogi.  Other than following his most recent injury, he's been great on offense.

5.  I thought Super Lou was done.  Not yet.

I'm sure I have overlooked some things, but "I believe" we can beat Milwaukee, and make it to the finals.

[HawkingAwesome]

i pretty much trusted his process from day 1 i seent it 

[warcore]

Greatest GM this franchise has had, has, and ever will have. Thank you Travis. 

[hawkzlova123]

14 minutes ago, Watchman said:

A (Partial) listing of things I was wrong about...

1.  I didn't  think much of Schlenk.  He proved me wrong.

2.  I thought Trae was a step or half-step below a superstar.  He's the real deal.

3.  I thought Okongwu was too small.  He came up big in the playoffs.

4.  I thought we overpaid for Bogi.  Other than following his most recent injury, he's been great on offense.

5.  I thought Super Lou was done.  Not yet.

I'm sure I have overlooked some things, but "I believe" we can beat Milwaukee, and make it to the finals.

I was 100% wrong on huerter I admit . I'm really sorry. You are a baller. But that's about it hehe

[Dejay]

I'm trying to figure out what opposing GM would even want to do business with Travis Schlenk, for fear that they would also get rick-rolled like Houston did. 

While the Hawks may not take you for granted, rest assured that in a deal, General Schlenk will...take you...

[KB21]

What Travis did a great job of is getting players with the big picture in mind.  He got a mix of players who skills compliment one another and fit together instead of just drafting a bunch of talented players who may end up overlapping.

 

[Thomas]

Liked the TS hire at the time but think I may be in love now. Figuratively of course. The guy understands chemistry maybe even better than Larry Brown did in his heyday. Saying quite a lot right there. He must have been a wizard at puzzles as a kid.

[benhillboy]

1 hour ago, Thomas said:

Liked the TS hire at the time but think I may be in love now. Figuratively of course. The guy understands chemistry maybe even better than Larry Brown did in his heyday. Saying quite a lot right there. He must have been a wizard at puzzles as a kid.

Two people who I sorely miss around today’s NBA: Kobe and Larry Brown.  

[MarylandHawk]

This success has made every Travis move look genius.  I am scared to even question anything now for fear of looking like a fool later on. Lol. 
while I always looked on the bright side of his moves, I did question a few. 
Bogi signing affecting Cam’s development (it sorta did but was worth it)

signing Gallo and drafting Okungwu while having Clint. Felt this would affect J Bap numbers. It did but it was worth it. 
Resting Hunter so long when he could have played. 
Firing Bud to rebuild.

Of course trading Doncic for Trae  I was probably the first to get over that and embrace (took me a week) Trae but I had my doubts like everyone else.

I got a feeling he is not close to being done