Official Game Thread: Hawks at Magic

[lethalweapon3]

“Y’know, if I wanted to be stuck playing 1-on-5, I could have just stayed with you guys.”

 

The Diamondbacks? Again? No, for real, though, with all due sincerity, what the heck are we doing here?

Getting tuned up for days at our hallowed grounds of NotAnotherMergerBank Park by the plunky Marlins, to kickstart the season, was embarrassment enough. Dropping three-straight to those mediocre Blue Jays on a sand lot in Dunedin was not ideal, either.

But now we’re well into May, and our Boys of Summer get blanked by Arizona, for a second straight day at the Sterile Mall of Georgia, only this time 7-0 instead of 5-0? I thought Torey Lovullo sang, “Sorry, Not Sorry”. How is something named Torey Lovullo out here thoroughly out-foxing our dear, esteemed manager Brian Snitker?

Not the Fish Sticks, again! Sigh. It was bad already to lose ground in the NL East race after getting walked-off in back-to-back games in Philly. Now, we come down to Miami and make the Marlins look like a contender, too. Are we not the reigning division champions? Do we want to act like it, anytime soon?

The Pirates? Oh come on, not real-life swashbuckler Richard Rodriguez and his merry Pirates of No Pen-nants!  We’re heading into the All-Star Break, with a chance to punch past the above-.500 wall after blowing four prior chances, and we can’t rub two runs together in one game against these fools? An unserious franchise, this Atlanta lot.

Face palm. Welp! Maybe next year.

The Bravos weren’t the only local pro team to come out of a pennant-raising season looking sad, suspect, and subpar in 2021.

The NBA’s reigning Southeast Division champions are still smelling themselves after a surprising playoff uprising, and they haven’t yet figured out that Winter is Coming. Yes, we all Know What You Did Last Summer, Atlanta Hawks, bra-freaking-vo. You got your flowers, and your little contract extensions. Now, can you pretty please, with sugar on top, quit letting the D.J. Augustins, the Nic Claxtons, the Eric Gordons, the Kelly Oubres, the Tyrese Maxeys and the David Nwabas beat the brakes off of you?

The Terrence Rosses and R.J. Hamptons of the Orlando Magic are licking their lips as the Hawks arrive at Amway Center (7 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, BS Florida). Shoot, who is to stop Chuma Okeke, or Wendell Carter, from a breakout night on behalf of the folks watching back home?

Yes, the Magic (5-23) are lacking a lotto rookie named Jalen to help them notch just their second home victory over the past 30 days, having just concluded an 0-5 West Coast trip. But hey, Houston had just one road win all season, and the Rockets were missing their lotto-rook Jalen, too. None of that kept them from sandblasting the host Hawks 44-25 in the last quarter to prevail this past Monday.

Jamahl Mosley put his dogged team’s dogs away when last these two teams met, leaving Franz Wagner (2^nd in total points among NBA rooks) and Cole Anthony (tied, with Maxey, for 3^rd in NBA sophomore points, incl. 29 @ ATL on November 15) out to dry as Cam Reddish’s 8 fourth-quarter points helped the Hawks pull away with the 129-111 victory. In what is likely to be a much closer affair tonight, there’s no telling who Mosley might unleash.

On that November evening, Bogi Bogdanovic (4-for-8 3FGs, 4 assists and 1 TO) was helping Trae Young keep the Magicians honest from outside. Clint Capela made his bunnies, and Danilo Gallinari helped Capela and John Collins secure defensive boards. Lou Williams and Delon Wright entered the games in the second half, made shots, created shots, and got stops. With functional bench play bolstering Atlanta’s four 20-plus-point-scoring starters, this was a balanced effort to which the visitors could only tip their caps.

Since then, Bogi’s been out of commission. Reddish has struggled to gain traction (0-for-6 FGs in past two second halves; minus-18 in the back half vs. HOU) since his return from a wrist injury. Gallinari, who fouled out versus Houston, has resorted to hacking as a substitute for defense. Neither Williams nor Wright can put a consistent pair of performances together. And every late-game opponent runout seems to stem from either a botched layup (not just from Capela) or an off-balance, out-of-rhythm shot (not just from Young).

Against the Hawks, opposing coaches go into their grab-bags and dig out role players willing to fill whatever voids they have. Head coach Nate McMillan keeps reaching into his pockets, for crunch-time players or strategies, and coming up with lint.

Orlando bears the worst shooting percentage among NBA reserves (38.7 bench FG%, also an NBA-worst bench plus/minus of negative-6.1, as per NBA.com stats). When one accounts for depth on a rotation that still lacks Jonathan Isaac, Markelle Fultz, and Jalen Suggs among others, that’s fairly understandable. But the Hawks’ backups aren’t far behind (39.5 bench FG%, 26^th in NBA), and only by shooting a league-best 42.9 3FG% this month have Atlanta’s hit-threes-or-bust bench avoided the bottom spot.

Atlanta has managed quite the final-frame feat. They, at once, can boast of the NBA’s second-most efficient 48-plus-minute offense this season (113.1 O-Rating, behind only the Jazz, who are way ahead of everybody), and simultaneously crank out the league’s most putrid all-around offense in fourth quarters of games (100.8 4^th-quarter O-Rating). That’s not the Hawks’ team defense, which has been steadily poor throughout games but rebounds decently (2^nd in 4^th-quarter D-Reb%) when there’s not a ball to retrieve from the net. No, we’re speaking ill of the fourth-quarter offense (league-low 50.9 TS% in fourths).

McMillan’s club comes across halfcourt lines in these closing moments, in either direction, without clear plans of attack, be it Plan A or whatever follows when on-the-fly adjustments are of the essence. Yes, the McMillan Imprint of limiting turnovers and defensive fouls is a nice touch. But the stilted offensive movement, leading to well-defended shots, have been equivalent to the Hawks ricocheting the ball off their own feet. Mix in unclear transition assignments, and Atlanta is effectively shooting themselves in the foot.

By the way, would you care to know the NBA’s second most-efficient fourth-quarter offense? If you don’t, scroll down now, and you won’t discover that Mosley’s team, despite their record, doesn’t always throw up their hands in resignation after three quarters.

The Hawks are a top-ten outfit when it comes to Net Rating and, for whatever it’s worth, cumulative Player Impact Estimate by NBA.com’s nerdy standards. Yet they find themselves a half-game ahead of Toronto for what would be, come April, if we can all somehow get to April, the NBA East’s final Play-In slot. It’ll be great to have a Bogdanovic, a De’Andre Hunter, an Onyeka Okongwu, a <<Redacted Rookie>> in the mix eventually. But their absences are not the primary reasons why the Hawks (13-14) have been coming up consistently lame at closing time, particularly in front of deflated home crowds.

It's a bit of a shame for Young (41 points and 9 assists, but 7 TOs vs. HOU), who if nothing else is about to receive a plethora of All-Star votes on the strength of a globe full of content fantasy-team managers. Fan voting tips off hours before the Knicks seek out nationally-televised revenge for their current plight, on Christmas Day. Presently tops in scoring among NBA guards, behind only James Harden in assists doled out among Eastern guards, Young ought to be a shoo-in for a starter position.

While most every team in the East could say the same, transpose Atlanta’s five or six late losses into wins, and the Hawks are within earshot of Brooklyn, Young gets touted as an MVP finalist, and he’d have one of John Collins or Capela following him as a coach-and-media vote into the All-Star Game, if we can all somehow make it to the All-Star Break. Instead, the recent pile of defeats in both high- and low-profile games are certain to have NBA casuals looking away, filling in circles on Christmas Day for the likes of LaMelo Ball. Or Lonzo. Or both.

The teammates that are supposed to be supplementing, and complementing, Young off the bench are rendering themselves ex-Trae-neous, shining too much of a spotlight on what Atlanta’s star talent can’t, or should be, doing to singularly spring his team out of unnecessary holes.

Before boatracing Atlanta, Houston’s prior NBA win came days before against Brooklyn, the team that went on to smother and cover the Hawks before a national audience. Orlando’s last victory? That came two weeks ago, their only one at home since November 7, versus Denver, the combo of Anthony, Carter, and the Wagner Bros further spoiling Nikola Jokic’s chances of becoming a repeat MVP. Coincidentally, Denver swings by The Farm on Friday night, hoping to extend Atlanta’s home losing skid to six.

At least the Hawks have a chance before them to extend their road winning streak to five tonight. Still, do you hear that jingling sound? Those aren’t sleigh bells. No, those are the coins falling through the burnt holes in Arthur Blank’s pockets.

November 29, 2020 was the last time an Atlanta Falcons fan exited Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the satisfying thrill of a victory. The fans that weren’t rooting by then for a flat-out tank job, that is to say. That season’s team dropped the first four games on the home gridiron, too, including one to the lowly Lions to fall to 1-6. By the time they ran the Raiders out of the Benz, few Falcons fans were around to care.

Five consecutive Ls in The 404 to start this season (thank you, London, but no, and the Jets don’t count anyway), to teams good, bad and indifferent, have even less fans filling the seats now. While the team still espouses the no-really-ha-ha-we’re-still-in-the-playoff-hunt company line, the next opportunity to grace their fans with a victory in downtown Atlanta will be the day after Christmas. Lions, please be gentle with us this time.

And that’s just football, not futbol. Blank’s Atlanta United flubbed as many as eight home games this year, by either loss or draw, in front of packed and ravenous Benz crowds. With a strong chance at securing a home playoff spot in October, the Five Stripes failed to score more than a goal and then let bottom-feeding Toronto sneak one in with minutes to spare.

That 1-1 draw left United having to survive a possible letdown at last-place Cincinnati just to clinch an MLS Cup playoff spot. The spot they drew had them running basepads at Yankee Stadium, losing a 4-vs.-5-seed opening round at NYCFC, the sportswashed club that went on an upset road run to claim their first-ever MLS crown last weekend. What could have been, one wonders, had Atlanta approached their home-pitch advantages with a Drewian sense of urgency?

The major league baseball team one metro county to the north is instructive in that, while how you look at the starts of seasons impacts how you finish, they need not dictate how you finish.

In August, the Bravos came home from a sweep of the snooty Cardinals in St. Louis, then crossed the .500 plateau for good as they went on to win almost every home series the rest of the way. They also took care of business on the road when the sorry Nats, Marlins, Orioles and D’backs came calling.

It wasn’t all put on Freddie Freeman, or Austin Riley. Every Bravo with a bat or a glove found a way to step up in a big way, in differing ways every game going forward. Particularly, players we didn’t know existed when the team was spinning in mud, overdependent daily upon Ronald Acuna to make contact and reach base in order to save their proverbial bacon.

The feel-good story of the Bravos doesn’t happen without some shrewd mid-season management moves, and perhaps the crew over at Marietta Street will be interested in giving up long-term prospects in hopes of nearer-term gains, what with the NBA trade market opening up between today and February 10.

But with confetti still floating about on Cobb Parkway, it’s easy to forget things weren’t feeling so chipper out on the diamond for the first 107 games. The historic turnaround wasn’t bound to happen until players already on the roster and their managers began taking home games, and lesser opponents anywhere, seriously.

Just as importantly, it’s essential for our local sports teams to stop relying purely on the Acunas, Josefs and Traes of the world to carry them through to victory. These guys are otherworldly enough to sell PSLs to the home faithfuls. They are not enough to keep fans from wishing they could sell their seats off. Let’s not wait until they become Matty Ice to get something done.

At the risk of looking ahead, who is going to step up and win the next home game in The ATL? The Dirty Birds? The Hawks? Or, the Five Stripes? Don’t you dare say the Bravos!

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[hawkman]

Must win game after that debacle against Houston. This better not be a close game either. 

[Gray Mule]

Hawks need a new spark.  They need new energy.  It's sitting there, on the bench.  Nate refuses to send him in.  Why?  Who knows?  Afraid he will cause us to lose the game?  Well, we lost without him playing!

He's no longer with his G League buddies where he has been a shining light.  Yet, he can't let his light shine in the NBA.  Can't be that those players on the bench with him have been so great when they get to play in every game where the 4th quarter becomes a lost cause.

So, we travel to Florida.  No home court edge (a joke, you all!) and no real pressure.  Could it be possible?  Will he get to see the floor in tonight's game?   Stay tuned..

GO ATL HAWKS !!

[bleachkit]

53 minutes ago, hawkman said:

Must win game after that debacle against Houston. This better not be a close game either. 

It feels weird to say, but if we lose tonight our season could begin to unravel. 

[Peoriabird]

Just play some fing defense and the hawks will be fine

[macdaddy]

Starting to think we're Typhoid Hawks.   All our opponents come up with covid a week later.   

Let's crush these guys.   

I'd like to see Trae/Kev/JC just try to dominate the game.   Quit trying to get TLC, Delon, CC, Dieng involved in the offense.   They can pick up garbage buckets if they work hard but we need the talent to show out. 

[bleachkit]

So Rife is active and available tonight?

[lethalweapon3]

He be ballin', like a Dellavedovan pro...

~lw3

[JayBirdHawk]

36 minutes ago, bleachkit said:

So Rife is active and available tonight?

He's not with GLeague team - that's all I got.

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[ATLHawks3]

Play some damn defense and execute in the 4th quarter.

[hawkman]

16 minutes ago, ATLHawks3 said:

Play some damn defense and execute in the 4th quarter.

AND BOX OUT!!!! Too many uncontested offensive rebounds last game for Houston. That shows a lack of effort inside. The wings and guards need to help. Nate emphasized that early in the season, there's no reason he should have to repeat himself. Guys like Bruce Brown shouldn't be out hustling guys for put backs. 

[Spud2nique]

5 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

we all Know What You Did Last Summer,

I Love- Hewitt 

 

5 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Chuma Okeke,

Oh no don’t ..he’s a sure fire candidate.

 

5 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

tip their caps.

@capstone21 

5 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

plethora

 

5 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

ex-Trae-neous,

 

5 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

lowly Lions

 

5 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Lions, please be gentle with us this time.

Ok fine, we want the Michigan kid in the draft I guess .. you see what we do for you @lethalweapon3? 

 

5 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

so chipper

Nice preview as always lw3! 
 

Go Hawks! 
 

ps Free Sharife! (A couple min is all we want just for a spark ️)

[Spud2nique]

Pre game tonight ,

Caption this..

 

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

Pre game tonight ,

Caption this..

 

Nate to Trae: Would you like the phone number for my barber?

[Bonkers]

6 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

Pre game tonight ,

Caption this..

 

"Do u even know how to spell Defense?!?!?"

[Sothron]

Going to give it another shot with my Drazen jersey tongiht. Found the Mitchell and Ness shorts that go with it for extra juice. 

 

If this doesn't work I'm gonna have to live in that Larry Johnson jersey and kicks all season. 

[Sothron]

[GameTime]

35 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

Pre game tonight ,

Caption this..

 

"Why don't the Lou/Wright bench lineups work, Trae?"

[Sothron]

Now Hawks how many fans will drain sports karma for you like I do? Can't you win some games and repay that love?