Official Game Thread: Maybe-Magic "at" Half-Off-Hawks

[lethalweapon3]

“What I NEED, Stuff, is for YOU to quit letting Harry leak out along the baseline!”

 

Welcome back, Robert Johnson, Jr.! Get back to where you once belonged!

You Atlanta Hawks fans know him better as B.J. Johnson, who suited up on this State Farm Arena floor armed with a ten-day contract in March 2019. He’d remember his first official game well, too. Atlanta’s G-League call-up from the Lakeland Magic had the best seat in the house as Trae Young and Zach LaVine went Nique-and-Bird on everybody in a 4-OT, 168-161 Competitank Classic where no attendees were left wanting.

Two nights later in a Windy City rematch, Johnson thought he was Joe out there, a perfect 4-for-4 night with three triples in his formal playing debut as his Hawks prevailed. That trio of threes, and his 11 points from that game, remain his career-high at this level, and it was enough to earn him another 10-day deal with Atlanta.

When that expired, B.J. latched onto the Sacramento Kings, who for whatever reason assigned him to help out his Lakeland Magic for one day, then recalled him just to ride out what would be the last halfway-normal NBA season.

I do hope he has some prime real estate down there in Polk County. Johnson made his way back to Orlando, was a final preseason roster cut in 2019, and went on to earn G-League All-Second-Team honors with Lakeland’s Triple-A outfit. B.J. sprinkled in time with the NBA squad in downtown Orlando and, after the temporary shutdown, the Disney Bubble.

Lakeland’s Magic wouldn’t miss him much during this past season’s surprise run to the G-League championship, as he was toiling in Long Island. But he’s back in Lakeland blue-and-black once more this season, currently averaging almost 25 points and 7 rebounds per game.

The other pride of suburban Philadelphia’s Lower Merion High School, B.J. (Instagram handle “bean.iii”, as the third NBA pro from that school and the first to follow Kobe) celebrated his 26^th birthday just yesterday. Due to circumstances beyond seemingly everyone on this planet’s control, he is likely to play during his latest 10-day call-up with the big boys on the Orlando Magic. The 20^th game of his career would be tonight (7:30 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, BS Florida) versus his first NBA team.

Look-a-here, Squawkpeeps. I’m just shootin’ the breeze in this space. If you are looking for a deep-dive analysis of what Delon Wright and Gorgui Dieng are gonna do in expanded floor time versus the likes of hardship signee Tim Frazier and Robin Lopez, you have come to the wrong place. And woe be to any place where that is.

Y’all saw the cute marriage proposal setup (usually cringeworthy, but this one was well thought-out), where the Utah Jazz dancer and soon-to-be fiancée had no earthly idea what moves her co-workers had choreographed around her on the floor? That’s what fill-in contractor Theo Pinson looked like last night versus the Timberwolves, as his fellow and momentary Mavericks were zipping plays around him.

“They were calling stuff,” an understandably bewildered Pinson recalled of coach Jason Kidd’s designed schemes to ESPN’s Tim McMahon. “I had no idea what it was. I was just reading off my teammates.” That is what the Lance Stephensons and Malcolm Hills will be doing when called upon for spot duty. Just out there wingin’ it, hoopin’ off vibes.

Going forward, it’s the approach I’m taking with these here gamethreads, too. Just out here spitballin’. Because every NBA contest in the foreseeable future is a Might Could Game.

Bogdan Bogdanovic (probable, returning from a sprained ankle) might could play on monitored minutes. That might could grant Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (questionable, non-You Know What illness) a plop-plop fizz-fizz of relief.

Assuming he’s not among the staff sidelined along with Trae Young, [EDIT: Lou "I just stepped out for some Drip Honey Dip Wings, Geez!" Williams,] Clint Capela and Danilo Gallinari due to You Know What, Hawks coach Nate McMillan might could unshackle G-League gangsta Jalen Johnson and fellow rookie Sharife Cooper to log meaningful floor burn, particularly versus Magic players that can’t tell whether they’re coming or going.

Cole Anthony (questionable, sprained ankle) and Wendell Carter (questionable, strained lower-leg muscle) might could suit up and play for Orlando. Their inclusion might could enhance the chances for Jamahl Mosley’s collective (6-25) to win two games in a row for the first time all season, coming off Saturday’s 100-93 victory over some severely cut-down Nets in Brooklyn.

While the upright members currently on the Magic roster enjoyed three off-days to rest and recuperate, Mosley isn’t likely to push matters, not with what counts as his current core contributors. Orlando, like Atlanta, precedes the big holiday with a back-to-back, the Magic headed home to greet the Pelicans tomorrow while the Hawks hoof it up to Philly.

Even two-way Magician Mychal Mulder is the latest to get X-Filed, as of this morning, due to You Know What. An awkward-sounding cough here, a pulled tendon there from overexertion and, suddenly, Orlando’s brass might could be scouring Lake Eola in hopes Delonte West is hanging around. The Hawks don’t need to be checking to see whether Jarvaris Crittenton might could get off early for good behavior, either. Will Wes Iwundu clear protocols for the Hawks, in time to face B.J. Johnson in the race to torment their respective former teams this evening? It might could happen. Stay tuned!

Trae, Gallo, [Lou] and Clint and TLC all played in Atlanta’s 111-99 win down in O-Town last Wednesday. But so did Cole and Wendell, on behalf of the Magic, along with R.J. Hampton, Terrence Ross, Moe Wagner and Ignas Brazdeikis, a quartet of players who all came down with You Know What. Moe’s brother Franz, the by-default rookie sensation, is the sole Magician currently available from that game who logged double-figures in scoring, and that was just ten points on a subpar outing.

Mosley has turned more frequently to Franz (season-high-matching 6 assists, plus season-high 11 D-Rebs @ BRK) to keep the ball in his hands to make plays. Just as well, Mosley might could throw caution to the wind tonight and let Frazier do all the cooking. Frazier’s career-high 15 assists came during 53 minutes of action, in yet another bananas overtime March 2019 game hosted by the Hawks, as a member of the Giannis-less, Bledsoe-less and Khris-less Bucks.

Frazier is accustomed to stepping in, in emergency fashion, alongside the likes of Bonzie Colson, Sterling Brown, and D.J. Wilson, and giving the Hawks fits. Atlanta was saved from embarrassment on that day by Justin Anderson, who we might could see with the Cavs amid his ten-day tenure(s) on New Year’s Eve. Frazier and big-man Freddie Gillespie inked a ten-day just over a day ago, joining Admiral Schofield and people named Hassani “Bottled Water” Gravett, Aleem “The Dealership” Ford, and Johnson as Orlando’s hardship replacements.

Westlake High’s Finest, Chuma Okeke, might could show up and show out tonight in his hometown, coming off 33 points over two games (7-for-14 3FGs) versus the half-heat and near-Nets. Registering a negative-20 plus-minus in 15 minutes of the Hawks’ 133-115 flop versus Denver, Cam Reddish might could read a scouting report and outshine Okeke, leaving Wagner to wrangle with John Collins inside.

I dunno how all this is supposed to shake out. The Sportsball games, that is, what with all these protocols and illnesses and injuries and players being flighted straight out of G-League Showcases and Lifetime Fitness gyms to hoop for our collective amusement. As far as I know, the Hawks might could be playing tomorrow (so I’ll need to start drumming up a gamethread draft, like, now) and on Christmas Day at noon, or two o’clock, or five, or eight.

All I know for certain, is none of us at Christmastime need to hear Mike Breen, or Beth Mowins or whoever gets stuck with Lance versus Damyean Dotson under the bright lights of MSG, talking about our poor Hawks (14-15 and coming off a four-day layoff) being mired in a six-game slump back home. ESPN is going to be scratching their noggins to find things worth talking about to kill the otherwise festive time, and this is, definitively, the last shot Atlanta has to snatch that ugly item off the table. There is no “might could” about that.

To B.J., Lance, and all of you replacement-level players on the come-up: I’d like to say Thank You, on behalf of the group and ourselves. And I hope y’all pass the audition.

 

Let’s Friggin’ GO Hawks!

~lw3

[Spud2nique]

1 minute ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Look-a-here, Squawkpeeps. I’m just shootin’ the breeze in this space. If you are looking for a deep-dive analysis of what Delon Wright and Gorgui Dieng are gonna do in expanded floor time versus the likes of hardship signee Tim Frazier and Robin Lopez, you have come to the wrong place.

 

2 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Even two-way Magician Mychal Mulder is the latest to get X-Filed

YES! I guessed this was coming  

 

2 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Franz

Where’s Hans? 
 

3 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Moe

Awesome lw3!  GO HAWKS!!!!

[gurpilo]

123 min available fo new players taking as reference last Game. I think considering Trae, Lou, Gallo anda Capela are out.. there should be significante minutes for Sharife, JJ anda Okongwu.

[bleachkit]

18 minutes ago, gurpilo said:

123 min available fo new players taking as reference last Game. I think considering Trae, Lou, Gallo anda Capela are out.. there should be significante minutes for Sharife, JJ anda Okongwu.

Can't play the rooks, they aren't ready. We have to watch washed up vets lose instead. 

[gurpilo]

Cita

hace 9 minutos, bleachkit dijo:

Can't play the rooks, they aren't ready. We have to watch washed up vets lose instead

At the end Nate is the coach but i think Cooper and Johnson can provide same production as the vets we have signed

[kg01]

14 minutes ago, bleachkit said:

Can't play the rooks, they aren't ready. We have to watch washed up vets lose instead. 

Some would say, with Lou and Lolomon in the rotation, that's what we've been doing all year anyways ...

[macdaddy]

4 minutes ago, kg01 said:

Some would say, with Lou and Lolomon in the rotation, that's what we've been doing all year anyways ...

[marco102]

 

[benhillboy]

If Delon ain’t +12 by nights end I’ll shut up about him having a higher net rating than Trae.

[NBASupes]

Damn, Kev got COVID too

[marco102]

Well we will see the young guys.  Whole damn team about to be in protocols.

[bleachkit]

9 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

Damn, Kev got COVID too

I know, what the hell? we need him on Christmas. Can't get punked by NY.

[marco102]

 

[Peoriabird]

Will Cam start finally?

[marco102]

 

7 minutes ago, Peoriabird said:

Will Cam start finally?

Yes.

[cam1218]

Just now, marco102 said:

 

Can we just do this Big3 style instead?

[Peoriabird]

10 minutes ago, marco102 said:

 

Yes.

The relief pitcher is starting too?

[Final_quest]

This will be like watching a summer league game.  At least the rookies will get to play.  Reminds me of the NFL season where they played replacement players during the strike in the 80's.

[JeffS17]

Lance draining everything in warmups, about to drop 30 and retire a Hawk

[TheNorthCydeRises]

1 hour ago, benhillboy said:

If Delon ain’t +12 by nights end I’ll shut up about him having a higher net rating than Trae.