Official Game Thread: heat "at" Hawks

[lethalweapon3]

Darn Good, Dawgs!

 

The massive wannabe basketball player and aspiring party DJ from Charlotte had only played organized football for less than a year, after transferring and being dragged into the sport by the registrar’s husband, the high school football coach. Yet here he was, already a four-star recruit at Defensive Tackle, already a top-ten prospect in the Tar Heel State, already hot on the radars of the good folks at Chapel Hill and NC State.

The Wolfpack, like the Heels, invited the swift 300-pounder to their offseason camp. Each school enthusiastically handed him a scholarship offer. He was grateful, to be sure, although he knew he’d have to give up on his true athletic dream. “I held on to basketball until the very end,” he’d say as reported by ESPN, “but football had a real future.” Unbeknownst to those rival schools, Jordan Davis already had another postsecondary school blipping on his radar.

UNC’s D-Line coach had made his way to Kirby Smart’s upstart program in Athens, Georgia. Davis would soon follow, defying the hopes of other programs, like Miami, Michigan, Florida and Florida State, that wished to switch him to the other side of the scrimmage line. Football wasn’t his first love. But to the football scouts, he was vastly becoming theirs. Particularly, NC State, who held out hope to the bitter end that he wouldn’t leave the state for UGA.

There was a time, not too long ago depending on how old you are, when it was rare for a blue-chip recruit, hotly contested by multiple North Carolina programs, to spurn them all for a far-flung locale like Georgia. It was rare because the stakes for the athletic programs’ boosters, competing against one another for what they thought was exclusively their “crop,” was absurdly high. And whenever a game-changing young athlete departed for what they perceive as greener pastures, the bitterness would spew out, down multiple avenues.

It would appear in the form of late-night calls to the parent’s house phone, highlighted by either heavy breathing or boisterous threats. It would show up through letters at the mailbox, containing spiteful sentiments carefully collected through glued magazine cutouts. It would NOT appear, in the form of a retired jersey in a prep-school gymnasium, for more than a decade after the now-adult retired from professional sports.

Washington (NC) High’s Dominique Wilkins matured faster than a bunch of Carolina-area “fans” ever could. He went through all that, endured, persevered, and thrived so, thankfully, Mallard Creek’s Jordan Davis and many others would only have to do the latter.

Nique watched the college he chose make beaucoup bucks off of his stardom, while in and subsequently on bigger stages beyond Athens. In 1985, he stole the show at Market Square Arena in downtown Indianapolis to win his first NBA Slam Dunk Contest. How much revenue that buzz generated for his alma mater, he would never know.

This week, on his ride home from Indianapolis, the retired Hall of Famer will be sure to zip by a highway billboard for Morgan & Morgan, the “For The People” law firm, bearing the flexing image of Jordan Davis and his winning smile. (SPOILER: Future Falcon and Bama O-lineman Evan Neal has one of those “PAID ENDORSEMENTS”, too. Because, “Size Matters!”).

There is nothing our Atlanta Hawks can do tonight to flatten the winning smile off of Nique, or pretty much anyone else who affiliates with Dawg Nation. First of all, today is the Paris-born broadcaster’s birthday, and anyone around or above his age who has made it through the past couple of years, none the worse for wear, is worthy of celebration at birthday time. Second, Wilkins may never have donned a helmet and pads for the Red-and-Black. Yet whenever one of their college teams reach the mountaintop, especially in the case of Davis' trophy-hoisting football squad, every Bulldog eats. Glory, glory!

The Hawks (17-22, 8 straight home losses) waited too late to unveil its new banner of consolidated division titles, just to stick its tongue out at the visiting Miami heat (7:30 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, BS Sun) in their first official meeting this season. Nah-nah-na-boo-boo, you miserable current division leaders! Now you just sit there, Miami (25-15), and watch our fans be asked to give a standing O to the remnants of a team that, for a time last season, didn’t lay down on D. Sit there and take it!

I was hoping this would be the rare day where we knew more about who would be available for our team than the opponents. Alas, De’Andre Hunter (questionable, wrist) is more likely to appear for Atlanta than Cam Reddish (doubtful, sprained ankle) or Clint Capela (doubtful, ankle sprain on the other side). Throw in the probable status of John Collins (tense back) for good measure, making the probability high for Gorgui Dieng to play backup minutes in his return from You Know What.

At least we will have coach Nate McMillan back from his health ‘n safety hiatus. He’ll match wits with Erik Spoelstra, who has been making do just dandy without either of Jimmy Butler (out, sprained ankle) or Bam Adebayo (out, thumb surgery).

Without either of those heat stars, Kyle Lowry and Miami’s “Tres Leches” contingent (I totally stole that off Twitter) of Max Strus, Duncan Robinson, and Tyler Herro, waltzed into Phoenix and promptly blotted out the Suns, 123-100 on Saturday. Having enjoyed three off-days to recover from their 3-2 road swing, they’ll come into State Farm Arena with a comprehensive gameplan, one that they actually comprehend.

Lowry (13 assists and 2 TOs last Saturday) drives and collapses the defense. One of Robinson, Herro, or Strus (combined 74 points 56.5 FG% @ PHX, incl. 15-for-28 on threes) pops from the perimeter. Whomever’s defender scrambles out of the paint to contest leaves a big like P.J. Tucker, or Omer Yurtseven (16 boards and 8 dimes @ PHX while filling in for Dewayne Dedmon, who’s questionable with a sprained knee) to chase after second-chances. Then, they’ll get set on defense, fully cognizant of their assignments, while the opponent is snatching the ball out of the net.

The reigning Western champs couldn’t figure these guys out, so I harbor doubts about the preparation of Trae Young and his half-baked reigning Eastern finalists, especially to avoid Lowry’s turnover-sponge charges. The Hawks collectively getting cooked by Lowry (8.4 APG; 32.5 3FG%, lowest since 2009-10) on banner-raised night would be humbling enough. But McMillan and the Hawks can’t afford any more randos, like NC State transfers Caleb Martin or Yurtseven, turning their life story arcs into some heartstring-tugging Disney+ film feature.

“Propelled by the devastating loss of his beloved pet bunny rabbit during a tragic accident at the local hasenpfeffer plant back home in Gabon, Chris Silva had himself a night to remember, hopping behind Atlanta’s unsuspecting defense and breaking NBA records with career-defining boxscore numbers, in The Blind Side, Part II. Now streaming!” I think I made all that up. Maybe I’m thinking of Hunter’s old UVA champion teammate, ten-day contractor Kyle Guy, and his poor pet ewe at the mutton factory.

No matter. My only other hopes ahead of today’s game is that Nique kicks back and enjoys being fed-and-fanned throughout tonight’s broadcast, and doesn’t unnerve Wolfpack alum McMillan with tales of the latest, greatest Carolina kid who got away… Vince? Yo, Vince! Why is Rathbun breathing all heavy into your cellphone?

 

Hunker UP! Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Tonight's Likely Random-Opponent-Goes-Off Origin Story: The Fro Show!

~lw3

[Spud2nique]

21 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

In 1985, he stole the show at Market Square Arena in downtown Indianapolis to win his first NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

I fell in love my first bromance (Not the last I assure you , I’m talkin to you @lethalweapon3 

 

22 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

“Size Matters!”).

 

 

23 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

First of all, today is the Paris-born broadcaster’s birthday,

Happy birthday sir!  

25 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

My only other hopes ahead of today’s game is that Nique kicks back and enjoys being fed-and-fanned throughout tonight’s broadcast, and doesn’t unnerve Wolfpack alum McMillan with tales of the latest, greatest Carolina kid who got away… Vince?

Yes sir! Great write up as always lw3!!!

GO HAWKS!!!

[Spud2nique]

27 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Dewayne Dedmon

HE DIALIN LOOOONG DISTANCE AGAIN!!!!  

-

If get gets you in the paint that deep, you’re a DEAD MON!

-Brent Barry 2K 

[JayBirdHawk]

 We need a Random scrub going off 'pole' in these here game threads.  we all get

[hawkman]

Must win game? Really need to see a sense of urgency tonight because the season is slipping away. Too many winnable games were squandered and now those missed opportunities are coming back to bite the Hawks. There's enough time and talent to turn things around but the struggles this season are concerning. Honestly, things were rough before the outbreak and injuries. I have the feeling that if the Hawks don't figure things out soon, it may be a case of "too little, too late."

[hawkman]

2 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

 We need a Random scrub going off 'pole' in these here game threads.  we all get

Max Strus is going for 30 tonight. Book it. I want to put a laughing emoji after that statement but I'm actually halfway serious after watching Amir Coffey go off for a career high in the last game.

[JayBirdHawk]

So far we've got Gabe Vincent and Max Strus.  I may pick the newly resigned Mario Chalmers.  There is also that Yurtseven guy and Caleb Martin. 

Come on Squawkers. Pick-a-Scrub time.

[Dnice]

Haven't seen any tweets, but  I hear on 680, the banner crap is  supposed to be some part of "best of the Hawks" night  going with the 75th anniversary.  Deke is supposed to come through.

[Dnice]

Nevermind, i see discussion on the hawks page.

[kg01]

1 hour ago, JayBirdHawk said:

 We need a Random scrub going off 'pole' in these here game threads.  we all get

I'm undefeated in picking these.  I'm going Duncan Robinson.  Whaddo I win?

[ATLHawks3]

1 hour ago, JayBirdHawk said:

 We need a Random scrub going off 'pole' in these here game threads.  we all get

He's not a scrub but I can see Max Strus going off.

[JayBirdHawk]

11 minutes ago, kg01 said:

I'm undefeated in picking these.  I'm going Duncan Robinson.  Whaddo I win?

I wouldn't put him in scrub category after the big pay this summer which after receiving he has played like one.

[ATLHawks3]

One thing I'll say is that I really envy the Miami Heat's scouting department. They've been able to find diamonds in the rough in 2nd round picks and undrafted free agents like Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Duncan Robinson, Omer Yurtseven, Caleb Martin, etc. Excluding Duncan Robinson's contract, all of their contracts combined is less than ~$5 million. 

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[bleachkit]

17 minutes ago, ATLHawks3 said:

One thing I'll say is that I really envy the Miami Heat's scouting department. They've been able to find diamonds in the rough in 2nd round picks and undrafted free agents like Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Duncan Robinson, Omer Yurtseven, Caleb Martin, etc. Excluding Duncan Robinson's contract, all of their contracts combined is less than ~$5 million. 

Their coaching is excellent too. They always play hard.

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, JayBirdHawk said:

So far we've got Gabe Vincent and Max Strus.  I may pick the newly resigned Mario Chalmers.  There is also that Yurtseven guy and Caleb Martin. 

Come on Squawkers. Pick-a-Scrub time.

 I got myyyyyyyyy favorite MARTIN! (Caleb) (Chris Berman imitation)

Ps I got a thang for twins kinda like @kg01 with cul de mother n daughter combos I kid I kid, he’s a sac gentleman.

1 hour ago, Dnice said:

Deke is supposed to come through.

WHO WANTS TO SEX MUTOMBOOOOOOO!!!!

[Spud2nique]

34 minutes ago, ATLHawks3 said:

He's not a scrub but I can see Max Strus going off.

Sorry Strus has a date in @hawkman tonight whose wearing a navy blue tux for the occasion.

Live footage below what’s new pussycat whooaaaaa whoooaaaa 

[Spud2nique]

27 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

 

 

@JayBirdHawk you hear Nique in the background:

”I don’t think that’s gonna happen with Irving?” 
 

 Pre game Covid Kyrie drama .. nothing to hear sorry carry on! 

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

Take off them dress shoes and put on your construction boots - time to put in work.