Official Game Thread: Knicks "at" Hawks

[lethalweapon3]

“Who the heck rolled out an ICE machine in the middle of the – Cam? NO!”

 

The Knickerbockers of New York City have won four games in five, and seven of their last ten. Even without triple-double machine Kemba Walker, or the esteemed Derrick Rose, coach Tom Thibodeau’s charges banded together on Wednesday to put together a complete effort, haggling Dallas’ Luka Doncic, and former Knicks Timmy Hardaway and Reggie Bullock, to off shooting nights.

Even Julius Randle’s wildness with the ball was tolerable, what with his team-high 12 rebounds and eight assists. Guiding the way to New York’s 108-85 win with 32 points, RJ Barrett has been looking about as good as was once advertised when he departed Durham. Now, he’s got a fellow Dookie Diaper Dandy, Cam Reddish, to join him in blue-and-orange as their team seeks to scooch back above .500.

Beginning with their trouncing of the Spurs and the Mavericks at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks (21-21) got a pair of off-days to get down to Atlanta ahead of the coming sleet-storm to play the Hawks (7:30 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, MSG Network in NYC). New York doesn’t have to play anywhere else, aside from here and MSG, until visiting the Cavs nine days from today. They were already kicking back with marshmallows, hot chocs and reading socks in Midtown as Atlanta (17-24) scurried back from last night’s tough 124-118 loss in Miami.

Barrett, Randle, and Mitchell Robinson’s former coach, David Fizdale, was an assistant under first-year coach Mike Woodson the last, and only time, the Hawks lost 11 consecutive home games, at least in Atlanta. Tom Gugliotta’s late three-pointer 17 years ago today, off a dish from Ty Lue, forced OT against the juggernaut Pistons and almost cut the losing string short early. Along the way to a 13-69 finish, an upset win over Latrell Sprewell’s Timberwolves was the only way bustin’-for-Bogut Atlanta avoided dropping 15 straight to close the books on 2004-05.

Randle and Barrett had a hand in initiating the Hawks’ current home beak-dive, back on the day after Black Friday. Aside from Atlanta helping break their fall on Christmas Day, the team struggled in the weeks since (1-7 after beating the Hawks in November; three double-digit road losses since New Year’s Eve). But Thibs’ team seems to be getting back on their horse, particularly at home, and here in Atlanta, it is simply a matter of the visitors making themselves at home.

With Robinson back with renewed spirit in the starting lineup, these Knicks can make it an even bleaker Saturday night (no overtime, please! Ride home safely, Hawks fans!) by extending Atlanta’s home slide to ten games.

Taking another L tonight, Atlanta’s potential record-tying loss could come on MLK Day, on national TV against the defending NBA champions. How sway. Perhaps the playoff-craving T’Wolves, coming into town off a trip to MSG, can be gracious enough to save our bacon once more, this coming Wednesday.

The Hawks’ current visitors are rested, they’re rejuvenated, they’re reinforced, they’re prepared, and they’re motivated to beat the team that ate their playoff cornbread once more. Oh, and they’re a bit used to traveling home on occasion in a wintry mix. Can somebody say, “schedule loss”?

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[JayBirdHawk]

I hope Clint is available.

[lethalweapon3]

Cam (sprained ankle) is still listed as Out on this morning's Boo-Boo Report for the Knicks. Atlanta's is still forthcoming.

 

~lw3

[JayBirdHawk]

Yellow Jerseys...yuck!

 

 

 

[Spud2nique]

3 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

motivated to beat the team that ate their playoff cornbread once more.

awesome thread as usual lw3! Ty Lue to Googs, man, seemed like yesterday.. (well kinda )

Go Hawks!

[Spud2nique]

2 hours ago, JayBirdHawk said:

Yellow Jerseys...yuck!

 

 

 

I guess I gotta run the 2K sim with the yellows #whentheymoveimovejustlikethat 
 

 

[bleachkit]

Bogi needs to come out his slump. Bogi sparked our turnaround last year. 

 

 

[GameTime]

Just now, bleachkit said:

Bogi needs to come out his slump. Bogi sparked our turnaround last year. 

 

 

Bogi has been in a "slump" for almost a year now. Not sure it is a slump anymore.

[JayBirdHawk]

Sigh! Rinse, repeat! Rinse, repeat!

 

 

[JeffS17]

Honestly, this is the first game I'm going to this year where I feel completely relaxed and at ease.  I think I've accepted this as a rebuilding year and just want to enjoy the remainder of the games.  This year is good experience for Trae and I hope he evolves into next year when we hopefully put some more talent around him.  Hunter getting back and looking solid gives me something to look forward to as well.  Looking forward to this game.  

[JeffS17]

46 minutes ago, GameTime said:

Bogi has been in a "slump" for almost a year now. Not sure it is a slump anymore.

Bogi carried the team the 2H of last year lol... he has not been good this year but it's been half a season, not a full year.  Being pedantic but a lot of short memories here

[lethalweapon3]

One less Yellow Jersey, perhaps? (No, TLC, we're not talking Tour de France here.)

~lw3

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[ATLHawks3]

Maybe the reason for Bogi's decline in defense this year is because his knee still isn't healthy:

 

This probably guarantees we see Lou or Skylar get some minutes.

[terrell]

6 minutes ago, ATLHawks3 said:

Maybe the reason for Bogi's decline in defense this year is because his knee still isn't healthy:

 

This probably guarantees we see Lou or Skylar get some minutes.

Lou?

 

[ATLHawks3]

1 minute ago, terrell said:

Lou?

 

Knox for sure might play since Gallo and Bogi are out. 

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[terrell]

Knox time?

Edited January 15, 2022 by terrell

[terrell]

7 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

 

 

Is he playing though? lol

[JayBirdHawk]