Official Game Thread: Timberwolves at Hawks

[lethalweapon3]

“FOR THE FRENCH’S MUSTARD YELLOW FAUXBACKS… PRESS 3!”

 

The race to Fair-to-Middlin’-ness is on!

Greatness is on hold for our dear Atlanta Hawks. When last they left the Timberwolves in Minnesota, they kept the hosts from reaching the .500 threshold while going over the line by one game themselves. All praise due to Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and his seven-three-pointer outing on that December 6 evening. Then, as we know, the bottom dropped completely out.

The crisis of confidence from Atlanta’s subsequent 4-13 skid was momentarily averted on MLK Day, when the Hawks got up off the mat to overcome the defending NBA champs, snip a home-game Hawx Hex at a franchise-high ten, and avoid falling nine games sub-.500. In order to win a pair of consecutive home games at the Khakis Kholiseum (7:30 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, BS Minnesota) for the first time since November 22, the Hawks will once again have to make Minnesota’s aim at becoming a club with a winning record (22-22) a dream deferred.

I can’t subscribe fully to the “Camcer” theories out there in Hawkville. I will always have Draft Day 2019, when it appeared to the consensus in our arena that Travis Schlenk and company pulled a fast one on the jabroni GMs of the NBA. We got plenty of flashes in the pan from Cam Reddish over the ensuing seasons-and-a-half. Sadly, there wasn’t enough steak to justify the sizzle, particularly from a youngster that all but Bledsoe’d his way off the team.

The thrilling moments of strip-and-score from Reddish belied a personal inefficiency with team defense that was incompatible alongside our offensive asteroid and defensive crater in Trae Young, and certainly in bench lineups with any of Lou Williams, Danilo Gallinari, or Croque Monsieur.

So, yeah, I can solemnly acknowledge that Atlanta’s “Camble” didn’t pay off like we all imagined it could back in that summer of ‘19. We as Hawks fans can take solace, though, that our Camble didn’t roll snake eyes as swiftly as the folks who drafted immediately after us.

Schlenk may indeed be the star of the weekend Lifetime Movie Network popcorn-muncher, “The Wrong Cameron from the ACC.” The right one, for now, appears to be UNC’s Cameron Johnson, who is making good on his breakout playoff performances from last season. Only, not with the team who drafted him.

Attaching the corpse of Dario Saric, Gersson Rosas traded up from 2019’s 11^th pick, hoping to have Darius Garland fall into his lap. But Cleveland, with Collin Sexton already in tow, got cute and snatched up Garland one pick earlier than Phoenix’s slot at #6. Shortly after the Hawks traded up to grab De’Andre Hunter, Rosas settled instead for Hunter’s NCAA title-game foil, Jarrett Culver. Oof.

Oddly enough, that wouldn’t even be the prime reason for Rosas’ ouster. Before getting handed his walking papers, Rosas would attach the remains of Juancho Hernangomez to Culver, in order to give T’Wolves star Karl-Anthony Towns a backcourt partner who could genuinely help slow opponents’ pick-and-roll.

As a shooter, Patrick Beverley has been a train wreck (7.8 FGAs, most since 2017-18; 52.1 TS%, lowest since 2015-16). But that’s never been why Pat Bev suits up as an NBA conductor. Averaging nearly seven assists per-36, by far a career-best, while producing more stops than turnovers (1.2 SPG, 1.2 TOs/game; 0.42 charges drawn/game, 4^th in NBA), a healthy Beverley (DNP, along with D’Angelo Russell and Jaylen Nowell vs. ATL on Dec. 6) gives coach Chris Finch’s collective a chance to get on the postseason track.

Steph Curry and Draymond Green sat out Sunday’s game at Target Center, making it easier for Taurean Prince and the hosts to put the screws to former T’Wolf Andrew Wiggins and his road-weary Warriors in a 119-99 laugher. They cooled off New York last night, ceding 19 fourth-quarter points after allowing 40 in the third, and averting overtime with an and-one from Towns and some madcap Knick plays late to escape MSG with a 112-110 victory, the sixth in their last eight games.

Minnesota is in rare air, for them, as a top-ten defense (108.0 D-Rating, tie-9^th-best in NBA), cranking out turnovers from their foes at a league-high 16.8 TO% rate. It could aid the T’Wolves’ cause if they would get to the cup and cease stopping-and-popping in the other direction (56.2 transition eFG%, 4^th-worst in NBA; 47.1% transition score frequency, 3^rd-worst). It’s essential tonight against an Atlanta team that has been, to this point, the NBA’s worst transition defense (67.3 opponent eFG%, worst by any NBA team in last 7 seasons; 58.9 opponent transition FG%, worst since MIN’s 59.4% in 2015-16).

On offense, Minny’s top scorers, including 2021 ROY runner-up Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo along with KAT, don’t draw enough free throw attempts. It’s a problem considering how hack-happy the team is on defense (NBA-highs of 22.2 personals and 25.2 opponent FTAs/game). It can be particularly problematic against a Hawks team that gets stingy with the charity shots (18.0 personals/game, 3^rd-fewest in NBA; 19.0 opponent FTAs/game, 4^th-fewest). The ones from the free throw line, that is.

Perhaps the charity scores will soon be a thing of the past for Atlanta (18-25), if the 71-52 second half edge over the Bucks on MLK Day is an adequate barometer. Onyeka Okongwu’s re-emergence as a fill-in big suggests he should work well in frontcourt pairings with either Clint Capela (out, sprained ankle) or John Collins. Danilo Gallinari showed he can hold his own defensively when he doesn’t have to move much (33.0 opponent isolation eFG%, not far from Gwu Tang’s 23.0%, Delon Wright’s 27.0%, or Capela’s 34.0%).

With Collins and Hunter getting back up to speed and improving their lateral movement on D, and the alchemy that is Young switching on pick-and-rolls (39.0 opposing Roll Man eFG%, 14^th-best among NBA players with 0.5+ possessions/game defended, just ahead of Collins’ 41.0), there are defensive fortitudes within Nate McMillan’s rotations that have yet to be fully revealed, or exploited.

Out in the NBA West, hovering around the .500 mark will be enough to ensure at least a Play-In spot, which is all Minnesota fans can ask for given its tortured history. “We don’t want to be in the Play-In game,” said Edwards’ fellow guard and Atlanta native Malik Beasley (37.5 FG%, but 48.6 3FG% over past five games) after dispatching the Dubs. “We want to be set in the Playoffs. We’re trying to figure out how to get a nice little win streak to get us over the hump.”

Go ahead and assume Anthony Davis and the formerly Minneapolis Lakers will sort things out in L.A. once he returns. Same with Paul George’s Clippers, or anybody who makes it back to play for the Nuggets. Those suppositions would leave two Play-In reservations in the West. One could go to any of Damian’s Blazers, Dejounte’s Spurs, De’Aaron’s Kings, or Zion’s Pelicans, whosoever’s heart is still in it come April.

The other would belong to the Timberwolves, and there’s no good reason why they’ll want to be in the fray with this latter set of clubs, instead of chasing for a Play-In home game or even a 6-seed with the former grouping.

In the East, there seems to be no such luxury. As the NBA turns fully into the back end of its season, a near-breakeven record might have one Eastern Conference team on the outside looking in. Minnesota aided the Hawks’ cause a smidgen by edging the Knicks last night. But New York has three wins, three games in the standings, and a head-to-head tiebreaker on Atlanta. And that’s just in the race to be the last team out of a Play-In game.

There are few cupcakes in Atlanta’s forthcoming schedule. But few will be as daunting as Milwaukee was on Monday evening. And for all that currently ails the team, there is the opportunity, through February 3, to play all but one Charlotte road game at The Farm, a unique chance to rectify the doldrums of the recent months before the home crowd.

The Timberwolves and Hawks are each deep in the wilderness of the NBA standings. But Minnesota has latitude to skulk out of it later in the season, if necessary. For Atlanta, now is the time to gather their tailfeathers and soar out.

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Minny has just one true travel-oriented SEGABABA this season, a double-OT 121-120 win (absent Pat Bev) at Philly back on November 27 (100 apiece in regulation), one night after losing 133-115 in Charlotte. They split a pair of SEGABABAs against the Clippers, but those were after playing the Lakers the night before at The Crypt.

~lw3

[JayBirdHawk]

14 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

“FOR THE FRENCH’S MUSTARD YELLOW FAUXBACKS… PRESS 3!”

[lethalweapon3]

The Timberwolves are just now digesting their continental breakfasts, so no Injury Report following last night's game yet. Jaylen Nowell (sprained ankle) was listed as probable ahead of the Knicks game, but he played and had his moments in that pivotal fourth quarter with a team-high 11 points off the bench.

The Health & Safety Protocol list is a McLaughlin Group of one, as Jordan the backup guard has yet to be cleared. As for the Hawks, Bogdan (sore knee) and Clint remain out, but at least it's still a short injury list.

~lw3

[macdaddy]

15 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Minny has just one true travel-oriented SEGABABA this season, a double-OT 121-120 win (absent Pat Bev) at Philly back on November 27 (100 apiece in regulation), one night after losing 133-115 in Charlotte. They split a pair of SEGABABAs against the Clippers, but those were after playing the Lakers the night before at The Crypt.

~lw3

SEGABABA?   Is that what this is?

 

[Sothron]

Is anyone else going to be at the actual game tonight? Mrs. Sothron and myself are making the trip up from Columbus to go see the game.

[kg01]

soth tryna decide who he's rootin' for tonite ...

[Spud2nique]

45 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

We got plenty of flashes in the pan from Cam Reddish over the ensuing seasons-and-a-half. Sadly, there wasn’t enough steak to justify the sizzle, particularly from a youngster that all but Bledsoe’d his way off the team.

It would have been kinda fun to see a lineup of OO, JC, Hunter, Cam and Trae, not meant to be I guess. Onward and upward.

Nice write up lw3 as always!

Go Hawks! 
 

ps @Sothron today you get to have your cake and eat it too! Win win situation  

[Spud2nique]

4 minutes ago, kg01 said:

soth tryna decide who he's rootin' for tonite ...

 

[kg01]

1 minute ago, Spud2nique said:

It would have been kinda fun to see a lineup of OO, JC, Hunter, Cam and Trae, not meant to be I guess. Onward and upward.

Nice write up lw3 as always!

Go Hawks! 
 

ps @Sothron today you get to have your cake and eat it too! Win win situation  

Yeah, only way ol' soth can lose is if the mrs. catches him peeking at that Katy Perry-lookalike cheerleader.

I recommend dark shades even though you're indoors, soth.

Just tell her it's part of your new look.

[Sothron]

45 minutes ago, kg01 said:

soth tryna decide who he's rootin' for tonite ...

Appreciate the humor but I never root against the Hawks. Rule #1 when you root for multiple teams like I have since the 80's. Always root for the Hawks first. 

[Spud2nique]

38 minutes ago, kg01 said:

Yeah, only way ol' soth can lose is if the mrs. catches him peeking at that Katy Perry-lookalike cheerleader.

I recommend dark shades even though you're indoors, soth.

Just tell her it's part of your new look.

That looks like my friend Mo who passed me a cig in the highway 🛣 in 97! Straight through my window, then he winked.

Haha still recall. AYEEEE PLAY ON PLAYER THAT WAS SICK.

[Spud2nique]

11 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

That looks like my friend Mo who passed me a cig in the highway 🛣 in 97! Straight through my window, then he winked.

Haha still recall. AYEEEE PLAY ON PLAYER THAT WAS SICK.

@kg01 he flicked it going 75mph through the crack of my car window, James Bond type stuff! Looked exactly like that dude  

[kg01]

1 minute ago, Spud2nique said:

@kg01 he flicked it going 75mph through the crack of my car window, James Bond type stuff! Looked exactly like that dude  

If I'd seen that, he would be my new hero.  If you tell me it was lit at the time, I may search him out to be my mentor right now.

[kg01]

16 minutes ago, Sothron said:

Appreciate the humor but I never root against the Hawks. Rule #1 when you root for multiple teams like I have since the 80's. Always root for the Hawks first. 

(Oh course i'm just messin' with you.  It's kinda obligatory at this point.)

[bleachkit]

1 hour ago, Sothron said:

Is anyone else going to be at the actual game tonight? Mrs. Sothron and myself are making the trip up from Columbus to go see the game.

Covid and Hawks poor play have depressed prices on the secondary market. Cheap seats aplenty.

[Spud2nique]

33 minutes ago, kg01 said:

If I'd seen that, he would be my new hero.  If you tell me it was lit at the time, I may search him out to be my mentor right now.

Lol nah I was coming back from a job interview not really even wanting the job at 20 years old and saw him and signaled for a bum and he said bring the car closer, to this day I don’t know how that little cigarette defied all laws of gravity and made it through the window. 
 

Luckily I had a lighter in my car for.. other things that needed to be lit back then  

It was a happy ending. Well for that day anyways lol.

[Spud2nique]

35 minutes ago, kg01 said:

(Oh course i'm just messin' with you.  It's kinda obligatory at this point.)

KAT was just on with Kam via a sound bite from last nights game at MSG, after hearing it, I don’t want him lol.

He reminisced about listening to Clyde on MSG network as a kid and wanting to play at msg one day to hear to crowd roar meanwhile he was shooting on outside courts in NJ with the wind from the gods or something lol.

Before that, Kam mentioned Zion to NY but sarcastically.

I’m calling..

[kg01]

2 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

KAT was just on with Kam via a sound bite from last nights game at MSG, after hearing it, I don’t want him lol.

He reminisced about listening to Clyde on MSG network as a kid and wanting to play at msg one day to hear to crowd roar meanwhile he was shooting on outside courts in NJ with the wind from the gods or something lol.

Before that, Kam mentioned Zion to NY but sarcastically.

I’m calling..

Yeah I was listening to the morning show and they played another clip from him last night.  Saying last night was the biggest 'MSG moment' of his whole career, getting to shush the crowd.

I was like, 'uh this is just a random Tuesday in January, sun."  You want a 'MSG moment', look no further ...

[JayBirdHawk]

17 minutes ago, kg01 said:

I was like, 'uh this is just a random Tuesday in January, sun."  You want a 'MSG moment', look no further ...

Let than man have his regular season moment.....he hasn't led his team to the playoffs yet. (that was Yimmy)