Official Game Thread: Spurs at Hawks

[lethalweapon3]

“Are you sure you’re supposed to be here? I thought we shipped you and Coyote to Orlando for Stuff the Magic Dragon and cash considerations!”

 

The dust has cleared and… they’re all still here! Yes, TLC, that’s right, unpack your bags. You too, Gallo!

I don’t see the Hawks front office’s in-Travis-igence as some sign that Atlanta’s grand-poobah PBO is risk-averse. I see the team ultimately not proceeding with any Trade Deadline moves as a sign that Travis Schlenk is taking a bold gamble.

He’s willing to bet that just because there have been rough seas this season, there’s no reason to move any deck chairs right now, unlike division rivals like the Hornets and Wizards. The glimpses of competitive competency displayed by the Hawks in recent weeks could be magnified and enhanced for 2022’s playoff push without any replacements, save for a buyout addition, given continued improvement at the direction of Nate McMillan’s current coaching staff.

If Atlanta fails to reach the official postseason after standing pat, then Trader Trav put his signature on that. If they take off and become a first-round threat for the second consecutive year, that’s his John Hancock, too. “We know this group has the ability to be successful, as we saw last year,” Travis Schlenk shared with the AJC after the deadline passed. “We want to give them that opportunity to prove it to the world they can do it again.”

That’s the big, fuzzy dice roll moving forward, beginning with tonight’s game at State Farm Arena against Gregg Popovich’s San Antonio Spurs (7:30 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast, 92.9 FM in ATL, CW35 in SATX). Coach Pop has relinquished managerial control to GM Brian Wright, but it is clear their Spurs, unlike the Hawks, aren’t willing to wait for the offseason before maneuvering in anticipation of the near future.

Spurs Country was waylaid by yesterday’s Deadline deal sending Derrick White to Beantown. That trade plus the dispatching of Thad Young, Drew Eubanks and Juan Hernangomez provided San Antonio some lightly protected 2022 first-rounders via Boston and Toronto. The move only managed to add to the complications in the backcourt rotation around new All-Star Dejounte Murray (19.5 PPG, 9.2 APG, 8.4 RPG, NBA-high 2.0 SPG).

While Goran Dragic will get bought out, Tomas Satoransky is expected to suit up after tonight’s game, pushing Pop’s perma-prospects Tre Jones (questionable, has been out due to a dental procedure) and Joshua Primo further down the depth chart.

Steadier playing time is on the horizon for Gwinnett’s Other Finest, Devin Vassell (team-high 18 points off-bench @ CLE on Wednesday), and Keldon Johnson. Yet the eventual arrivals of ex-Celts Josh Richardson and Romeo Langford are likely to put the squeeze to Lonnie Walker (38.8 FG%, 34.7% in last 15 games), the pick the Spurs took ahead of Kevin Huerter in 2018’s Draft. Lob in last month’s departure of Bryn Forbes (team-high 23 points off-bench vs. ATL on Nov. 24) for the freshly departed Hernangomez, and there are plenty of shifting sands in San An.

The Play-In games remain within reach for now, San Antonio (20-35) sitting just 2.0 games out of the 10^th and final spot in the NBA West. Yet the Spurs are going to have to steady themselves while trying not to look like the clowns during this annual Rodeo Road Trip.

After losing to the visiting Hawks 124-106 back on November 24, the Spurs righted their ship with a four-game winning streak, including victories at Portland and Golden State. Before the Christmas break, they won three of four on the road, including a sweep at The Crypt and a win at Utah, then returned home to wallop the Pistons to peak at 14-18.

But then You Know What broke their stability, and their stride. In their last seven-game, East Coast-heavy road swing last month, the Spurs went 1-6, returning home with a solitary win at Boston despite some close finishes. Now they have kicked off a stretch where they won’t play before the home crowd until next month, beginning this past Wednesday with a 105-92 loss in Cleveland, and they’ll have to make do with a bunch of moving parts and a thinned-out frontcourt behind Jakob Poeltl and Doug McDermott.

Last in the league with both a 33.8 three-point frequency rate and a 19.8 free throw attempt rate, the Spurs still feel as though their offense is built around the stars DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge used to be. Popovich’s imprint remains, however, with a club led by Murray that matches the Hawks’ NBA-low 12.6 TO% while pressuring opponents with a top-five pace (100.1 possessions per 48).

Going forward, it is going to be sink-or-swim for Vassell (43.2 FG%, 34.5% on threes) and Walker to get their shooting proficiencies closer to the Olympian Johnson’s level (46.6 FG%; 42.7 3FG%, behind only McBuckets’ 42.9 3FG%). They’ll also have to catch up to Murray’s assertiveness in thwarting opponents’ assisted baskets (SAS 4-18 when foes ring up 25 or more assists). Richardson, Langford and Vassell are all under contract for 2022-23, but the Spurs now have the draft capital to supplant them all next year.

San Antonio is finally getting some utility out of Zach “The Jesuit” Collins (7 O-Rebs in past 2 games), recently returned from injury and helping Poeltl (4.0 O-Rebs/game, 2^nd in NBA) create extra-chances on possessions. Atlanta’s wings will be tasked with pushing Spur shooters out of their comfort zones and forcing extra passes off Murray’s dishes (18.1 drives/game, 4^th in NBA ahead of Trae Young’s 17.8; 2.7 assists/game off-drives, behind only Luka Doncic’s 2.9).

Then it will be on the Hawks’ frontcourt of John “The Baptist” Collins, De’Andre Hunter and Clint Capela to seal the Spurs’ bigs off the offensive glass. 18 Pacer offensive rebounds on Tuesday, the second most by a Hawks opponent this season, were the only things keeping Atlanta’s shorthanded foe within the same orbit. Including November’s Spurs game, Atlanta (26-28) is oddly 7-0 when allowing 15 or more offensive rebounds. But that required thoroughly outshooting opponents from the field (50.3 to 40.2 FG%). The Hawks can no longer rely purely on their boom-or-bust offense to climb fully out of its early-season rut, particularly versus far more talented opponents.

Atlanta will once again have the benefit of a deeper roster and more familiar teammates. With yet another early game coming up this weekend, they’ll want to build up a steady lead through the first three quarters tonight, as they did versus Indiana, allowing starters to be rested ahead of a Super Bowl Sunday that is sure to be busier than the Hawks’ Trade Deadline Thursday.

Now, if you were big on EX-Hawks getting dealt and/or cut… from Pawl, and Justin Holiday, to Dennis and Bruno… then the run up to yesterday’s Deadline was custom made for you!

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

LouWill remains the sole non-G-Leaguer on the inactive list, listed once again as Questionable with a tight hammy. Backup guard Tre Jones remains the sole active Spur on the Boo-Boo list after his dental procedure.

~lw3

[Spud2nique]

6 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Trader Trav

Bob Whit called wants his nick back. 

 

7 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

John Hancock,

 

8 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Steadier playing time is on the horizon for Gwinnett’s Other Finest, Devin Vassell

AHF on that quick style I dig that kid a bit.

 

9 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

The Jesuit”

Lol

 

10 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Baptist

What the, where.. ️ am I?

 

11 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Hawks’ Trade Deadline Thursday.

I slept well. #standpat #trustthecolonel

Awesome thread lw3 as always! 2K results  to come in a bit. 
 

Vegas has Hawks -8.

 

Go Hawks!!!!

[kg01]

"I mean yeah they got Tray Young, but did you see Keldon Johnson lately?  He almost had a double-double the other day in practice.  Almost!" - Popov

[Spud2nique]

Alrighty here we go hot off the press! 
 

Newbies for Spurs:

Josh Richardson with 11 points on 4/6 FG 2/3 from deep. 1 assist and 1 block. Romeo Langford DNP- Pop’s decision 

ps “AYE F YOU @kg01 I READ WHATCHU WROTE ABOUT ME BRAH, YOU DON’T WANT THIS HEAT, BESIDES I JUST PUT UP 15/7/5 on 5-15 fg 1/2 FROM DEEP HOMIE, THAT AINT A STAR? “…

-Keldon Johnson (budding star ️ )

 

 

[terrell]

We gonna play any defense?

[Dnice]

Hawks struggling of course.

[hawkman]

Lethargic start. No sense of urgency to get a must win game against a bad Spurs team. It's like they refuse to take advantage of these golden opportunities.

[terrell]

Just now, Dnice said:

Hawks struggling of course.

But lets stand pat.. smh.. Hawks need a Superstar and a leader...Our perimeter defense will never be good with Trae/Huerter....

Better hope we catch fire offensively.. Because we arent stopping anybody.....

[hawkman]

Gave up 32 in the 1st quarter with 5 minutes to go. SMH.

[Dnice]

10th seed  they'll  remain..

[terrell]

https://tankathon.com/

3 minutes ago, hawkman said:

Gave up 32 in the 1st quarter with 5 minutes to go. SMH.

Led by our star PG of course...

His defense is so ass.. He and Huerter both..

Edited February 12, 2022 by terrell

[hylndr11]

These guys refuse.to play defense or we've been disected to the point teams know how.to beat us.  That's def part of it as explained by some of the guys during our losing streak first part of the season.  We caught folks by surprise last year.

[Dnice]

Too easy going too much, they play so casual 

[JayBirdHawk]

Seriously??? SMDH.

[Final_quest]

Nice start.  We need a comeback already.

[Dnice]

Trae play some fkn defense. 

[terrell]

Spurs cant miss.. Just like every other team that plays the Hawks.. smdh

[terrell]

Just now, Dnice said:

Trae play some fkn defense. 

Yeah right... Defense is optional with Trae..

[bleachkit]

Come on Hawks, lock it down, no easy baskets.