If Nate won't play JJ with JC out indefinitely and Gallo gimpy...

[REHawksFan]

....then he should pack his bags and be shown the door.  Is he really going to take the position that he trusts TLC and Knox (who have PROVEN to be marginal NBA players in their careers) over the unknown potential of JJ?  If so, then we are royally screwed as long as Nate is at the helm.  The whole "stuck in his ways" crap is just writer code for he'd rather lose doing it HIS way than try something else.  

Jami gonna be like....

 

https://theathletic.com/3192618/2022/03/18/i-do-see-a-mini-lebron-in-him-so-why-cant-hawks-rookie-jalen-johnson-crack-atlantas-rotation/

 

Edited March 18, 2022 by REHawksFan

[JayBirdHawk]

From the article:

Quote

“Look, I’ve seen the guy. I’ve been around him. He can do a lot of different things. He’s athletic. He can playmake. When you see our games, you see a lot of different things. He can get the rebound and push it and find the open guy. He can knock down an open 3. He can pull up for 3. He has spin moves. He can finish. He just has to continue to improve that outside shot and get to a consistent level. It’ll be really impressive to see him grow.”

Hawks need a guy that can do multiple things with our over reliance on Trae.

 

Quote

Johnson’s absence has been a source of frustration for Hawks fans, especially because the play at power forward since Collins’ initial foot strain injury has not been satisfactory. If Gallinari isn’t making shots, he’s unplayable. Hunter’s skill set doesn’t make him an adequate option at the four. Luwawu-Cabarrot and Knox are end-of-bench guys who should only be playing in desperate moments, like Wednesday when Gallinari was ruled out at halftime with the bicep injury.

There are a couple of reasons Johnson hasn’t received rotation minutes for the Hawks, though. One of them is McMillan simply trusts the veterans to make the right play more often than he would Johnson. McMillan has been vocal on numerous occasions throughout the season about how the Hawks aren’t in “development mode” anymore. McMillan also is old school and set in his ways with some of his roster-management decisions, and one of those things is being reluctant to play young players and letting them play through what will likely be numerous mistakes.

What right reads are TLC and No-Knox making that are providing real impact?

 

Quote

An example of this transpired last season with then-rookie Onyeka Okongwu. Okongwu sometimes played as few as five minutes in games as the Hawks were trying to evaluate what they had in the first-rounder. Once McMillan became comfortable playing Okongwu, his minutes started to gradually increase from five to 10 to 15 to 20 to becoming a fixture in the team’s playoff rotation. Now, Okongwu is one of McMillan’s personal favorites. But Okongwu eventually found his way onto the court because the front office advised McMillan that he needed to play Okongwu at least a few minutes — if his five-minute stint wasn’t good, he didn’t have to put him back out there. McMillan hasn’t been told by the front office that he needs to play Johnson — at least not yet.

One of the reasons is because the organization doesn’t feel like he’s fully ready to be a positive defender, and the Hawks don’t want him to not be confident in himself on that end. It’s certainly fair to chuckle about defense being a concern for the Hawks when the team has been horrid all season and they’re playing Gallinari, who is one of the worst individual defenders in the league, at the same position.

Then why is Okongwu still seeing such limited minutes particularly with our big man injuries?

Get on the bolded Schlenk.  Exactly on point with the Gallo no-defense...JJ might luck into a couple blocks or deflections just on his athleticism alone.

[Atlantaholic]

How Okonguw is not getting 30 mins+ is by far the most egregious dumb ass move between the two. 

[Diesel]

1 hour ago, REHawksFan said:

....then he should pack his bags and be shown the door.  Is he really going to take the position that he trusts TLC and Knox (who have PROVEN to be marginal NBA players in their careers) over the unknown potential of JJ?  If so, then we are royally screwed as long as Nate is at the helm.  The whole "stuck in his ways" crap is just writer code for he'd rather lose doing it HIS way than try something else.  

Jami gonna be like....

 

https://theathletic.com/3192618/2022/03/18/i-do-see-a-mini-lebron-in-him-so-why-cant-hawks-rookie-jalen-johnson-crack-atlantas-rotation/

 

I'm actually in agreement here.   There's no excuse why JJ can't get some minutes starting tonight.  It makes the GM's job harder by not playing JJ.   Even if we want to use him in trade, you can't get a fair assessment of his ability until he plays against pros on the big stage.  JC is out... Gallo is down... that leaves room for JJ and either Knox or TLC to play starting tonight.  Nate has no excuses...

[Diesel]

I wasn't Joking when I said, starting tonight the fans ought to start the chant... we want Jalen.   It should be resounding in the arena... because that will catch ownerships ear.

 

[kg01]

7 minutes ago, Diesel said:

I wasn't Joking when I said, starting tonight the fans ought to start the chant... we want Jalen.   It should be resounding in the arena... because that will catch ownerships ear.

 

Love the passion but we're not Knick fans, bro.

I'm still also enjoying the teeth gnashing from folks that I kept telling to stop scapegoating one guy for all our problems.

Haha, and I'm back from the future with live clips of Nate's answer when asked about playing Jalen ...

Haha, carry on folks.

[TheTruth]

Yo, OP...

[Diesel]

Well, it's a good sign that Jalen has been called up from the Skyhawks.  

This is his time to dance.. I hope he's ready. 

[REHawksFan]

25 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

From the article:

Hawks need a guy that can do multiple things with our over reliance on Trae.

 

What right reads are TLC and No-Knox making that are providing real impact?

 

Then why is Okongwu still seeing such limited minutes particularly with our big man injuries?

Get on the bolded Schlenk.  Exactly on point with the Gallo no-defense...JJ might luck into a couple blocks or deflections just on his athleticism alone.

The truly maddening thing is the skillset that JJ possesses - while still young and undeveloped - is the EXACT thing this team needs.  And no one knows how he will fare as a rookie in the NBA because he hasn't been given a chance. But all he's done is excel in the G-league at every opportunity. 

How can ANYONE say with a straight face that JJ couldn't possibly be better than this:

 

[bird_dirt]

28 minutes ago, Diesel said:

Well, it's a good sign that Jalen has been called up from the Skyhawks.  

This is his time to dance.. I hope he's ready. 

If he plays, I will chalk it up to my reply I wrote on a Hawks tweet. I really got their attention!

[kg01]

45 minutes ago, Diesel said:

Well, it's a good sign that Jalen has been called up from the Skyhawks.  

This is his time to dance.. I hope he's ready. 

Oh please, they've been calling him and Cooper up and down so much it means nothing at this point.

They are programmed to do that song n' dance, sir.  They'll not deviate this far into the season.

[macdaddy]

1 hour ago, REHawksFan said:

The truly maddening thing is the skillset that JJ possesses - while still young and undeveloped - is the EXACT thing this team needs.  And no one knows how he will fare as a rookie in the NBA because he hasn't been given a chance. But all he's done is excel in the G-league at every opportunity. 

How can ANYONE say with a straight face that JJ couldn't possibly be better than this:

 

 

Well if JJ is not better than Knox and TLC then this is the biggest draft whiff of Travis' career and that includes Omari and Bruno.   

I'm with everyone that it is time to see JJ.  I just hope folks have a realistic expectation.   I think the passing will translate to the NBA really well and am excited to see it.   The big scoring and rebounds in the Gleague is partially a function of him being the best athlete on the floor at all times.   So the big question mark is can he get himself in the right positions on both sides of the floor in the NBA.  

I'm ready to find out.  

[AUhawksfan]

Never a good sign when the front office has to tell a coach what to do.  And the fact that it worked out with OO and Nate still doesn't see the same potential situation unfolding with JJ says a lot, and it's not good.

[JayBirdHawk]

1 hour ago, bird_dirt said:

If he plays, I will chalk it up to my reply I wrote on a Hawks tweet. I really got their attention!

What'd you say?

[kg01]

1 minute ago, JayBirdHawk said:

What'd you say?

Judging from the @bird_dirt that I know and love, it was something like ..

[terrell]

2 hours ago, JayBirdHawk said:

From the article:

Hawks need a guy that can do multiple things with our over reliance on Trae.

 

What right reads are TLC and No-Knox making that are providing real impact?

 

Then why is Okongwu still seeing such limited minutes particularly with our big man injuries?

Get on the bolded Schlenk.  Exactly on point with the Gallo no-defense...JJ might luck into a couple blocks or deflections just on his athleticism alone.

Just the fact that Nate had to be forced to give OO longer minutes, is a firing offense to me, given the talent that OO obviously showed in his short stints.

To do the same to JJ while ignoring a glaring need leaves me angry and bitter towards Nate.

 

Get him gone.

[Gray Mule]

I'm 85 years old.  I'm expected to be "set in my ways."  Nate doesn't have my excuse unless he is as old as I am.  So, what's his reason?

So, if JJ does get to play and he falls on his face, so to speak, what has been lost?  Hawks have lost so many games already.  What if Trae is unable to go?  Perish the thought.  Hawks are in a big hurt for a PF.  We all know this.  JJ is a PF.  I may be old and kinda dumb.  Still, I can add 2 + 2 and get 4 plus tax!

Nate, if you think your heart will stand the jolt, start JJ at PF tonight and see what happens.  (I know he wouldn't do this, but I can dream, can't I !)

 

[bird_dirt]

1 hour ago, kg01 said:

Judging from the @bird_dirt that I know and love, it was something like ..

@JayBirdHawk basically this. Maybe with a smidge less desperation, and a pinch more angst.

@kg01 knows me so well.

[Bonkers]

3 hours ago, terrell said:

Just the fact that Nate had to be forced to give OO longer minutes, is a firing offense to me, given the talent that OO obviously showed in his short stints.

To do the same to JJ while ignoring a glaring need leaves me angry and bitter towards Nate.

 

Get him gone.

As far as I can tell, as of right now Nate is the #1 problem with the Hawks. Even more than injuries

[Gray Mule]

He didn't play JJ until only 1 minute remained.  To put him in the game earlier would have caused Nate to have a nervous beak down.  After all, he's just a rookie, up from the G League.