Official Game Thread: Pelicans at Hawks

[lethalweapon3]

“When we BOTH lose a bidding war this summer… to the CAVS? Yo, I’mma be…”

 

Who will direct the Emmy-award winning 30-for-30 about, “Atlanta Sports: One Mad Month in March 2022”? The events of the past week up in Flowery Branch only served to remind me how fortunate I am that New Orleans and Atlanta are not embittered hoop rivals.

“Scrapping for Scraps: the Falcons-Saints Rivalry,” would be a stone-cold-lock SAG nominee. Certainly, a superior option For Your Consideration than this season’s submittal from Georgia, “.500 Time: The Resumption of the Atlanta Hawks Stagnancy”. Fighting annually and often for the right to avoid last place in the NFC West/South, the diverse and spirited banter-making in these two metropolises over the decades would make for quite a popcorn-muncher, if left in the proper hands.

From Petit, to Pistol, Ted’s territorial games in NOLA, to even the Millsap seasons, there’s been enough infusion of Hawks lore in Louisiana to generate generations of Hawk-fan cousins, even among the Aints faithful. Sure, the Hornicans have been at this NBA thing consistently for over two decades now. But many of New Orleans’ favorite team’s fans ought to be tuning in today (6 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, BS NO) to check out their favorite regional backup team down on The Farm. Surely it can’t be the Grizzlies.

It can’t be easy for the Big Easy to watch 2019’s #2 pick, Ja Knievel Morant, hurl himself into the sun for games on end, vaulting Memphis into on-paper contention in the NBA West. The empty calories that have been the statuses of Zion Williamson’s extended foot rehab have been unable to propel Vet-Min-turned-head-coach Willie Green’s club forward, and it’s been a drain around Lake Pontchartrain.

But not all is lost. LeBron’s Lakers dumped Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball and some future picks for the right to ring-chase annually with Anthony Davis. Lonzo’s offseason redirection to the Bulls didn’t pan out for David Griffin and company, with all respect to Garrett Temple. But 2020’s Most Improved Player, Ingram (out for the past two weeks, sore hammy) has become a perennial All-Star, and Hart shockingly helped carry the team through this injury-laden season until he got dealt to Portland in a multi-player swap for CJ McCollum.

If you wonder how Griffin is still kicking around, don’t look any further than the-ee Pels and Herbert! Herbert Jones! Herbert Jones, Herbert Jones. They’ve got a thing going on with 2021’s second-round pick and surefire All-Rookie First Teamer, the stretchy forward leading the Pels with 1.5 SPG and 85.5 FT%. With his infusion of defensive energy, it has been hard for Coach Green, or the occasional loose ball, to keep Jones off the floor.

There aren’t many teams whose top two minute-loggers, in Jones and Graham (questionable, sore hip) are former second-rounders. But in New Orleans, the best ability is durability.

Piling onto Williamson’s absence, 2020’s lottery pick Kira Lewis was lost for the season with a knee ligament sprain suffered in early December. Up steps Jose “Yes, I Can Shoot!” Alvarado, the undrafted rookie who, in last year’s March Madness run, helped keep Josh Pastner in Georgia Tech’s good graces for another season or two.

Still on a two-way deal but not for much longer, Alvarado has dished 7.3 APG in his past three games coming off the bench, and he is likely to start today if Graham can’t give it a go. McCollum is still kicking sorting things out in his new NBA home, but he is creating buckets for others about as well as he has for himself (26.1 PPG, 52.0 FG% & 6.6 APG in 14 games w/ NOP; 20.5, 43.6% & 4.5 this season w/ POR).

The Pels would be in greater shape if they weren’t 9-18 versus Eastern opponents, worst among the NBA West’s Top 12. Lately, it has been Run Up the Score or Bust for Willie G’s team, who have won just three of 19 games that Ingram has missed to date. The Pels lost in OT in Denver two Sundays ago, ending a four-game winning streak, and then lost three of the next four games. But going back to January, ten of their last eleven victories have been by double digits.

With Ingram, they notched a 15-point win in Phoenix late last month, then extended their streak with wins by 28, 30 and 34 versus the Lakers, Kangz and Jazz. Each of the Pels’ last five wins were by 25 points or more, although none of their losses since February 1 have been by less than seven. When they’re hot, they’re hot.

The Spurs were wholly unprepared for Sideshow Jaxson Hayes. He and center Jonas Valanciunas made their first three three-pointers on Friday night in San Antonio, the pair combining for 21 first-quarter points as the Pelicans blitzed to a 35-10 lead, then cruised to a 124-91 win.

Take what Green has at his disposal, right now, and give them enough wins to slip past Los Angeles (0.5 games ahead of NOP after screwing up in D.C. last night) for the Play-In’s 9-seed. AD, Bron and company may have to salvage their disaster-comedy season at the Smoothie King Center. With Ingram, former Lakers Larry Nance, Jr. and Hart, and maybe even AD’s would-be-star replacement in Zion, in tow. I’d have the late Anne Rice penning that chapter if I could.

It's as much a Know Your Personnel game for the Hawks (35-35) as any, particularly if they’d like to extend their home winning streak to eight games (9-1 in last 10 home games). Neutralizing Willy Hernangomez (5 O-Rebs @ SAS), Valanciunas and Hayes along the glass will be a tall order, but half the battle.

As demonstrated by Bogi Bogdanovic (5-for-6 3FGs, 30 points and 3 steals) and fill-in starter Delon Wright (4-for-6 3FGs, 18 points and 5 steals) in Friday’s pleasant shorthanded win over Memphis, Atlanta does When You’re Hot, You’re Hot, too. Specifically, when it comes to success when hitting their threes (19-5 when making 40+ 3FG%). But the Hawks do have Monday’s win over McCollum’s former team as an example (25.0 3FG%) of how to come out on top of subpar opponents when the iron is unkind.

The blueprint involves forcing turnovers (Memphis’ 16 was eclipsed only by Portland’s 20) while rotating and recovering to limit open-look jumpers and second chances. A non-lethargic performance from De’Andre Hunter, Atlanta’s leading minutes-logger acquired when the Hawks passed up on Hayes by trading upward in 2019, could be crucial for victory today.

Dominating the glass, Atlanta’s season-high of 21 O-Rebs came back in October, the Hawks escaping New Orleans with a 102-99 win despite making just 8 of 30 3FGAs. They had John Collins (7 O-Rebs @ NOP; out indefinitely) in that game but not Onyeka Okongwu (9 rebounds in three of his past five games off the bench), who is proving to be quite the menace at both ends along the boards.

Tyler Perry and Ava DuVernay seem a little busy, but maybe we could interest Steven Spielberg in cranking out one more trophy winner with an Aints-versus Dirty Birds short film. I am just pleased we don’t have all this enmity built up for the Pels, and vice versa. After all, there’s not much compelling about a villainous story arc for Tony Snell (DNP-CD’d last 3 games; 0 points and 0 assists in last 41 minutes on-floor), who has re-established his reputation for being quite the donut-maker. What’s that, Zion? No, I meant in the box scores.

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[Spud2nique]

6 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

From Petit, to Pistol,

You didn’t even mention our own @kg01’s bashing of them and Joel Meyers What? That’s not a rivalry is it? 

 

7 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Herbert! Herbert Jones! Herbert Jones, Herbert Jones.

Real deal baller. 

 

8 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

who have won just three of 19 games that Ingram has missed to date.

Can’t lose today.

 

10 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

particularly if they’d like to extend their home winning streak to eight games (9-1 in last 10 home games).

Love it!

 

10 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

5 steals)

Thief  

Awesome write up as usual @lethalweapon3  We aren’t worthy!!! (But we really do appreciate it!)

 

Go Hawks!!!!! 
 

Vegas has Hawks -3.5
 

ps No 2K ; Livin the life of La Familia

[Gray Mule]

Another opportunity to go over that .500 mark!

GO ATL HAWKS!

(Church night.)  Don't let them run away before half time.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Herbert Jones, Herbert Jones. They’ve got a thing going on

Nice touch for us oldies!  Thanks. 

 

[Spud2nique]

@lethalweapon3 gave good advice yesterday. Get out and get good weather, well yesterday I took a 2.5 hour nap but today, leeeee gooooo!!! Spring time baby!  

ps that was a swish, just saying, excited high arc one handed while the other takes Have a great Sunday!

[lethalweapon3]

2 hours ago, LongTimeFan said:

Nice touch for us oldies!  Thanks. 

 

Unsung on TVOne has some awesome episodes of R&B legends, but I think Billy Paul's has to be the wildest one I've seen. I'm from Philly and I had no idea how twisty-turny (and dangerous) his life and career was. Wowzers!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

In time for the arrival of spring, perhaps The Ice is thawing?

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Meanwhile, this Graham's not feeling so golden.

~lw3

[TheNorthCydeRises]

4 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

It can’t be easy for the Big Easy to watch 2019’s #2 pick, Ja Knievel Morant, hurl himself into the sun for games on end, vaulting Memphis into on-paper contention in the NBA West. The empty calories that have been the statuses of Zion Williamson’s extended foot rehab have been unable to propel Vet-Min-turned-head-coach Willie Green’s club forward, and it’s been a drain around Lake Pontchartrain.

 

While they HAD to take Zion, I know they have to be pissed at how good Morant had turned out.  But at that time, they had their PG in Holiday, along with Ball playing with him.

If it's true that he wants out of New Orleans after he "heals", we need to see if we can be a player in that sweepstakes.

[Sothron]

We need another big win tonight.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

And before anyone thinks this game may be easy, CJ McCollum is playing at an All-Star level while in Portland.

• 26.1 ppg
• 5.4 rebs
• 6.6 asst
• 52% FG . . . career high in a season
• 39.4% 3FG
• Pelicans record with CJ:   6 - 6
• And they have something to play for, seeing that they're in 10th in the West and trying to overtake the Lakers to get that home play-in game.

We're not good enough to overlook anyone, or think any game can be easier than others.

[lethalweapon3]

"I-sit Hayes!"

~gall0

[Marvin24Williams]

Awful, awful start.

[benhillboy]

Awesome.

[h4wkfan]

Turnover fest. Team knew it was a 6 - not 7 - tip, right? 

[terrell]

And the defense goes back to shitt...........

Edited March 20, 2022 by terrell

[Dnice]

The lolanta hawks...

OO too short inside

[RedDawg#8]

That was awful.

Trae is telegraphing his cross court pass. Needs to keep his dribble and probe more.

Kev is just being careless with the ball. That last poke away from behind was very predictable.

[NBASupes]

Trae really didn't have to come back so soon 

[Peoriabird]

1 minute ago, terrell said:

I guess Trae is still injured.....4 turnovers already? smh

I didn't know that a leg injury makes your Brain not work