Official Game Thread: Hawks at Pistons

[lethalweapon3]

“You’re the best Cunningham since Richie! You don’t…? Okay, since Randall. Randall? Oh, c’mon!”

 

Listen, Detroit. We can help each other out!

The Pistons are beyond thrilled with the development of their 6-foot-6 rookie lead guard, Cade Cunningham (last 6 games: 23.3 PPG, 8.2 APG, 5.0 TOs/game). After securing him with the first-overall pick last year, they would take kindly to a first-dibs double-dip in 2022.

Un problema.

Oklahoma City (2.0 games “behind” the Rockets) is thundering up the NBA Lottery charts, their ten straight losses moving OKC firmly in the neighborhood with Houston, Detroit (1.0 games “behind” Houston) and Orlando. Even the Magic took time out of their busy schedule of giving away career-highs, like Saddiq Bey’s 50-burger-with-cheese, to “beat” OKC on Sunday. When it comes to top Lottery odds, three’s company, and four’s a crowd.

It's why Nate McMillan’s Sonics-era assistant, Pistons coach Dwane Casey, is in a great position to help the Hawks’ head coach. That is, if Atlanta is willing to accept and properly return the favor tonight (7 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast, BS Detroit).

Casey’s job seems secure, as Pistons prez Troy Weaver remains enamored with the former NBA COTY winner, as well as the prospects of building another season around Cunningham, Bey, Isiah Stewart and Jerami Grant. Atlanta (Play-In Magic Number: 5) enters today’s game down a few bodies and just arrived from New York. If Casey’s relatively rested Pistons could just hold off on going full-bore until this weekend, when the Wizards and Knicks stop by Little Caesars Arena, it would be greatly appreciated down in the Empire State of the South.

Besides, our Hawks already gift-wrapped Detroit a thrilling home win, a 113-110 victory, Detroit’s third-straight before dropping six of their last seven, where Cunningham (28 points, 10 assists) featured prominently, a couple weeks ago. This isn’t the kind of double-dip most Pistons fans wish to see.

That loss in Motown on March 7 came off two days rest for Atlanta, after wins over the Bulls at home and the Wizards in D.C. Two things the Hawks are gonna do, is get drunk off of good games and bad calls. “Did you all see what we did last night / the other day?” is Atlanta’s generous sip from a screwtop bottle of vintage Ripple.

Bogi Bogdanovic (questionable, sore knee) may not be able to give Trae Young the supplemental boost off the bench, if anything, tonight as he did in Atlanta’s comeback win over boisterous New York last night (32 points, 3 steals). He might not also be around for a repeat of his nightmarish fourth quarter here a couple weeks ago.

In that final frame, Bogi went 2-for-7 from the field and committed four personals, including an atrocious one with under 2.0 seconds left that resulted in freebies for Cade and (after the added comedy of a missed gift FT by John Collins, courtesy of Marvin Bagley) ushered in overtime.

Collins, of course, will be watching from the sidelines, this time along with Danilo Gallinari (1-for-6 3FGs but team-high 10 rebounds yesterday; out, sore Achilles). We already know what this doesn’t mean, so expect to see a ramp up of activity for Gorgui Dieng alongside Onyeka Okongwu. Extended floor time for Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot is also likely, given Bogi’s ailing knee plus the unavailability of Lou Williams (out, personal reasons) and Skylar Mays (questionable, non-You Know What illness).

The shortlist of supporting cast mates means big, foul-trouble-free nights need to be in store for Kevin Huerter (DNP’d @ DET on Mar. 7 due to a shoulder injury; 8 rebounds but 5 TOs @ NYK) and last night’s game-sealer, De’Andre Hunter. Both will have to attack quickly on offense and avoid the over-dribbling mistakes that lead to strips and opponent runouts. Huerter will have his hands full in hopes of another slow scoring night against the Hawks for Bey, while Hunter will be left to pick poisons between guarding Grant and helping keep Cunningham out of the paint.

That would leave Young, coming off brilliant finishes to halves that turned NYC into TYC, to prove he’s not bored with the follow-up act. His pestering defensive activity versus the Knicks was almost as notable as his offensive highlights. His ability to coax Cunningham into off-balance shots and rushed passes would greatly pave the path to victory for Atlanta, and to an above-.500 mark for the first time since reaching 13-12 back on December 6. Former Piston Delon Wright is likely to have an improved performance from last night in helping everyone out on the defensive end.

Ultimately, it all comes down to how much resistance Detroit (30.0 O-Reb% vs. ATL on Mar. 7, highest over last 8 Piston games) wishes to bring to the floor tonight, particularly on the offensive boards versus Clint Capela and Okongwu, who were relatively restrained against the Knicks ahead of tonight’s back-to-back. Perhaps Bagley and Stewart can be restrained today, in kind.

C’mon, Coach Casey. Help us, help you, help us! Tank you very much!

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

The Pistons have some minor depth issues in the middle of the lineup. Former starting SG Hamidou Diallo remains out with a sprained finger. Luka Garza was brought back from the G-League for Monday's home loss to Portland, and arrived just in time to give teammate Isiah Livers (doubtful for today) a concussion as the rookies went after a loose ball.

Jerami Grant (knee) and Kelly Olynyk (ankle, probably won't guard Trae) are re-activated after missing out on Monday's game.

 

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Atlanta is 4-5 in games where they're trying to ascend above .500 this season. They started out 4-1 before losses at home versus Houston and Denver in December, then at Charlotte and versus New Orleans this month.

The Hawks have won their last three SEGABABAS, at Orlando right before the Break, at Washington this month and then versus Portland. This is their first road B2B since November 8 (at Golden State) and November 9 (at Utah), and they had one other pair a couple weeks before (at New Orleans and Washington on October 27 and 28).

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

It feels good: Bogi Bogi Bogi has done it again.

~lw3

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

Gotta be JJ time, No? 

[lethalweapon3]

"WHAT? No Ty Cobb? No Gordie Howe? No Joe Louis?" said an Old somewhere.

~lw3

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Besides, our Hawks already gift-wrapped Detroit a thrilling home win, a 113-110 victory,

Revenge! 

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Bogi Bogdanovic (questionable, sore knee) may not be able to give Trae Young the supplemental boost

He did in 2K! 

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Tank you very much!

 lw3 settin us up nicely as always! 
 

Vegas has Hawks -5

2K has Hawks by 18.

Trae and Bogi shine  

GO HAWKS!!!!!

[Spud2nique]

31 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

It feels good: Bogi Bogi Bogi has done it again.

~lw3

I didn’t wanna see that 2K performance go to waste. Hey, 21/5/4 is nothing to at! 

23 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

 

 

Gotta be JJ time, No? 

One would think wouldn’t one? 

[Spud2nique]

21 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

"WHAT? No Ty Cobb? No Gordie Howe? No Joe Louis?" said an Old somewhere.

~lw3

 

@CadeCunningham_ picked his fellow Oklahoma State Cowboy, @BarrySanders.

Oh ok, nice Cade. I was about to lose my cool … 

[Spud2nique]

23 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

"WHAT? No Ty Cobb? No Gordie Howe? No Joe Louis?" said an Old somewhere.

[Spud2nique]

25 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Joe Louis?"

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[Atlantaholic]

Coming out with this lineup is like trying to lose on purpose.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

[LucastheThird]

JJ getting minutes!!

[Atlantaholic]

Is that....

[LucastheThird]

JJ making an impact on the fast break

[terrell]

2 minutes ago, LucastheThird said:

JJ getting minutes!!

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Amazing how good the rookie looks, when he's playing with legit talent around him.

Nate should be ashamed of himself.

[bleachkit]

Someone must have read Nate the riot act. 

Edited March 23, 2022 by bleachkit