Official Game Thread: Warriors at Hawks

[lethalweapon3]

If Oprah was a Hawks fan…

 

Zero-dot-something-or-other. That’s where my enthusiasm level currently lies as an Atlanta Hawks fan, on a scale of 1 to 10.

That’s not where any of us are supposed to be, running on Emotionally Empty this late in the season, especially not with visions of Knicks On Ice dancing in our heads. But our Hawks aren’t supposed to be, on a scale of 1 to 10, still teetering toward 12 in the NBA East.

After Birdboxing and forcing myself to witness the tragicomedy that was the middle quarters of Wednesday’s curb-stomping loss in Detroit, I went searching for Oprah. Specifically, a JPG version of a specific GIF that aptly expressed my visage of abject dissatisfaction with the Hawks’ focus and effort, or the lacks thereof.

I came to discover, while Googling “oprah smdh”, a treasure trove of reactions from America’s Talkmaster, with all due respect to our own dear Neal. Each one perfectly encapsulated the faces I was making during not just the Pistons game, but the Pelicans game and that other Pistons game and the Spurs game and…

From the Royals to yahoos up in Forsyth County, from Whitney and MJax, to Kim K, and Tom on the Couch, from fake-mad cattle ranchers to a “non-fiction” author peddling fiction for her Book Club, Oprah has put up with, and seen, and heard, an awful lot. That’s just the stuff with the cameras rolling on her for the better part of four decades.

You can try it yourself, with “oprah nope,” “oprah disgusted,” “oprah what,” or the like in the Search window, and you’ll find yourself watching Hawks games through her reactions. We’re all in The Sunken Brewster’s Place with this team.

If we could simply cleave out the seven-game road skid AND the ten-game home skid, these latest flops would seem like minor irritations, blips and slips unbecoming of an otherwise sure-shot Eastern Conference title contender. Sadly, we cannot. Instead, we’re repeatedly left feeling like James Caan in “Misery,” laying captive and beaten up in Kathy Bates’ bed and, frankly, we’ve just grown tired of feeling at this point.

If you want to see a fanbase at wit’s end with their head coach for his once tried-and-true, now growing tired-and-untrue, rotations and schemes, hang out with supporters of the Golden State Warriors (48-25, still 3^rd in NBA West, 3.0 games ahead of Utah) this evening. At least Steve Kerr has RINGZ to fend everybody off, and starting off a season 29-7, with zero two-game losing streaks, grants any coach plenty of rope. Unfortunately for us Hawks fans, tonight’s outcome matters not. We already know things are going to go one of two ways with Nate McMillan's team.

Behind Door Number One: our Hawks will see that the Dubs left their heart, Steph Curry (50 points vs. ATL on Nov. 8), and his sprained foot in San Francisco, not take the game-planning seriously (coaching staff included), and then leave themselves susceptible to Jordan Poole’s and Jonathan Kuminga’s Show of Shows. Those guys just had the first-place heat in Miami looking like The Shield breaking up, steel chairs and all, but our players will still have their minds fixated on what, if anything, a rested Klay and Dray bring to the proceedings.

Or, behind Door Number Two: the Hawks do come home armed with a reactivated Danilo Gallinari and the infamous Sense of Urgency, quit complaining about a lack of "legs", handle their business for 48 minutes on a Friday night at The Farm (7:30 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, NBC Sports Yay Area in SFO, NBATV elsewhere), and lift Atlanta sports fans’ spirits. Momentarily.

Atlanta (36-37, Play-In Magic Number: 5) will likely have to win two consecutive road games just to make it into the NBA Playoffs, but they have not put together a two-game road streak since The Night Before The Night Before Christmas (Dec. 23 @ PHI, 8 days after a win @ ORL; the last two-game streak with limited intervention was around Thanksgiving). The Hawks’ last likely chance to do so comes next week, in Indiana and in Trae’s home state, at Oklahoma City. When they fail to do so for the umpteenth time, not a creature will be stirring.

On scales of 1 to 10, my ambivalence and numbness levels are hovering around Pi Squared. I truly want to care more, to feel more, and I am grateful that thousands of Atlanta fans in attendance tonight are Built Different. There’s only so many more ways, unfortunately, my face can contort like Oprah’s as these Hawks play their favorite game against random opponents: ‘You get a point! And YOU get a point! And YOU…!”

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

This the Oprahface I was originally looking for mid-Pistons game...

~lw3

[Diesel]

Tonight is time for Payback.. Even though Steph is not playing.   Steph scored 50 on us last time... I don't doubt that Trae has this game circled on his calendar and I look forward to him going for something 40+.

[lethalweapon3]

Along with Klay Thompson and the recently returning Draymond Green, Otto Porter is off the Boo-Boo Report after getting rested in Miami. A Wiseman once played, but James remains unavailable for GSW after trying to work his way back via the G-League. Andre Iguodala hasn't played since February and remains questionable due to back tightness.

 

~lw3

[Dnice]

I don't blame Oprah.

[Spud2nique]

55 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Birdboxing

@JayBirdHawk loves you, why would you…. ? 

 

56 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

I came to discover, while Googling “oprah smdh”,

chi towns finest.

 

58 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

You can try it yourself, with “oprah nope,” “oprah disgusted,” “oprah what,”

That’s a versatile Oprah.

 

58 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Kathy Bates’

@lethalweapon3 I’m you #1 fan. If you get caught in a snow storm… 

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

If you want to see a fanbase at wit’s end with their head coach for his once tried-and-true, now growing tired-and-untrue, rotations and schemes, hang out with supporters of the Golden State Warriors

I read that on the realgm boards. Lol.

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Behind Door Number One: our Hawks will see that the Dubs left their heart, Steph Curry (50 points vs. ATL on Nov. 8), and his sprained foot in San Francisco,

I just pic us at an Anthony Bennett concert  

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

behind Door Number Two:

Por favor.

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

On scales of 1 to 10, my ambivalence and numbness levels are hovering around Pi Squared.

Funny you mention pie. On 3/14 I got some discount pie! 

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

You get a point! And YOU get a point! And YOU…!”

I had the Jim Gaffigan GIF faces..

Vegas has the Hawks by a bucket and a 1/2.

2k had Hawks by 9.

Hunter with 13 BOARDS! Career high (I believe).

Trae 39/8

Bogi 20/5

Hunter double doubles 10/13/4/2blocks

Great stuff @lethalweapon3, we could go for a cone at Ghiradelli. 

GO HAWKS!!!!!!!

[kg01]

This is @Spud2nique's super bowl.  I'm expecting squd to drop a proverbial 50 in chat/thread tonite.

[Diesel]

38 minutes ago, Diesel said:

Tonight is time for Payback.. Even though Steph is not playing.   Steph scored 50 on us last time... I don't doubt that Trae has this game circled on his calendar and I look forward to him going for something 40+.

Hey... I looked at Trae's calendar.. this is what I saw:

 

[Spud2nique]

54 minutes ago, kg01 said:

This is @Spud2nique's super bowl.  I'm expecting squd to drop a proverbial 50 in chat/thread tonite.

I woke up at 5:37 am pacific standard time… seething … 

Has Curry played against Trae in Atlanta? Maybe once early on in Trae’s career. Dodging him.

I ran that by my gf and she said ya, I’m sure Curry saw the schedule 2 weeks ago and decided to tweak his ankle. I called her a Warrior fan and stormed off. 

Indeed I’ll be live on this one. Usually I play catchup to avoid commercials but I need a LIVE show..

44 minutes ago, Diesel said:

Hey... I looked at Trae's calendar.. this is what I saw:

 

Mine as well. I didn’t like what went down on Nov. 8th from any angle. Revenge!

Edited March 25, 2022 by Spud2nique

[Spud2nique]

55 minutes ago, kg01 said:

This is @Spud2nique's super bowl. 

Indeed, Warriors twice a year and that rotten green team from the east coast.

[kg01]

3 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

I woke up at 5:37 am pacific standard time… seething … 

Has Curry played against Trae in Atlanta? Maybe once early on in Trae’s career. Dodging him.

I ran that by my gf and she said ya, I’m sure Curry saw the schedule 2 weeks ago and decided to tweak his ankle. I called her a Warrior fan and stormed off. 

Indeed I’ll be live on this one. Usually I play catchup to avoid commercials but I need a LIVE show..

I .. no .. we appreciate a turn't up squd.  But I think you read your gf wrong there.

sCurry saw what Trae-mendous did to Taj and thought, "Aye Kerr, my ankle hurts?"

I'm thinking that's what wifey meant, so you owe her a foot massage and a box of the finest vintage they have in Wal-mart.

I'm gonna try my best to be live on this one but kg02 takes the pitch tonite for a key region game.  Maybe I'll encourage her to get a 2nd yellow card (the 1st is assured since she's basically soccer Ivan Johnson out there) and get kicked out so we can leave early.

[Spud2nique]

Just now, kg01 said:

finest vintage they have in Wal-mart.

I’m busting. 

2 minutes ago, kg01 said:

soccer Ivan Johnson out there) and get kicked out so we can leave early.

 

[Spud2nique]

3 minutes ago, kg01 said:

kg02

Speaking of the kids, my nephew is growing up and starting to talk trash 🗑… not sure where he got it from.  But it feels like a boomerang coming directly back at my head. 
 

FOOOOOOOOOORRRREEE ️ 

[Atlantaholic]

There is no way the Hawks get into the playoffs if they finish 10th. Two road wins against playoff caliber opponents back to back? Do we even have two wins all year on the road against potential playoff teams?

[kg01]

3 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

Speaking of the kids, my nephew is growing up and starting to talk trash 🗑… not sure where he got it from.  But it feels like a boomerang coming directly back at my head. 
 

FOOOOOOOOOORRRREEE ️ 

Hey, nothing wrong with passing along the tradition of trash talk.  These kids nowadays don't know how to deal with it.

I trash talked the kg's once and they lectured me about bullying.

I was like, no let me lecture you about how to mentally demolish the competition.  Mrs. kg01 was all ...

[lethalweapon3]

FWIW, in addition to Gallo, Lou appears to be back, too.

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Not relevant for tonight's game, but we won't have a former #2 overall to bedevil us. Not today, nor in The Fi((tackled)).

~lw3

[terrell]

Dr. Jekyl or Mister Hyde, which one will show?

[Spud2nique]

Just now, terrell said:

Dr. Jekyl or Mister Hyde, which one will show?

Dr. Hyde. 

[terrell]

No Bogi tonight..... 

That means more Huerter. Good lord

We better hope Trae and Gallo has it going offensively or its gonna be a long night Im afraid..

Edited March 25, 2022 by terrell