Official Game Thread: heat at Hawks -- GAME 3

[lethalweapon3]

The Hero We Deserve.

 

Nerlens Noel thought he had the solution.

Just as his New York Knicks thought they might narrow Atlanta's playoff series lead to 3-2 at Mad Square Garden, here goes that pesky Trae Young again, this time with a nine-point second quarter to help widen the Hawks’ lead to five. If only Nerlens could show Young and the Knicks’ faithful in the stands that he and his team still had some fight left. Alas, he’s not in the game. What to do? What to do…

As the refs depart for halftime and Young gets plowed by Julius Randle into Taj Gibson on a floater attempt, in that order, Noel decides the time is right to be a Roxbury Guy and bump Trae, too. He’d greet him with a blindside shoulder bump as he passes by at halfcourt, he thought.

Nerlens Noel thought, which was the start of his problems. He didn’t have Solomon Hill as part of his calculation. After seeing his star guard get accosted, Hill promptly showed Noel how to deliver a proper shoulder shiver. How do you do, Nerlens?

The Knicks never saw the lead again, as Atlanta’s final lead of the series ballooned to double digits in the second half. New York hardly saw much more of Noel, either. After inking a three-year, $32 million deal over the summer, he appeared in just 25 games, averaging 3.2 PPG, before getting shelved with a foot ailment before the All-Star Break.

The cogwheels in Noel’s head were creaking earlier in the 2021 playoff series, too. Early in Game 3, with the series still up for grabs at one win apiece, he was standing around the paint, then moonwalked into a flop in a failed attempt to get the refs’ attention. Solo stands his ground, lowers that boulder of a shoulder, and makes the flop worth Nerlens’ while. The cogwheels were shaken free of cobwebs, and not for the last time. Can I help you up from that wet spot, Nerlens? Hill offers his floor-bound foe a hand before artfully retrieving it.

The Hawks weren’t able to get much during this regular season out of Hill, on the court, before he was attached to Cam Reddish in New York’s trade-off of Kevin Knox. But what has felt missing thus far in this year’s first-round series versus the Miami heat, which continues with Game 3 before a hopefully early-arriving crowd at State Farm Arena (7 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, ESPN), is a veteran who can set the tone, without regard to his direct impact on the boxscore.

Hill had the peak of his NBA playing time with then-associate head coach Nate McMillan and the Pacers, but not the zenith of his playoff success. That came as an end-of-bench glue guy with coach Erik Spoelstra’s heat, as Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro surged in the 2020 Bubble to come out of the East and reach the NBA Finals.

Despite being able to stake his claim as an Eastern Conference champion, make no mistake that Hill leaves little clue as to where he butters his bread in this Hawks-heat series. “he for the moment,” tweeted Hill last week as the series began, reminding followers of Trae’s future portrait in the Louvre from the Hawks star’s time at MSG. “might have to pull up for a game,” Hill tweeted as a follow-up. Right now, Hawks fans wouldn’t mind Solo pulling up for a game or three.

Without his presence to counter the goonery that Young (9-for-15 2FGs, 2-for-17 3FGs @ MIA in-series) faces on the court, there is one guy that Solo, and Yours Truly, identify who needs to make his mark in this series and fully put the heat’s heels on their heels.

“i thought JC was hurt,” tweeted Hill last week in his signature small-caps style, as the Hawks were beginning to turn the elimination tables on the Cavaliers in Cleveland. “he just switched to #8.” Il numero otto is Danilo Gallinari, who played a team-high 41 minutes against the Cavs and splashed a crucial third-quarter triple that helped Trae and the Hawks, without John Collins and then without Clint Capela, climb the mountain before overtaking it.

Young was spectacular and essential in the second half, but Gallo finished that half with just one assist, no rebounds, and two more points off free throws, but a team-best +18 as his offensive gravity and length to cool off Lauri Markkanen threw the Cavs off-balance just enough for Atlanta to come away victorious, granting the Hawks at least two home playoff games.

To have a chance at one more playoff game at The Farm, at the minimum, requires the veteran who is the second-highest salaried Hawk, and potentially the third-highest next season with a contract guarantee, to produce more efficiently and effectively (4-for-11 2FGs, 1-for-7 3FGs, 1 assist in 51 minutes @ MIA) than he has to this point in the first-round series.

Drawing charges, getting strips and deflections, seizing loose balls – these are things that, while far from Gallo’s forte, can ease the tasks ahead for Collins and Onyeka Okongwu in keeping Adebayo suppressed (4-for-11 FGs, 7.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG vs. ATL) and Butler overextended.

At worst, Danilo has to outpoint heat forward Duncan Robinson, who was hardly needed in Game 2 (under seven bench minutes, after going 8-for-9 on threes in Game 1) as Gallinari went 0-for-6 from the field and 2-for-2 from the line (DNP’d in the 4^th quarter, minus-12 in the pivotal 3^rd) in Atlanta’s 115-105 loss. At best, he’s helping to get under the skin of Lowry and the smaller heat, either by making them pay for flop attempts in the paint or by scoring on his patented periscope-up shots when bigs switch onto Trae.

The Hawks need more decisive execution to disallow Miami defenders to sink their hooks into Young (10 af ATL's 19 player TOs, 2-for-10 3FGs in Game 2) and Atlanta’s ballhandlers and would-be finishers. Even without Capela available, Atlanta has been winning possessions by rebounding, and the Hawks must turn these advantages into hesitation-free transition buckets. Young and Bogdan Bogdanovic corner threes helped narrow the gap in Miami near the end of Game 2, and Gallo, Kevin Huerter and De’Andre Hunter can help create the gap in Game 3 by picking up the pace and getting defenders behind them on chases to the corners.

Hunter stood his ground in the middle of the second quarter and barked at Lowry, but his on-court bite in Game 2 (nine 1^st quarter points) dulled as the contest went on. It would be swell if McMillan could turn more to gentle giant Gorgui Dieng, or the young pups Knox and Jalen Johnson, for pivotal playing time to offset the frontcourt minutes lost by Capela’s extended absence and Collins’ painful re-acclimation. But winning this weekend’s home games are instrumental in changing the tenor of this series, and the Hawks will need Gallinari to be their Stradivari. Should Lowry and the heat try any funny business with Young, Gallo is the ideal guy to be their Jeff Jarrett. “El Kabong!”

Feel free to pull up at any time, Solo! We can find you some nice seats behind the heat bench. Bring Zaza and Ivan with you!

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Miami and Atlanta's pregame Boo-Boo Reports look much the same as in Game 2, with Bam (bruised quad) and PJ (strained calf) joining Markieff (strained hip flexor) and Caleb Martin (sprained ankle) as Questionable. Gabe Vincent (sore big piggy) remains Probable. Nobody else joins Lou (aching back) and Clint (hyperextended knee) on the Hawks' list.

~lw3

[JayBirdHawk]

I don't wanna say it, but I'm gonna......which one of our wings will have the 0-fer game tonight? 

[Atlantaholic]

16 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

I don't wanna sat it, but I'm gonna......which one of our wings will have the 0-fer game tonight? 

I feel after finally being able to get some rest, coming back home in a must win game, everyone shows up tonight.

[Guest]

29 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

I don't wanna sat it, but I'm gonna......which one of our wings will have the 0-fer game tonight? 

Reddish.

[kg01]

28 minutes ago, Atlantaholic said:

I feel after finally being able to get some rest, coming back home in a must win game, everyone shows up tonight.

Yep, we all gotta do our part.

On that note, according to my ... sources, Eric Spoelstra's Hawk-loving/Heat-hating brother Deric Spoelstra may be taking over the kg account during the game.

[Diesel]

31 minutes ago, LongTimeFan said:

Reddish.

I saw Cam Reddish at Grant Park this morning,   He had a 17 in a game to 21 against Ace Custis, Xray Hip,  and Josh Howard.  Smoove was getting ready to play.

[JayBirdHawk]

33 minutes ago, LongTimeFan said:

Reddish.

[Diesel]

 

[kg01]

"Guys, any chance we can get that train to ... ahem...  "break" "down" like we did when the HorCats came to town?  Last time my brother walked more than a few feet, he was wheezin' and coughin' like a 4 pack-a-day smoker.  The pollen might kill his weak a**." - D. Spoelstra

[kg01]

"Any chance the A/C goes 'on the fritz' like that year in San Antonio?  Dump some extra freon up in that b*tch.  Make is col' as a penguin butt cheeks in tha 'Farm.  Make them ol' a** Heat knees lock up like the Tin man in the Wiz.  A teeeny.  A teeeny..." - D. Spoelstra

[Spud2nique]

21 minutes ago, kg01 said:

"Any chance the A/C goes 'on the fritz' like that year in San Antonio?  Dump some extra freon up in that b*tch.  Make is col' as a penguin butt cheeks in tha 'Farm.  Make them ol' a** Heat knees lock up like the Tin man in the Wiz.  A teeeny.  A teeeny..." - D. Spoelstra

Any chance Spo can be laying on the mat while we run this back. 

…

Hey, I pissed off Mavs fans earlier..

Edited April 22, 2022 by Spud2nique

[kg01]

1 minute ago, Spud2nique said:

Any chance Spo can be laying on the mat while we run this back. 

…

Hey, I pissed off Mavs fans earlier..

"But what's Zion got to do with any of this?  Did he get hired as part of the Hawks entertainment staff? " - D. Spoelstra

[lethalweapon3]

"Fool squad!"

~d3r1c

[kg01]

He lyin'.  I seen Haslem tryna get out of a chair.  He ain't ready to play.  Heyul, if the arena catch on fire, his a** gon burn to death. - D. Spoelstra 

Edited April 22, 2022 by kg01

[Spud2nique]

5 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Solomon Hill

We need a vet body check tonight. Calling one Gorgeous Gorgui!

 

5 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

“might have to pull up for a game,” Hill tweeted as a follow-up. Right now, Hawks fans wouldn’t mind Solo pulling up for a game or three.

Dang. Ok I miss him now lol. He gonna be there? Can he come out of the stands for us? 

 

5 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

swell if McMillan could turn more to gentle giant Gorgui Dieng,

Yes sir.

 

5 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Feel free to pull up at any time, Solo! We can find you some nice seats behind the heat bench. Bring Zaza and Ivan with you!

And Rasheed! What! He was here for a night! 
 

Nice work @lethalweapon3 you never cease to amaze. It’s a red out baby let’s go! 

If Huerter or Bogi is struggling, PLAY DELON NATE! 

Vegas has Heat by 1.5

2k has Hawks by 10 in an absolute DOG FIGHT.

I was down nearly all game until DELON WRIGHT starting working on D. Workin the passing lanes.

Trae was his usual star ️ self.

GO HAWKS! 
 

Gang rebounding! Hustle points! Communication on D. 

[Spud2nique]

4 minutes ago, kg01 said:

D. Spoelstra 

This guy is growing on me like there’s no tomorrow!  Can we have him come on board full time? 

[benhillboy]

30 minute delay, no reason yet.  Gotta love State Farm Arena.

[JayBirdHawk]

5 minutes ago, benhillboy said:

30 minute delay, no reason yet.  Gotta love State Farm Arena.

Maybe this?

 

 

[JayBirdHawk]

Yep.