Official Game Thread: Jazz at Hawks

[lethalweapon3]

“And that means the #1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft goes… hold on, where’s Utah??? I’m being told... the Lottery machine may have a glitch. So, how about we all go home and try this again tomorrow?”

 

Your guess is as good as mine! I have next to no idea as to what rookie coach Will Hardy is up to with the – checks notes -- Western Conference’s first-place Utah Jazz. The silver lining, as the Jazz (9-3) pays our Atlanta Hawks a visit (7:30 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, AT&T SportsNet in SLC), is that the vast majority of opposing scouts can’t seem to figure it out, either.

Danny Ainge doesn’t care whether they do or not. The Jazz’s newest executive architect is charged with a rebuild, and he brought former Celtic hire Hardy to rejoin him in SLC. Hardy’s pro background as an experienced branch of the Spurs’ Poplar Tree, then as a top assistant with the reigning Eastern Conference champs, is interesting. But it’s his playing days at Massachusetts’ Williams College that are the most informative.

The D-III powerhouse, the school that first brought you Duncan Robinson, began really making its hay back in the 1990s with a relentless, Grinnell-style offensive attack, the Ephs making the maximization of possessions of highest priority, maybe even above safety.

The gist of it: set up offensive players in their areas of strength and execute plays with no hesitation, then pressure the ballhandler, giving teammates the opportunity to get set on defense, particularly along the perimeter. Coax the opponent into going iso and forcing up quick shots instead of passes into the paint, and if that fails, go for steals and foul on the gather before a shot attempt can unfurl, making foes earn their points at the free throw line. Get the ball back, then get back to attack.

It’s like bowling for strikes at an alley with the swiftest ball returns. The Jazz Cycle is working well (NBA-high 1,226 possessions), so far, because 2021 All-Star Mike Conley (7.5 APG, 1.5 TOs/game) is reinvigorated, granted free rein by Hardy to run the show with Utah’s former stars long gone.

Lauri Markkanen (career-highs of 21.9 PPG, 68.1 2FG%), fresh off a strong Eurobasket run over the summer, is finding his groove, while Jordan Clarkson (near-career-high 18.1 PPG, w/ career-best 42.1 3FG% and 5.2 APG), now in the starting lineup, never really lost it. Everyone, from ATLien rookie Walker Kessler, to former Timberwolf Jarred Vanderbilt, to Kelly Olynyk and seven-footer Markkanen, are expected to batter the offensive boards. Accordingly, the Jazz’s 115.7 O-Rating is highest among the 19 NBA clubs currently pushing above a 100.0 pace.

Jazz opponents have had the same struggle opponents of the Hawks (NBA-lows of 32.6 opponent 3FG%, an optical illusion in Atlanta’s case) have had with keeping hot-hands warm throughout games. They also can’t generate offense to their liking (NBA-low 20.2 opponent APG). Opponents do find their way to the charity stripe eventually (22.8 personal fouls drawn, tied-2^nd in NBA), but the selective nature of Utah’s grubby hacks has them shooting just 74.3 FT% (3^rd-lowest in NBA).

It's an impressive strategy and buy-in by a collective that was roundly expected by pundits to fail miserably, and perhaps intentionally, out of the gate. And none of it may matter in just over a month from now.

Ainge is entrusted to get this franchise back to the promised-land days of yore. But neither he nor GM Justin Zanik expected to complete this task in 2023, not with a 35-year-old Conley, and fellow tricenarians Clarkson, Rudy Gay and Olynyk leading the charge. Not even with youthful trade acquisitions like Markkanen, Talen Horton-Tucker, Collin Sexton, Vanderbilt (questionable, sore adductor), Kessler and Ochai Agbaji front-and-center.

The alarm clock at Trader Dan’s front office is set for 12:00:01 AM on December 15, the date a larger proportion of warm NBA bodies become available for wheeling and dealing. More will come in the opening weeks of January, as certain not-fully-guaranteed contracts are deemed undesirable. Utah is already looking forward to a record-haul of picks from the Rudy Gobert trade with Minnesota, plus the Donovan Mitchell shipment to Cleveland (by Woj’s count, 13 picks with light-to-no protections through 2029).

But as James Bond and Northwest Division rival Sam Presti would tell you, the world is not enough. We’re not even a month into the season, and several of the NBA’s sacred-cow franchises are desperate to gain upward traction in the standings before it’s too late. A couple clubs may share Carole King’s view: it’s already too late, and it’s time to plan now for a midseason teardown. Ainge isn’t all-ears yet, but he will be soon. Get all those draft picks ready, fellow GMs and execs. Maybe line up another second-tier star or two, as well.

Sexton serves in Clarkson’s sixth-man super-soaker role until a team comes calling for the showcased latter’s modest salary hit, with a player option set for next year that he may not pick up. Conley and Olynyk have non-guaranteed deals for next season, while Malik Beasley’s $16-ish million comes with a handy-dandy club option. Any of the veterans, individually or collectively, could be the short-term sugar rush other teams seek to turn their desperate fans’ frowns upside down.

The Jazz intend to start from scratch in due time, but their players are committed to scratching-and-clawing at unsuspecting opponents just to pass the time. Today’s game is tailor-made for Dejounte Murray to thrive once more, but ideally for Atlanta (7-3) if he can have Trae Young (questionable, sore shin) to share the floor and make Conley split defensive duties.

Young’s sudden absence forced Nate McMillan’s hand on Monday, and now we’ve all been treated to the blessings of Pastor Griff. Rookie AJ Griffin (24 points, and not all on threes, plus 3 steals vs. MIL) helped Murray and the Hawks turn the tables on the Bucks before putting them through a table, while playing with the revelatory look of a player who doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.

The poise displayed by Jalen Johnson (7 D-Rebs and 2 steals in 22 minutes), Onyeka Okongwu and Griffin in that rousing 117-98 victory was great, in that it allows McMillan and the Hawks more time to hash out how best to develop the team’s biggest project. That being, the $90 million extended long-term project known by his government name of De’Andre Hunter.

Hunter (one 3FGA, one assist, no stocks, 4 TOs in 24 minutes vs. MIL), conversely, knows what he doesn’t know – how to be in position to shoo three-point threats off the perimeter, how to otherwise help Clint Capela, John Collins and Okongwu bolster what has been a meek defensive rebounding effort (68.5 D-Reb%, 3^rd-lowest in NBA but just above Utah’s 68.1), how best to pass out of a dribble drive as the defense closes in, before dribbling the ball off one’s leg.

The challenge for McMillan and the Hawks developmental staff is to ensure that their incumbent starting forward doesn’t grow complacent in the areas of his game where he gets caught lacking. Coincidentally, that was where Chicago got with a lost-cause Lauri in 2020. The Bulls declined to settle for an extension before shipping the restricted free agent to their division-rival Cavs in a sign-and-trade the following summer.

Markkanen’s jumpshooting helped keep Cleveland from sinking into the abyss and then get just so far in the Play-In with Atlanta last spring. Now, thanks to some committed defensive coaching and an elevated usage, the four-year, $67 million contract he signed to escape Chicago is looking manageable, at worst.

As Lauri rounds out the once-ignored elements of his game in Utah, De’Andre, with his physical tools, has ample reason to be of greater value to Atlanta than simply, “put him on the opponent’s best player, stash him in the corner, and hope for the best.” Murray alleviates the need to be a full-time point-of-attack defender. Meanwhile, Dookie Diaper Dandies Griffin and Johnson, when their number is called, are offering early glimpses of the promise Hunter has long held.

Atlanta’s front office can’t resist the urge to dig into Coach K’s stable, but the net returns are looking better than they did when we were all waiting on Cam Reddish to become a PTP’er. The longer the former UVA product stalls, the more likely we’ll see the Hawks jockeying for Dariq Whitehead at draft time next season. Or Harrison Ingram, if Stanford alum Landry Fields has a say, That all assumes teams like Utah aren’t hording all the picks by then.

The scouting crib-note on outwitting Hardy and defeating the Jazz, these days, looks exactly the same as Ainge’s approach to building a quick-fix contender in Utah. It’s brief, and it’s to the point: “¯\_(ツ)_/¯ “.

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

The Best Part of Waking Up... is Tank Chatter in Your Cup! 

~lw3

[NBASupes]

Should be a good game.

[Gray Mule]

I've been accused, and rightfully so, of always talking up the Hawks "non starters."  I just believe that our second unit is excellent.  They really showed up against the #1 team in the east.  Hawks won that one!  Now, as we face the #1 team from the west, I expect more of the same!

Tonight's opponent sounds like the Atlanta Falcons, who are currently tied for 1st place in their division.  Some expected only 2 wins this season.  Apparently, someone believed that the west's current #1 team would tank the entire season.  

[Final_quest]

It's like the Jazz have the perfect team to nuetralize Gobert and make him irrelevant.  Unbelievable that they are winning like this after trading away two "franchise" players.  

[Dnice]

We'll see what happens, the former regime had our number.

It'd be nice to take them down a note.

[benhillboy]

Mike Conley got a flat 5:1 assist to turn.  What in Sam Hell.  I’m pretty sure that’s historic for a 30 minute PG through a 12 game stretch goddamn.

How they’re atop the West right now is one of the more amazing stories I’ve seen in recent memory.  Give Ainge his flowers that boy saw some exceptional fits because on paper they’re pure cheeks.

[macdaddy]

The Jazz are impressive but it's a vet team.  I'm not going to be too impressed unless they are still doing this come mid december.  

[HawkingAwesome]

1 hour ago, macdaddy said:

The Jazz are impressive but it's a vet team.  I'm not going to be too impressed unless they are still doing this come mid december.  

a vet team that has been talked down to.

[HawkingAwesome]

kind of pumped for this game i hope i don't fall asleep before tip off 

[hylndr11]

2 hours ago, benhillboy said:

Mike Conley got a flat 5:1 assist to turn.  What in Sam Hell.  I’m pretty sure that’s historic for a 30 minute PG through a 12 game stretch goddamn.

How they’re atop the West right now is one of the more amazing stories I’ve seen in recent memory.  Give Ainge his flowers that boy saw some exceptional fits because on paper they’re pure cheeks.

I refuse to believe he did this on purpose in fact, pretty much just hire ainge to do a thing and the opposite will happen, 

[JayBirdHawk]

2 hours ago, benhillboy said:

Give Ainge his flowers that boy saw some exceptional fits because on paper they’re pure cheeks

I aint giving him shite. This is sheer luck, yes I said it. 

All those vet guys (Conley, Gay, Clarkson  etc) were on the trade block. He traded Bogey for Olynyk when he was looking for a 1st rounder. The value wasn't there for those other vets he wanted to move, now they are playing well how long before they are back on the market.

[terrell]

4 hours ago, NBASupes said:

Should be a good game.

This should be a win...

If Trae plays it will be harder imo. Especially if he's launching a bunch of long/bad shots that lead to run outs.... Utah is horrible at defending the paint, and excellent at defending the 3 point line....Murray/Hunter/JC should feast in the paint/midrange..

Also Trae can’t guard Conley or Sexton, so if he plays both of those guys are going to eat. This is a bad matchup for him.

Maybe he should rest for one more game....

How is he anyway?

 

Edited November 9, 2022 by terrell

[JeffS17]

The nice vibes they have over in Utah end tonight -- Hawks are about to course correct their season into Wemby day dreaming.

[NBASupes]

17 minutes ago, terrell said:

This should be a win...

If Trae plays it will be harder imo. Especially if he's launching a bunch of long/bad shots that lead to run outs.... Utah is horrible at defending the paint, and excellent at defending the 3 point line....Murray/Hunter/JC should feast in the paint/midrange..

Also Trae can’t guard Conley or Sexton, so if he plays both of those guys are going to eat. This is a bad matchup for him.

Maybe he should rest for one more game....

How is he anyway?

 

Trae usually brings it against Sexton

[lethalweapon3]

Donating my spare Wing Chun dummy to Trae may not have been the best decision.

~lwHiYAHH

[Carmine]

11 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Donating my spare Wing Chun dummy to Trae may not have been the best decision.

~lwHiYAHH

I'd rest him & have him suit up against the Sixers. Time to lean into the bench again & see if they can repeat Monday's performance.

[theheroatl]

Does anyone read the topic post? Just curious because I don’t lol

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[lethalweapon3]

6 minutes ago, theheroatl said:

Does anyone read the topic post? Just curious because I don’t lol

Shoot, EYE don't read them sometimes after I hit Send! lol No worries!

~lw3