Official Game Thread: Hawks at Magic

[lethalweapon3]

The Hawks’ Secret Offensive Play-caller… REVEALED!

 

There’s no telling what will happen if our Atlanta Hawks find themselves in a late dogfight tonight, against the Magic in down in O-Town (7 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 103.3 FM in ATL, Bally Sports Florida). But the conclusion to Monday’s contest in Philly left echoes from Sunday’s goofs on the gridiron in D.C. Tonight’s final frame may reinforce why the Southeast Division could become the NFC South of the NBA.

The Tompa Brady Bucs are atop the NFC Sloth for the same reason the Miami heat haven’t already reasserted their place above the Wizards and Hawks (11-10) in the NBA Filthy South Division. A revolving door of injuries have those Floriduh teams taking their time, making it just on fumes and coaching competency. Atlanta’s bird-brained teams, meanwhile, seem satisfied just trying to fake their way to the top, from one game to the next.

Game on the line with seconds to go? Let’s have Marcus Mariota pass the ball Unwashed Russ Wilson Super Bowl-style mere yards away from the end zone, concluding a drive where the opponent had no good answer for Atlanta’s running backs. Or, let’s have John Collins catch the ball with an open three opportunity, only to drive the seconds away amid a forest of defenders, looking to somehow thread a needle for Mr. Reliable Around The Rim, Clint Capela. Go ahead and draw it up yourself, Marcus! Just as well.

The Hawks are still an above-.500 team, for the moment. Alas, nothing about their negative-0.9 Net Rating suggests they are bound to stay that way. The Magic (5-16) will remain below-.500, with or without a home win here at Amway Center this evening, and no matter how much young scoring leaders Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner mature along the way. The latter situation is fine though, because Orlando’s stale front office is fine selling to fans the league’s best young novelty act.

Coach Jamahl Mosley is eager to place 2022 top-pick Banchero (27.5 3FG%) at the 3-spot, Wagner (31.7 3FG%) at the 2. This allows Mosely to go four-on-the-floor at 6-foot-10 and up, something the Magic could pull off for whole games if Franz’ brother Moe was more skilled, Jonathan Isaac less slept, Carter more a picture of health. Halfcourt defense looks a lot like those floppy things at the car dealership lots.

In the Does It Matter Tho? Department, Carter has been out with a strained plantar fascia, while Mo Bamba (questionable) is trying to play despite back spasms. No problem, here in the Quarantine ManCave, because its sole inhabitant is strapped in for another installment of The Bol Bol Show Fo Sho.

You’ve seen all the highlights and trending video snippets over the past couple weeks, the galloping 220-pound giant and son of the late Manute a fullcourt feast for the eyes. “Bol’s 7-foot-2, shoots 3s, brings it up the court, makes passes, and blocks shots,” Banchero noted to HoopsHype, ostensibly to hype his teammate up for Most Improved Player candidacy, but also to draw attention to what he’s doing versus NBA-quality talent right now, as scouts and draftniks slobber over “the Victor dude, from France.”

Team prez Jeff Weltman and his pal John Hammond have to be giddy at the prospects, and at the prospect of people calling about their top prospects. Once the Magic officially clinch a top-four Repondez S’il Vous Plait for Wemby-don, their cellies won’t stop buzzing with offers for Wagner, Bol, Carter (declining salary through 2025-26), and even Banchero.

Isaac’s contract is dump-able before January 10, so a partnership in a big-money deal to get his Oh Noes I’ve Been Canceled World Tour formally underway is possible, too. Whichever of the bigs they keep should have many more assets built around them by the end of next summer, and Bol himself provides plenty of entertainment to pass the time. I am perfectly fine with Mosely handing Bol a third of the team usage, and let the guy act out like Bebe’s Kid at the Disney park – “It’s Ma World!”

In the shadow of Lake Buena Vista there are always mice in the house to exploit with Mosely’s tall-ball experiments. They can clear a lane (scores on 65.6% of drives, 3^rd in NBA) for Jalen Suggs or each other, or collapse the defense around the rim in hopes either of Gary Harris (47.6 3FG%) or Terrence Ross catch a heater.

They find themselves doomed to be a cellar-dweller, at least in the short term, not just because of inexperience playing together, but because at some point, these big galoots have to dribble the ball to the floor, and often the ball doesn’t make its way fully back up. Orlando’s 16.7 TOs per 100 possessions is ahead of only Houston’s rate, their 8.5 opponent steals per-48 right in line with fellow dwellers Houston and San Antonio.

There’s a good opportunity for Dejounte Murray to get back up to speed and spark the transition offense, which has been Atlanta’s bread-and-margarine (NBA-high 54.9% scoring frequency on transition plays; 16.6% of all game plays transition, 16^th in NBA). Murray and the Atlanta bigs can spark the transition by getting good position inside against an Orlando team that isn’t as stout rebounding the ball as it looks on the floor, especially without Carter, and make things easier on themselves for the later stages of the game. But when does an Atlanta professional team do that this time of year, really?

 

Rise Sideways! Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

As you're likely aware Justin Holiday (Health 'n Safety and whatnot) won't be around to save us this time.

My guyyyyyyyyy Mo Baaaaambaaaaa is officially ooooout with back spasms what's Orlando gonna dooooooooo...

What is Hip? De'Andre (questionable) has moved on to a sore one, while Jalen Johnson joins Bogi ((insert eyes emoji here)) as doubtful, in the rookie's case with a sore right ankle. Could this be a night for The Amazing Krejci?

~lw3

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

 

[lethalweapon3]

^ Looks like my hopes for Vit will have to wait a bit. De'Andre's a go.

~lw3

[Guest]

14 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

What is Hip?

https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+hip+video&rlz=1C1NHXL_enUS711US711&oq=what+is+hip+video&aqs=chrome..69i57.5713j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:a134c55c,vid:Pfim3SKTNkw

[lethalweapon3]

I blame my size-sucking Gamethread pics for the obligatory pregame site crashes. I just praise the swift recoveries, we used to be out for days on end.

~lw3

[benhillboy]

I pulled out a patch of hair these last two games watching AJ go 3-15 on mostly good to great looks from downtown.  

This kid’s makeup probably didn’t allow him to sleep much and he’s probably got up as many shots in practice as he ever has.  The Magic will pay dearly tonight.  That’s if Fultz doesn’t pull a triple double out his ass please no.

Edited November 30, 2022 by benhillboy

[kg01]

We're in trouble tonite if we don't plan on playing 48 full minutes.

I did some advance scouting and ORL is one-a them pesky teams that don't know they're supposed to lose until you beat them.

Plus Bol Bol will probably fall into a buncha nice plays while we're sleepwalking as usual.

[lethalweapon3]

1 minute ago, kg01 said:

We're in trouble tonite if we don't plan on playing 48 full minutes.

I did some advance scouting and ORL is one-a them pesky teams that don't know they're supposed to lose until you beat them.

Plus Bol Bol will probably fall into a buncha nice plays while we're sleepwalking as usual.

To kg's point Orlando plays well (okay, halfway-decent) in the first quarters (+2.1 Net Rating), and as scramblers in the fourth (minus-2.0 Net), as was the case when Bol Bol led the charge versus Brooklyn. It's in the middle-quarters where things tend to get squirrely for them. Not having Bamba, or Okeke, complicates what we'll see out of their frontcourt for the full game. Of course, don't let our frontcourt guys hear any of this.

~lw3

[terrell]

Can Nate survive a loss to Houston and Orlando in a week?

Hawks better come to play 4 qtrs..

 

Edited November 30, 2022 by terrell

[lethalweapon3]

1 minute ago, terrell said:

Can Nate survive a loss to Houston and Orlando in a week?

He'd pull off a monumental win back home against the Nuggs to salvage everything... just in time to flop next Monday against OKC.

AlterNate!

~lw3

[JayBirdHawk]

Will Tyrese get any playing time tonight with JHol and JJ out?

 

Or will Nate stick to his 9? AHol, Forrest,,AJ and OO?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[benhillboy]

4 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

Will Tyrese get any playing time tonight with JHol and JJ out?

 

Or will Nate stick to his 9? AHol, Forrest,,AJ and OO?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although in only 21 minutes versus scrubs his 131 to 113 rating deserves a rotational look soon.  Much moreso than Forest’s 99 to 113 in 47 minutes.

[terrell]

3 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

Will Tyrese get any playing time tonight with JHol and JJ out?

 

Or will Nate stick to his 9? AHol, Forrest,,AJ and OO?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[benhillboy]

Trae gonna have a monster game.  And we actually win it lol

Any team playing Cole Anthony 31 minutes is just…..nah bruh.  Him and Cameron Payne NBA’s most likely to kick they own dribble out of bounds.

Edited December 1, 2022 by benhillboy

[Spud2nique]

51 minutes ago, kg01 said:

Bol Bol

Get a hotel room already. 

[GameTime]

If we lose to Orlando tonight does Nate get fired? Or is it too early? Give him 34 games like LP?

Edited December 1, 2022 by GameTime

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Tompa Brady Bucs

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

There’s a good opportunity for Dejounte Murray to get back up to speed

He did in 2k.

Nice lw3!

Vegas has Hawks -7

2k I gottem by 9.

DJ with 49 and 4 steals.

Game time folks! Break this 3 game slide 🛝 

GO HAWKS!!!!

 

[terrell]

3 minutes ago, GameTime said:

If we lose to Orlando tonight does Nate get fired? Or is it too early? Give him 34 games like LP?

Yes...

[benhillboy]

FIRSR f***ing PLAY THEY CUTTIN BASELINE!!!!

Pay attention hawks 

Edited December 1, 2022 by benhillboy