Official Game Thread: Hawks at Nets

[lethalweapon3]

“Hey Trae, my brother… you guys up for some bean pies?”

 

I do hope Steve Nash is having himself a bonkers FIFA World Cup watch party.

After several tries over several decades, Canada’s MNT messed around a couple weeks ago and scored its first ever World Cup goal, courtesy of young fullback Alphonso Davies. Even though the Maple Leafs didn’t sneak into the knockout round at Qatar’s indentured servitude stadia, their 41^st FIFA World Ranking is about as high as it has ever climbed. Better yet, they’re a lock to be back in 2026. After all, the next time we see Canada in this futbol extravaganza, they’ll be co-hosts.

An avid soccer fan, Steve watched his younger bro, midfielder Martin Nash, on Team Canada, and in his post-MVP seasons of the NBA, Nash got an ownership piece of the team Martin toiled for in Vancouver. Martin’s now a head coach, for a Canadian Premier League side in Toronto, although the elder Nash is suddenly not one in any particular sport. Still, I bet Steve is whipping up a mean charcuterie plate ahead of tomorrow’s huge England-France quarterfinal.

It was just over three years ago when a former Santa Clara U. star, then-Atlanta Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce, first introduced his former teammate, Nash, to the latter’s most excited new NBA protégé. Meeting his longtime idol, Trae Young hadn’t been this excited since showing up to the Hawks’ sparkling Brookhaven practice gym to find LP’s four-point line, installed with the Hawks’ 2018 lotto pick in mind. Thanks, Coach!

In the summer of 2019, Young would link up with Nash in Madrid, to watch the UEFA Champions League Final together, and also to pick up some helpful pointers on dribbling of another sort, as Trae prepared to build on an exciting rookie campaign in the NBA. The two spent more time in California that summer doing shootaround and working out, Young picking Nash’s mind on pick-and-rolls and midrange mechanics.

“We’re as similar as players from different eras can be,” Nash would tell Marc Spears at Andscape about Trae. “He has a high ceiling. He can be an All-Star and lead guard that can take them to the playoffs and win them playoff series.” Right-o, Steve-o, right-o.

Nash couldn’t foresee it just yet, but a year later he would take a free kick at the chance to be a first-time head coach for a Finals contender, as his longtime pal Sean Marks came calling on behalf of the Brooklyn Nets. What a Coney Island coaster ride that would turn out to be, eh?

Back in the spring, I was enjoying a work by another Canadian, Natalya Neidhart of the famous Hart Dungeon rasslin’ family, and the scene felt awfully familiar. A naïve Cora Jade was in the ring with a mic fangirling Natalya outta control, not realizing the smizing WWE diva came down to NXT with the intention of turning heel, for the larger purpose of making the upstart Jade a bigger face in the squared circle (if you have no idea what I’m talking about, congrats, you’re living right).

Not even needing a Hall or a Hogan, Nash famously turned heel against Young as the Nets coach complained, with James Harden right there on his payroll, about the young Hawk star’s ability to draw foul calls from sympathetic referees, at his Nets’ expense. To his credit, Trae took Nash’s “That’s not basketball,” chairshot like an intercontinental champ.

“I bet if I was playing for Steve, he’d be happy,” Young retorted to The Athletic. “I learned a lot about drawing fouls from him… if he says it’s not basketball, he must’ve been saying it about himself, because he’s done it a couple of times throughout his career, and he was successful.” Mic drop! Nash had no choice but to be impressed.

Kevin Durant was a bunion away from making the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals a Fanboy Versus Idol cage match of epic proportions. But even with Nash’s success in the standings with his star-laden Nets, he seemed to be stuck speaking to a lot of tin ears. How much further, Nash must wonder, could he have guided an NBA team with a star or two that might actually care what he has to say?

There won’t be much to drill down on for tonight’s game (7:30 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, YES Network in The BK) of two NBA East ships passing in the night. The 14-12 Nets are coming together just in time for a ridiculously long homestand (tonight makes a whopping seven-straight games at Barclays, where they’ve won five of the prior six, losing only to Boston). They’re hosting the 13-12 Hawks coming apart at the seams, now with Dejounte Murray (sprained ankle) making it three starters out of commission, and one starter looking to be in a New Coach State of Mind.

It will be during one of those surefire 15-point Nets runs engineered by Nate McMillan’s intransigence that my mind will wander, and ponder. If Trae were playing for his Canadian Idol right now, would Steve indeed by happy? Would Trae? Would we?

One night after the self-styled King of Broadway was deposed by the Knicks before a national audience, Young missed Nate’s Thursday morning practice with a reported illness. Thankfully, he didn’t grab his Kleenex box and hoof it over to Broadway for his pre-scheduled appearances later that day for American Express/NBA2K23 and adidas. Because after last week’s shoulder-gate, that would’ve rung even more alarm bells back home.

It has become a tripe of a trope, but it never hurts when a point guard becomes an extension of his head coach out on the floor. We never quite got that sense when Kyrie Irving played (emphasis on “when”) under Nash’s watch, although now that he has moved on from his Nuwaubian excursion, he seems to be taking to Jacque Vaughn’s command much better (post-suspension: 23.3 PPG, 4.2 APG, 50.6 FG%, 35.3 3FG%, 1.1 BPG). It’s not quite Nash-D’Antoni, but it will do fine for now.

We’re beginning to get the sense that the disconnect between Trae and Nate is real, and it is sobering to recognize this development isn’t surprising for a FOL (Friend of Lloyd) trying to get through to the precocious Young. McMillan was only here, with the Hawks, because he wanted to ride it out as an assistant under Pierce, one of his coaching protégés. With the new-car smell wearing thin, Nate only remains here of his own volition ((Hawt Take Alert)), because he is postponing the need for Jamelle to resort to trudging through LinkedIn for D-II head coaching gigs.

At the end of every day, Trae probably sees McMillan as a coach just too closely aligned with Pierce, the USMNT hoops assistant that didn’t seem to have Young’s back when he got snubbed by the powers that be at the USOC, who now gets to pal around with Tyrese Haliburton as an assistant in Indy. Further, Nate, relative to Nash’s point in regard to Trae, may be as dissimilar as point guards from different eras can be.

You can stick a fork in my suspicions, that Young is quietly angling for the freshly underemployed Nash to join the Hawks’ sideline, if one assumes the former SCU Bronco is a tight-knit, dyed-in-the-wool FOL, too. But if that assumption isn’t quite true? Hmm. Next stop on the D-Train, Speculation Station!

There isn’t much to get excited about tonight, as the Royce O’Neale, Joe Harris and Seth Curry take turns splashing threes on second- and third-chances, while Trae’s Hawks take their Nestea plunge down the standings. If Trae manages to get hot for a scoring spell or two, Durant will be right there to give him a joyful, extended bearhug.

De’Andre Hunter (strained hip flexor) is upgraded to questionable but hasn’t been able to practice fully with the team. No one was waiting over in nearby Allentown, Pennsylvania to celebrate their hometown kid-makes-good Tyrese Martin’s draft selection this past June. But there might be more ceremonies in store for the UConn product if he can duplicate some of his recent G-League exploits to help keep Atlanta in the running. At least until Bogi Bogdanovic figures out how to hit the broad side of a barn with some of his jumpshots.

Nash as an assistant or head coach for the Hawks, or Atlanta United, might never come to fruition. But if it ever did, I would love to ask, of a Hall of Fame and NBA75+1 guard decrying the way guys like Trae draw fouls, how his personal favorite sport became one where you can count on a doggone telenovela every couple minutes with its pleading, flopping stars on the hunt for one yellow card after the next. To me, that’s one header of a headscratcher.

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[kg01]

We finna get blown more out than Dorothy and Toto.

But the funny part will be folks spewing anti-Trae hate all game long totally ignoring circumstance. 

[lethalweapon3]

Trent Forrest isn't out of the woods just yet, as he's questionable while still in concussion protocol.

Yuta Watanabe won't be rocking shows from here to Japan, as he's the sole Net out due to a strained hammy.

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

This is shaping up to be a good opportunity for Brooklyn to finally give KD (36.9 minutes/game, 3rd in NBA) a decent breather, although I'm sure they tried on Wednesday, but the Hornets were relentless.

https://netswire.usatoday.com/2022/12/08/nets-coach-jacque-vaughn-wants-to-reduce-kevin-durants-minutes/

Quote

“It’s priority number one”, Vaughn said in his pregame press conference about reducing Durant’s minutes. “In all honesty, it is, and we looked at the short-term and long-term piece of it. We knew we were gonna give a tremendous amount of effort against Boston, had the two-and-a-half days in between before we played Charlotte again, and we take care of business tonight (Wednesday against the Hornets) and we’re 5-1 in our homestand. There is vision going ahead of hopefully getting some of those minutes down.”

Among active NBA tricenarians (i.e., not counting Harden), 30-year-old Kyrie averages the next most floor time at 36.7.

Speaking of Kyrie... "SHOOT IT, BEN!"

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Lil' Man in the OP pic is Noah Shelby, a 6'3" diaper-dandy freshman out of Texas, currently under Jerry Stackhouse's tutelage with the Fighting John Jenkinses at Vandy. Noah has been with the Team Trae Young AAU Oklahoma club since he was at least 12 years young. Transfer portals, get ready!

~lw3

[Alf]

My girlfriend said if we win tonight, she will put on a little number she got from Victoria Secret and we can have fun. If we lose however, I have to wash and wax her car tomorrow.

As much as I would love the former, quite sure I will be knee deep in suds and f***ing Turtle Wax by tomorrow lunch time, just don't see us winning this one

[Spud2nique]

2 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Steve watched his younger bro, midfielder Martin Nash,

Whoa that’s cool didn’t know.

 

2 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

charcuterie plate

I just said that aloud. Possibly my first time saying charcuterie .

 

2 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

“I bet if I was playing for Steve, he’d be happy,” Young retorted to The Athletic. “I learned a lot about drawing fouls from him… if he says it’s not basketball, he must’ve been saying it about himself, because he’s done it a couple of times throughout his career, and he was successful.” Mic drop! Nash had no choice but to be impressed.

Destined to be our coach…

 

2 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

If Trae were playing for his Canadian Idol right now, would Steve indeed by happy? Would Trae? Would we?

When he was signed I thought he was gonna be Kerr. 

 

2 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Hawt Take Alert)), because he is postponing the need for Jamelle to resort to trudging through LinkedIn for D-II head coaching gigs.

 

 

2 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

You can stick a fork in my suspicions, that Young is quietly angling for the freshly underemployed Nash to join the Hawks’ sideline, if one assumes the former SCU Bronco is a tight-knit, dyed-in-the-wool FOL, too. But if that assumption isn’t quite true? Hmm. Next stop on the D-Train, Speculation Station!

I would be in favor. Nash would be controlling himself in Trae out there. I think it could work, but meanwhile go Nate…  

 

2 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

There isn’t much to get excited about tonight,

Well one of our squawkers might get some cookies if the Hawks win.

 

Awesome work @lethalweapon3.

I love soccer ️ go Argentina . Messi has a few lives left after today! 
 

GOOOOO HAWKS!!!!

 

ps 2K results forthcoming! 

 

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

 

[JayBirdHawk]

1 hour ago, Alf said:

My girlfriend said if we win tonight, she will put on a little number she got from Victoria Secret and we can have fun. If we lose however, I have to wash and wax her car tomorrow.

As much as I would love the former, quite sure I will be knee deep in suds and f***ing Turtle Wax by tomorrow lunch time, just don't see us winning this one

Pray for rain tomorrow! Lol

[JayBirdHawk]

So who is the 5th starter tonight to go with Trae, AJ, JJ, CC?

Versus NYK, Nate started AHol in the 2nd half.

Bogi is still on minutes restrictions, so might be less likely he starts.

 

 

 

 

[terrell]

13 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

 

 

 

Of course...

[ABH]

1 hour ago, Alf said:

My girlfriend said if we win tonight, she will put on a little number she got from Victoria Secret and we can have fun. If we lose however, I have to wash and wax her car tomorrow.

As much as I would love the former, quite sure I will be knee deep in suds and f***ing Turtle Wax by tomorrow lunch time, just don't see us winning this one

You be knee deep in suds

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[JayBirdHawk]

Someone unexpected as got to step up.

 

 

[Spud2nique]

42 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

So who is the 5th starter tonight to go with Trae, AJ, JJ, CC?

Versus NYK, Nate started AHol in the 2nd half.

Bogi is still on minutes restrictions, so might be less likely he starts.

 

 

 

 

Okongwu. Go 2 bigs f it! They can rebound Trae’s necessary volume tonigjt in case he’s off.

35 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

 

 

He’s so beautiful  

[Spud2nique]

Vegas has Nets -7.5

2K Nets by 19.

Trae scored 32 points but on 34 FG. 
 

When you are missing DM, JC and Hunter, it’s just hard to keep up. 
 

Hoping somebody sparks us tonight. 
 

I can’t even win in 2K whhhhhyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!

 

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[JayBirdHawk]

5 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

Okongwu. Go 2 bigs f it! They can rebound Trae’s necessary volume tonigjt in case he’s off.

 

Nate? it's Nate....lol.

[Spud2nique]

1 minute ago, JayBirdHawk said:

 

 

So we can run 2 PG’s who are small but we aren’t gonna go 2 centers with CC and OO? Against a tall a$$ Nets squad?  

[Spud2nique]

1 minute ago, JayBirdHawk said:

Nate? it's Nate....lol.

11 games until the new year… duuuuunnnnn duuuuduuuduuuuunnn..