Official Game Thread: Magic at Hawks

[lethalweapon3]

“So, we meet again… Orlando Magic… for the last time!”

 

Join me in offering the Orlando Magic a hearty sendoff. So long. Farewell. auf Wiedersehen. Good night!

I am pleased as punch that our Atlanta Hawks draw the final meeting on their schedule with the Magic tonight, here at The Highlight Farm (7:30 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, BS Florida), getting them out of the way so early in this season. The next time we see these Dirty South Division rivals, the tall and prepubescent pests who only have room to grow in varying ways as this season lurches on, we will all be neck deep into 2023, Anno Dominique.

Unless…

Dejounte Murray poked baby bear Paolo Banchero in an otherwise meaningless Seattle Pro-Am over the summer. Murray would go unscathed through Banchero and his Magic’s first two games with the Hawks, both double-digit wins in Atlanta’s column. But last week, an injured Dejounte could hardly bear to watch from the sidelines.

Murray and Hawks fans could only look on, in abject horror, as his teammates were mauled in the opening quarter. The NBA’s top 2022 pick, Banchero, and his fellow bruins bludgeoned visiting Atlanta with a record 50 points along the way to a 135-124 victory.

Murray made the same mistake as Yours Truly, and many first-25-game prognosticators, in the preseason, figuring that Paolo’s new team would be in deep hibernation by the first day of winter. But that beatdown, leading to Orlando’s fourth consecutive win following a 1-11 dive, got the Magic smelling themselves like the Snuggle bear, and enjoying the fresh scent. Now they’ve hit the road and are racking up wins while daring anyone – the Raptors, the Hawks, the Celtics – to stop them.

What was once shaping up to be a final in-season scrimmage could turn into, at best, a playoff preview. Or, worst, a Play-In preview. As Jamahl Mosley’s team surges to 2.5 games behind the Play-In line, the Raptors, Wizards, and Bulls aren’t burning down any houses aside from their own. Atlanta had to whack two playoff-starved moles just to back into 2021’s playoff season. Orlando, as currently configured, would be a hungry beast of a whole different hide, the franchise having just two postseason victories since the Dwightmare ended way back in 2012.

Orlando (11-20) tripled their road-win tally over the weekend in Beantown, beating the NBA East's once-top-seeded Celtics with Jayson Tatum at the Gahden on Friday, then toppling them again yesterday afternoon as Tatum was DNP’d. Mo Wagner came alive in Friday’s contest, outshining “little” bro Franz with 25 points and 8 boards. The Magic showed they could win a game 117-109, spent a night at Holiday Inn Express, then came back to show they could beat them again a 95-92 rockfight.

The common denominator was the Celtics (11-for-49 3FGs vs. ORL on Friday, 12-for-47 in Sunday’s matinee) thinking they could just carpet-bomb the Magic into submission. Opposing perimeter players now have to shoot over length, with Franz and Bol Bol patrolling the wings, and their teammates cannot simply punish the big wings by crashing the offensive glass, not with Mo Wagner and Banchero (or bench mates Admiral Schofield and Mo Bamba) hanging back, and not with Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony leaving the point-of-attack to help secure defensive boards.

Paolo going 9-for-13 from deep (incl. 6-for-7 on 3FGs for 18 of his 31 points Sunday) only added to Boston’s desperation to fire back from long-distance. Both the Knicks and the Magic are riding six-game win streaks, and their opponents are shooting below a 29 percent clip on threes, the lowest in the league, during these victorious runs.

Trae Young and the Hawks went Bagel-for-6 on threes in last Wednesday’s frightening opening frame, and then compounded their misery by failing to get back in proper defensive transition, allowing the Wagner broskis (combined 4-for-4 first-quarter 3FGs vs. ATL), Terrence Ross (2-for-2 3FGs in that quarter), Fultz and Cole Anthony (6-for-6 FTs in 4.5 bench minutes) to meticulously pick them apart.

Atlanta has reverted to being one of the league’s worst transition defenses (64.7 opponent transition eFG%, 4^th-highest in NBA; 1.17 opponent points per transition possession, 7^th-most in NBA). That is despite the Hawks’ penchant for creating turnovers (14.1 transition TO%, tied-2^nd-best in NBA), particularly when Dejountae (3.01 Defensive Real Plus/Minus, 3^rd among NBA guards; 3.6 deflections/game, 5^th in NBA) is available to slow foes’ rolls.

Having Murray (questionable, sprained ankle) back tonight would be fantastic for the Hawks, as would be the case for forward John Collins (questionable, same; 3.7 contested 3FGs per game, 4^th in NBA), in keeping Orlando cool from the outside. With or without those two, Atlanta’s off-ball wings have to be disruptive in the paint, aiding Onyeka Okongwu (4.0 boxouts per-36, 2^nd in NBA; 17 O-Rebs & 15 D-Rebs in 4 starts), Jalen Johnson (no rebounds in over 18 minutes @ ORL on Wednesday) and Frank Kaminsky in retrieving rebounds during the extended absence of Clint Capela (out, strained calf suffered late in Wednesday’s loss).

Just as majestic as Bogdan Bogdanovic’s hot-hand (7-for-10 3FGs), in Friday’s 125-106 win at Charlotte, were his oven-mitts warmly securing a team-high and career-high nine defensive rebounds. It was Bogi’s boards that helped Atlanta first build a sizable lead, then withstand the Hornets salting away a 72-48 near-halftime deficit, after the hosts went on a 27-5 spree in the ensuing six minutes of play.

Starters Trent Forrest (5 D-Rebs @ CHA) and De’Andre Hunter, the former if Murray remains a no-go, have to chip in around the glass, too. Limiting Orlando’s paint touches (1.026 points per paint touch, 2^nd in NBA) throughout this game can help Atlanta (15-15) avoid yet another disastrous spell.

Among the few NBA players more prolific than Capela (6.2 per-36, 5^th in NBA) in piling up screen assists is Okongwu (6.4, 3^rd in NBA). Opening up lanes for Young to attack with floaters and layups is beneficial, but the Hawks offense can constrict the Magic bigs further around the rim if the swingmen, Hunter and AJ Griffin, can evade their man and cut to the basket.

In the NBA East, only the Magic (70.8% of plays leading to points, 3^rd in NBA) and Cavaliers score with greater frequency on cuts than the Hawks (68.2, 7^th in NBA), Atlanta hampered only by a lack of rewards from referees (10.9% FT frequency on cuts, 3^rd-lowest in NBA). Like Charlotte, Orlando is foul-prone (29.8 opponent FTAs in last 6 games, behind CHA’s 30.3) and the Magic will resort to hacking if they feel rim pressure while clustered defensively around the hoop. An inward focus by the Hawks, with the aid of screens, cuts and cross-court passes, can generate clearer and closer looks at the hoop for the guards, and fewer empty possessions.

I will be so happy not to see these Magic tricksters again, for a long while. Orlando’s recent run is coming without at least four would-be regulars in Mosley’s rotation. It would be best for the Hawks to thwart their visiting upstarts’ upward momentum, before Mosley can figure out how best to fold the returning players back in. That includes Pace Academy’s Wendell Carter, who targets a return to action on Friday back in Orlando against the Spurs.

A second-straight victory over Atlanta, plus a favorable schedule for Orlando that extends into the first week of January, could theoretically help put a future tiebreaker no one around here wants to think about in play. Alternatively, a streak-stopping Hawks victory might cause Orlando to revert to its old, familiar losing ways, firming up the Lottery Land buffer in the NBA East, and encouraging Magic management to do some post-holiday shopping, better ensuring a Wembayanan wintertime. Atlanta must take care of business if they have any hope of getting Orlando to start thinking about an early vacation.

Parting can be such sweet sorrow. But this game doesn’t necessarily have to be.

 

Happy Hanukkah to all celebrants. Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Even Dominique knows, when commentating about the opponent, you never go full Eddie House.

~lw3

[Sothron]

Woj bomb: JC is back tonight.

[Spud2nique]

11 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

auf Wiedersehen.

 

12 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Having Murray (questionable, sprained ankle) back tonight would be fantastic for the Hawks, as would be the case for forward John Collins (questionable, same; 3.7 contested 3FGs per game, 4^th in NBA), in keeping Orlando cool from the outside.

 

Nice write up @lethalweapon3! 
 

I think we can and will get the W. 
 

We busted out the peach unis!

Vegas has Hawks -7 started at 7.5

 

Go Hawks!

 

[kg01]

19 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Even Dominique knows, when commentating about the opponent, you never go full Eddie House.

~lw3

Gotta respeck the petty.  Gotta respeck it.

I've heard House interviewed before and his comments here aren't surprising.  He definitely falls in the category of the role player who, in retirement, has let his britches get a lil' big when talking about current guys.

[Gray Mule]

A burned child fears the fire.

Last game, Atlanta had a terrible beginning.  We fear this and will not let it happen again tonight!

[lethalweapon3]

Da-da-duh-da-duh-daaa... Skyhawks! Jarrett Culver is expected to help out College Park in the G-League's AT&T Winter Showcase later tonight at Vegas' Mandalay Bay versus the Canton Charge. Prize money amounts to the equivalent of 1.25Chainz.

Collins coming off the IL brings the injured Hawks on the list down to Clint (out) and Dejounte (questionable, but joined JC in morning shootaround).

~lw3

[AHF]

Hawks need to come out with some fire in their belly.  The have to combine the embarrassment of that first quarter and the nice play against the Hornets to start out strong.  Would love to see DM if he is  healthy enough to return along with JC.

[terrell]

If Collins is a go, this is a big game for him. There's no CC and a lot of length on the Magic.

Lets see what you can do JC....

Hopefully "The Tank" shows up again to help..

Edited December 19, 2022 by terrell

[Spud2nique]

2 hours ago, kg01 said:

He definitely falls in the category of the role player who, in retirement, has let his britches get a lil' big when talking about current guys.

Can we call that the “Kenny Smith’s?”…

You know, MVP Jordan… DPOY Hakeem..

So and and so forth..

#sorrynotsorry #ihatekenny #hisTBSshowSUCKED #analysisTRASH #BrotheryouaintMAGICorZEKE #stayinyolaneKENDOLL

…

#spudwallyhouse   

[Spud2nique]

2 hours ago, Gray Mule said:

child fears

For me it was the gate to the tennis courts. I was somewhat advanced in my tennis play (thank you thank you.. )..

Anyyyyhoo, playing with a friend of my dad’s. This knucklehead lifted the handle to get in the courts and I grabbed the handle but he had raised the dang thing so high my finger got stuck in the hole where the hammer rod comes down..

SLAMMED INTO SPUD 8 YEAR OLD FINGER NAIL.. later turned black and fell off.. from then on, I paid very close attention to that gate..  

@Gray Mule wise gramps.

Go Hawks!

[Spud2nique]

2 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Dejounte (questionable,

Dang, I need to know for 2K! 
 

Fine I’ll sit him and Clint!  
 

No I wanna play him ..
 

 

1 hour ago, AHF said:

Would love to see DM if he is  healthy enough to return along with JC.

I can’t find if DM is gonna play. Hope he plays.

[Spud2nique]

Dejounte Murray (ankle) questionable for Hawks on Monday 

Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray is considered questionable to play Monday in the team's game against the Orlando Magic.

[Spud2nique]

I’m rollin with this lineup today!

Put your peach on! 

[kg01]

Collins and Murray, if he plays, will be on limited minutes.  Can't be counting on them to save us tonite.

[Guest]

3 hours ago, Spud2nique said:

We busted out the peach unis!

Why are there a pair of green wings above your butt crack?  

[macdaddy]

16 minutes ago, LongTimeFan said:

Why are there a pair of green wings above your butt crack?  

His dad's the jolly green giant?

[AHF]

1 hour ago, terrell said:

If Collins is a go, this is a big game for him. There's no CC and a lot of length on the Magic.

Lets see what you can do JC....

Hopefully "The Tank" shows up again to help..

Yeah, if JC is healthy enough (a real "if") then I want to see a deliberate effort made to feature him in pick and roll lineups.  Maybe some with Frank on the floor after his great game on Friday (which would give us a perimeter shooter matched with JC going inside).  Even when OO is on the floor, I'd like to see JC get the call on that action and see if OO can hit the wide open looks that should come his way.

[macdaddy]

5 minutes ago, AHF said:

Yeah, if JC is healthy enough (a real "if") then I want to see a deliberate effort made to feature him in pick and roll lineups.  Maybe some with Frank on the floor after his great game on Friday (which would give us a perimeter shooter matched with JC going inside).  Even when OO is on the floor, I'd like to see JC get the call on that action and see if OO can hit the wide open looks that should come his way.

Yeah Frank finally looked good.  Wouldn't mind seeing if he can continue that.  I've done a 180 based on 1 game LOL

[AHF]

Just now, macdaddy said:

Yeah Frank finally looked good.  Wouldn't mind seeing if he can continue that.  I've done a 180 based on 1 game LOL

For me it is more about wanting to see JC get featured for touches around the basket rather than setting on the perimeter (in a season in which his outside touch is off kilter) but don't mind seeing Frank have some more run while CC is hurt.  Will at least let us make a more informed decision whether we need to turn that position over or not (assuming there is any appetite to do so given how close we are to the tax line).