Official Game Thread: Lakers at Hawks

[lethalweapon3]

“Step forward into your cave. That’s right, Nate. You're going deeper into your cave, and you're going to find your power animal.”

 

I enjoyed pulling up a gamethread from this day back in 2014. It was LeBron James’ 30^th birthday. As he was still digesting a thirty-layer cake at a long-shuttered nightclub in Midtown, I was doing what I did any time the self-styled King’s life anniversary came around. That was, wasting my time, and yours, trying to convince everyone that his Reign of Terror over Atlanta would soon come to an end.

Further, that our Atlanta Hawks needed to prepare to become the team primed to take over the LeBronference. That was either as his inexorable decline kicks in during his return to Cleveland, or as he departs the NBA East altogether, probably to swing with the stars in Tinseltown.

Well, LeBron is 38 today, and he did eventually vacate the Eastern Conference throne to seek purple-and-golden glories with the Los Angeles Lakers. Nursing a sprained ankle, he may or may not play tonight at State Farm Arena (7:30 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, Spectrum SportsNet in LAX, NBATV elsewhere). But after a couple more playoff sweeps of the Hawks, a few more Finals runs, and a couple more championship rings, we fans have had our fill of this man’s greatness.

You’ve done enough damage to our franchise legacy. Go ahead and take the night off, King!

He’s in historically great playing shape for his and most people’s age, and the nightly stats (27.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 6.6 APG) bear that out. But James is fending off, as best he can, that day when he joins Vince, T-Mac, and Atlanta’s Vet-Min legends in the final turn toward retirement.

When LeBron turned 25 with GM Danny Ferry’s and Player Development chief LP’s Cavs, he hosted Atlanta on his birthday in 2009. Desperate to rally and outshine spoil-sport Joe Johnson for a back-to-back win after prevailing in Atlanta the night before, James scored 45 points, the third-most compiled by any NBA player on their G-Day. That was eight points behind Dominique Wilkins, who hung 53 on Woody and LD’s Clippers as he reached a ripe 27 years of age in 1987.

Entering his second quarter-century, LeBron had already guided the Cavs to an amazing 66-16 record, was on his way to another impressive 61-21 run, and it is fair to say that he was carrying a lot of dead weight. No weight was heavier than the 37-year-old all-timer Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq clocked in at 325 pounds at training camp and only seemed to grow slower and wider as the days passed, starting games yet struggling to run across the floor beyond 20 minutes.

The Big Aristotle would soon be shut down for the season, about ten days before his 38^th birthday, and he’d have roughly 40 games left in the tank before he’d call it an illustrious playing career. It is not lost on LeBron where Shaq, the Newark native, San Antonio prep schooler, Louisiana blue-chip, and L.A. and Miami legend, chose to settle with family to embark on his media career.

Kenny Smith only suited up for the Hawks for 33 of his 737 NBA games, calling it quits before he could reach age 32. A Never-Hawk but a ’96 Olympian, Charles Barkley retired with the Rockets right before turning 37. He tried to pull a Brady four months later, but he made it barely six minutes against Shareef and Bibby’s Vancouver Grizzlies before realizing it wasn’t worth trying to play as a shell of himself.

We’re now well into another decade of Chuckles’ rambles, of Shaq diving into Christmas trees trying to race the The Jet to the Jumbotron board at halftime behind a patient Ernie Johnson. Atlanta, Georgia, and its Turner Sports network studios have presented a comfortable, stable, and profitable existence for all of these guys. And I don’t think that fact is lost on the GOMOOT (Greatest of Most of Our Times). Even his heat running buddy, Dwyane Wade, camped out for a time over on Techwood, before diving into minority NBA ownership.

LeBron (574 points behind his “no relationship” friend, Kareem; 113 assists behind future coaching candidates Mark Jackson and Steve Nash for 4^th all-time; 11 wins behind Dirk for 6^th all-time) would love to have the chance to share the NBA stage for a minute with Bronny Junior, the 18-year-old Sierra Canyon star, once his one-and-done NIL season wraps up in college next year. Maybe even the 15-year-old Bryce, if his pops can still hold serve at pickleball with Jason Momoa by then.

But as he looks on, 2009’s Mo Williams begat Dennis Schröder (probable for today, sore foot), Antawn Jamison begat a hobbled Anthony Davis (out, take your pick), and a washed Shaq became a dry Thomas Bryant. As Danny Green becomes one of Scottie Pippen’s kids, as Anthony Parker, Boobie Gibson and Delonte West has morphed into Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley and Austin Reaves (probable, sore ankle), on a 14-21 Laker club that has dropped five of its last six games, you can hear the Roger Murtaugh in LeBron’s voice growing clearer by the day.

He has done all he can, impressively, to keep his NBA career from coming full circle. Even he can sense, the circle is right at 11 o’clock. Before the final ball drops, he wants to taste that last sip of champagne, not Ensure.

"I'm a winner, and I want to win. And I want to win and give myself a chance to win and still compete for championships," said the 4-time NBA ring bearer, following the latest Laker loss on Wednesday, in his old Miami stomping grounds. With first-year coach Darvin Ham choosing not to rest him, James scored 27 points but committed 6 turnovers on a back-to-back, one night after his 28 helped beat the Magic in Orlando and snap a four-game losing skid.

He added, “Playing basketball at this level just to be playing basketball is not in my DNA. It's not in my DNA anymore. ... We'll see what happens and see how fresh my mind stays over the next couple years.”

I remain steadfast that we will see Team LeBron settling down in Atlanta, as many NBA greats do to keep their minds and wallets fresh. Where and how he is employed next in this town, in the coming years, depends upon how much the Hawks (17-18), currently coached up by Too Late Nate McMillan with a vacancy in the managerial department, get their strategic and competitive acts together.

That’s enough gamethread typing for these fingers today. Phew! I can tell, I’m getting too old for this…

 

Have a Happy New Year and may you all kick copious butt in 2K23. Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Early-morning Boo-Boo Report has Clint (strained calf) listed as Out again. Trae (bruised calf) is Probable while De'Andre (sprained ankle) is Questionable.

Bron (sore ankle) is still on the Questionable side of things coming off that Floridian back-to-back. Lonnie Walker (bruised tailbone), Big County Reaves (sore ankle) and Dennis the Menace of DeKalb County (sore foot) are all Probable.

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

I gave up asking AJC people if charges for Dennis and his alleged beatdown buddies were ever dropped (again, thank goodness no cameras or cellphones were around the hookah bar for TMZ back then). Last I could find was this DeKalb Superior Court scheduling in April of last year.

https://www.dekalbsuperiorcourt.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Supplemental-Criminal-Misc-Calendar-4.13.21-PM.pdf

Not a lawyer, so no idea what "On for Plea" meant (in his prior Laker stint, he was personally not in town on that date) or whether the proceedings concluded there for him and his alleged a-kicking associates.

~lw3

[JayBirdHawk]

2 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

I gave up asking AJC people if charges for Dennis and his alleged beatdown buddies were ever dropped (again, thank goodness no cameras or cellphones were around the hookah bar for TMZ back then). Last I could find was this DeKalb Superior Court scheduling in April of last year.

https://www.dekalbsuperiorcourt.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Supplemental-Criminal-Misc-Calendar-4.13.21-PM.pdf

Not a lawyer, so no idea what "On for Plea" meant (in his prior Laker stint, he was personally not in town on that date) or whether the proceedings concluded there for him and his alleged a-kicking associates.

~lw3

I was also wondering after reading your write with Dennis, whatever happened to his case.

[macdaddy]

4 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

I gave up asking AJC people if charges for Dennis and his alleged beatdown buddies were ever dropped (again, thank goodness no cameras or cellphones were around the hookah bar for TMZ back then). Last I could find was this DeKalb Superior Court scheduling in April of last year.

https://www.dekalbsuperiorcourt.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Supplemental-Criminal-Misc-Calendar-4.13.21-PM.pdf

Not a lawyer, so no idea what "On for Plea" meant (in his prior Laker stint, he was personally not in town on that date) or whether the proceedings concluded there for him and his alleged a-kicking associates.

~lw3

[NBASupes]

All of those Atlanta fans who paid top bucks to see Westbrook and crew

[shakes]

11 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

I gave up asking AJC people if charges for Dennis and his alleged beatdown buddies were ever dropped (again, thank goodness no cameras or cellphones were around the hookah bar for TMZ back then). Last I could find was this DeKalb Superior Court scheduling in April of last year.

https://www.dekalbsuperiorcourt.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Supplemental-Criminal-Misc-Calendar-4.13.21-PM.pdf

Not a lawyer, so no idea what "On for Plea" meant (in his prior Laker stint, he was personally not in town on that date) or whether the proceedings concluded there for him and his alleged a-kicking associates.

~lw3

I'm no criminal lawyer, but I would assume that means he has to enter his plea the next time the case is up in court.  

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

and yours,

Oh please!!!! Never it’s a dawiiight, a delight! 

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

You’ve done enough damage to our franchise legacy. Go ahead and take the night off, King!

Pleeease, rest. 

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

LD’s

 Giannis killer! 

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Shaq diving into Christmas trees

TNT trying to earn awards. It ain’t funny anymore. It’s kinda lame. Kenny is lame .

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

patient Ernie Johnson

Love this dude.

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

As Danny Green becomes one of Scottie Pippen’s kids,

 I beg your pardon? 

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Playing basketball at this level just to be playing basketball is not in my DNA. It's not in my DNA anymore. ...

My DNA includes lots of uncalled charges! 

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

That’s enough gamethread typing for these fingers today. Phew! I can tell, I’m getting too old for this…

Tell me about it soul sister!!! 2K has left me.. 

Thanks lw3! You da man! 
 

Vegas has ATL -7

2K has ATL -9

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Have a Happy New Year and may you all kick copious butt in 2K23. Let’s Go Hawks!

 

I aims to please! 

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Big County Reaves

looks more like what Big Country left behind…  myyyy bad. 
 

This dude knows how to play. He’s like a Caruso type guy he knows his stuff.

[macdaddy]

I don't know if Shaq was washed up with the Cavs.   Nate Robinson is a tough matchup for him.

[Spud2nique]

My nephew came in and I stood to say hi ..

 

 

his sarcastic reply…

 

 

the anguish…

 

Edited December 30, 2022 by Spud2nique

[lethalweapon3]

A favorable switcheroo in status among Laker players, for fans heading to The Farm.

Swung by the Four Seasons at lunchtime, and the birthday fanboys are out in force with gifts and stuff to sign near the team buses along 14th Street. December baby Lonnie Walker was looking at them like, "Oh, you shouldn't have! Thank you all!"

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

~lw3

[terrell]

 

[Spud2nique]

41 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

~lw3

Thanks I don’t feel old at all now.  

[Spud2nique]

Amidst our coach having 9 lives today, Trae is all of a sudden improved from game time decision to HEALTHY!

 

This just keeps on getter better. I’ll get the popcorn !

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Pat done pissed Trae off already.

Thank you Pat.

[FL_BRYANT]

Vince Carter  in his pre game statement spoke on the subject of Murray getting it on what's a Superstars responsibilities.  He talked about getting his teammates involved as the first responsibility and taking over when it is time to win. If only Trae was listening.  You build a legacy by winning not by putting up numbers.  Get everyone involved go to work in the 4th quarter.  This team is better than a .500 team.  They have a few areas that need to be addressed but they have enough talent to be a playoff team and compete on a high level. 

[JayBirdHawk]

4 minutes ago, TheNorthCydeRises said:

Pat done pissed Trae off already.

Thank you Pat.

What'd he do?

 

[TheNorthCydeRises]

1 minute ago, FL_BRYANT said:

Vince Carter  in his pre game statement spoke on the subject of Murray getting it on what's a Superstars responsibilities.  He talked about getting his teammates involved as the first responsibility and taking over when it is time to win. If only Trae was listening.  You build a legacy by winning not by putting up numbers.  Get everyone involved go to work in the 4th quarter.  This team is better than a .500 team.  They have a few areas that need to be addressed but they have enough talent to be a playoff team and compete on a high level. 

Once again, you guys see what you want to see.

Normally when Trae is trying to get people involved, and is not looking a lot for his shot, the Hawks struggle big time and find themselves down by double digits.

On the flip side, when Trae normally starts out strong, or is just being aggressive, the Hawks usually start well.

Even in a game like tonight where he's 3 - 9 FG right now in the 1st quarter, the team is actually more energized on offense in the beginning,