Official Game Thread: Hawks at Warriors

[lethalweapon3]

“Sigh. Looks like we’re lottery bound again, Nicky Boy. And you know what that means.”

'That’s right, Landry! On three. One! Two! Three!'

"'HAWK SCOUTS ROAD TRIP!'"

 

Mere months after the Finals MVP carried him to a fourth championship ring, a four-time All-Star found himself at a preseason practice, jawing with one of that MVP’s young, emerging backups.

Brooding over his smaller teammate, the elder player takes exception when the younger one refuses to back down to his threats. Once shoved, the former hauls off a punch that renders the younger player momentarily unconscious. Stunned coaches, staff and players converge to disrupt the assault before the physical, and legal, implications can worsen.

Likely taking umbrage with the All-Star for whatever reason(s), an anonymous individual recording the practice leaks the one-sided melee to the media, rendering the atmosphere uncomfortable for all parties on his team. That includes the head coach, who responds by outwardly decrying the questionable virtues of staff members or associates snitching.

Players, once basking in the throes of another title defense, are put in the awkward position of displaying concern for the welfare of their harmed teammate, while fully embracing the other more veteran player, despite the latter’s egregiously immature actions. The teams’ longtime lead executive, entering a season in which his expiring contract has not been renewed, can only shake his head over the entire spectacle laid out before him.

Barely three months later, on their first game of this new calendar year, the Golden State Warriors host, arguably, the most dysfunctional club, top to bottom, currently in the NBA. It is neither Draymond Green, nor Jordan Poole, who enter today’s action at San Francisco’s Chase Center (10 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, NBC Sports Bay Area in SFO) looking a bit punch-drunk.

As the Dubs (19-18) seek to win their fifth game in a row, despite the extended absence of Stephen Curry (subluxated shoulder) and others, they have surged past, in the standings, our downtrodden Atlanta Hawks, who spent the better part of three quarters last Friday night looking like a bunch of random 38-year-olds with the misfortune of drawing LeBron James, the birthday not-boy, for a lunchtime run-and-shoot at LA Fitness.

Perhaps a seven-night, four-game California trip, can shake the Hawks (17-19) out of their doldrums. Nate McMillan can only hope so. The Hawks coach remains committed to punching in the clock every day and showing up on time for shootarounds, tipoffs, and pressers, if not a whole lot else. But those opportunities won’t avail themselves for terribly long if his team doesn’t adapt and correct what persistently ails them.

Shortly after this West Coast trip concludes, a vengeance-minded Bucks team will await Atlanta’s return home. Then come road games versus in-conference teams that have already dusted the Hawks’ tailfeathers by 15 and 30 points in their respective venues.

After that, there’s a holiday spotlight game versus the reigning division champs, who ousted Trae Young and company in the 2022 playoffs and would appreciate even more separation in the standings. Then, Luka’s house. Then, the Knicks, who walloped this team by 24 points last month.

Kerr’s Warriors are making do without multiple rotation players, in addition to Curry. Johnathan Kuminga (sprained foot) joins Andrew Wiggins (non-COVID illness), James Wiseman (sprained ankle) and JaMychal Green (infected leg) on the shelf. Yet Kerr can field a set of lineups that blend want-to with can-do quite effectively.

Poole’s defensive struggles (3^rd-worst Defensive RPM among NBA’ers with 29+ MPG; Trae is 4^th-worst) and turnover-prone play (3.5 TOs/game, 4.3 APG) have made his pairing with Green (+1.0 over 570 on-court minutes, now fifth-highest on the team as per bball-ref; top-nine two-man combos are net positives of +8.4 to +15.8) problematic for long stretches. But if he can heat up and get a teammate going, as was the case when he collaborated with Klay Thompson for 72 points to pull off a 118-112 comeback win over the visiting Blazers last Friday, they have chances to win in bunches while Curry recuperates.

Essential for G-State’s sustained success is also Green and Looney (11 rebounds each vs. POR, just ahead of Donte DiVincenzo’s nine) keeping opponents’ second-chance opportunities to a minimum. Despite Poole’s lack of prowess as a defender, Warrior teammates do get back more than adequately in transition to cover for him, and force tough shots without fouling (NBA-low 1.01 opponent points per transition possession; ATL’s 1.16 is the worst in the NBA East). The Dubs help one another by boxing out, in a good way.

Kerr continues to compel his team to execute at a high tempo with ample movement to create quality long-range shots, and not strictly for G-State’s more predictable pull-up gunners (NBA-highs of 42.5 3FGAs/game, 32.5 catch-and-shoot FGAs/game, 29.1 assists per-48. 103.0 Pace).

Despite a low-turnover approach that rewards looks for its lead guards, Atlanta has played the past several weeks like a squad that obsesses over throwing haymakers but lacks either tactics or counters, as if by design. Morale will not improve, and the beatings will continue, if they continue to de-prioritize early interior touches for John Collins (6.7 2FGAs/game and 2.5 FTAs/game, lowest since rookie season despite 6.2 more MPG).

JC is carrying the Herculean task of rebounding without Clint Capela (strained calf) under center, while also doing what he can, oft in vain (4+ personals in each of ATL’s last 4 losses), to avoid foul trouble that swiftly destabilizes the halfcourt defense, be it rim protection, or diverting paint penetration. Atlanta should be able to trade jabs Green, given GSW’s injury-shortened frontcourt. But it will take Onyeka Okongwu, Jalen Johnson and Collins coming at Golden State in waves, with the ball in their hands from the dunker spots in, especially when Draymond gets caught helping Thompson and Poole/DiVincenzo with the Hawk guards.

From their preseason crisis to untimely injuries, to a lack of development and preparedness by its once-promising stable of youngsters, not much has gone according to plan for Golden State. Kerr’s Warriors have gotten up off the canvas, though, and they appear committed to swinging from their shoe-tops while sticking-and-moving. The defending NBA champions serve as a model, for the Hawks, in demonstrating how to adjust the plans you once had, like everybody else has, once you’ve been hit in the mouth.

Atlanta, and McMillan in particular, cannot afford many more two-hit fights. Specifically, the ones where foes hit the Hawks in the beak, and the Hawks respond by hitting the floor.

 

Happy New Year! Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[JayBirdHawk]

Brutal stretch of games to start 2023.

15 games, 10 roadies with 7 of them out west.

[MarylandHawk]

Such a great lead into this game.  If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. 

[lethalweapon3]

As of the 5:30 PM Eastern Boo-Boo Report, De'Andre (sprained ankle) remains Questionable.

Amid this 8-game homestand that began on Xmas Day, the Dubs had two off-days ahead of this game, plus a pair of off-days precede upcoming visits by Orlando and Phoenix, and a couple off-days for travel to San Antonio. So it's unlikely to see Kerr deploy any more DNP-CDs tonight for his active veteran players (Iguodala remains mothballed due to hip injury management and that won't change today).

 

~lw3

[Spud2nique]

29 minutes ago, MarylandHawk said:

Such a great lead into this game.  If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. 

We playin the Celts Bucks or Nuggets tonight?  

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Don't forget to shoot the ball Trae.  I don't want to see any stretch in this game in which you don't at least take 5 shots in a quarter.  

I need "superstar mentality Trae" from now until we right this ship.

30+ pts - 10+ assists should be your nightly goal.

 

By any means necessary.

[Spud2nique]

56 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

the Golden State Warriors host, arguably, the most dysfunctional club, top to bottom, currently in the NBA.

 

57 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

run-and-shoot at LA Fitness.

That place blows  

 

57 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Perhaps a seven-night, four-game California trip, can shake the Hawks (17-19) out of their doldrums.

I’m following them around like they the Beatles.

 

58 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Then, Luka’s house. Then, the Knicks, who walloped this team by 24 points

Trae>Luka I don’t care LALALALA (holding ears ).. 

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

But it will take Onyeka Okongwu, Jalen Johnson and Collins coming at Golden State in waves, with the ball in their hands from the dunker spots in, especially when Draymond gets caught helping Thompson and Poole/DiVincenzo with the Hawk guards.

 

This!

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Kerr’s Warriors have gotten up off the canvas, though, and they appear committed to swinging from their shoe-tops while sticking-and-moving. The defending NBA champions serve as a model, for the Hawks, in demonstrating how to adjust the plans you once had, like everybody else has, once you’ve been hit in the mouth.

Can you guess which squawker was to KO they collective a$$es most? 

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Specifically, the ones where foes hit the Hawks in the beak, and the Hawks respond by hitting the floor.

I remember high school fights. At some point many used..2 hits foo, I hit you, you hit da flo! 

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Happy New Year! Let’s Go Hawks!

Thanks lw3 and happy new year to you sir! 

Game is on NBATV! National TV! 
 

GO HAWKS!!!

Ps GS fav by 1.5 

[kg01]

In case anyone believes I'm not a glutton for punishment, know that I will be watching tonite. 

Scotty ..... it keep callin' me, man.... 

[TheNorthCydeRises]

There are going to be a lot of people that will be jealous of the Warriors ball movement in this game.

It is what it is.

They move the ball to create opportunities. 

We ISO and let our guards create opportunities. 

 

Let's play our style better than they do theirs.

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[Diesel]

39 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

 

 

But will he play??

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Prayers to Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills, who collapsed during tonight's game vs the Bengals.

 

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Hawks better stay red hot from 2, if they're going to give up all of these 3 point shots.

So far so good, from a FG% standpoint.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Donovan Mitchell with 71 points tonight . . went to the line 25 times.

If they called every time Trae got hit getting into the lane, he could have this many FT attempts in a game at some point.  I think his high is 20 FTs.

[MaceCase]

An early night would be a blessing 

[TheNorthCydeRises]

5 minutes ago, TheNorthCydeRises said:

Hawks better stay red hot from 2, if they're going to give up all of these 3 point shots.

So far so good, from a FG% standpoint.

Of course, the Hawks miss their last 5 shots after I say this.

@JayBirdHawk . . I know . . I know

[JayBirdHawk]

Just now, TheNorthCydeRises said:

Of course, the Hawks miss their last 5 shots after I say this.

@JayBirdHawk . . I know . . I know

[RedDawg#8]

Shots are wide open. Can’t hit anything. 

I want JC and Dre to step in until they can knock down their first jumpshot.