Official Game Thread: Knicks at Hawks

[lethalweapon3]

“Iggy, won’t you be by Jalentine?”

 

HELLO BROOKLYN.

We are just over a decade since the Nets dared to cross the Jersey swamplands into New York City proper, planting their flag and staking their claim as the only serious NBA franchise in The Empire State of the North.

Jay-Z was all-in, however momentarily, for the team flush with Russian oligarch cash. The flashy new digs a borough removed from Manhattan seemed a world away from the toxic, rolling trainwreck overseen, however callously, by Jimmy Dolan. Jay-Z and Lil’ Wayne’s “Hello Brooklyn” was the theme, but blaring just as loud from car speakers of the city’s title-starving fanbase was a Pieces of a Dream smooth-jazz hit that served well as a clarion call. “Goodbye Manhattan.”

Such was the threat to Dolan if he didn’t shape up the New York Knicks. Or, at least, ship out. Dolan was spending his time running people who ran afoul of him out from the confines of Madison Square Garden. It didn’t matter if you were an Oscar-worthy film director, some hotshot local lawyers, or even a former Knick player. Dolan was spending more time, unwisely, than money, wisely.

To show Knick fans he could be serious, too, in came Phil Jackson… as a GM. They would spend the balance of the ensuing seasons running Carmelo Anthony’s relevancy firmly into the subway platform. The Knicks would peak under coach Mike Woodson in 2013, and they would spend the next seven seasons as a lottery-level laughingstock. That is, if Knick fans could laugh to keep from crying.

Meanwhile, the Nets were the black-tie formal event, the essence of New York Cool. The owner thought nothing of exceeding the luxury tax, or bringing in big-time players, and big-time names around Brook Lopez and Deron Williams. Iso Joe in Atlanta would soon become heralded as Joe Jesus. Is that not enough? How about bringing in Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett? Heck, let a legendary guard in Jason Kidd take the coaching reins.

Of course, all of it fizzled out, and after going big, the Russian tycoon wanted to go home. But there was just something always appealing about the Nets’ cap space. In this big media-money town, Off-Broadway still means big bucks. Star players with a little agency would love to play not far from Times Square without the perpetual embarrassment of having to toil under Dolan’s watch.

A Chinese tycoon took over full control by 2019, and the desire to grab some of his money would soon follow. D’Angelo Russell and Kenny Atkinson isn’t moving the needle, New Yorkers? Fine. How about the great Kyrie Irving? Heck, let a legendary guard in Steve Nash take over the coaching reins. Besides, what are you gonna do, watch the Knicks?

How about upping the ante by bringing in Kyrie’s palsy-walsies Kevin Durant and James Harden? On second thought, how about Kevin Durant and… Ben Simmons? Eventually! Are you not entertained?

The Nets were doing a bang-up job at selling jerseys, and the hints of championship contention, for much of the past decade. Ultimately, yes, the Knicks have a lonely shakedown at the hands of Trae Young and Friends as their only playoff memory since 2013. Frankly, the Nets don’t have much more.

Joe and Brook got upstaged by leading Atlanta scorer DeMarre Carroll in 2015’s opening round, one of five first-round exits in this period. Even with the Ratface Pierce on board, Kidd’s Nyets peaked with a gentlemanly second-round sweep by LeBron’s heatles in 2014.

With Irving sidelined, and Harden on the struggle bus, Nash topped out in 2021’s second-round versus Lopez, this time teamed up with Giannis in Milwaukee. Durant’s Game 7 bunion-on-the-line shot would be the definitive memory of his time in Brooklyn, as Irving then Durant flamed their way through Nash, then the front office, and finally to their Western Conference destinations. Now that the smoke has cleared once more, the Nets turned out to be the Gentrified Knicks this whole time.

While Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones become the marquee hoopstars in Brooklyn, guess which NBA team in New York has an All-Star representing them at this weekend’s midseason classic? That’s right, the Regular Knicks, whose staff and fans are being rewarded for grinning and bearing it through the adversities of Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, and coach Tom Thibodeau. Heck, they might even wind up in Salt Lake with two, should Jalen Brunson get the Commissioner’s replacement nod.

The Knicks woke up last Thursday as the hottest NBA ticket in town. The hottest NYC club on the road, too, as they seek to head into the All-Star Break with a third-straight win and fourth victory in five games, this one against Young and the stumblin’, fumblin’, decidedly unserious Atlanta Hawks (7:30 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast for now and 92.9 FM in ATL, MSG Network in NYC).

New York (32-27; 16-12 on the road) had a satisfying 124-106 victory at the Garden, on Monday, against the team that now has Spencer Dinwiddie, Nic Claxton, and Cam Thomas as it best threats to someday break into the NBA100 list. Call Thibs a old fogey if you dare, but at least his team has learned how to submerge a subpar team below the 110-point mark. Oops, I meant the 140-point mark.

If you need Trae on a stepback to clear a young 7-footer, with a game hanging in the balance, for a three-pointer just to match the 139 points scored by a bottom-dweller that’s eager to tank, you’re doing it wrong. You can be plural as much as singular, with ample room for the Hawks’ players and staff to Spidey-point at one another for the lacka_aisical effort in the 144-138 loss at Charlotte.

Ultimately, only one team comes into State Farm Arena today looking like they’ve embraced their head coach’s over-arching philosophies, enough to implement them to the best of their limited individual abilities. Last week, the Knicks corralled Harden and Joel Embiid by holding the Sixers to 98 points.

That was without Josh Hart (19.0 PPG, 6-for-9 3FGs, 2.5 SPG in two games w/ NYK), who New York acquired at the Deadline in the four-team deal for the price of Cam Reddish and other fluff. That was also without Mitchell Robinson, the center who hopes to return soon after fracturing his thumb midway through last month. Robinson’s absence was notable in the Knicks’ next game without him, as the Hawks Hornets-ed their visitors to the tune of a 139-124 win at The Farm on January 20.

A former member of the 2021-22 San Antonio Spurs is the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week. Regrettably, that player is not Dejounte Murray (29 points on 13-for-21 2FGs, 12 assists, 3 steals), who needs to have a consistently strong defensive imprint on games to keep Atlanta (27-27) from humbling itself every other game.

There may be a reason why a team coached by Nate McMillan, manned in the pivot at turns by Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu, served on tough assignments by De’Andre Hunter, at the perimeter by John Collins, and led at the point of attack by Murray, should be near the bottom-third of the NBA in defensive team efficiency. None of those reasons are acceptable ones, and leaving Young exposed as a scapegoat gets tiring.

Earning his latest All-Star selection, Randle (career-highs of 24.7 PPG, 10.8 RPG; 26.1 D-Reb%, highest since his rookie season w/ LAL) has made the commitment to secure the defensive boards for Thibs. But neither he nor Barrett are a threat to earn DPOY anytime soon, and Brunson and Hart aren’t doing anything for the Knicks (16^th in D-Rating, a still-mediocre 13^th over past five games) the supporting cast of the Hawks are capable of doing when defending with a modicum of focus and adherence.

Just two summers ago, Young stifled not only the vociFeroUs crowds in New York, but also the blue-and-orange snow-bunnies that fill the remaining seats of Knicks games at State Farm Arena. With the likelihood of the Knicks surpassing their intown rivals, soon, in the standings, and a chance at postseason redemption looming, Hawks fans can expect to hear a lot more Knicksquawk than they have grown accustomed to in recent years.

Hello, Brooklyn. How you doing?

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

JC's hip flexor has him still at Questionable ahead of today's action, while De'Andre Hunter is listed as Probable despite a sore ankle.

Robinson's unavailability due to thumb surgery recovery is the only blemish on an otherwise clean injury sheet for the Knicks.

~lw3

[kg01]

Considering he usually gets owned like Randle pays property taxes for him, may be a good thing if Jollins is out.

Just a bad matchup for him for some reason.

[JayBirdHawk]

I wish I knew which Hawks team will show up tonight. Sigh!

 

[lethalweapon3]

We will know which members of the team will show up. At least, not in dress clothes.

~lw3

[AHF]

After absolutely ****ing the bed last game, the Hawks need to rebound and show some pride against the Knicks.

[Spud2nique]

Thanks lw3! Go Hawks!

[Spud2nique]

Let’s win this thing going into the break 30-29, I’d rather be over than under. 
 

GO HAWKS!!!

Trae is unleashing for 30+ 10+ he’s gonna be the king !!! FU Knicks!!! 

[Guest]

I'm thinking that the collective anger on this board tonight will propel the Hawks to a win!
(or twelve technical fouls before halftime)

[Spud2nique]

12 minutes ago, LongTimeFan said:

collective anger

[JayBirdHawk]

Another slow start 

[JayBirdHawk]

This offensive is so anemic....missed shots after missed shots. Then we can't defend.

[theheroatl]

4 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

Another slow start 

Not only a slow start, it gets the other top players on the other team confidence.

 

I’m guessing Randle is going for 40

Edited February 16, 2023 by theheroatl

[JayBirdHawk]

Why is Holiday in? 

 

 

 

 

[terrell]

1 minute ago, theheroatl said:

Not only a slow start, it gets the other top players on the other team confidence.

 

I’m guessing Randle is going for 40

This team is maddening and I have no idea as to how, or if, they can be fixed.

I think at this point we’ve gotta just blow it up. The team had one fluke run and has flat out imploded since. So yes. The right thing to do it to blow it up and rebuild…this time the right way.

[JayBirdHawk]

We just stay giving up 3s...smh.

[theheroatl]

1 minute ago, JayBirdHawk said:

We just stay giving up 3s...smh.

14 fast break points wth

[JayBirdHawk]

Just now, theheroatl said:

14 fast break points wth

We just loafing back on defense, not running hard.

[benhillboy]

I knew Hart and Payton would hate playing alongside Lilliard.  They’re both way too tough and intelligent.  Glad they both got outta that treadmillin sh*tshow.

Edited February 16, 2023 by benhillboy

[theheroatl]

2 minutes ago, terrell said:

This team is maddening and I have no idea as to how, or if, they can be fixed.

I think at this point we’ve gotta just blow it up. The team had one fluke run and has flat out imploded since. So yes. The right thing to do it to blow it up and rebuild…this time the right way.

We have a good young core but like I’ve mentioned Dre, JC, CC, and Bogi need to be used in trades to bring 1-2 top quality defensive players with some good defenders on the bench. This team needs a Draymond BAD…