Official Game Thread: Trail Blazers at Hawks

[lethalweapon3]

“Naw, for real tho, like, I can take my warmups off? Okay. Then, what?”

 

 

Phew! Man alive, this gets tiring after a while.

Not this pregame thread scribing thing, in general. Ducking co-workers on lunch breaks and Lethalfam on weekends to toss up a bunch of content on a sportsball webpage, and hoping it sticks, has long been sneaky-good fun, and still is.

Nonetheless, y’all Atlanta Hawks fans have to be tired and sick of reading about our tired, our poor, our huddled masses of opponents sauntering into State Farm Arena with hopes of being granted some free oxygen. At least as tired as I am of writing about it. And, then, us all witnessing the results that don’t add up mere hours later. Transitive, schmansitive!

Just bear with me as I type. Yes, it’s the Portland Trail Blazers on The Struggle Bus this go-round (7:30 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, ROOT Sports Plus in PDX), despite Damian Lillard firmly putting his pedal to the metal from the driver’s seat. We all saw Dame Dolla’s Wilt Game versus the wilting Rockets (71 points, 13-for-22 3FGs, 14-for-14 FTs) this past Sunday. That was also his Blazers’ sole victory over their past five games. We here in Atlanta are so sorry to hear of your Trail Blazers’ travails, Mr. Seventh-Time All-Star!

As they embark on a six-game road swing through this side of the continent, coach Chauncey Billups’ bunch is 3-7 over their last ten contests, including that 1-4 in their past five, with all three wins back home in Oregon. Their last six defeats included a nine-point home loss to OKC, and all the rest double-digit losses with margins ranging from 15 to 21.

All the elements, in place, for yet another Thriller in Thrasherville. Am I right?

I aver that Lillard’s local lore is what would happen to Trae Young here in The A. That is, if the latter ever figures out a way to sneak his team into the playoffs, again, and go balling-out ballistic a second time.

Portland has ventured beyond the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs just once since 2016 – NBA TV Game Time analyst Terry Stotts’ 53-win conference finalists in 2019 – and it’s beginning to feel like Billups will have to wage through a third season to try coaching this club (29-33, 1.5 games out of the Play-Ins, 3.0 out of the West’s Top-6; 12-18 on the road, 8-14 versus the NBA East) into any playoff series at all. But if their defensively deficient star guard has tired of personally being on the outside looking in at this time of year, he is never exhausted with putting that thang in the net.

Dame’s 70-piece quickly eclipsed what was supposed to be his historic 60-burger (12-for-14 on twos, 9-for-15 on threes) in late January versus a far more capable club. Namely, new Hawks coach Quin Snyder’s former team, the remodeled outfit visiting from Utah. “It’s the most efficient 60-point game ever? That’s crazy!”, Lillard remarked after most of his buckets were needed to mute the Jazz.

In gift-wrapping Josh Hart to the Knicks at the Trade Deadline, GM Joe Cronin tried to splice Hart’s role on a poor defensive club into two young players, both of whom Hawks fans recalling Atlanta’s storied 2021 playoff dash are quite familiar with. Just the latest defensive NBA legend that struggles to impart wisdom in a head coaching role, Billups eagerly inserted our old friend Cam Reddish into the starting unit, along with ex-Sixer Matisse Thybulle (out with a back injury, try-hard guard Ryan Arcidiacono got a one-game spell as a starter, too).

Reddish has accorded himself well (12.6 PPG, 2.1 threes/game at 35.7 3FG%, 1.3 SPG in seven games). For Cam’s sake, I just hope Billups isn’t already Tennessee-ing whatever Tom Thibodeau Arkansas. Because after Warriors guards turned the tables on Tuesday in San Francisco, erasing a 41-27 deficit, and ran through the Blazers like a late-night red light in Athens, Coach Chauncey returned to Portland and returned Reddish to the reserves.

The easy explanation is that Anfernee Simons was returning from injury. Unfortunately, he reaggravated his ankle sprain midway through Wednesday’s game with the Pelicans (he’s doubtful for today. Feeling sorry yet? Yeah, me neither). As Dame was dropping more dollas than dimes (23 of his 41 points, but zero assists, in the second half), Thybulle and Reddish were left to sort out how to contain former Blazer CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram (combined 64 points as the Pels pulled away for the 121-110 win).

None of the Blazers’ new additions can hold it down at center, where they’ve been missing Jusuf Nurkic’s presence for over a month. Soldiering through calf problems, Nurk’s last full game was Portland’s 129-125 win over the visiting Hawks on January 30 (Lillard’s Modelo Especial fighting spirit, and his 42 points, was just enough to edge Pacific Northwesterner Dejounte Murray’s 40 points and keep the sans-Trae Hawks from dousing the Blazers). Jusuf exited barely two minutes into his next start, and he has been out of commission since.

The utilitarian Drew Eubanks (team-high 5.1 RPG with Nurk out and Hart gone) and Trendon Watford can only do so much to aid Jerami Grant (20.8 PPG, 40.4 3FG%, 4.4 RPG) defensively in the frontcourt. Portland ranks 26^th in defensive rebounding percentage, and barely ahead of only the toasted Rockets in defensive efficiency, since February 1. Putting down the violins for a moment, it stands to reason that while the incumbent Simons and Lillard are the show, the stops-starved Billups should be inclined to stick with Thybulle (1.8 SPG, 1.7 BPG through six games) and Reddish together in lineups until the new pair figures things out.

John Collins, Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu ought to be doing more than just holding serve with the likes of Eubanks and Watford this evening. But the Hawks’ frontcourt participants seem to be wearing down in the back ends of games, as Murray and Young decides amongst each other who gets to play Thiago Almada and save the day on any particular evening.

It’s a small sample size, but Atlanta’s 133.6 second-half D-Rating in the post-All-Star phase has been D-spicable. The only NBA club that has fared worse since the break on defense is also in State Farm Arena today. Portland has allowed an NBA-high 63.5 paint points per-48 in their return from the Break, helping them pull closer to Atlanta (52.8 opponent paint points per-48 all season, 5^th-worst in NBA, POR ranks 7^th) in the race to the bottom.

At least the Blazers aren’t a bottom-ten team in per-48 points allowed via second-chances (ATL’s 14.5 the sixth-most) and fastbreaks (ATL’s 15.3 the fourth-most), too, so Coach Chauncey’s got that going for him. Wearing down the Blazers’ interior and finishing shots and free throws is essential for a Hawks victory to close out the homestand and nudge Atlanta (31-31) back above the .500 line. But more important is soaking up and implementing Snyder’s team defensive schemes.

Hawk guards have to take guarding seriously, and the bigs, the incredibly shirking Collins (last three games: 10.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 0.3 BPG) in particular, have to play interior roles more nuanced than fielding blow-by opponents on one end as frequently as they hunt for lobs around the rim at the other.

Poor, poor, Portland! Why, they haven’t won a road game in a calendar month, not since beating – let’s see – ah, yes, Washington. We all know the spiraling, struggling Wizards, right? That same team returned the favor on Valentine’s Day by whipping them in Portland by 25 points. Won’t anyone open up a charity for these Trail Blazers? Or at least open up a lane in the paint for poor Dame?

Yawn. Your Boy needs a good pregame nap. Siesta, siesta!

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

The 4:30 PM Boo-Boo Report still lists Trae as Probable despite his sore groin. Anfernee Simons (re-sprained ankle), Jusuf Nurkic (strained calf, out since late January) and Justise Winslow (sprained ankle, out since late December) are all on the Outs for the Blazers.

~lw3

[Guest]

I aver to your exquisite use of the word "aver!"

[lethalweapon3]

I'm no Meteorologist, but having stuck my finger in the air, I figure the sooner attendees can get inside either the arena or CNN Center For Now Food Court, the better.

~lw3

[Spud2nique]

35 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

At least as tired as I am of writing about it.

Hawks need to pick up their ish for this reason alone. Lethal is a patient man but even he has his limits.

 

36 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Just bear with me as I type.

Yup 

 

37 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Dame Dolla’s Wilt

 I just saw the 30/30 on the Knicks of the 70 season and I don’t understand why Wilt didn’t guard Willis Reed on the perimeter? Wilt was dominant no doubt but I didn’t really know that. I mean, West sounded peeved in the documentary narrated by Michael Rapps. 

 

42 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

he is never exhausted with putting that thang in the net.

YA I KNOW. @kg01 thinks he’s overrated. 

 

43 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Cam Reddish

Still got the jersey worn 2wice. 

 

46 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Jusuf Nurkic’s

The Bosnian  

 

47 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

John Collins, Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu ought to be doing more than just holding serve with the likes of Eubanks and Watford this evening.

Preach. Watch a Knicks 1970 documentary like Spud and just have your blood boiling for an ATL dynasty!!!

 

49 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

But more important is soaking up and implementing Snyder’s team defensive schemes.

You said it. Learn for the playoffs as you win here and there and stay afloat I guess. That’s the name of the game for us this year.

 

50 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Siesta, siesta!

Nap up baby! Thanks lw3 @lethalweapon3GO HAWKS!!!

Vegas has Hawks -7.5

2K has Hawks -18

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, LongTimeFan said:

I aver to your exquisite use of the word "aver!"

I was gonna mention that I had to Google it. I’m glad Long spoke up. Lol.

1 hour ago, LongTimeFan said:

I aver to your exquisite use of the word "aver!"

I was gonna mention that I had to Google it. I’m glad Long spoke up. Lol.

[shakes]

2 hours ago, lethalweapon3 said:

I'm no Meteorologist, but having stuck my finger in the air, I figure the sooner attendees can get inside either the arena or CNN Center For Now Food Court, the better.

~lw3

Remember that time a train crossing the street and caused 15,000 people to not show up till the 2nd half?

[kg01]

Dame's overrated.  Sorry (not sorry), @Spud2nique

[Diesel]

So much to see tonight.

Hawks under Snyder. 

Cam's return. again.

Lillard.

I like How Snyder is sitting on the bench during introductions... Looking pIssed off!!!

[Diesel]

Ahight...

Cam vs Dre!!!

Snyder with the fresh out the shower Look...

[Diesel]

That didn't seem like a foul...

[Diesel]

The Mitten!!!

[Guest]

We seem to be playing with a calm confidence.  Keep it going. 

[Diesel]

Get some Bogdan Siddiq!!

 

 

Good Trap Fellas!!!

[Diesel]

Good Run out!!

[LucastheThird]

Quinn has made a few changes to the offense and defense. Pretty sure I saw a new set when Murray got his last 3. 

[Diesel]

Defensive Bogi!!!

[LucastheThird]

Bogi with 2 blocks back to back???

[Guest]

Nice defensive game for the Hawks so far.
It's a good sign that we're up by 13 and Trae is only 1 for 6 (but with 6 assists!).

 

[Diesel]

Good Relaxed play...!

I think we can keep this up.