Official Game Thread: Hawks at Wizards (2 of 2)

[lethalweapon3]

“And, PRESTO! Wait… Capela’s making his free throws? And Collins is splashing threes? Let me try another potion.”

 

Tidbitology! We’ve got Atlanta Hawks at Washington Wizards Redux (7 PM Eastern again, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, NBC Sports Washington). Here’s hoping the Hawks’ fluctuating play doesn’t generate any reflux.

The early start could be of benefit for the Hawks, who have the Celtics already in Atlanta awaiting the return of Saturday’s opponents home. That is, if the Hawks continue collaborating to produce a more complete game tonight, one that eludes the risk of an overtime outcome. Much to the dismay of Mommie Dearest and Hawks fans alike, unfortunately, everything must be a contest. Wednesday’s game was the fourth for the Hawks in the past six where the final margin was within five points.

Atlanta took advantage of the Wizards’ four-games-in-five-days schedule and back-to-back travel, plus Clint Capela’s masterclass at the free throw line with his Shoot Like An Egyptian heaves (5-for-6 FTs) and John Collins’ marksmanship (4-for-5 3FGs), doing just enough to keep Washington at arm’s length for Wednesday’s 122-120 win at Capital One Arena.

Trae Young’s stellar outing shooting the rock (8-for-10 2FGs, 3-for-4 3FGs) was a difference maker, too. It was especially impressive performance given the officials didn’t see fit to grant Young foul shots until closing time, ushered in during the closing minutes with a productive dish for an and-one bucket by De’Andre Hunter.

The victory was of the anti-Hawks variety – climbing out from an early double-digit hole, hanging on with clutch plays late, and not over-relying on the headliners to make everything happen in the clutch.

Getting everyone to contribute at both ends in positive ways will make it easier on Young and Dejounte Murray (17 points, 6 assists, 3 steals) to help the Hawks pull through on most nights. Hawks Game Notes cites Elias Sports pointing to March 2019 as the last time Atlanta had seven double-digit scorers in consecutive contests.

Young seems to be heeding that message from Coach Quin Snyder as well. His 21 steals in the past ten games ranks second-most in The Association over that span (ex-Hawk Delon Wright’s 28 thefts lead the pack). Also from the Game Notes, Atlanta’s record improved to 10-0 when Murray (NBA-high 200 deflections, tied with Fred Van Vleet) notches at least 15 points and 3 steals.

Ensuring the last game would end within a single score, Kristaps Porzingis wasted precious seconds carefully hand-crafting a three-pointer to top off his career scoring day (43 points, 7-for-10 3FGs, 5 rebounds, no blocks). If you haven't noticed, the stretchy KP certainly notices he has a $36 million contract he can opt-out from ahead of next season. Kyle Kuzma, too, with his flat $13 million bargain spent halfway on pregame tunnel wardrobe. So, yes, Kuz and Unicorn are giving Onyeka Okongwu headaches at times, but know that they are balling out in anticipation of bailing out in just a few months. The impending dissolution of the Wizards' Not-So-Big 3 might turn out to be good news for Bradley Beal, who could go chase after a new co-star (sorry, D.C., KD's still not coming home) in the summertime.

I’m on Pastner Watch over here on The Flats, where all we seem to win lately are extortion pleas. But in the meantime, Happy Trails to Patrick Ewing. Another in-city, big-market college program has lost its luster. We’ll always have his famous meme to remember P-Ew’s tenure at his alma mater. “Stepback One-Legged… What Kind of Shot Is That? Have You Ever Shot That Shot? Do You Work on That Shot? When?”

I keep banging my shoe on the table to insist that Atlanta and Washington need not be pro-hoops-only sports towns. We can recruit more than the occasional future Slam Dunk Champ and Rising Star MVP around these parts, can we not?

At least D.C. can extend out to the DMV to find a halfway-decent 6-seed or two. Yes, Kennesaw State might screw around and give a 2-seed the heebie-jeebies next week. But in the cities proper? Tech? Blech. Georgia State? Egads. Georgetown, American, George Washington? Yikes! C’mon Howard, you can do it.

While we wait for these colleges to get their acts together, can our NBA teams all make a pact to not draft anybody out of Wisconsin (the university, Jalen Johnson, not the state), until we figure out what those Badgers are teaching up there?

So much focus on Big T(w)en(ty) Defense, for all these years, and all that institution has to show for itself is Frank The Tank, some two-way dude in Utah, and Johnny Davis, the tenth pick from last year’s draft that the Wizards can’t seem to make useful (16 total minutes since December 1, DNP’d the last nine games).

Even the mothballed AJ Griffin has to be like, “Geez!” Where have you and your wife gone, Sam Dekker?

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[Guest]

24 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Much to the dismay of Mommie Dearest and Hawks fans alike, unfortunately, everything must be a contest.

 

[Spud2nique]

26 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Wednesday’s game was the fourth for the Hawks in the past six where the final margin was within five points.

Betting lines. 

 

27 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Shoot Like An Egyptian heaves (5-for-6 FTs)

 Love that song

 

28 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

His 21 steals in the past ten games ranks second-most in The Association over that span

That’s dope! Little mitten if you will.

 

29 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Also from the Game Notes, Atlanta’s record improved to 10-0 when Murray (NBA-high 200 deflections, tied with Fred Van Vleet) notches at least 15 points and 3 steals.

DJ the deflection leader nice I didn’t know! Not surprised though he gets his hands on a lot of balls… 

 

30 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

If you haven't noticed, the stretchy KP certainly notices he has a $36 million contract he can opt-out from ahead of next season.

Ok that’s why. I thought he was gone but one more contract, makes sense why the engine is revving so hard! 

 

31 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

co-star

Wonder who? FVV? I don’t know why but I can see him being in DC in the same backcourt with Bradley.

 

33 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Happy Trails to Patrick Ewing.

 

35 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Where have you and your wife gone, Sam Dekker?

HE’S A FLAME THROWEEEERRRR!!!

-Father of the bride  

 

Thanks as always @lethalweapon3, I still haven’t downed my black coffee ️ I gotta nuke it again!

GO HAWKS!!!

ps Vegas got Hawks -1.5

2K to come…

We got our alternate black unis vs their Antonio Daniels classic ones.

[shakes]

might skip this one tonight, first time since Trae got drafted.  Too much college basketball to watch tonight.

[Guest]

14 minutes ago, shakes said:

might skip this one tonight, first time since Trae got drafted.  Too much college basketball to watch tonight.

[Spud2nique]

Are we doing a tourney bracket? Who ran that thing? @kg01 I remember in FakeGM I beat Jamal and he was mad 

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, LongTimeFan said:

Who’s good this year? Haven’t followed at all this year but the fever will come soon no doubt it’s like World Cup soccer ️ fever it never fails. I grew up with soccer but it’s been 30 years since I played but still get that periodic fever like most.

[Spud2nique]

2 hours ago, shakes said:

might skip this one tonight, first time since Trae got drafted.  Too much college basketball to watch tonight.

Wait how did you get a like u are ignored.  
 

… based on the statement I liked it whatever ..

[NBASupes]

Never skipping unless I have to skip for business reasons 

Edited March 10, 2023 by NBASupes

[warcore]

all about the business

[lethalweapon3]

Wiz and Hawx injury/illness sheets are each as clean as a whistle. Monte Morris returned on Wednesday to aid the backcourt behind Delon and Beal.

I was literally submitting the OP as the Pastner news dropped. Is Sister Jean available?

~lw3

[Peoriabird]

Defensive effort is terrible again

[terrell]

We need this win to own the tiebreaker over the Wiz...

[Peoriabird]

WTF was Capela doing on that lat play???

[benhillboy]

John with the unique wave pattern looking like a 90’s R&B one hit wonder.

[JayBirdHawk]

What is up with OO and missed freethrows.

[Peoriabird]

Thank God they are playing the Wizard who can't throw it in the ocean

[Peoriabird]

How many dunks and layup will this team give up this game???

[benhillboy]

Did Jalen play PG at some point as a kid or something?

I just want all Hawks fans to realize how much of that 2nd ranked offense Delon contributed to last season.  The right player is gonna get the right shot most of the time when he’s on.

Edited March 11, 2023 by benhillboy

[JayBirdHawk]

Lots of defensive miscues, over helping, slow rotations.