Official Game Thread: Grizzlies at Hawks

[lethalweapon3]

“When I said I needed to see some Run ‘n Gun, I didn’t think I had to explain it!”

 

With the Memphis Grizzlies following up on the Pacers’ path through Atlanta’s State Farm Arena for another oddball tipoff with the Hawks (6 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL and MEM, NBATV elsewhere), it is time to acknowledge that the Grizzlies have themselves a true superstar on the court.

Well, on the side of the court, anyway. When you’ve got a Taylor Jenkins, who needs a Taylor Swift?

You are gonna get 60 Percent Winning Ball out of a Jenkins-coached team. It matters not if Ja Morant goes Full-Metal Plaxico at some two-bit ultra lounge (MEM 10-8 this season sans Ja, incl. a 25-point home win vs. ATL last December; 20-5 last season minus the 2022 All-NBA 2^nd Teamer and MIP). Nor, whether Dillon brooks some argument with the air and tears a shoulder muscle wildly swinging at it (MEM 4-3 without the Brooks Bother this season… so far).

You’ve seen more action out of Steven Adams in March Madness ads than you’ve seen him in March Memphis games, or even in February. The starting center has been out of commission for 27 games, and counting, yet the Grizzlies (46-27, 2^nd in NBA West, 1.5 games above SAC, 8-1 over last nine) say they’re good on that whole winter hibernation thing.

If Jenkins’ lineups have to slay you with Santi Aldama (22 points, 14 rebounds in Monday’s win vs. DAL), with David Roddy (7-for-12 3FGs, combined 43 points in two prior wins over DAL), with Tyus Jones (22 points, 11 dimes vs. ATL on Dec. 12), then slay they must.

This isn’t Vail, but I am getting a bit over my skis in failing to mention they’ve essentially beaten three teams (Golden State twice at home, Dallas thrice incl. twice at home, Houston in the last two home wins) in this recent winning run. Still, that is the defending champs, as Klay and Dray will have you no. And no wonder Luka is so bummed out lately!

Their top perimeter threat has an ever-disappearing neck, and yet the Grizzlies have prevailed in 12 of 16 contests without Desmond Bane, including that 128-103 wipeout of Atlanta in Memphis’ neck of the woods (along with Bane and Morant, Adams sat that one out, too). Jenkins still finds ways to turn heads, blasting the Rockets 151-114 on Friday with a historically efficient performance from Luke Kennard (10-for-11 FGs, all threes, in under 24 bench minutes), Grizzlie GM Zach Kleiman’s Deadline pickup from the Clippers intended to help his team genuinely space the floor (13.6 made 3FGs per-48, 6^th in NBA, up from 11.3 and 21^st pre-All-Star).

Trae Young need not be blamed for December’s loss in Memphis, as he was absent on the night following the disastrous OT home loss to Chicago, along with Clint Capela, Dejounte Murray, John Collins and Bogi Bogdanovic. There are times when absent is preferable to absent-minded, as Professor Young aptly demonstrated midway through what was shaping up to be a mid-day donnybrook with the Pacers yesterday.

As of this typing, there is no sign that a suspension will follow Young’s spiteful, ejection-inducing wizard-pass to a referee during a mid-game timeout. That improves the likelihood that the Hawks will field a better starting backcourt than rookie AJ Griffin and Trent Forrest when last these teams met.

The sole regular in Atlanta’s starting unit on that evening was De’Andre Hunter (team-high 19 points but one rebound @ MEM), and it appears for now that his absence (contused knee), and Jalen Johnson’s (strained hammy and groin), will extend for another game.

It helps Jenkins to have DPOY award leader Jaren Jackson, Jr. (career-high 8 blocks vs. ATL in December; MEM went 10-4 in the season’s first 14 games w/o JJJ) in the fold for the balance of the season. With Jackson plugging the lane that the Pacers could not, Murray and the Hawks’ jump shooters will have to make their hay from the mid-range out.

The bench coming alive to help Atlanta sink half of their threes (15-for-30) in yesterday’s 143-130 win over the Fighting Jordan Nworas will be a tall task to repeat today, so the off-screen floaters and jumpers (0-for-6 on 2FGs outside the paint vs. IND) will need to hit nylon with greater frequency. Jackson has cut down on his notorious hacking during Memphis’ recent spate of wins, but Atlanta could entice foul trouble with cuts and cross-court dishes toward the hoop that can catch Jackson reaching while reacting.

Obviously, Morant’s dribble-drive paint penetration can be deleterious for opponents around the rim. But one would think the more gravity bound Young’s 47.3 FG% on drives would be significantly lower than the high-flying Morant (48.2 FG% on drives). 2.4 of Ja’s nightly personal foul volume comes on the offensive end when he drives (2^nd-most in NBA), so keeping myriad Hawk defenders in front to limit straight-line actions and encourage his excessive lateral dribbles, turnovers and circus shots will aid Atlanta’s defensive cause, such that they have one.

Coach Quin Snyder’s colleague and longtime associate is as unassuming as the fella who swings by the house to lay roof installation. But make no mistake, Taylor Jenkins is HIM. He’s the only one of him. And, baby, that’s the fun of him. Through all the headlining player distractions, his stardom is slowly, but surely creeping up on the good people around Graceland.

If this Taylor keeps it up and his rotation magic extends the Grizzlies deep into the postseason, Ticketmaster is going to have to consider jacking up their crazy resale fees again.

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[kg01]

I will be plagiarizing the avatar, btw.  I'll cite my sources atleast.  

[lethalweapon3]

The Hawks injury/illness/impound report remains in a holding pattern as of 11:30 AM.

On the Griz' side, Brandon Clarke is likely out for the season after suffering an Achilles tear earlier this month, and Ziaire Williams remains week-to-week with a sore ankle. Steven Adams' timetable to return from a strained PCL in his knee is still unclear. Ja Morant continues to wear a protective face mask for his nose.

~lw3

[Spud2nique]

34 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

who needs a Taylor Swift?

My dad insists he saw her at the supermarket.. I said what was she buying, he said she wasn’t, she was the cashier.  Apparently Taylor needs a side job to make ends meet. 

 

35 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

The starting center has been out of commission for 27 games,

He wasn’t suited up when I went to the Clipps game a few weeks back. Westbrook and Bane were about to throw down and Adams aka Aqua man was ready to protect! 
 

 

39 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

David Roddy (7-for-12 3FGs, combined 43 points in two prior wins over DAL)

This dude balls, grinder.

 

39 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Klay and Dray will have you no.

Is it… 2? * orrrr..

42 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Jordan Nworas

Opportunity knocks.

 

@lethalweapon3 you smooth brah, thanks  

Vegas got Hawks … ooohhh sorry Grizz -2, wow that’s disrespectful but I understand.

2K has Hawks -8

JC 25 and 10 to LEAD the Hawk (first time he led the team in scoring in 2K sims all year).

JC/CC/OO combine for 41 boards and 5 SWATS! 

GOOOOO HAWKSSSS!!!!

[lethalweapon3]

There we go, in b4 the 1 PM due date for teams playing a SEGABABA...

All quiet on the Trae front, but I'll keep fingers crossed.

~lw3

[Spud2nique]

3 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

There we go, in b4 the 1 PM due date for teams playing a SEGABABA...

All quiet on the Trae front, but I'll keep fingers crossed.

~lw3

@hawkman do you and lw3 share the same account? Not for yahoo personals but on squawk? Asking for a friend ( @kg01) 

[JayBirdHawk]

13 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

There we go, in b4 the 1 PM due date for teams playing a SEGABABA...

All quiet on the Trae front, but I'll keep fingers crossed.

~lw3

Bogi might need to sit this one out...back to back amd a knee contusion?

[lethalweapon3]

1 minute ago, JayBirdHawk said:

Bogi might need to sit this one out...back to back amd a knee contusion?

Yesterday's BogiDunk was sponsored by Voltaren.

~lw3

[givemesome1ce1]

I’m praying that Bogi doesn’t play tonight. I hate when he plays back to backs, he is terrible in them.

you know I saw discussion on Twitter about the hawks season being disastrous and yeah I overall agree with that…we made a win now trade with Murray and we have a worse team now than last year..this season has been revealed a lot of problems about our players and staff that has to be resolved. even if you want to be optimistic about our young players, we only been on 1 win streak this entire season and the hawks never jelled at all. I’m just hoping next season is different. I just want to not worry about being in the play-in next season.

[kg01]

2 hours ago, Spud2nique said:

@hawkman do you and lw3 share the same account? Not for yahoo personals but on squawk? Asking for a friend ( @kg01) 

"Who wants to know?" - lw3

1 hour ago, JayBirdHawk said:

Bogi might need to sit this one out...back to back amd a knee contusion?

Sabe us, Meth-Bogi. 

[NBASupes]

Lukastans down bad. 

[hawkman]

50 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

Lukastans down bad. 

Thank goodness the Hawks don't have to play Charlotte again this season.

[benhillboy]

The signature wins of the season for me are smacking the Nuggets without Trae (kinda fluky I admit) and beating the heat once lol.  With the way the Grizz been playing lately this would definitely be the third if they can pull it out.  Very impressed by how well Ja has accepted and thrived in his new bench role.  The Rockets gonna Rocket but a team best +41 over two games ain’t nothing to sneeze at.

I’m excited Quin is here, no doubt. As far as Bud Disciples though Taylor is head of the class.  Based on youth and payroll Memphis been wildly overachieving for a few years now. 

Trae is gonna have two fabulous defenders in Brooks and JJJ draped upon him all night.  Making the right reads at the right time and using their aggressiveness against them will be key.  Win or lose if he’s a +7 I’ll be very impressed.  Interested to see how Clint looks on this B2B and how AJ and Bey adjust to a very limited number of open looks.

[JayBirdHawk]

So uuum....Trae...mind your P's n Q's

 

 

[sturt]

4 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

P's n Q's

To your point, may I suggest...

T's (techs)... n... DQs (disqualifications)

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[TheNorthCydeRises]

31 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

 

 

 

Updated:

 

[TheNorthCydeRises]

I need to know who is starting tonight.

I should've added AJ to my fantasy team on Friday night instead of Saturday morning.  He'll have to play if Bogi and/or Hunter are on minutes restrictions

 

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Brevin Knight ( former Hawk and current Grizzlies color analyst )

 

"The Grizzlies can't let the energy of the building get to them.  And they need to see if they can convert some of these "on the fence" Hawks fans."

 

Kind of sad that this is part of the reputation of this fan base.  They support the Hawks, but a good number in the crowd always come out for the star / superstar players, and will cheer loud as hell for them.

We cannot let Ja take over the building and have the crowd on his side, especially if he pulls off one of his spectacular dunks.

[benhillboy]

That lil bastard Trae be styling.  It’s hard to make a T-shirt look cool over a sweatshirt lol.

I wished Taylor kept Ja coming off the bench a little longer.  I forgot this was a national game though.  Ja vs Trae is must see TV.