Official Game Thread: Wizards at Hawks

[lethalweapon3]

You’re not fooling anybody, Dejounte. Halloween's over, get outta that costume!

 

Sure, it’s suddenly chilly all over the East Coast right now. But it won’t be long before the cherry blossoms return to the District of Columbia.

Travis Schlenk looks forward to enjoying lots and lots of Cherry Blossom Festivals.

Having been ejected in mid-season from the Hawks’ front office by Tony Ressler & Son last December, Trader Trav paired up this past summer with hoops-exec colleague Michael Winger and Monumental Basketball, Inc., the parent company for the Washington Wizards. He has been presented as the new player personnel and scouting guru, which tells me that while Winger, hired this past May, is being held accountable for Washington’s past, and present, Schlenk is here to architect the Wizards’ near-future.

Schlenk may have a few scouting tips to share with Wes Unseld, Jr., too, as the Wizards head coach readies for four meetings, the first one tonight in Atlanta (7:30 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, MonSpoNet in DC), versus Schlenk’s prior employer.

What the man with over a quarter-century of basketball administrative experience doesn’t have to worry about is getting second-guessed by a bunch of kids who were barely alive back when he was running hoop operations at UGA. I trust Travis checked with the staff directory for mentions of “Leonsis” before deciding to become Winger’s wingman.

I suspect that Schlenk remains future-focused because, were he tasked with turning last season’s 35-47 club, headlined by Kyle Kuzma, Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis, into an immediate boffo success one season later, then Jordan Poole wouldn’t be here. Kind of a cheap shot, J.P., I know, sorry.

Within weeks of Schlenk’s hire at the start of June, the Wiz went to work, getting in the mix of the CP3 and Marcus Smart multi-team trades to deal Beal and Porzingis away. The Unicorn trade brought them Tyus Jones (NBA-record five straight seasons leading the league in assist/TO ratio), while the Beal deal reeled in four future first-round pick swap options between 2024 and 2030. The latter trade also allowed the Wizards to swap 2023 picks with the Pacers, flipping Jarace Walker into That Other Teenaged Frenchman Freshman, 19-year-old prospect Bilal Coulibaly.

It has been rough sledding thus far for the present-day Wizards (1-2), despite getting a reprieve from the short-clawed Grizzlies in last Saturday’s home opener. Walker hardly had to lift a finger as his Pacers slapped around the Wiz to the tune of 143 regulation points, a tally that looked quite plausible to a few visitors at State Farm Arena after first halves in recent days.

Porzingis’ Celtics weren’t as kind as Memphis was to their hosts on Monday. Boston rang up 77 first-half points (lol, snort, who does that?) and 108 through three quarters before cruising behind the subs to a 126-107 victory.

Already nonchalant about guarding the three-point line (47.7 opponent 3FGAs per game, MEM’s 40.5 ranks 2^nd-most; 40.6 opponent 3FG%, 4^th-highest), Washington entered that game knowing they’d also be without center-by-default Daniel Gafford (questionable, sprained ankle). Mike Muscala, approached Monday’s game thinking he’d be the fill-in starter. Or, perhaps, then-Hawks-GM Schlenk’s former acquisition Danilo Gallinari, who also landed in D.C. via the KP trade, for a little razzle dazzle. Unbeknownst to those vets, Schlenk’s imprint was already taking hold.

Unseld filled in the vacancy on the top line with Coulibaly, the franchise’s youngest-ever starter. He has been understandably shaky as a shooter but, at all of 6-foot-6 yet bearing a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Coulibaly has already become the stopgap help defender around the rim the Wizards needed, returning several opponent shots to sender in flashy, eye-popping style.

Constructing the current slate of Wizards into a competitive basketball unit feels like being asked to mold the Lincoln Monument out of Play-Doh. Unseld knows he can keep turnovers down and maximize shots for his offense by keeping the rock in the steady hands of Jones and yet another ex-Hawk, Delon Wright. Unfortunately for him, usage is dominated by Kuzma (25.0 3FG%) and, well… taking shots at a dried-up Poole (38.5 FG%, 21.7 3FG%, 5.0 TOs and 3.7 assists per-36) at this point seems a bit too on-the-nose.

Waiting in the wings are a couple highly drafted wings Winger inherited. Deni Avdija starts but understandably may be a tad distracted by off-court events to be relied upon to elevate his production. If not for Corey Kispert (42.9 3FG%) being a defense-sieve and a nonfactor in the passing game, Unseld might be inclined to make Avdija the sixth-man. Once Gafford returns to form, Unseld may be tempted to use Coulibaly as the reason to make Avdija the seventh-man.

Hawks defenders outside the paint will make things easier on themselves, even easier if they’re not waiting until halftime, by funneling Jones and Wright inside and rotating, anticipating the need to make catches for their recipients difficult and forcing the latter to become undesirable secondary ballhandlers or, in the cases of Kuz and Poole, wild circus-shot takers. For the highest-scoring transition per-game offense thus far (NBA-high 28.5 PPG), Atlanta’s top perimeter threats need to simply run to their spots and keep the lanes open for whatever Dejounte Murray (career-high-tying 41 points vs. MIN on Monday) and/or Trae Young (questionable, inflamed Achilles) elect to do.

“They love basketball,” Poole remarked to MonSpoNet’s Chase Hughes, on his early impression of Wizards fans, “they love the entertainment, and we’ve got some entertaining players. It will be really exciting.” As Poole confirms, the immediate task for the Wizards’ marquee faces is to find ways to entertain the fans back home, as precious few will pay the big bucks to see this particular outfit on the road.

If they aren’t able to convert the occasional offensive trick-play highlights into wins, and the Tank machine gets rolling soon? Poole might be watching more of Johnny Davis than he anticipated. Same with Kyle Kuzma watching Patrick Baldwin. And despite a recently picked-up contract option for 2024-25, same with Unseld, watching Jack Ryan on Amazon Prime.

Don’t cry for Schlenk, though. In D.C., he’s just getting started. Season 1, Episode 1.

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[Spud2nique]

19 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Trader Trav

Great products I like their frozen section.

 

21 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Tyus Jones (NBA-record five straight seasons leading the league in assist/TO ratio),

Oh man I knew he was efficient but 5 straight years!!!!! Oh myyyyyyyy (d*ck Enberg)

22 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Bilal Coulibaly.

This kid might be a silent type player that excels, didn’t know much about him at all except that he was Wemby’s teammate.

 

23 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

lol, snort, who does that?)

26 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Muscala

  
 

 

31 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

and the Tank machine gets rolling soon?

Can we nab the aforementioned T Jones?  

 

Thanks as always @lethalweapon3 another great thread getting us set for the game! 
 

I have the Hawks by 15 tonight. Execution from us is too much for them. But we have to execute that’s the only thing.  

 

GO HAWKS!!!

 

Ps Vegas spread is Hawks -9 o/u 238.5

The money line is -370 Hawks and + 285 Wizards.

[Spud2nique]

Oh @Gray Mule I shot 9-37 for 24%  from deep but out rebound them, controlled the pace and more importantly.. that FREE throw charity stripe you always emphasis to us..

15-15 collect the free points and don’t leave any on the table! You are wise! 

 

[Final_quest]

I only read the headline.  Perfection

[benhillboy]

Gallo, Moose, Delon, is this the former Hawks Hospice Home?  Washington is an awful place to die.  They got my boy Delon on pace for the worst metrics of his career by far.  15 assists to only 1 turnover is his only saving grace.  
 

That roster is downright depressing.  Perfect timing for Trae to get an early night off, Hawks should mop the floor without him.  If so Patty needs to be dusted off and go 3-7 or better from deep.

Edited November 1, 2023 by benhillboy

[Gray Mule]

Beware!  Sometimes that team that you should easily beat is the hardest team to corral.  Don't count the win before the tipoff.  Hawks must do their thing tonight.  No let up!

GO ATL HAWKS !!

 

[HawksNWaffles]

[theheroatl]

No matter what the outcome I'm ready for a knock down squawk fight on any subject... LFG

Also, can we get a counter on bonkers & terrell dragging trae posts 

that way I don't have to read back 300 posts to find how many times they were wrong 

[terrell]

1 hour ago, benhillboy said:

Gallo, Moose, Delon, is this the former Hawks Hospice Home?  Washington is an awful place to die.  They got my boy Delon on pace for the worst metrics of his career by far.  15 assists to only 1 turnover is his only saving grace.  
 

That roster is downright depressing.  Perfect timing for Trae to get an early night off, Hawks should mop the floor without him.  If so Patty needs to be dusted off and go 3-7 or better from deep.

Youve been here long enough to know NO game is easy for the Hawks.... They ALWAYS make it interesting regardless of opponent..

1 hour ago, Gray Mule said:

Beware!  Sometimes that team that you should easily beat is the hardest team to corral.  Don't count the win before the tipoff.  Hawks must do their thing tonight.  No let up!

GO ATL HAWKS !!

 

This......

[terrell]

16 minutes ago, theheroatl said:

No matter what the outcome I'm ready for a knock down squawk fight on any subject... LFG

Also, can we get a counter on bonkers & terrell dragging trae posts 

that way I don't have to read back 300 posts to find how many times they were wrong 

Wrong about what?

Trae was better last 2 games besides shooting like crap still.. I gave him credit like I always do when he plays well.....

I cant speak for @Bonkers..... lol

Edited November 1, 2023 by terrell

[TheNorthCydeRises]

1 hour ago, benhillboy said:

Gallo, Moose, Delon, is this the former Hawks Hospice Home?  Washington is an awful place to die.  They got my boy Delon on pace for the worst metrics of his career by far.  15 assists to only 1 turnover is his only saving grace.  
 

That roster is downright depressing.  Perfect timing for Trae to get an early night off, Hawks should mop the floor without him.  If so Patty needs to be dusted off and go 3-7 or better from deep.

I agree that if Trae needs a night off, this would be the game to do it.

[Spud2nique]

I was just taking a and was thinking about lw3 today, the other day it was Campster and JJ, I dunno each day it’s in the shower cuz it’s the only place I can seem to think these days..

Anyhoo, what does lw3 do during games? I mean, he’s not on the game thread but I’m he watches, and most likely live. I guess I have noticed I focus better when just watching but I love the back and forth of squawkers and their input..

Thats all. 
 

Go Hawks! 
 

ps cagey I haven’t thought about you in the shower … yet.. don’t get jealous it’s not in my control it just happens and it could be anyone.

Edited November 1, 2023 by Spud2nique

[JayBirdHawk]

We better not mess around with this 'bad' team.

Put them away quick.

 

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[lethalweapon3]

13 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

I was just taking a and was thinking about lw3 today, the other day it was Campster and JJ, I dunno each day it’s in the shower cuz it’s the only place I can seem to think these days..

Anyhoo, what does lw3 do during games? I mean, he’s not on the game thread but I’m he watches, and most likely live. I guess I have noticed I focus better when just watching but I love the back and forth of squawkers and their input..

Thats all. 
 

Go Hawks! 
 

ps cagey I haven’t thought about you in the shower … yet.. don’t get jealous it’s not in my control it just happens and it could be anyone.

"Have you had your sprinkle today?" I'm in jingle-earworm mode now!

Hey I'm still pandemic-averse myself, so you won't even catch me watching hawks down at the zoo these days! As much as I miss the Squawkers live down on The Farm, I do watch as much of the games on the telly, and snoop on here mid-game, as my ulcers will allow (my newfangled Voice Remote worked great in the first half on Monday: "Show Me Peppa Pig!").

Injury note: Trae's upgraded from Questionable to Available on the Boo-Boo Report, so that's good!

~lw3

[BrazilianHawk]

Let's go Hawks, please try to do it easier on us this time. I wouldn't mind watching a very boring game in which we win from minute 1 to 48. 

 

Let's do it, GO HAWKS!

[Spud2nique]

9 minutes ago, BrazilianHawk said:

Let's go Hawks, please try to do it easier on us this time. I wouldn't mind watching a very boring game in which we win from minute 1 to 48. 

 

Let's do it, GO HAWKS!

Where the hell are the BIG LETTERS IN RED BRAZIL ???  

[lethalweapon3]

The Moose. He's... Not Tight!

Meanwhile... Forever and always... he's always here! We're back on Beywatch!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

#Deposterized

~lw3

[Dnice]

Cmon where's Jalen?