Official Game Thread: Hawks at Cavaliers

[lethalweapon3]

“No, I’m not some HawksNWaffles creAtIon! I’m really in the league, still, and in 2K, too! I can’t believe it, either. Put me in, Spud! I can be center field!”

 

Three cheers to our old pal Damian Jones!

“This man started 23 games for the Western Conference champs, so he can’t be THAT bad.” we all Squawked, in 2019, about our replacement starter for Alex Len. Not even 20 starts for our Atlanta Hawks later, the sentiment shifted. “This man started 23 games for the Western Conference champs, so how is he THIS bad?”

The pride of Vanderbilt (sorry, John Jenkins) was holding it down, probably as best he could, for Trae Young’s starting five (Allen Crabbe! Jabari Parker!) that November when the Hawks, with John Collins’ PED rug pulled out from under them, flubbed ten straight games. That culminated, if you will, in a 158-111 drubbing at the hands of a Rockets team that didn’t even need Clint Capela around. Buried on the depth chart behind Len and Jones, rookie center Bruno Fernando had to wonder just what he has gotten himself into.

LP would only start Jones for five more games during the Hawks’ next swoon, a month later in December. Benched after going a net minus-15 over nine minutes during a 23-point loss in Mitchell Robinson’s Neighborhood, by the time the scene shifted from NYC to Cleveland, at the Cavaliers’ High-Interest Homeloan Fieldhouse, Len and Jones would look on as Bruno was tabbed to start. Still a Hawks’ L, the eighth of ten-straight. But Fernando and a healthier starting-lineup contingent allowed the game to be close for three quarters.

Bruno as the lead choice in a bad center platoon was no silver bullet, as the subsequent 26-point home loss to Milwaukee (chill, Ersan Ilyasova!) and 35-point loss in Chicago would attest. But aside from a last-chance run-up to the All-Star Break, those were the last runs of intentional starts for Jones in a Hawks jersey.

In hindsight, he may have absorbed the brunt of criticism better directed toward some of the other “talents” and “leaders” couched around our budding superstar, Young, and De’Andre Hunter. You may not have thought much about Damian Jones around the NBA in the years since. To his credit, I’d bet you have thought of Korean Basketball League Finals MVP Omari Spellman even less (go, Red Boosters!).

The aura of “Golden State drafted him, so he can’t be THAT bad,” kept Jones grabbing paychecks from Western Conference clubs for the past three seasons, including two stints with the Lakers. Len would team up with him again in Sacramento in 2021-22. The bigs were beneficiaries of sorts, figuring into 12 of Sactown’s 31 different starting lineup schemes, as “Haliburton or Fox?” was far from the biggest daily conundrum facing either Luke Walton or Alvin Gentry.

After signing in Los Angeles again, the Lakers re-routed him midway through last season to Utah, his bench contribution quite useful for a team, in the afterglow of the Quin Snyder-Donovan Mitchell years, figuring out they needed to tank in a jiffy.

Now, Damian Jones is back East, and he is thriving. Thriving and playing are not synonyms, though. One thing Dan Gilbert’s Cavaliers had at their disposal was cash, and they sent a few trinkets Utah’s way over the summer, for the right to acquire Damian’s $2.3 million contract (the most he’s made in a season since his ATL days). The Cavs would stash him, as a “Break Glass” option, behind Jarrett Allen.

Allen wasn’t ready to start the season, so coach J.B. Bickerstaff had Evan Mobley manning the middle for the first half-dozen games. These days, Mobley (arthroscopic knee surgery, as you would need, too, after registering a career-high 19 rebounds and 7 blocks vs. ATL on Nov. 28) has been (and now will be) out of action, precipitating a three game slide for the Cavs (13-12). Out goes Mobley, in comes… Dean Wade!

Behind Wade on the depth chart of go-to Cavs bigs? Georges Niang asks, “You Rang?” Behind him? Why, it’s The Statue of Loyalty, Tristan Thompson (how is this man still 32?), who Cleveland (re-)signed to a deal right before training camp. One must dig below all the two-ways (including Evan’s bro Isaiah) on the minutes-allocation chart before you find Jones and his team-low 4.9 MPG.

Damian’s a human victory cigar in the closing minutes of many games, and a loosely-fitting bandage when games fall beyond the Cavs’ control. But there is no doubt the Louisiana product is perfectly content being around to do whatever in his NBA team’s practice sessions, instead of being the buddy getting ready to learn Korean.

“Smiling through it all! Can’t believe this is my life!” is not an exclamation reserved exclusively for LeBron James catching rays from the whirlpool. As Jones looks way down past his row toward the bench of his former employer, the 10-14 Hawks, tonight (7:30 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, BS Ohio and… whoa! NBATV! To whom shall we direct our praise?), you can’t blame Damian for cheesing it up from ear to ear. What are they gonna do, have him fill in for Darius Garland (owwwt, fractured jaw)?

Heck, if Atlanta reverts to putrid team defensive and rebounding efforts and individual shooting displays, as they did in last month’s 128-105 loss here, and lets Mitchell go buckwild once more (40 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals), Jones might even get a late check-in and fun-run on this go-round. Don’t nobody spill the beans, that he’s not Damon’s kid, and spoil the fun!

At the polar opposite end of the floor, buried on the depth chart behind Capela and Onyeka Okongwu, fifth-year center Bruno Fernando can’t help but wonder just what he has once again gotten himself into.

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Thanks to Atlanta getting its act together, especially on defense, in Toronto last night, Mr. Fernando did get a minute of closeout floor burn last night! Bravo, Bruno! Might our Angolan Nightmare get some run-of-play action tonight, with Onyeka and Clint (no foul trouble last night @ TOR; 26 combined Rebs to the Raps' 32) starting together on a SEGABABA? Perchance to dream.

Meanwhile, Ev-Mobley's extended downtime surely ascends Dame Dilla (2.5 MP in CLE's last 10 games) up the Cavs' center depth chart, right? Right?

Already operating without Ricky Rubio and Ty Jerome, Garland's injury only entrenches the ball in the hands of Mitchell (42.2 FG%, 29.4 3FG% in last 10 games) and Caris LeVert further. Still, keep an eye out for two-way guard Craig Porter. The rookie had 21 points in relief of the injured Mitchell last month, when the Cavs toppled the Nuggets. In his last game, filling in for LeVert, he played 22 bench minutes and was a positive factor during Cleveland's last win, at Miami.

 

~lw3

[JayBirdHawk]

With no Mobley, I hope Quin isn't tempted to abandon the BIG lineup. Play them, they need time together and it helps to clog the lanes on opponents drive, more rim resistance. I think they help each other avoid foul trouble.

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

No, I’m not some HawksNWaffles creAtIon! I’m really in the league, still, and in 2K, too! I can’t believe it, either. Put me in, Spud! I can be center field!”

lw3 knows my style, play anyone out of position as long as it’s BPA! Is this about OO? (Notice not big o..) 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Three cheers to our old pal Damian Jones!

Oh good lawt! @JayBirdHawk don’t look ..he said Solomon not Damian.. ‍

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Mitchell Robinson’s Neighborhood,

 

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

You may not have thought much about Damian Jones around the NBA in the years since

Not I get reminded every few month.. @JayBirdHawk..  

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Now, Damian Jones is back East, and he is thriving.

I’m sorry he’s what?  

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Dean Wade!

funny story coming..

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Bruno Fernando

At this point I’m really rooting for him to get a few minutes.

 

Thanks lw3! You da man. This preview came in early!!!!  

Vegas got Cavs -2.5

This is a national televised game.. (kinda, NBAtv).

 

GO HAWKS!!!!

[Spud2nique]

38 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Angolan Nightmare

love it.

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Dean Wade!

I’m playing 2K with my nephew he’s the Cavs, he said let me know who’s tired so I can sub them in and out. 
 

Anyways, on a timeout he says whose on the bench..

I said..

Levert, Okoro and D Wade.

He said “D WADE… ON THE BENCH!!!!!” BRAHHHHH BRAHHHHH, Yo we can’t have D Wade on the bench that’s why I’m losing.” Get him in there!!!!

 

Me: You got it lil buddy! You want D Wade you gon git some D Wade!  

 

You guys ever think Gabrielle makes that mistake in bed wit Wade?  

[HawksNWaffles]

@lethalweapon3 you rang ?

[Diesel]

2 hours ago, JayBirdHawk said:

With no Mobley, I hope Quin isn't tempted to abandon the BIG lineup. Play them, they need time together and it helps to clog the lanes on opponents drive, more rim resistance. I think they help each other avoid foul trouble.

Last time, it was Mitchell that was torching us.   Tonight, we have to do all in our power to avenge that loss.   They ran up the score on us for sake of the IST.   Tonight, it's payback and it's personal!  I say run the big lineup for the practice but let us also put as much pressure on Spyda as we can.   He still has a collection of shooters that will be on the floor with him. 

 

[bird_dirt]

AJ personal reasons out.

 

 

[terrell]

6 hours ago, JayBirdHawk said:

With no Mobley, I hope Quin isn't tempted to abandon the BIG lineup. Play them, they need time together and it helps to clog the lanes on opponents drive, more rim resistance. I think they help each other avoid foul trouble.

If we are going to continue to play the Capela-OO front court, then we need another center not named Bruno IMO. 

 

58 minutes ago, bird_dirt said:

AJ personal reasons out.

 

 

Personal reasons for 3 straight games? TF is going on?? 

Edited December 16, 2023 by terrell

[warcore]

26 minutes ago, terrell said:

 

Personal reasons for 3 straight games? TF is going on?? 

I'm worried it has to do with Quin not playing him and he's all in his feelings about where he's at. 

I may be alone in this but I suspect the FO and Quin have discussed a need to showcase Garrison and Wes because they're nice filler for a trade. If that's the case, I would hope someone communicated that to AJ. I suspect by the trade deadline AJ will be getting minutes like he was. 

[Chrimturn]

33 minutes ago, terrell said:

Personal reasons for 3 straight games? TF is going on?? 

[JayBirdHawk]

Personal is personal unless stated otherwise.

[terrell]

1 hour ago, Chrimturn said:

Yeah, He may be more into preaching than playing basketball.....

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvvVFcypfeL/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D

[JeffS17]

50 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

Personal is personal unless stated otherwise.

I interpret it “personal reasons” as either personal reasons or reasons that will draw bad PR.  Hope its the former.  

[Chrimturn]

8 minutes ago, terrell said:

Yeah, He may be more into preaching than playing basketball.....

You ain’t kiddin’

She let it calm down for a while then got’em with the VooDoo. 

[JeffS17]

How sore is Dres quad?  We got no JJ and he cant suit up for how long now? 
 

[terrell]

25 minutes ago, JeffS17 said:

How sore is Dres quad?  We got no JJ and he cant suit up for how long now? 
 

I thought it was "knee soreness"??

[HawksNWaffles]

[lethalweapon3]

((Insert 90s/00s Hawks logo with head and talons but no Wings here))

~lw3