Official Game Thread: Cavaliers at Hawks

[lethalweapon3]

“Hold the phone! Whaddya mean, the Boston Strangler nickname is taken?”

 

The Atlanta Hawks return home from NYC after pouncing on the more-shorthanded Knicks from the jump, then declining to yield to pressure in the fourth quarter.

Just like we all thought.

The most comfortable way to watch Hawks Basketball is to begin, and conclude, your viewership not with low expectations, but no expectations whatsoever.

Darius Garland raced the Hawks down to Atlanta, from last night’s comeback thriller in Beantown, knowing his Cleveland Cavaliers will likely be without Donovan Mitchell (out, PRP knee injection), Max Strus (out, strained knee, missed 1^st game of the season @ BOS), Tristan Thompson (suspended, no, not that kind of cheating), and Ty Jerome (out, ankle surgery). ATLien on-and-off starter Isaac Okoro and sixth-man Caris LeVert each played over 30 minutes on Tuesday, and they lofted a combined 21 shots despite having been listed as questionable pregame with sprained elbows.

And now Garland and Jarrett Allen may have to pull off the parlay, Cleveland’s third game in four nights, without Evan Mobley. Having missed much of the middle of the season-to-date with a knee injury, Mobley rose for a third-quarter dunk last night and descended with a sprained (later, swollen) ankle. If the Cavs forward made the trip south at all, he’ll be on crutches.

This could mean everything for the momentum-starved Hawks (27-34). Or it could mean absolutely nothing. Who’s to say, really?

What we do know for sure is coach JB Bickerstaff’s club enters State Farm Arena hobbled but re-spirited. They have Dean “The Third Kelce Bro” Wade to thank, after his 20-point fourth-quarter blitz helped the Cavs overturn a 22-point Celtics lead (a CLE final-frame comeback record) and end Boston’s 11-game win streak with a 105-104 victory.

The heroics from Wade (6-for-9 3FGs) last night, and from “Hail Maxy” Strus last Tuesday in a home win over Dallas, has the Cavs (40-32, 0.5 GB MIL) poised to keep pace with, if not overtake, the hard-charging Bucks in the NBA Central Division. To ensure they sweep the Hawks in their season-series tonight (7:30 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast, 92.9 The Game Night in ATL, BS Ohio), Bickerstaff will need steady four-quarter production from Garland and Allen, but also at least a third wheel. That might not be Wade (5-for-6 3FGs @ ATL, in CLE’s 116-95 win w/o either Garland or Mobley), whose arms are surely tired.

Perhaps the Cavs can get rolling with the aid of Georges Niang, a probable starter replacement if neither Wade nor E-Mobley can go, or guard Sam Merrill. The trio of Wade, Merrill and Niang went 14-for-28 from three-point range during their blowout victory over the weary Hawks back in January, relieving Mitchell and the other Cavs teammates going 2-for-15 from deep.

Needing only to go 1-for-4 on threes in the final frame last night at MSG, Atlanta was able to rely on an array of mid-range buckets, in and around the lane, from Dejounte Murray, and a relentless team approach to passing and rebounding to thwart the Knicks’ comeback attempt and leave with the 116-100 win. Saddiq Bey, Bruno Fernando, Murray, and Clint Capela led both teams with 4 rebounds in each quarter. Nine of Atlanta’s 13 fourth-quarter field goals were assisted, thrice by Jalen Johnson (7 assists; ATL 7-2 when Johnson makes 6+ assists, incl. 5-0 when he dishes 7+).

Drawing Allen out as a help defender could open up multiple avenues for Dejounte and Jalen, especially if the Hawks can get Bogdan Bogdanovic (1-for-6 3FGs last night, 5-for-19 past three games) back on track, and grant Fernando (7 rebounds, 1:1 rebounds-to-turnover ratio @ NYK), Johnson, Clint Capela and De’Andre Hunter some high-percentage, quick-strike rack attacks.

The Hawks have a great chance to notch a second-straight victory tonight. This, I say confidently, as I prepare to watch this game with… Morgan Fairchild! Yeah! That’s the ticket.

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Both Strus (knee) and Mobley (ankle) will be Out, joining Mitchell and Jerome on the hot-off-the-presses 1:30 Boo Boo Report. Evan's bro Isaiah is on G-League duty.

With or without healthy units, Cleveland has feasted on subpar teams, their 25-3 record versus teams below .500 ranking 2nd in the NBA behind the (22-1) Celtics. Their stunner back home last night pulled the Cavs even with the Celts for the best record in the league (22-6) since January 3. 

Some banana Splits courtesy of Hawks' GameNotes. The 3 NBA'ers averaging at least 22 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds since the All-Star Break are Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Dejounte Murric. SInce February 5, the NBA'ers averaging 18+ PPG on minimum 50/40/85 shooting splits are Kristaps Porzingis, Jamaps Murris, and De'Andraps Hunteris (probable despite the SEGABABA, knee injury management).

Kobe Bufkin remains Out (little piggy went to market), along with Trae and Gwu Tang.

 

~lw3

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

 

 

[kg01]

I did a triple-take to make sure I wasn't looking at Chandelier Parsons. 

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[Spud2nique]

Thanks lw3! 
 

Let’s make it dos!  

 

Go Hawks! 
 

ps 2K score is 50-50 at the half 

[JayBirdHawk]

 

Has there been any update on Mutombo since his brain tumor diagnosis in 2022?

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[JayBirdHawk]

Nique: Niang looks like he's been living good. 

[thecampster]

13 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

Nique: Niang looks like he's been living good. 

Speaking of Nique, he hadn't traveled on a few road trips this year. Anyone know the details why?

[JayBirdHawk]

Jalen using the glass like Scottie Pippen. 

[terrell]

Bogi sure does take some bad shots....

lol Bruno with another missed dunk.. Geez

[Peoriabird]

Hawks need size...they can't rebound!  Bogi is horrible

[terrell]

Good pass Bruno

[JayBirdHawk]

The Dunking Dre!

[JayBirdHawk]

A Center that can pass! Bruno 

Come see your boy @TheNorthCydeRises

[terrell]

G Matthews..

[TheNorthCydeRises]

I've been telling yall about Bruno's untapped potential as a passer.

 

[terrell]

And 1 Dre!!