Official Game Thread: Hawks at Jazz

[lethalweapon3]

“Jazz fans! Please give a warm Utah welcome to tonight’s halftime entertainer…”

 

It’s Friday night in the SLC, and that stands for Schedule Loss City!

It’s true that the Utah Jazz have only wins, here at Delta Center, versus the Spurs and the Wizards under their belt over the past 37 days. It’s true that the Jazz, like the road-tripping Atlanta Hawks, remain without their franchise player, Lauri Markkanen (contused quad) in their case, while guards Jordan Clarkson (strained groin) and Kris Dunn (rest?) will sit this one out, and rookie starter Taylor Hendricks (sprained toe) remains questionable.

It is also true that hell hath no fury like the Hawks’ schedule-maker at NBA HQ.

The Jazz (28-37) lacked the offensive firepower to hang for four quarters with the NBA-leading Celtics in SLC on Tuesday, and the defensive chops to keep up with the defending champ Nuggets last Saturday. But despite two off-days preceding the visit from Boston, and a pair of off-days prior to their loss in Denver, coach Will Hardy’s club was granted two more off-days to prep for the Hawks’ arrival ahead of tonight’s game (9:30 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, KJZZ in SLC, I’m so terribly sorry, all you NBATV viewers out there).

Jazz players and staff were able to watch the Hawks gift-wrap a 106-102 victory for Portland, on Wednesday night, then waited for Atlanta to hop a flight headed to the Wasatch Front. Much like Portland, Utah has been fairly lousy in-conference (14-23 vs. NBA West), but half of their win tally this season has come at the expense of teams like the Hawks (14-14 vs. NBA East, despite Atlanta’s 124-97 win back home on Feb. 27). Plus, the Jazz are a respectable 19-13 at home.

At least the Hawks (29-36) are none the worse for wear. Bogi Bogdanovic (questionable for today, illness) trudged his way through the Blazers game despite catching a bug, and his pregame status is the same as Jalen Johnson’s (questionable, sprained ankle). As Bogi and a pedestrian De’Andre Hunter weren’t able to provide much help when Dejounte Murray cooled down (40 points vs. POR but 5-for-16 second-half FGs), the Hawks were also dislodged out of the paint with ease (21-8 second-half D-Reb advantage for POR).

That’s encouraging news for John Collins, who played nearly 30 minutes versus the Celts only to be out-boarded on his own team by sixth-man Walker Kessler (8 board in under 20 minutes), along with Collin Sexton and fill-in starter Luka Samanic (seven rebounds apiece, the latter in under 15 minutes, while Collins could only muster four). JC and the Jazz will have little trouble controlling the pace, and the game, so long as Capela and the Hawks’ front line are still in a giving mood.

Jazz fans have grown encouraged by the offensive spark recently displayed by rookie Keyonte George (4-for-9 on 3FGs in the loss @ ATL), albeit mostly in losing efforts. SB Nation’s Lake Hale over at SLC Dunk noted how George being miscast as a defensive swingman in guard-heavy lineups at Baylor obscured his potential as a primary playmaker. It’s easy to slip into the shadows when Sexton and/or sixth-man Jordan Clarkson are sopping up possessions.

But he has since lost weight, and his shots are also rounding into form (28.3 PPG over last 3 full games, incl. 16-for-32 on 3FGs). Keyonte could stand to cut down on his turnovers and fouling, but for a rookie who lacked confidence on his shot in the early going, Jazz fans buy into George thinking he’s got it.  

George’s emergence is a positive sign for Hardy, who may find himself on a hot seat, anyway, if he is ultimately unable to improve upon Utah’s 37-45 record from last season. The Jazz were well past the halfway point last season at 27-26 before the wheels fell off, and the 6-17 stretch they’re currently on after starting out at 22-20 has been dispiriting, even in a state not all that fond about certain spirits.

As for Hardy’s head-coaching predecessor, now manning the visitors’ end of the sideline, in his first visit to the Beehive State since abdicating the Jazz post? Whatever temperature the seat beneath Quin Snyder’s tuchus in Atlanta, know that it comes with a handy-dandy ejector button.

“I strongly feel they need a new voice to continue to evolve.” That’s what Snyder told the Utah media when he showed himself the door after 8 NBA seasons. The eighth season started strong, with a 26-9 start through the end of December, just about as stout his seventh year at the helm, when the Jazz’s 52-20 mark was the NBA’s best.

But a quick stumble and recovery to land just short of 50 wins, then a six-game ouster in the opening playoff round at the hands of Jalen Brunson and Luka Doncic, as new ownership and management looked on, had Snyder realizing he’s no tuna, waiting around just for the opportunity to get canned. Sorry, Charlie.

Things weren’t so different in Columbia, Missouri, back in 2006. Snyder, in his seventh season as a college head coach, assembled his struggling Mizzou Tigers team before practice on a Thursday in early February, assuring them he hadn’t been asked to resign and had no designs on doing so. The sun didn’t go down the next Friday when Coach Quin told his team he planned on catching the next train smoking out of town.

Recruiting slip-ups, and increasing competition within the Big 12 conference, were certainly factors hastening his exit. Ultimately, the thought swimming around in Coach Quin’s mind, that the ever-circulating speculation would be too burdensome on his players, including ex-Hawk and Big 12 scoring leader Thomas Gardner, won over.

It is notable that the programs Snyder has left behind haven’t fared much better in the ensuing years. Mizzou peaked under Mike Anderson in 2009, winning the Big 12 tourney and reaching the Elite Eight. But they have generally been first- and second-round fodder at best in the half-decade that followed, whether in the Big 12 or the SEC, getting bounced by #15 seeds twice, including last season.

While not pleased with the on-court results, Hawks HQ is certainly pleased to have Snyder around. Once a hot commodity in Durham and Los Angeles, Coach Quin is keeping owner Tony Ressler’s dime-dropping cash cow in good spirits, and his affable nature with the media after wins and tough losses alike, veers the microphones well away from management’s direction.

But as the Hawks start out looking like an above-average outfit, but grow listless as the nights, versus lotto-clubs like Portland and Utah, and the seasons wear on? Suffice to say it won’t take seven-plus seasons for Snyder to hear voices once more, in his head, that a team he coaches needs a new voice. He certainly won’t wait around for that sentiment to come from a Ressler, or a Fields.

Now in a big bubble of 6.0 games behind current 10-seed Golden State, Utah, the NBA club, is back in the situation where they’d be pleased to one day find their team assigned to a postseason tourney of any kind. Until then, they’ll settle for cheering on the Jazz as they scrap and claw for victories, like the game set up for them to win well before the season began.

Yes, I’m onto your tricks, NBA HQ schedule-maker. You ain’t SLiCk.

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

It takes quite a bit of room to bring Kenneth Lofton into a room. Yet the Jazz used some of their room exception to sign Lofton to a multi-year contract this week. Utah still had enough room (exception) to hand former New Balance intern Darius Bazley a similar contract. Ah, depth. Both are presently on G-League assignment, however. It is no longer Otto Porter that you are looking for, as the NBA vet retired upon getting waived by the Jazz post-trade.

Once the Jazz are eliminated-eliminated from the Western Conference Play-In chase, don't be surprised if GM/PBO Danny Ainge gives his old Celtics buddy Isaiah Thomas an end-of-season call-up. IT has been THAT on the Salt Lake City Stars, getting back to his old 30-point scoring self on a nightly basis in the G-League after the 35-year-old inked a deal this month. "I just love this (Dellavedova) too much," said Thomas of his hot pursuit for an NBA roster spot. C'mon you bump-on-a-log GMs out there. Didn't SLAM Mag tell you in their Playoff Preview? "It's Time"!

Jalen and Bogi remain Questionable, an encouraging sign in Jalen's case, as of the 5:30 PM Boo-Boo Report update. Taylor Hendricks also remains Questionable with his sprained toe, but there's some optimism that the rookie will be able to give it a go.

 

~lw3 

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

all you NBATV viewers out there).

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

I’m onto your tricks, NBA HQ schedule-maker. You ain’t SLiCk.

Oh no! So no ?  

Bolerjack it is!  Boone still on the squad? 
 

With Lauri and Clarkson out I think we take this one and get back in the win column. 
 

Vegas has Hawks -2.5  o/u 223.5

Thanks lw3 you da man!  
 

Go Hawks! 
 

 

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

It takes quite a bit of room to bring Kenneth Lofton into a room.

Well we had him on our outsiders squad right @kg01 I digress proceed your lethal ness! ‍

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Yet the Jazz used some of their room exception to sign Lofton to a multi-year contract this week.

Wait wut ? He ain’t gettin that Memphis dry rub no more? Oh man, that could lead to rib withdrawal sweat  

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

enough room (exception)

So you’re going to hell with us huh lethal? You’re a bad boy doh ! Go on wit it.

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

IT has been THAT

Have the brinks shown up yet?

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

this (Dellavedova

been a min. Dip$hit is always mentioned  

 

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Questionable, an encouraging sign in Jalen's case,

Please let the man play. Watching him has been a huge part of what makes me smile in Hawk land these days. 

 

I miss our boy JC and even shed some tears watching his the pure joy he was experiencing with his old mates. It looked like love and felt really good to have the camera catch all that.

 

I mainly rooted for JC as a Hawk because of his unselfish play and elite athleticism but I think I really enjoyed the positive spirit he brought to the table when he was with us. I just remember Trae, Huerter and JC together a lot. Gonna be good to see him again. But please JC, don’t get a win against us! 
 

 

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Do NOT let Collins go off on us tonight.

[gurpilo]

Is a shame that Hawks are starting Matthews and Vet...

[hawkman]

Sketchy challenge Quin. Mathews was barely outside the line. 

[hawkman]

Walk it off Hunter.

[Spud2nique]

Good first half overall. I thought Jalen was the man with his glides and dunks and finishes at the rim plus the bouncer that was missed by DJ but cleaned up after for the bucket .

Hunter has become a problem for teams rather than us. Dude is flat out ballin. His shots are beautiful and measured and his drives are becoming quicker and stronger!

We up ! Let’s come out firing second half and get this for every former Jazz member now a Hawk! 
 

 

[Spud2nique]

On the Jazz I like the play of Preston a bit. He’s a snappy passer with a keen eye. Not sure about his turnovers but he’s got game.

The other is Keyonte George who reminds me of another #3 George, George Hill. He’s gonna be a player in this league no doubt.

[hawkman]

Thank goodness JJ is back.

[willthepureshooter]

So, who wants to make excuses for Garrison tonight?

[givemesome1ce1]

Dejounte you may have just killed this game 

[JayBirdHawk]

What is Murray doing?

[hawkman]

0-5 is a very real possibility for this road trip if they lose this game.

[JayBirdHawk]

5 minutes ago, willthepureshooter said:

So, who wants to make excuses for Garrison tonight?

Whaaat? Who has ever made any excuses for Garrison?  Everyone here wishes we didn't have to play him.

[MaceCase]

No one but Murray is going to touch the ball

[Nash]

Stop shooting DJ. Pass the fuc*ing ball

[Spud2nique]

We got a shot here.