Official Game Thread: Hawks at Mavericks

[lethalweapon3]

“THEY CALL ME… MALA FLYNČIĆ!”

 

What? Wait! Nooo! I wasn’t ready!

I doubt that I have been less prepared to cobble together a gamethread this season than I have for this one. I’m sitting in the Barcalounger last night, miffed at the Hawks for letting the Cade-less Pistons’ Malachi Flynn drop 20 on them. “If Flynn, deep off the bench, is getting his 20-piece tonight on Atlanta’s floor,” I fumed, “what is Luka gonna do to us in a couple days, when we have to play in Dallas?”

Somewhere, between the 20, 30, 40, and eventually 50-piece sets, amid the shock and awe, it dawned on me that the Hawks-Mavericks game is tonight (7:30 PM Eastern, Bally Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, WFAA-TV and UniMás in DFW), not Friday. Not-so-subtle hints were peppered all throughout the broadcast. But when osmosis finally set in for my bird brain? Reiterating a former Texas governor’s infamous gaffe… “Oops.”

I like to think that the Trae-In-Tournament-bound Hawks (maybe don’t abbreviate Trae-In Tournament; 36-40, tied with 9-seed CHI) are better prepared than I was. Hopefully, the team’s travel planners were on top of things to scurry this team overnight to the Metroplex, where the Mavs have been resting since concluding their five-game, ten-day road stretch on Tuesday in San Francisco.

Maybe the Hawks’ players and coaching staff are so overprepared to avenge Doncic’s 73-point opus at The Farm back on January 26 (“just” a five-point win for the Mavs, though, at 148-143), so laser-focused on Luka, that there’s no way any of them could have seen Flynn coming. Or, going.

That’s the only way I could explain Atlanta’s Luka-daisical approach to dribbling, passing, and transitioning that set the stage for Paw Paw Malachi being able to share a rocking-chair tale to his grandkiddies about how nice he was, once, back in his heyday.

I get the idea that, look, SOMEBODY must be around to nudge a struggling team over the triple-digit hump. And so long as an opposing player’s teammates can’t break 15, at day’s end, what’s a career-defining, 50-point scoring binge among friends?

The sloppiness exhibited through much of Wednesday’s game, though, allowed the NBA’s worst team, resting its sole star at the last pregame moment, to evaporate one Hawks lead after the next, keep the fans who dared to attend on edge, and force coach Quin Snyder’s hand to leave starters in the FIRGABABA match way longer than he’d desire.

This is a FIRGABABA for Mavs coach Jason Kidd to navigate, and the SEGABABA is kind of a biggie. Dallas was rolling (seven-game streak and 11-1 over 12 games) before their MVP finalist found himself, in the Bay Area, getting constrained as only he can.

Yes, Luka messed around (his 76^th triple-double, tied with James Harden for 8^th all-time; 30 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists @ GSW). Yes, his scoring buddy Kyrie Irving (DNP @ ATL in January) chipped in 27 points. But the host Warriors throwing CP3 and GP2 and BP1 in waves forced Luka and Kyrie to combine for 9 turnovers, missing ten 3FGs and getting just 7 FTAs between them. Deadline pickup P.J. Washington scored his 20 points inefficiently. Daniel Gafford got in foul trouble and the Mavs were ravaged on the boards. And no one, not even Junior Hardaway, was of much use coming off the bench.

In sum? The Splash Brothers shot the ball poorly, the Dubs managed to score just 104 points, getting just seven free throw shots themselves. And they still beat Dallas by four. Hey, SOMEBODY had to get the Mavs into triple-digit range. Might as well be Luka and Kyrie, I guess.

Luka. Curry. LeBron. KD. It is wild to find it possible that, a couple weeks from tomorrow, two of these supernova players’ NBA seasons will come to a premature close (is it too late for the NBA re-hire the person LeBron wanted fired for conjuring up the Play-Ins?). Unfortunately for Dallas (45-30), they don’t reside in the Mild, Mild East.

Despite Dallas’ recent surge, Tuesday’s loss inched them back to just 0.5 games ahead of 6-seed Phoenix and, all the more dangerously, 7-seed New Orleans. So, it’s not so much Must-Go-For-80-Time as it is Must-Win-Everytime for Luka and company. Unlike the Hawks tonight, Draymond and the Warriors won’t have to adjust their only-hope-to-contain recipe, when they arrive from Houston for a game tomorrow at American Airlines Center.

Folks looked askance at Luka’s Draft Night trade partner as Doncic scorched the Hawks (incl. team-highs of 10 D-Rebs and 7 assists) along the way to victory in January. But while Trae Young shot roughly the same from the field (7-for-11 2FGs, 2-for-7 3FGs) as his tag-team partner, Dejounte Murray (6-for-11 2FGs, 3-for-7 3FGs), Young got to the line 11 times to Murray’s two, contributed 11 assists and 3 steals to accompany his 30 points, and finished at +9 to Murray’s minus-21.

The reigning Freak of the Week in the NBA East in Young’s continued absence, Murray and Saddiq Bey (minus-14) had the most misfortune in dealing with Doncic’s headlights and taillights when these teams last met. Their floormates, though, failed to corral the only true guard starting on the floor, Josh Green (4-for-8 3FGs, 21 points @ ATL; out for today, sprained ankle), and couldn’t get much in the lane past rookie Dereck Lively (11 rebounds, 4 blocks @ ATL; out for today, sprained knee). But for that, the postgame banner headline could have read, “LUKA DROPS 70 ON ATLANTA! MAVS DROP FOURTH STRAIGHT. IS KIDD’S JOB SAFE?”.

Now just 75 triple-doubles behind Doncic, Jalen Johnson (28 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 steals vs. DET yesterday; 10-for-12 FGs vs. DAL in January before fouling out with a minute to spare) will work in tandem tonight with De’Andre Hunter (DNP vs. DAL in January, 26 points but 5 TOs vs. DET), applying more of their rangy, lateral skillsets to bring a higher degree of difficulty to Luka’s drives, shots and passes. Atlanta will also aid its cause if they create actions for Hunter and Johnson that put Doncic to work defensively beyond mere center-field rebounding.

With Dre and Bogi Bogdanovic (3.1 bench 3FGs/game, 1^st in NBA ahead of Hardaway’s 2.7) joining Murray among the likely starters, a stronger effort from the Hawks’ reserves will be needed to contend for 48 minutes. Bruno Fernando’s presence (no shots, 1 rebound, minus-22 vs. DET) was intangible in a bad way yesterday evening, and he will need to produce more in spells to help Clank Capela’s frontline offset Gafford and Washington. Snyder will likely turn to 2016 Mavs playoff starter Wesley Matthews to aid Vit Krejci in guarding the perimeter while also securing long rebounds that spark transition play.

That’s about all I can muster on a moment’s notice and a half-night’s sleep. Just don’t nobody tell me Luka or Kryie’s a late scratch, either star resting up their heels for tomorrow’s tilt with the Warriors. Because, win or lose tonight, I’m woefully unprepared to witness Dante Exum’s inferno.

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Just make sure Luka doesn't see this Twxxt until tomorrow morning:

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

How 'Bout Dem Stars?

With the Rangers returning to defend their World Series title, and the NHL club surging to the top of the Western Conference on the strength of an 8-game win streak, these are indeed fun times in and around DFWA. Oh, and there's the Wings, fresh off their best season ever in Arlington, getting to pick twice in the WNBA Draft's first-round in 11 days. And Luka Magic, for at least the next couple weeks.

Anything fun going on over on the gridiron? No, Arlington Renegades, not you. You neither, you old Dallas Texans, you.

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/nfl/dallas-mayor-chiefs-cowboys-second-nfl-team/3505861/

~lw3

[benhillboy]

I never really cared for Luka before this season but he’s been must see TV since the Gafford acquisition, as his metrics  and MVP case have spiked since then.

His footwork, strength, vision, and shooting have all improved, not that any except the latter needed to.  It doesn’t hurt Kyrie is having arguably his best season, Lively, super-smart and rugged, is the prototypical rim protect/ lob threat Big, and Exum is finally showing the excellent feel that I’m guessing was expected when he was drafted.  

Luka still bitches to the referees way too much and doesn’t get back.  Oddly their below average defense somehow generates a fair share of cherry picking layups for him, go figure.

The Mavs are a fun watch no question but I can’t depend on PJ Washington and Junior as my 3rd and 4th option.  The defensive acumen just isn’t there and when asked to create their own shot it’s usually mediocre or worse.  Cam Johnson and Bruce Brown types in those spots, sure, they’re in the Conference Finals regularly.  

After Jokic’s reign ends, Luka, the OKC trio, Ant, and Wemby (if surrounded by the proper vets as Ant has) are gonna usher in a near Golden Era of playoff competition out West.  No one will be more ecstatic than me to see the grossly overrated peaks of KD, Harden, and Westbrook gone and forgotten and replaced with some true “bus drivers” as Chuck calls em.

Luka still has a ways to go in temperament and consistency of defensive effort.  Still his projected incline for the next 10 years is downright frightening with his mastery of passing out of double teams and 10 gig hard drive-like corporate knowledge.  It would be nice to see him go a stretch of games without appearing on the injury report lol.

Recent wins over the Clippers and Celtics twice were nice but overrated: both teams are a tough watch for me.  Clippers have no leadership whatsoever and the Celtics’ three point heavy and iso attack is gonna get them upset again in the playoffs.  The Bulls win a little more impressive being on the road with high stakes against a team they’ve struggled with in the past.  Make no mistake tho, a win tonight would be the best since Trae went down.  Better than beating the Magic as soon as he was out of the rotation after three straight losses to the Bulls, Raptors, and Hornets with him SMGDH.

[macdaddy]

2 hours ago, benhillboy said:

Still his projected incline for the next 10 years is downright frightening

It's been proven though that number of pro games on the body means more than age and Luka has as many games on him as any at his age.  He's still got a scary amount of 'prime' left in him but not sure it's going to be 10 years. 

[lethalweapon3]

Hopeful the five seasons of Quin Snyder coaching up Dante Exum with the Jazz will be put to good use if necessary.

No other notable inactives on the Boo-Boo Report for Dallas after Green and Lively. 'Tis the usual for Atlanta.

It is odd how Dallas' weekday home start times are all over the place. I'm guessing the 6:30 CST tip was to line up with TNT games in case (Sacramento K's vs. the NY NoRandles is the early game on tonight's docket) it needed to be flexed. Last Thursday's tip time versus Utah (DAL's last home game) was 8:30 EST, as is tomorrow's game versus GSW. Maybe giving the West Coast TV watchers a little more time to get home? 

~lw3

[Hawkmoor]

Looks up at the tv in time to see Capela fumble a uncontested pass to him at the front of the rim.

[terrell]

Good D Dre...

Stop crying LUka..

Make your FT's Dre... 

[terrell]

Smh Capela

[terrell]

Dre frustrating Luka.. lol

[terrell]

Loving the Ball movement and DEFENSE so far..

 

[Peoriabird]

If the Hawks can hit their free throws and stop turning the ball over, they would win going away

[terrell]

2 minutes ago, Peoriabird said:

If the Hawks can hit their free throws and stop turning the ball over, they would win going away

Refs said hold my beer.. smh

[JayBirdHawk]

Ref takeover

[Peoriabird]

G Mathews got clobbered

[Peoriabird]

V!

[terrell]

Bufkin Defense..

Edited April 5 by terrell

[terrell]

Hawks playing DEFENSE..

KObe!!

[Peoriabird]

The bench is showing up tonight!!!

[JayBirdHawk]

Good First.

Kobe with the hands.