Official Game Thread: Hawks at Bulls -- Play-In Game 1 of X!

[lethalweapon3]

“I know, it’s the Windy City. But you all feel that draft? It's getting chilly in here!”

 

“Come on down here!” Mingling through overjoyed teammates donning their commemorative hockey helmets, the summoned Trice Tatum hovers to the fore in a swiftly emptying Tesladome to greet IRA Deputy Commissioner Draymond Green, who has some hardware to present. Most of the attendees watching from below saw no need to stick around for the ceremony.

Their Oakland Island Kings had a nice season, given their torturous five-town franchise history. Unfortunately for them, the Island Kings couldn’t get hold off Seattle, blowing a triple-digit lead in regulation before falling to the host SuperSeaHorses in triple overtime. The consolation prize was hosting the second round of the Pacific Continental Division play-in game, the annual events known colloquially by another name.

Despite the evident fatigue, OIK thought they were prepared to contain the CDMX Conquistadors’ star sphere-handler, withholding Tatum from another triple-triple by denying him easy discharges to Bruno Afonso David Fernandes Fernando III.

They were sorely mistaken, and Oakland’s season has drawn to a sudden close, their streak of failing to reach the Intercontinental Ringball Association Playoffs extending back to the NBA days when games were played with nets, and spheres dribbled off the ground. At least it was sudden, this time around. 

“DON’T TOUCH THE (REDACTED)! DON’T TOUCH THE (REDACTED)!”, Conquistador teammates chided Trice with cheerful taunts. Recently elevated from his prior role as Executive VP of Discipline, Green understood both the reason we cannot abbreviate “Trae Invitational Trophy” here, as well as the reason Trice would be hesitant to make contact with the honorary memento.

“I appreciate this opportunity, as winning a (REDACTED) is something I’ve dreamed about since I was a child scampering about the White House Lawn,” Tatum exclaimed, a reference to the reigns of three-time North American President Deuce, Trice’s father, and grassy lawns. “Back home in M-City, though? We aim higher!” The top-seeded Calgary Thunder is hereby put on notice.

Having evolved beyond the era of bellyaching over Everybody Gets a Trophy, these days, it’s all about Everybody Gets a Trophy Named After Them. Take the Murray-DeRozan Mid-Range Shooter of the Year award, for instance. Yet no one on Sirius-AIXM IRA Radio has any quibble about the signature and namesake on the glossy bronze award Trice just won.

No matter how good, or bad, scenarios got for NBA/IRA teams in the 2020s, 2030s and 2040s, no one wanted anything to do with Trae Young and his ATL Hawks in April, after regular seasons concluded, and certainly not in May.

Heading into All-Star Breaks and Trade Deadlines, some teams would spare no expense to avoid falling beneath the sixth seed in what used to be the Eastern Conference. Others, perilously close to the top-ten but far from contention, would deliberately engage in what was known as tanking, a phrase taken from a time when oceans were submarine depth, and the fines from the league’s front office were decidedly worth every aluminum (formerly, copper) penny.

The Hawks were painfully mediocre over the course of a quarter century, and longer, really, if one extends back before Young’s tenure. They were also, more times than not, a persistent problem higher-seeded clubs struggled to solve before it was too late to save their hard-fought season-long campaigns. Trae’s Hawks, as the old saw went, messed around. And it wouldn’t take long before opposing playoff hopefuls found out.

Young is the all-time leader in Play-In Tournament points, points created by discharge, and most importantly, wins. Like his IRA All-Time tally for discharges (previously, assists), and Bogdan Bogdanovic’s made-minimum-three-pointer streak that ended with his retirement to become UN Secretary-General, these are records too lofty for even young standouts like Trice to one day top. Periodically, even more frequently than the gold medals he’d earn Team USA over Bogdanovic’s Serbians, Young would drive the slow-building, late-arriving Hawks into opening playoff rounds and beyond throughout his 30 years in the NBA/IRA.

Young’s prolific post-seasons, and iconic plays, often in other team’s buildings, set the springboard that stars of the IRA’s 32 non-playoff teams seek to dive from this time every spring. The tournament is popularly accepted as the Trae-Ins because Young, in burnishing his Pro Ringball Hall of Fame legacy, demonstrated that just because your team hasn’t been too great, it is still not too late.

Swinging back into the time machine to 2024, Anno Dominique, to remind you gravity-laden souls that Young gets yet another chance to make a name for himself, and the Hawks, this time at the expense of the Bulls in Chicago tonight (9:30 PM Eastern, 92.9 FM in ATL, ESPN). If it doesn’t pan out? No matter. Chances are good, so long as he remains healthy, he’ll be back here next year to make the Play-In Tournaments his personal Trae-dition.

Young doing anything more than being a hot-hand iron, pressing his defenders into perpetual submission, will require his employer doing more for themselves. Ownership, and the management they hired that no one asked for, must get off their duff and find the personnel, including coaches on Quin Snyder's staff and advisers for Landry Fields, that can build a genuinely competitive on-court blend around their All-Star, if one is to expect better outcomes for them, and for him.

Sure, the Hawks (36-46) could raise the white flag and Etch-A-Sketch the whole thing, Young included. Few would complain, if a team featuring Dejounte Murray, Clint Capela and De’Andre Hunter still manages to allow closer to 200 than 100 points, this time versus an offensively shallow team in an elimination game. Division rivals Charlotte and Washington serve as cautionary tales of teams that jettisoned their elite ballhandlers, years ago, but thought they’d be further removed from the Lottery treadmill by now, while Portland looks to be another team about to join them.

None of this will matter today to Young and Murray, who visit a club that once hoped they’d have guards Lonzo Ball and Zach LaVine guiding them to postseasons on end by now.

The Bulls (39-43) may also have to proceed without Ayo Dosunmu (questionable, bruised quad). Chicago’s frontcourt has been absent would-be starting forward Patrick Williams (foot surgery) since January, and rebounder-extraordinaire Andre Drummond is questionable for today with a sprained ankle.

Chicago will need Nikola Vucevic (29 points and 11 rebounds in CHI’s season-finale, Sunday’s 120-119 OT loss @ NYK) and DeMar DeRozan (30 points and 4 steals @ NYK) to extend themselves as double-team-drawing shot creators for a collective that normally struggles when they have to move the rock (59.4 team assist%, 3^rd-lowest in NBA) and play with pace (96.9 possessions per-48, 3^rd-lowest in NBA).

The Hawks will grant Young another opportunity to place rowdy fans, opposing players and their screeching families on chill mode, this time at United Center, by keeping mindless turnovers, particularly charges drawn by Alex Caruso, to a minimum, and by making like wild buffalo and boxing out, to limit the Bulls’ second-chance opportunities.

Paint-point chances versus the Bulls (NBA-low 44.8 opponent paint points per-48) are always hard to come by. But just as important as Murray’s mid-range mastery matching DeRozan’s, and Bogdanovic keeping up with Coby White and not falling into funks from the perimeter, are Capela and Bruno Fernando catching and finishing with focus and without hesitation in the few instances the ball makes its way into their hands around the rim.

Even if Atlanta’s season draws to a close this evening, or in the ensuing days and weeks, there will be Other Days, and plenty of them, to remodel the Basketball Club in ways that legitimately improve the Hawks’ defensive imprint and offensive consistency. If this offseason is more of the same from the front office? Well, so long as Trae is part of the equation, there will be Other Opportunities in Play-Ins to come. And plenty of them.

“These Trae-Ins are tons of fun,” Trice remarked as his family, including President Deuce, applauded from below. “But I want to accomplish things even my grand-daddy couldn’t, especially that Championship. We want to put that banner down in the rafters. It’s all about my team claiming that titanium ball!”

Seated alongside Paul Pierce in a matching hoverboard chair, former Celtic great Jayson Tatum could be heard bellowing from below: “Don’t remind me, Trice!”

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Bulls GameNotes cites Coby White as one of three players (Dejounte and Luka being the others) clearing minimums of 1,000 points, 400 assists, 350 rebounds, and 200 made 3FGs. White's 209 3FGs this season set Chicago's franchise record, although the Bulls could have used one more of them (0-for-3, whole team 8-for-31) when they lost the fourth-quarter lead and fell in OT, despite a valiant effort, on Sunday to the Knicks.

Coach Billy Donovan's club committed the fewest in-season TOs per game (12.2) in recorded franchise history (since at least 1973-74).

Chicago's 136 points in Atlanta, on February 12 when they beat the Hawks by ten, remains their highest scoring tally of the season, as is the 76-point second half. Dosunmu led the Bulls with 5 made 3FGs on just seven tries, while another Play-In pregame Questionable, Drummond, snatched a team-high three O-Rebs. 

While the Hawks should have Young and Murray to help close out this game, doing so will be tougher if the Hawks are playing from far behind in the fourth quarter. DeRozan led the NBA in fourth-quarter points and clutch PPG.

In the battle of Swiss-born centers, Clint Capela is the one who led the NBA in O-Rebs, and the one among three players (Gobert, Giannis) to have averaged a double-double in each of their past seven NBA seasons. The Hawks are the most susceptible to allowing fastbreak buckets when Capela gets flat-footed cherry-picking for potential putbacks (3rd-most opponent fastbreak points per-48), although Vooch and Chicago (2nd-fewest fastbreak points per-48) may be the ideal foe for this circumstance.

Bogi gets another chance to show out with Serbian fans in attendance. If he struggles out of the gate, somebody get Jalen Johnson to tell him that he overheard Quin calling him a Montenegrin.

 

~lw3

[macdaddy]

Wow!  I can't wait for ring ball.  will i live to see it?   

We just need to get a lead and hold it.  Derozan isn't going to bring them back with mid rangers but he can sure keep them in the lead if we're down by double digits in the fourth.  

Let's beat these suckers.  i can't cheer against the Hawks.

[Nash]

20 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Bulls GameNotes cites Coby White as one of three players (Dejounte and Luka being the others) clearing minimums of 1,000 points, 400 assists, 350 rebounds, and 200 made 3FGs. White's 209 3FGs this season set Chicago's franchise record, although the Bulls could have used one more of them (0-for-3, whole team 8-for-31) when they lost the fourth-quarter lead and fell in OT, despite a valiant effort, on Sunday to the Knicks.

Coach Billy Donovan's club committed the fewest in-season TOs per game (12.2) in recorded franchise history (since at least 1973-74).

Chicago's 136 points in Atlanta, on February 12 when they beat the Hawks by ten, remains their highest scoring tally of the season, as is the 76-point second half. Dosunmu led the Bulls with 5 made 3FGs on just seven tries, while another Play-In pregame Questionable, Drummond, snatched a team-high three O-Rebs. 

While the Hawks should have Young and Murray to help close out this game, doing so will be tougher if the Hawks are playing from far behind in the fourth quarter. DeRozan led the NBA in fourth-quarter points and clutch PPG.

In the battle of Swiss-born centers, Clint Capela is the one who led the NBA in O-Rebs, and the one among three players (Gobert, Giannis) to have averaged a double-double in each of their past seven NBA seasons. The Hawks are the most susceptible to allowing fastbreak buckets when Capela gets flat-footed cherry-picking for potential putbacks (3rd-most opponent fastbreak points per-48), although Vooch and Chicago (2nd-fewest fastbreak points per-48) may be the ideal foe for this circumstance.

Bogi gets another chance to show out with Serbian fans in attendance. If he struggles out of the gate, somebody get Jalen Johnson to tell him that he overheard Quin calling him a Montenegrin.

 

~lw3

Bogi Montenegrin lol. This is really funny and it would actually work better than anything

[terrell]

Hawks projected starters:

• G Trae Young
• G Dejounte Murray
• W Bogdan Bogdanovic
• F De’Andre Hunter
• C Clint Capela

Hawks projected bench:

• W Garrison Mathews
• W/F Wesley Matthews
• C Bruno Fernando

Unlikely to play:

• G Trent Forrest
• G Kobe Bufkin
• W AJ Griffin
• F Mouhamed Gueye

 

Mo Gueye unlikely to play?

We can't use Kobe perimeter Defense at all tonight?

Any Hawks player playing well, will see minimal minutes... FACT

But the ones stinking it up, will get 35+....Smdh

Edited April 17 by terrell

[macdaddy]

3 minutes ago, terrell said:

Hawks projected starters:

• G Trae Young
• G Dejounte Murray
• W Bogdan Bogdanovic
• F De’Andre Hunter
• C Clint Capela

Hawks projected bench:

• W Garrison Mathews
• W/F Wesley Matthews
• C Bruno Fernando

Unlikely to play:

• G Trent Forrest
• G Kobe Bufkin
• W AJ Griffin
• F Mouhamed Gueye

 

Mo Gueye unlikely to play?

We can't use Kobe perimeter Defense at all tonight?

Any Hawks player playing well, will see minimal minutes... FACT

But the ones stinking it up, will get 35+....Smdh

This would be typical of our season if we don't play a real PF the whole play in game. 

[terrell]

Sad that Vit cant play tonight....He earned the right to play in the "post season".... 

And we could use him.....

Oh well.....

 

[terrell]

1 hour ago, macdaddy said:

This would be typical of our season if we don't play a real PF the whole play in game. 

But he'll probably throw his guy Trent Forrest out there thinking he can actually slow down Derozan White etc.. lol

Even Dosumnu is avg 21 pts in 3 games vs us this season..

Yeah,  the teacher's pet will probably be the 9th man..  smh

[JayBirdHawk]

1 hour ago, terrell said:

Hawks projected starters:

• G Trae Young
• G Dejounte Murray
• W Bogdan Bogdanovic
• F De’Andre Hunter
• C Clint Capela

Hawks projected bench:

• W Garrison Mathews
• W/F Wesley Matthews
• C Bruno Fernando

Unlikely to play:

• G Trent Forrest
• G Kobe Bufkin
• W AJ Griffin
• F Mouhamed Gueye

 

Mo Gueye unlikely to play?

We can't use Kobe perimeter Defense at all tonight?

Any Hawks player playing well, will see minimal minutes... FACT

But the ones stinking it up, will get 35+....Smdh

This better not be it for the non-starters. Play BIG Quin!!!

[Spud2nique]

We are better than the Bulls. We just have to play like a unit and swing that ball around. Thanks lw3 for gettin us ready! 
 

We doin any squawk chat room live???

 

Go Hawks!   
 

ps Bulls -3.5 per Vegas.

[terrell]

28 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

This better not be it for the non-starters. Play BIG Quin!!!

Drummond may be ruled OUT thank goodness.. 

Edited April 17 by terrell

[terrell]

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Instead of hoping that Trae and DJ score 60+ points and dish out 15+ assists, can we get our defensive guys to shine and pull out a game?

Capela - do not let Vuc or Drummond kill you on the boards

Bruno - same objective, but also provide that hustle energy on defense, leading to stops and takeaways.

Hunter - limit Derozan to sub 42% shooting and stop him at the end of game

 

 

[terrell]

33 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

This better not be it for the non-starters. Play BIG Quin!!!

This starting lineup just screams 150 points and ALOT of offensive rebounds for the Bulls.. lol

Maybe the Hawks can surprise me..

 

 

[AtLaS]

The Mathews brothers and Bruno are our backups.  We are screwed.

[bleachkit]

Does shortening your rotation really help you? I'm not a big fan of that philosophy.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

7 minutes ago, bleachkit said:

Does shortening your rotation really help you? I'm not a big fan of that philosophy.

It does, but only when you have 6 - 8 high level players you can count on.

We're like a Spades hand.  We have 2 and a possible we can count on. 

And that number ( and player ) varies from game to game.

 

Quin needs to play 9+ players, in order to figure out which guys are going to provide that spark for the team.  At that point, you can shorten the rotation in the 2nd half, in order to maximize the personnel grouping for that particular game.

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[JayBirdHawk]

18 minutes ago, bleachkit said:

Does shortening your rotation really help you? I'm not a big fan of that philosophy.

When you have a solid 8 sure....but Bruno and The Mat(t)hews ain it. You've got to take a chance on 9/10/11 to see who can elevate their game.

[AHF]

3 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

When you have a solid 8 sure....but Bruno and The Mat(t)hews ain it. You've got to take a chance on 9/10/11 to see who can elevate their game.

If Bruno and the Mat(t)hews have it going then that is fine.  But absolutely you can't be married to that if things aren't working.  Everyone on the team needs to be ready to play.