The Official ATL Tip-Off Thread!

[Hawk Eye]

It's amazing that we even got back into it. Horford is still so rusty it's not even funny.

[SBM]

We will be fine. Horford will start making his shots and Sap will be better.

[ATL Boy]

Really love the fight back we had. Agree with SBM, we'll be fine when our guys get into form.

[Troubadour]

I was at the game tonight and was really impressed by your team. Korver puts the fear of God into anyone on the opposing side and Mike Scott is annoyingly good.

Horford didn't have as much of an impact as I would have expected. Millsap was in the same boat.

Its a unique style of play, but it really works for your team. Didn't really draw too many fouls, especially considering the Raptors have fouled more than any other team in the NBA for the past three years. Those threes are killer, though. You can really just shoot your way back into any game. Can't imagine Korver will have it going like that every night, but someone else might.

Jeff Teague is also a bargain at his contract.

I expected a close one heading into the game just not in the way it happened. Until next time!

[atlantabbq99]

Horford look rusty

Millsap look rusty

Korver, Carroll, and Scott look great

Teague was Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 20/8 and 6 turnovers

The Hawks beat the Raptors in every category especially in turnovers, 17 to 9.

Horford will get back to shooting 60% and Millsap will get back to shooting 50% and then just turn down the turnovers to aroud 12-14 and the Hawks should be fine.

Hawks had areas to improve, but still respect to the Raptors and especially Lowry, 11/10/6, 3 steals and ZERO turnovers

[ForeverTFC]

I was at the game last night and was very impressed with your offense. The action, the screens; it was impressive. The Raptors did miss a couple of vital rotations which you should see cleaned up in a couple of weeks, but then you would also expect to see Horford back at it.

On the defensive end, I didn't see any resistance to our big men and I think you will see a lot of small ball this year to force the other team's hand. Not sure you have the personnel to guard post-operating big men.

Both teams were rusty, but both teams looked playoff bound.

[theatlfan]

The one thing about the game that worries me is that last year we were really charmed late in games. Just seemed that if things looked bleak, we always seemed to make some plays that put us in it late. We didn't convert a lot of those late runs into Ws, but we seemed to be one shot away on a *lot* of games where I was so peeved at how things were going that I started to flip around a bit only to find out that we got back in it late. Last night, we made the run to get back within 4, but we also had a handful of plays go against us once we got there. The Lowry long offensive rebound that allowed them to run off another 24 seconds with about a minute left then blow by Teague for another foul was the dagger in my mind, but DeRozan's rebound of his FT miss, Teague stepping on the line when Lowry fouled him, and Patterson getting loose with the big dunk were a few more plays that jump immediately to mind. Not saying that we would have made all these plays last year, but I don't remember a game where they all seemed to go against us either.

It's still one game and I won't get too high or too low on such a small sample size, but I also don't like seeing the magic we had last season turn against us in game 1 either. I know many don't believe in things as nebulous as "luck", but I truly hate to see game 1 get off on that note especially when we seemed so charmed there last year. I mean, if we grab those two rebounds and score layups, then it's a tie game with more than 1 possession let on the clock...

[jayu70]

17 turnover for 23 Raptor points and 52.9% form the freethrow line killed us.

[DirtybirdGA]

Shouldn't take them long to gel, again. as Thabo & Bazemore are only the new ones in the rotation, and AP in here and there.

[hawkschop1]

The good news is that brooklyn lost as well. lets keep our eye on that draft pick! washington also lost so lets keep our eye on that home court advantage!

[Jamaaliver]

Couldn't watch the game because of work, but a couple of things jump to mind from recaps and box scores:

1. We lost the rebounding battle and, more importantly, gave up 16 offensive rebounds. We've got to shore that up immediately.

2. Those 17 turnovers were absolutely a factor as well, but will likely decrease the season wears on.

3. After both young guns had a phenomenal pre-season, it's tough to see Bud make J Jenkins inactive and D Schroeder limited to 4 minutes of PT.

4. Mike Scott's defense needs improvement, but his value and production are as high as ever. I predict either he or Paul Millsap will be dealt this season. (For Monroe, maybe?)

5. The Mack-Bazmore-Sefolosha-Scott-Brand lineup has potential. The four best defenders at their respective positions playing beside an offensive specialist is a pretty savvy move by Bud. Recognizing the limitations of each player.

6. We need a Center.

[SBM]

Stats and recaps don't tell the story. You have to watch the game. We have size on the bench but did not use it. Amir and Jonas were just towering over our backs for rebounds all night. I am not complaining but when you notice that it just simply means you need more strength, length, and height in the game. They also got all type of calls during the game but its nothing to complain about, we will be fine. Lastly, Sap has trouble finishing around superior length and height and he did last year also. I don't think his problem last night was rust at all.

[PandaKidd]

SBM..... Actually is spot on.

Millsap was shaky but length bothers him. He and Horford, as I predicted, will have growing pains.

All in all not terrible, just, we really are small against other teams with 3-4 legit young big men

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