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Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19

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Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19 

Post#1 » by jayu70 » Sat Jan 19, 2019 2:00 am

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I hope the long layoff doesn't affect the momentum this yeam has been playing with.

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Re: Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19 

Post#2 » by Jamaaliver » Sat Jan 19, 2019 4:05 am

Sounds like the flu finally caught up to Trae.

At least it hit during a gap in the schedule.

Let Trae take the day off and give the start to J-Lin.

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Re: Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19 

Post#3 » by personanongrata » Sat Jan 19, 2019 11:34 am

Come on son, haven't you ever heard the legend the Michael Jordan flu game? Your team needs you.
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Re: Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19 

Post#4 » by High 5 » Sat Jan 19, 2019 5:30 pm

Flu games are for the playoffs. If Trae and Collins aren't playing then let Huerter take all of their shots. He scores 40 or we improve our draft stock. Maybe both.
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Re: Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19 

Post#5 » by HMFFL » Sat Jan 19, 2019 6:15 pm

Celtics are favored to win by 8 points.

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Re: Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19 

Post#6 » by jayu70 » Sat Jan 19, 2019 6:19 pm

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Re: Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19 

Post#7 » by ducler » Sat Jan 19, 2019 6:47 pm

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Re: Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19 

Post#8 » by lethalweapon3 » Sat Jan 19, 2019 7:27 pm

“Ky-rie’s Lea-ving!” ((clap-clap-clapclapclap))

With their team having been robbed blind of draft picks by Danny Ainge, Brooklyn Nets fans could not contain their glee. The home team was up big in the fourth quarter, 97-70 over the Boston Celtics earlier this week, and fans decided the time was right to unleash a sick burn on their despised division rivals. Such pettiness was enough to finally awaken Boston’s young beasts.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown helped the Celtics, who were playing without Kyrie Irving (bruised quad), go on a 28-8 surge over the ensuing seven minutes, stifling the smarmy fans while narrowing the Nets’ winning margin to single digits.

Atlanta Hawks fans, though, caught a dog whistle amid Brooklyn’s disenchanting diss-chant, one that probably fell silent upon ears throughout the remainder of the league. In coldly @’ing Kyrie, Nets fans were icily subtweeting a former Atlanta Hawk.

Nearly as absent from that game as the DNP’d Irving was Al Horford, who returns to Atlanta to finish off the Hawks’ Reunion Week homestand (7:30 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, NBC Sports Boston). Al got subbed by coach Brad Stevens out mid-way through the third quarter against the Nets, just as Brooklyn was preparing to blow the game open, and he did not return. His closing stat line for the day: 8 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds in under 20 minutes.

Horford has had lingering, aggravating issues with his left knee, having missed nine games, including both blowout wins versus Atlanta, and Stevens has been wise not to push him too far. But Monday night’s output was exactly what Hawks, Inc. hoped to avoid, incurring the wrath of Counting Stats Twitter, when they declined to break the bank on Al’s behalf back in the fateful summer of 2016. “Less than 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists per game? The Hawks are paying over 30 million smackeroos for that? Psshh, sucks to be y’all. Couldn’t be me!”

The NBA world has its rapt attention wrapped around Kyrie (22.8 PPG, career-high 6.7 APG), his wistful relationship with LeBron James, his Uncle Drew routine tossing younger Celtic colleagues beneath the proverbial bus, and his $21 million player option decision due this summer.

Meanwhile, there is another gentleman on the roster with an even bigger player option on the horizon, what would be the first over-30 million-dollar payout for “Al Jefe”. Any threats that the soon-to-be 33-year-old, a five-time Coach’s Pet All-Star, might tear up his contract and bail from Beantown has been met with a resounding, “Meh!”.

This is not to suggest that Horford isn’t valued by the Celtics (26-18) or even their usually persnickety fanbase. It’s just a sobering acknowledgement that the 24 points (3-for-4 3FGs), 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks in Boston’s impressive 117-108 victory over Toronto on Wednesday night would be closer to what we, and the larger NBA universe, would be expecting of him, over 80 plus games plus playoffs, if he remained the face of the less-accomplished Atlanta Hawks today.

Instead, in Boston, a performance like that is just nice to have every once in a while. Wednesday’s game was Al’s first 20-plus scoring game since Thanksgiving, and a season-high. He has averaged 1.1 free throw attempts per game (74.4 FT%) the entire season.

He collected a whopping three rebounds, and was awarded zero free throws, in 31 minutes as his Celtics rode Kyrie’s coattails (38 points, 7 rebounds, 11 assists) to outlast visiting Memphis, 122-116 last night. He has tallied double-digit rebounds in four of his 36 starts, and two of those were before Halloween. Here, that would be scary. There, he’s just a treat.
For Boston, four years, $113 million was just the going rate at the time for prying a stretchy, playoff-experienced, decent team-defending big man away from Atlanta. In their GM’s mind, it’s what’s best for business.

Ainge has long been lauded for his shrewd maneuvering, taking just a few seasons to transition the Celtics out of the Doc-KG-Paula-Rondo era, building a young squad that had reached the conference finals in the past two seasons, each time having to make-do without their leading-scorer point guards. The big idea was to use major, high-price-tag, All-Star-quality offseason acquisitions (Horford, Irving, Gordon Hayward) to take pressure off the drafted talent on the quest for Championship #18 and, perhaps, beyond.

But, what if the intended smorgasbord turns out to be mere appetizers? It is beginning to seem that way, as Kyrie gives off intimations that he’s unwilling to be a hand-holding mentor for much longer, and as Horford and Hayward (out today with a baby on the way; 11.1 PPG, 32.7 3FG%, up to $98.1 million due over this and the next two seasons) are unable to contribute as originally advertised.

Having to move on from Horford and Irving a few months from now would mean Ainge will again be rebuilding his team, this time conceivably around Tatum, Hayward, Brown, Marcus Smart and up to four first rounders (their own, plus the Grizzlies’ Kings/Sixers’, and Clippers’) that they secure in the upcoming NBA Draft. The heist of 2019 picks from other clubs are the final such first-rounders currently in the Celtics GM’s bag.

Moving on also would mean that Stevens would be in a similar boat as Milwaukee’s Mike Budenholzer, going full-bore at the conference title (and, one safely presumes, the Warriors) given the uncertainty that the future, as alluded to by the petty Nets fans, holds.

Coach Brad has his work cut out to avoid starting out Boston’s next big title run as a road underdog. Boston needs a big run to breach the Eastern Conference’s top-4 and gain a homecourt advantage in the opening round. He’ll need consistency and growth not from the highest-paid members of his roster, but from the so-called supporting cast.

Maturity from Morris twin Marcus, who shoved Brown during a mutual meltdown in Miami last week, and a fellow “Marcus” in Mr. Smart, has been an awful long time coming, and we’re still waiting. For Horford to hold up into the springtime, he needs continued health from Aron Baynes (back this week after fracturing his hand last month) and Daniel Theis, while Guerschon Yabusele and rookie Robert Williams need to develop into rotation players at a faster pace. Tatum (44.4 FG%) and Marietta native Brown (44.5 FG%, 65.7 FT%) simply need to shoot better. And, then, there’s the point guard situation behind Irving.

At a Goodwill somewhere in New England, there is a clothing rack loaded with T-shirts featuring a character in a Scream mask, wearing Celtic shorts and a Drew Bledsoe jersey. Such attire was all the rage during the 2018 Playoffs, when Terry Rozier (16.5 postseason PPG last year) made a lot of people forget about Isaiah Thomas, Eric Bledsoe and, at least momentarily, Irving. These days, Rozier’s game is producing rage, but not the good variety.

Terry is shooting a scary 37.4 percent from the field, a figure he has worsened by displaying a continued lack of cognizance about involving his teammates (17.4 assist%, down from 17.5% in 2017-18, as per bball-ref stats). He is scratching and clawing to avoid losing further floor time to a superior distributor and lengthier defender in 29-year-old rookie Brad Wanamaker (45.5 3FG%, 25.4 assist%).

Ainge would love to give Rozier the I.T. Treatment, allowing his club yet another recalibration. But as the trade deadline approaches, the healthy 2019 restricted free agent lacks even the value that Thomas held as a bargaining chip during the 2017 off-season. Going forward, Rozier must prove himself a better complement with Irving, compared to Wanamaker, when Stevens resorts to a small-ball backcourt.

Going into the postseason as a 5-seed, or lower, would be less than ideal, but having Irving and Horford healthy entering the first round would greatly reduce the probability of Stevens’ Celtics returning to First-Round Exitville. The problem hasn’t been squeaking past teams like Memphis, or Atlanta (14-30), especially at home. The rub comes when the C’s hit the road (10-13 record), especially in the houses of decent teams (8-10 versus opponents at-or-above .500).

Of Boston’s ten road victories thus far, only one has come versus a team with a currently winning record (at then-winless OKC, on October 25). They won in free-falling Memphis on December 29, their only win away from TD Garden in the team’s last seven tries, and the drama that unfolded during this past week’s 0-3 excursion laid their road struggles bare.

With this return visit to State Farm Arena being their final away game for the rest of this month, Boston has to re-assert themselves, and at least start looking like a team that could steal a road game or two in a seven-game series, as it seems it might come down to that.

Boston sprinted to a 45-23 lead after one quarter in Atlanta back on November 23, a balanced effort allowing them to cruise past the Hawks by a 114-93 score. The Celtics kept that same energy a few weeks later in Boston, again without Horford. They posted 42-19 and 41-26 advantages in the first and third quarters, respectively, to negate any chance of an Atlanta surge during a 129-108 victory.

Since returning home on December 18 from that road trip, the Hawks have played games a little closer to the vest (8-7, minus-2.3 Net Rating over past 15 games). Key to that surge has been Atlanta’s Trae Young, who has been a combined minus-61 plus/minus over the course of 42 minutes versus Boston so far. Trae has found better spacing and timing for his own shots (17.1 PPG, 42.0 3FG%, 80.6 FT% in past 15 games), while continuing to work through the defensive and turnover kinks in his full-court game.

Irving was spectacular offensively versus Memphis yesterday, but he will need to step up his defense against Young (probable, flu-like symptoms), so the Celtics don’t have to rely on another banner day by Smart (6-for-8 3FGs, 3 steals vs. MEM). Shelvin Mack and Mike Conley combined to shoot 15-for-31 (6-for-12 3FGs) from the field, dishing out 11 assists (one combined TO) to keep the Grizzlies in the running.

When the Hawks have been able to get shots up, they have been able to rely on their frontcourt to produce second chances. The 35.7 offensive rebounding percentage Atlanta has posted in their past 15 games leads the league and is well ahead of every team except maybe Denver (33.0). Teams that rely on Horford (18.0 D-Reb%) to man the middle have long been susceptible to giving up copious O-Rebs to the opposition.

Another busy day from John Collins on the glass should therefore not be surprising. Half of his 14 rebounds in the December 14 loss came on the offensive side of the floor, although he struggled in other aspects (2-for-8 FGs, 5 TOs, 5 missed FTAs). Despite the November blowout, the Celtics had a hard time with Collins (probable, bronchial issues) and reserve Alex Len, who combined to make 12 of 15 shot attempts. The pair had six offensive rebounds on Tuesday, impressive inasmuch as there were few opportunities available (71.6 team 2FG%, 48.6 team 3FG%).

Len has been ably spelling Omari Spellman, the pick-and-pop rookie who was among three newbies in the starting lineup bedeviling OKC in Tuesday’s 142-126 win here at the Farm, right before their team got a well-earned three-day respite. The newest “AL” around town, Len sparked the Hawks bench with 24 points and 11 rebounds in a starter-quality 30 minutes of play, and he has made three of his five attempts from downtown against the Celtics so far this year.

Supplementing the frontcourt options for Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce, center Dewayne Dedmon joins Jeremy Lin among the recently re-activated. Keeping these two fresh and productive while getting Kent Bazemore back up to speed will maximize Atlanta GM Travis Schlenk’s bargaining position in the coming weeks.

For today, if Pierce can coax another sound performance out of wings like Kevin Huerter and DeAndre’ Bembry (combined 7-for-11 3FGs vs. OKC), or basically anything better than the combined 0-for-9 FGs exhibited by Baze and Taurean Prince during Boston’s last visit here in November, then we could be in store for more pinball tallies on the scoreboard and in the box score.

This summer, if the Son of Tito raps the back end of the refrain from “Can I Kick It?”, he may very well engender the same call-response in Boston that he got from Atlanta:

“Well, I’m gone…” “GO ON, THEN!”

Let’s Go Hawks!
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Re: Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19 

Post#9 » by lethalweapon3 » Sat Jan 19, 2019 7:33 pm

This the worst episode of Barney ever.

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Re: Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19 

Post#10 » by jayu70 » Sat Jan 19, 2019 8:12 pm

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Re: Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19 

Post#11 » by Hazer » Sat Jan 19, 2019 9:24 pm

Since Hawks appear firmly entrenched in the 5th spot, I’m hoping for the win tonight. Throw it in the pile with OKC and Philly.
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Re: Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19 

Post#12 » by jayu70 » Sat Jan 19, 2019 10:32 pm

Hazer wrote:Since Hawks appear firmly entrenched in the 5th spot, I’m hoping for the win tonight. Throw it in the pile with OKC and Philly.

I always want to beat the Green.
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Re: Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19 

Post#13 » by MaceCase » Sat Jan 19, 2019 10:34 pm

jayu70 wrote:
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6 got a no-fly zone on Gordy Hay?
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Re: Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19 

Post#14 » by Spud2nique » Sat Jan 19, 2019 11:51 pm

Nice game thread lw3, usually I read the entire thing before giving it a like showing full due diligence on my part. This time ..1 line in and I BANGED the like button. Kyrie leaving lol..love it.

The Selts are our rivals, I know we aren’t theirs. Beat them every time. I want to win badly every time against them.
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Re: Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19 

Post#15 » by Jamaaliver » Sun Jan 20, 2019 12:43 am

First thirty seconds:

Bad inbounds pass by Bembry.

Stupid foul by Huerter.

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Re: Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19 

Post#16 » by hawkmanreturns » Sun Jan 20, 2019 12:48 am

These young Hawks are not intimidated by the Celtics at all. They've jumped all over these guys.
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Re: Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19 

Post#17 » by EazyRoc » Sun Jan 20, 2019 12:50 am

Look at our guys man..and we can still add more talent.
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Re: Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19 

Post#18 » by Jamaaliver » Sun Jan 20, 2019 12:50 am

After those initial miscues, offense seems to be humming as both our bigs are hitting threes early.
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Re: Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19 

Post#19 » by EazyRoc » Sun Jan 20, 2019 12:51 am

Irving off to a rough start but that won’t last forever
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Re: Game Thread: Selts at Hawks, 01/19/19 

Post#20 » by hawkmanreturns » Sun Jan 20, 2019 1:01 am

Pierce is looking like the best choice for this rebuild.I have to give credit where credit is due. Pierce has these guys playing well, almost too well.

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