Game Thread: Magic @ Hawks 02/10/19

[ducler]

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[Spud2nique]

Magic favored by 2 wow. They had an incredible night at Milwaukee but I think the BUCK stops here!

Here all week folks! Tip your waitresses!

Ps O/U 223.5

I’m going with the under. I mean they gotta be tired right? Unless it’s delusional sleepy offense and no defense... hmmm unheard of from young teams in the league (green font).

GO HAWKS!

[Jamaaliver]

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[peoriabird]

Our defense has to get better! We cannot continue to allow teams to hit over half their shots. If this continues especially when different personnel are in the game, you have to conclude that scheme is playing a huge roll in making our defense as porous as it is. Also, can we stop going offense with the Carter/Spellman front court combo. That combo doesn't make any sense defensively. I'm not a tremendous fan of Len but at least the guy can rim protect and rebound. Play that dude more than Carter.

[jayu70]

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[lethalweapon3]

Wivalwy Reekend continues!

Our Atlanta Hawks got skewered by Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam on Thursday, then last night at the hands of Kemba Walker, our old pal Marvin Williams, and Jeremy Lamb. The superheated tempo Lloyd Pierce demands of his charges, coupled with a lack of defensive cohesion, can lead to some record-threatening pinball numbers by Atlanta’s opponents.

As the Orlando Magic swing by State Farm Arena (7:30 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, Fox Sports Florida) after catching a triumphant red-eye from Freak-less Milwaukee, it stands to reason that somebody in the backcourt, and somebody in the frontcourt, is bound to go “awf.” But who, this time around?

I’d never put any money on D.J. Augustin, despite the starting point guard going 4-for-6 on threes during the Magic’s last trip to The Opponent Highlight Factory, a 122-103 win for the visitors (without Aaron Gordon) on January 21. Perhaps a more likely candidate is the one healthy reserve that coach Steve Clifford has at his disposal at point guard.

Undrafted out of Kentucky in 2017, Isaiah Briscoe spent this time last season toiling away in Estonia, in the northeastern European VTB United League. Last night, facing a top-seeded Bucks team that was doing without Giannis Antetokounmpo (or new arrival Nikola Mirotic), Kyrie Irving’s cousin came off the bench and quickly had Milwaukee crying uncle. Briscoe went 4-for-5 from the field, dishing seven assists and leaving even Eric Bledsoe wondering who this fella was.

The rookie, in tandem with bench mate Terrence Ross, took the scoring load off Nikola Vucevic during the Magic’s resounding 103-83 victory over Bud’s Bucks. That allowed the All-Star center to stay back and rebound to his hearts’ content (15 points and 17 of Orlando’s 57 total rebounds, plus 5 assists).

With the burly Briscoe’s distributive skills on increasing display (4.2 bench APG last 5 games), Coach Cliff may be tempted to tinker with the starting unit, at least on back-to-back nights like this. At least for this season, injured guard Markelle Fultz (acquired for Jonathon Simmons and a pair of future draft picks) isn’t coming through that door.

One of the few Magicians who struggled from the field last night, starting guard Evan Fournier, is figuring out that he can pass the rock when he has hands of stone. While Fournier (42.9 FG%, 2nd-lowest in his seven-season career; career-high 3.5 APG) seeks to make amends tonight after shooting 3-for-13 FGs, his five assists tied with Vucevic and Augustin (each committing just one TO) for second on the team. He had little problem with either scoring (29 points, tied w/ Vucevic, 3-for-6 3FGs, 8-for-9 FTs) or passing (7 assists) when the Magic boat-raced the Hawks here last month.

The Magic organization and their fans are showing the adverse effects of tank-xiety. Orlando has dipped into the NBA Lottery for six consecutive seasons, five times granted top-six selections. They have two starters to show for their efforts, and neither Gordon nor Jonathan Isaac (despite a team-high 17 points yesterday; 41.8 FG%) has been able to present the aura of a linchpin franchise star.

They’ll have to wait until next season, and probably well beyond, to see what Mo Bamba (stress-fractured tibia, out indefinitely) might eventually yield. For all its current struggles, comparatively, Atlanta has confidence they’ve collected a starter-quality nucleus in the space of two drafts, only once so far in the lottery. The hype of another high-profile draft selection has worn thin in Orlando, and now everybody just wants to ride Vooch and what talent they do have into a postseason.

While they’re still 2.5 games outside of the playoffs, Orlando (24-32) has won four of its past five and is gaining on 8-seed Miami. While the current winning ways were preceded by a 1-7 stretch, the Magic have not lost by more than ten points in their past 15 contests. It’s a sign that, if Coach Cliff can keep this up, his Magic can make a competitive run for a long-awaited playoff appearance after the All-Star Break.

Fast-and-spurious efforts on the floor among Coach Pierce’s lineups make for some entertaining highlights on both ends, but it sure hasn’t translated into victories for the Hawks (NBA-high pace). Based on bball-ref’s pace calculations, Atlanta’s ten fastest games this season has yielded a total of one solitary win – back in October, at home, versus a Dallas squad that is just 6-21 in road games.

In the Hawks’ 30 highest-pace games, Atlanta is 6-24, with just one of those half-dozen wins coming in the past month. Conversely, they’ve won four of their seven lowest-pace games (all wins in January), and nine of their 17 slowest-tempo outings, including their last victory over Washington last Monday.

Keeping the veterans – Vince Carter, Jeremy Lin, Kent Bazemore, Dewayne Dedmon – blended into the rotations have a hand in Atlanta’s recent successes on the court. But for uptempo play to be better correlated with competitive outcomes, the Hawks (18-37) have to rely on young wing players – DeAndre’ Bembry, Taurean Prince, Kevin Huerter, and Justin Anderson – understanding assignments and making stops.

The young trio without Anderson, who only made a cameo appearance last night, combined for two of Atlanta’s ten steals and none of the Hawks’ paltry three blocks versus the Hornets, during a 129-120 loss that was mostly academic after Charlotte blazed to a 46-31 start. The Hawks’ so-called “energy players” must close out adequately on perimeter shooters, make deflections and win loose balls, taking pressure off of lead scorers Trae Young and John Collins (knee sprain, probable). Failing that, the drubbings will continue until defense improves.

The Magic is a little road-weary but they know, if they keep passing the ball uninhibited by the defensively passive Hawks, they will eventually find the hot hand on the floor, and chances are good some fortunate teammate will have a game they’ll someday be able to tell their grandkids about. The question to be answered tonight is, which Magicians will be the lucky guys?


Let’s Go Hawks!
~lw3

[Spud2nique]

Scary good as always lw3! I’m not sure whose got whom more fired up, this game thread with me or the energy that trio you mentioned will bring on D tonight, also the fourth guy, give him some burn, it’s not pretty but it’s must see (and cringe a bit tv lol).

Bledsoe isn’t the only one who wasn’t aware...Briscoe got game, also didn’t know he was uncle Drew’s cuuuuz.

Markelle Fultz isn’t coming through that door. Please don’t let Shaq, Penny or even 3D and Nick at nite hear this. They’d roll!

I’m not sure who Fournier is I’m gonna have to google him. (Hey it was a great joke a few years ago and still relatable today).

I think we come out fired up!

Hawks 109
Magic 99

(The Magic raised the roofs in Wisconsin last night, they are pooped..)

[Spud2nique]

Magic favored by 1 now...1 point swing meaning public leaning on ATL. Same as yesterday but I think we win today. Too much shooting for the magic perimeter defense. But we gotta hit shots early and often and D up!!! LETS GO!!!

[Mauro Pedrosa]

Greetings, friends. Hoping for a great game. I'm rooting for my team to win again in this crazy season. Hope you keep the competitank alive

[DirtybirdGA]

Only 9 allowed so far, they can steal this.

[DirtybirdGA]

Trae Stockton

[Spud2nique]

Trae Stockton

No doubt. Amazing two passes to Collins. I’m not gonna take that for granted.

[DirtybirdGA]

Len is a poor finisher....ugh

[jayu70]

How mant times will Len get blocked.

[DirtybirdGA]

Now Atlanta is just getting punked.... bout time for the Grammys.

[lethalweapon3]

Any-fense!
*clap-clap*
Any-fense!

Go Hawks!
~lw3

[atlantabbq99]

This is a must lose for the Hawks, espeically with the Mavs, Pelicans, Griz, and Wolves winning games now.

[bws94]

Team looks dead, no passion, no life, no energy. Bad showing.

[King Ken]

This is a must lose for the Hawks, espeically with the Mavs, Pelicans, Griz, and Wolves winning games now.

This is one of those games where we are bricking everything, we are missing everything at the rim, and Trae is getting killed on screens.

Year 2 improvement areas for Trae:

1. Working on mid range shooting.
2. More consistency from three and being a more aggressive three point shooter. He passes up too many threes
3. Off ball movement
4. More importantly, building strength and fighting contact and fighting off of screens.
5. Being a smarter risk taker not just a risk taker.

[observer1995]

Was that 25 game run a fluke run like the Bulls last year when the played decently?

Starting to look like it should just be BPA BPA BPA again and it'll be another year of being bad.