Hawks surging into the New Year?

Post #1 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Dec 28, 2017 6:02 pm

Did the Hawks finally turn a corner after one miserable fourth-quarter failure after another this season?

Maybe.

“It’s tough losing,” Dennis Schroder said after the Hawks recorded their first back-to-back wins of the season. “Everybody hates losing. We just have to find a way to make it happen. Right now, how we are playing, we are doing everything together. Playing for each other. When we play like that, we have fun and we win a couple of games as well.”

Of the Hawks’ 25 losses, nine have come by six points, two possessions, or less. Five of those defeats have come in the past 11 games. Just prior to their consecutive home victories over the Mavericks and Wizards, the Hawks lost at the Thunder on Russell Westbrook’s 3-pointer in the final seconds playing without Schroder on Dec. 22. They also lost a home game to the Pacers on Dec. 20, a 10-point loss after they trailed by just two at halftime. That lost was difficult, according to coach Mike Budenholzer.

“I really felt like we’ve been playing better basketball with the exception of the second half against Indiana,” Budenholzer said of the Hawks’ recent play. “We were really disappointed, really frustrated with that second half. But in the first half of that game and in some of the games prior, we’ve been playing better. Our offense has been a little more efficient, a little more dynamic. We are getting guys back healthy and we are playing bigger more.”

While the Hawks go through a rebuild, and many in the fan base hope for a top pick in next year’s draft, there is no denying they have been close late in games. The Hawks have played 19 games that were within five points with five minutes remaining and have a 6-13 record. Their 153-point output is 14th in the league in that clutch situation, scoring 24 points less than their opponents.

The Hawks are on the road to getting healthy in a thinned frontcourt. The return of the depth and flexibility can only help.

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Post #2 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Dec 28, 2017 6:04 pm

The team has its first winning streak of the season and is 4-6 in their last 10 games.

In the last 11 games, 5 losses have been by 6 points or less.

The team is clearly getting stronger and playing more inspired/disciplined ball.

jayu70 · Post #3 » by **jayu70** » Thu Dec 28, 2017 6:34 pm

I'm so torn. I can't root for them to lose but we need that top pick. I don't want to get Sura'd again.

Post #4 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Dec 28, 2017 6:45 pm

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Kudos to Budenholzer. He has kept us competitive all season, despite the losing.

Is this stretch of close games a sign that we're on the upswing? Anyone feel confident that Schlenk will soon make a trade to make us worse for the long term benefit?

macd-gm · Post #5 » by **macd-gm** » Thu Dec 28, 2017 6:50 pm

Schlenk will definitely make some trades and we'll see more guys nursing injuries for the long term. Budschlenkeiser got this. :beer:

jayu70 · Post #6 » by **jayu70** » Thu Dec 28, 2017 7:01 pm

Reasons for 2 game win streak:
1. They have been playing better
2. Guys coming back from injury
3. The Mavs are horrible
4. The Wiz are full of themselves for no apparent reason and was prolly still on their beating Boston high.
5. The torrid schedule to start the season barely allowed for any practice time, the schedule has not been as hectic.

Having said that, I'd be OK with 'maintenance scedule' for our vets. Picks in exchange for vets is also a possibility.
I don't think we'll trade all of them but whoever yields the highest return would be traded. Trading for a pick that's unlikely to convey is useless (I've seen enough of those ideas on the trade board).

MaceCase · Post #7 » by **MaceCase** » Thu Dec 28, 2017 8:31 pm

jayu70 wrote:Reasons for 2 game win streak:
1. They have been playing better
2. Guys coming back from injury
3. The Mavs are horrible
4. The Wiz are full of themselves for no apparent reason and was prolly still on their beating Boston high.
5. The torrid schedule to start the season barely allowed for any practice time, the schedule has not been as hectic.

Having said that, I'd be OK with 'maintenance scedule' for our vets. Picks in exchange for vets is also a possibility.
I don't think we'll trade all of them but whoever yields the highest return would be traded. Trading for a pick that's unlikely to convey is useless (I've seen enough of those ideas on the trade board).

I don't know about the Mav's being horrible anymore. Over their last 8 games they have wins against the Spurs, Pistons, Raptors and Pacers, all playoff teams. Maybe the tank teams are coming to the same conclusion, this isn't a 3 player draft anymore, why not look a lil more respectable in the W/L column.

jayu70 · Post #8 » by **jayu70** » Thu Dec 28, 2017 8:54 pm

MaceCase wrote:
jayu70 wrote:Reasons for 2 game win streak:
1. They have been playing better
2. Guys coming back from injury
3. The Mavs are horrible
4. The Wiz are full of themselves for no apparent reason and was prolly still on their beating Boston high.
5. The torrid schedule to start the season barely allowed for any practice time, the schedule has not been as hectic.

Having said that, I'd be OK with 'maintenance scedule' for our vets. Picks in exchange for vets is also a possibility.
I don't think we'll trade all of them but whoever yields the highest return would be traded. Trading for a pick that's unlikely to convey is useless (I've seen enough of those ideas on the trade board).

I don't know about the Mav's being horrible anymore. Over their last 8 games they have wins against the Spurs, Pistons, Raptors and Pacers, all playoff teams. Maybe the tank teams are coming to the same conclusion, this isn't a 3 player draft anymore, why not look a lil more respectable in the W/L column.

How'd, I miss that? I know - enjoying the sun, sea and sand will do that.

Post #9 » by **ATL Boy** » Thu Dec 28, 2017 9:35 pm

I'd like to surge into the top pick but what can I say? We're winning games at home, that's all I can ask. Hopefully this upcoming Western Conference Road trip will ground us a bit.

graymule · Post #10 » by **graymule** » Fri Dec 29, 2017 1:15 pm

Do the Hawks need a great, low draft pick, say top three? Oh, yes! However, as of now, Hawks have three
first round picks.

graymule · Post #11 » by **graymule** » Fri Dec 29, 2017 1:23 pm

Hawks may obtain at least one more by the trade deadline. Then, will we be able to trade down to #1 or
close? if so, we can go ahead and win some games, can't we?

This Hawk team is just too good to be this bad. Right now it's harder to not win than it is to win, I believe.
I believe I guessed at 26 victories this season. That's a long way ahead, but not impossible. Going west
where the teams probably don't really know us, only our record. Sneak in and win one or two!

:lol:

Spud2nique · Post #12 » by **Spud2nique** » Fri Dec 29, 2017 3:52 pm

jayu70 wrote:I'm so torn. I can't root for them to lose but we need that top pick. I don't want to get Sura'd again.

I'm in this boat as well. Hate seeing the Hawks lose but it's best for us because like you said..we don't need another Sura to save the day at the end there...

That's why I'm just waiting for us to get rid of Ersan and Belinelli....those are a couple of guys that have the abilities to single handedly win us a few more games with their shooting alone...forget the fact that Ersan is the best custodian in Atlanta on D.

Jay you in the sun?

Must be nice to have THAT kinda money-Jack Klompus (I've ridden in Cadillacs thousands of times).

Post #13 » by **Jamaaliver** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 2:43 pm

It's happening...

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Spud2nique · Post #14 » by **Spud2nique** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 5:17 pm

Ok we need to scale back the wins now...3/4 was fun but let's lose 3/4 now but play hard.

jayu70 · Post #15 » by **jayu70** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 6:17 pm

Spud2nique wrote:Ok we need to scale back the wins now...3/4 was fun but let's lose 3/4 now but play hard.

5 game roadie out West, may not be hard to do. Suns, Blazers, Clippers, Lakers, Nuggets.

Spud2nique · Post #16 » by **Spud2nique** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 11:18 pm

jayu70 wrote:
Spud2nique wrote:Ok we need to scale back the wins now...3/4 was fun but let's lose 3/4 now but play hard.

5 game roadie out West, may not be hard to do. Suns, Blazers, Clippers, Lakers, Nuggets.

I predict 1-4 with us either winning at Suns or Lakers.

Post #17 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Jan 2, 2018 7:08 pm

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We have a good chance to really make up some ground in the playoff standings this month. :sour:

jayu70 · Post #18 » by **jayu70** » Tue Jan 2, 2018 7:50 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:

Read on Twitter

We have a good chance to really make up some ground in the playoff standings this month.

And again...

February 8th can't get here soon enough (Trade deadline).
Next 10 home games after the 5 game roadie...
Brooklyn
San Antonio
New Orleans
Chicago
Utah
Toronto
Charlotte (away)
Washington
Minnesota
How many wins?

Post #19 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 12:18 pm

At the end of a 1-4 Roadtrip:

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Post #20 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Jan 16, 2018 3:35 am

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