TheNorthCydeRises

I have to admit that Moose has come a long way, and fully took advantage of the Mike Scott and Tiago Splitter injuries. This dude is flat out playing winning basketball, especially on the offensive end. Along with Thabo, Malcolm, and Timmmmmay Jr, they have formed the best bench in basketball so far this season. To let everyone know just how important rebounding is, you just have to look at the play he made in the Cleveland game That was Moose going over top of Lebron James and Tristan Thompson for an offensive rebound that he timed perfectly, and dunked it before they could even get off the ground. That's a play that neither Scott nor Splitter makes. Hell, that's a play that Millsap nor Horford makes. It's a great hustle play that illustrates the new toughness that this team has exhibited these past 3 weeks. You just have to wonder if this is just a good stretch of great basketball from Moose and Thabo, or will they revert back to their mediocre norms? Either way, I'm enjoying the hell out of the way Moose is playing now. And when Splitter and Scott comes back, Moose's minutes should NOT be cut.

Here's a thought. Marvin Williams is going to be in this league for possibly another 4 - 5 years, while Josh may never be back in the NBA.

That's my thought process as well. Bring back Josh, and still not give time to Prince ( who can play a small ball 4 ) and Bembry? Nah. Josh can come back home anytime he wants to. Just give him his own floor seat at Hawks games next to T.I., and he can go to Magic City or Cheetah afterwards

There is no way Willis makes an All-Hawks team. Mutombo is your 5 ( although you could make a compelling argument for Al Horford ). Petit would be a 4 in today's game. Nique at the 3, no brainer. I'd still take JJ at the 2 over Hudson. And you probably have to go with Pistol Pete over Mookie and Doc Rivers at the point.

Lakers loss looking less and less worse. They win again. 4 - 3 on the season with 3 straight wins vs Atlanta, Golden State, and Phoenix.

Dennis through 6 games: 29.7 minutes 15 ppg . . . 6.3 asst . . . 3.3 rebs . . . 0.5 stls . . . 2.8 turnovers 43.2% FG . . . . 33.3% 3FG . . . 79.2% FT . . . 53.2% Total Shot . . . 23.8% Usage . . . 15.5 PER . . . Win Score/48 ( .129 ) ( NBA ) - 100.7 Offensive Rating . . . 98.5 Defensive Rating . . . ( +2.2 ) ( Basketball-Reference ) - 106 Offensive Rating . . . 103 Defensive Rating . . . ( +3 ) Honestly, I can live with this version of Dennis in his first year as a starter. This type of stat line indicates erratic play, which means he'll be bad on some nights, great on others. So far in his career, he's never shot higher than 42.7% FG and 35.1% 3FG. I don't know what people expected Dennis to shoot, but I didn't envision him shooting at some great clip this season. If he were to get up to 45% FG and 35% 3FG, while averaging 15 ppg - 7 asst, I would be very happy.

You can get away with that when Dwight is going to gobble up every miss, and challenge shots at the rim. If strictly for defense, I'd love to see that lineup in the future, with Prince in place of Kyle. That lineup was +2 in the 2nd quarter. In the 4th quarter, Bud did the same thing, but had Hardaway Jr in the game instead of Baze. That lineup was +5. So Bud may be onto something.

Come on James . . . I need 2 more points. Oh well . . . he finished with 30 points and 12 assist . . . in a loss. Good job Hawks

Oh, I forgot one . . . Spiderman

Nobody on this team can guard Harden. They proved that last year. What we have to do, is hope that Dwight can deter him from getting right to the rim. Turn Harden into a jumpshooter, instead of a shooter/slasher. Having said that, I fully expect Harden to go for 32 points - 12 assists tonight . . . in a loss for the Rockets.

Possible meanings: Phi Beta Sigma U. of Texas Satan Love and Rock Latin Kings ??? . . . ( Combination of all 5? )

LOL @ "This town of 2.2 million isn't big enough for the two of us." Pretty much.

My issue with Kyle has always been that he has to be able to get up his shots and make them. Kyle being held to 4 - 5 shots a game doesn't help us, unless he's making 4 threes. But on nights like tonight, where he's ice cold, he's a complete liability. Kyle now has to be severely judged on what he is producing offensively, and what he is giving up defensively. I was hoping to go into this weekend 5 - 0, just in case the Hawks falter in these next 3 games coming up. Now I just hope we're not 3 - 5 by this time next week. After the Philly game, the Hawks play 8 of their next 10 games on the road, with the last 4 being out West . . which includes Golden St. Play the kids, Bud.

My issue with Kyle has always been that he has to be able to get up his shots and make them. Kyle being held to 4 - 5 shots a game doesn't help us, unless he's making 4 threes. But on nights like tonight, where he's ice cold, he's a complete liability. Kyle now has to be severely judged on what he is producing offensively, and what he is giving up defensively. I was hoping to go into this weekend 5 - 0, just in case the Hawks falter in these next 3 games coming up. Now I just hope we're not 3 - 5 by this time next week. After the Philly game, the Hawks play 8 of their next 10 games on the road, with the last 4 being out West . . which includes Golden St. Play the kids, Bud.

LMAO . . . oh Lord

LOL @ Baze and Kyle being scoreless through 3 quarters. Bud . . . give the kids a chance.

Not until we beat the Cavs next week, at least.

You guys aren't thinking right. - It was a Wednesday night game . . . same as Game 7 of the World Series - It's the only time Atlanta area Laker fans will get to see their team in person all year. And not just the Atlanta area. Any person within 200 miles of ATL, and is a Laker fan, may have been at that game. The only other places to see the Lakers more than 1 time a year, is in Memphis ( 5.5 hrs away from ATL ) - The Lakers are a "nothing" team, on a national scale, so fans that like to see star players weren't coming out on a Wednesday night, just to see the Hawks ( who also don't have any marquee players . . . closest one is Dwight ). - Attendance was 13,800 . . . . so a lot of regular Hawks fans stayed home and probably watched the World Series. If it was the one chance to see the Cubs win, I can't blame them for that. Also keep in mind that some of those Laker fans, may cheer for the Hawks on a regular basis . . if they're not playing the Lakers. So considering all factors, last night's crowd doesn't surprise me. Laker fans aren't bandwagon fans. They've been good for so long, that they're the one team that has a consistently loyal fan base. A few bad years doesn't deter them. Laker fans are like Cowboys fans. I'm sure when the Cowboys come to play the Falcons, they partially take over the Georgia Dome as well. Same goes for the Steelers. Hawks fans need to be concerned if Rockets fans take over Philips on Saturday night.

I can play defense . . . I can play defense too !! . . . See ? . . . .

This is why I think the kids are going to end up getting playing time as the season goes on. Baze isn't playing well right now, so hopefully he'll get back on track to where he's at least decent on both ends of the floor. Thabo is playing out of his mind right now, so you have to wonder when he's going to fall back to Earth. To me, Bud has to at least find minutes for Prince at some point in the season. He's way too talented to be watching from the sidelines. And Bembry will get minutes by default, if Delaney can't guard people. I've already said that by January, both of these guys will be in the rotation.

But that's his job though. Baze is looked upon to be the perimeter defensive stopper on the team. He's guarded smaller players before and had success. But how about giving Lou Williams some credit for last night. While he wasn't "great" as a Hawk, he's had nights like last night before. And Lou is a former 6th man of the Year winner in 2015. Scoring in bunches is what that guy does. And when he's on, very few people can stop him. Heck, just tip your hat to the Lakers. They had it cooking from the outside and their guards collectively played the best game I've ever seen them play. They made some tough shots as well. 116 points should've been an automatic win for the Hawks, but it goes like that sometimes. The next 4 games will be a challenge @ Washington - vs Rockets - @ Cleveland - vs Bulls 4 totally different styles of play when playing those teams. Let's see how the Hawks handle it. I'd like them to at least go 3 - 1 in these next 4 games.

The Miserable Ones . . . . welcome back!

Dwight FTs . . . 7 - 10 at the half. Add in the last 2 FTs he made last game, and he's 9 for his last 12 FT. The ( bleep ) works !!

It's not uncommon at NBA games. I first saw indoor fireworks in Memphis about 4 - 5 years ago at a Grizzlies game when they played the Hawks. And this is the Golden State intro.

And don't forget about this: http://www.myajc.com/news/business/casino-giant-mgm-plans-renewed-push-in-georgia/nsjyt/ New football stadium + renovated arena + MGM casino . . all in downtown = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$