Moderators lethalweapon3 Posted April 11, 2014 Moderators Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 This game was supposed to mean so much more! *sniff*It would have been so awesome if it were tonight’s hosts for the Atlanta Hawks, the Brooklyn Nets (7:30 PM Eastern, SportSouth, YES Network), and not just Brooklyn’s division foes across the East River, playing for their postseason lives. Alas, while the New York Knicks continued to sputter all season long, the Nets (43-35) bounced back strongly from internal strife and a season-ending injury to Brook Lopez to post the best record in the Eastern Conference (33-14) since January 1.Atlanta has a couple opportunities this weekend to build confidence as a probable 8th seed. First, they could double their road record versus winning teams (1-21, the sole win in their last outing against Indiana) with a victory against a Nets team that hasn’t lost at the Barclays Center since January 31 (15 straight home wins). They could then return to Atlanta and pull off their second-consecutive home win against possible first-round opponents, the defending NBA champion Miami HEAT, on Saturday.The Nets are all but certain to go into the postseason as the East’s 5th seed. As such, Head Coach Jason Kidd is eager to rest players dealing with lingering ailments and injuries. Andray Blatche has been dealing with the flu, Shaun Livingston (toe) is already declared out, and Paul Pierce (hip pointer) remains questionable to appear. Alan Anderson will likely fill in the starting 2-spot for defensive purposes, while trade-deadline acquisition Marcus Thornton (shipped by Sacramento for Jason Terry and Reggie Evans) has been more than adequate when Brooklyn needs an offensive infusion.Kevin Garnett has returned to the rotation after missing more than a month due to back spasms, although J-Kidd is slowly increasing, while monitoring, his floor time.Of course, it hasn’t really mattered who has been available for the Nets ever since a buzzer-beater from Joe Moneybags plundered the Thunder back on January 2 and turned their entire season around. I posited in the now-dormant Netswatch thread that Joe puts on his cape only when there’s an individual accolade or personal goal to chase. His torrid January performances ceased right after the coaches voted him into the All-Star Game, but since the All-Star Break and particularly since mid-March, he’s played like a man who knows an All-NBA 3rd Team nod is within reach. In his last 15 games, Joe has poured in 19.3 points per game while shooting 52.9 FG% and 44.6 3FG%.Young bigs Mirza Teletovic and Mason Plumlee have stood in the gaps created by the absences of Garnett and Andrei Kirilenko and the trade of Evans. Teletovic has sunk five or more three-pointers on eight occasions this season, including sinking five of his 12 three-point attempts during the Nets’ loss in Orlando on Wednesday. Plumlee has averaged 13.3 PPG on 79.3 FG% in his last three games, which included a game-sealing block of LeBron James in Miami that, coupled with Indiana’s issues, left King LeBron with Bitter Beer Face when postgame media asked whether Brooklyn is their biggest threat for a return to the Finals.Heading toward the playoffs, which of these two teams has a higher in-conference record? It’s a trick question, really, as both teams come in with a 25-23 record. Atlanta’s is perhaps more impressive given they have three other playoff teams in its division, while Brooklyn’s division has just one other Top-8 team.On Wednesday, Jeff Teague took over at critical junctures to boost the Hawks past Rajon Rondo and the Celtics, avoiding a disastrous mid-week home sweep. Against the Nets, he’ll get a chance to show off his rediscovered jumpshot and finishing ability (20.0 PPG, 53.1 FG%, and 44.4 3FG% last five games; also 7.8 APG and 2.6 TO/G) as little brother Marquis watches on. Deron Williams will get some rest today as J-Kidd goes with Mexico's first NBA guard, Jorge Gutierrez (per-36: 8.7 PPG, 4.7 APG, 1.8 SPG), as the starter. Jeff and the Hawks’ lead guards must dictate the pace-of-play and continue creating open looks for teammates. They’ll have to do those things while taking care of the ball against a Nets team that thrives on a slow-tempo offense (93.6 possessions per 48 minutes, 6th lowest pace in NBA) and an opportunistic defense (14.9 opponent turnover percentage, 3rd best in NBA).DeMarre Carroll has struggled of late with his outside shot (1-for-10 3FGs), but getting him or Lou Williams going from long-range alongside Kyle Korver can help open up the middle for Paul Millsap (19.0 PPG, 8.9 RPG, and 46.6 FG% in last 20 games) and Elton Brand (old-school 13-and-13, plus 3 steals against Boston on Wednesday). If Pero Antić (ankle) can play tonight, he can be useful in offsetting Teletovic’s three-point production off the bench.Head Coach Mike Budenholzer would love to rest his starters sooner rather than later, no one moreso than Millsap, who has been treated in similar fashion to Waffle House has browns by recent opponents. But he can’t sit these guys until the 8th seed is locked down. If Carmelo can’t provide heroics tonight in Toronto, a win tonight on the herringbone floor would seal up that final playoff spot and allow us to enjoy the exploits of Mike Muscala the rest of the way.Go Hawks!~lw3View the full article 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators lethalweapon3 Posted April 11, 2014 Author Moderators Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 (edited) Tweet Added - Refresh Page to see it live!If you don't see the Tweet here AFTER REFRESHING PAGE, then it wasn't entered correctly. Please edit and try again.Important: If the Tweet doesn't load, please refresh the page before editing the Tweet as it may need to refresh to parse properly That's Alan Anderson, who was the only Net to appear in every game until tonight. ~lw3 Edited April 11, 2014 by lethalweapon3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High5 Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Since we're basically locked into the playoffs at this point, I'm hoping we can at least match our record from 2007-08. I don't know what the worst record ever for a playoff team is, but I imagine 35-47 is close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benhillboy Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 So we have the last possession of the quarter in the bag, yet find some way to get it stolen for a dunk. I swear I seen more awful and/ or unlucky plays from this team in the waning seconds of quarters to last the rest of my lifetime. Jesus. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BackForThe2ndTime Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 Good first half all things considered. Teague looks like he can have his way out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benhillboy Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 Damn good half. I take offense to anyone who doesn't like this team. Sure they're missing some size and athleticism, but we shoot the three, pass, and persevere like a championship team. Teague attacking like a madman, fun seeing him abuse his little bro. I saw someone call DeMarre an "average" 3, he is not. A very good 3 Bud and the staff has made him into. He's flexing some PG skills out there now, resetting the offense and all. Muscala starting to find his way too. I never been a Pierce fan, but I always respected him. It went up a little this year with the fountain of youth he's found. Lets Fu&@ing Go, Indiana too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anxietyreigns Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 Agree w/ a lot of what bhb said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benhillboy Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 Who has a better quick relese scoop layup than Jeff? Parker is as good, who else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benhillboy Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 Classic photo op of Kareem and Nique looking clean. How the hell you score 12,000 more points than the HHF? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anxietyreigns Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 Lord, Indiana is getting destroyyyyed. Was looking forward to catching the 4th of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anxietyreigns Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 Nets dressed like a bunch of male nurses tonight. Gray scrubs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benhillboy Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 Damn I've never seen a foul call reviewed and reversed. Glad it went in our favor. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 WINNER WINNER!!!! F you Kg n pierce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BackForThe2ndTime Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 I'm watching the Hawks game on my laptop and the Heat game on my TV. I was so confused when I looked and saw the replay. How was a foul call reviewed? Anyway, Teague with the clincher!! Did what Lebron couldn't over Plumlee! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anxietyreigns Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 (edited) Cant stand That Thornton bastard. Pierce whining the whole game. Take that, Nets, in your stupid gray scrubs. Edited April 12, 2014 by Jmartvol 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benhillboy Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 (edited) How did we win against the best team in the East this calendar year going 1-19 from three? Going 20-21 from the line and playing some hellish defense behind boss performances from Jeff and Sap (Sega Genesis Altered Beast) that's how. One of the best wins of the year easily. I love this little scrub team. The Pero put back two hand dunk and that wacky And-1 Teague had were choice. Got a few drinks in me, watch Wardell The Second do his thing later tonight, get some loving and I'm a happy boy. Leggo Edited April 12, 2014 by benhillboy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Atlantaholic Posted April 12, 2014 Premium Member Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 Always love beating KG and Pierce. Whiny douches. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNorthCydeRises Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 Damn good half. I take offense to anyone who doesn't like this team. Sure they're missing some size and athleticism, but we shoot the three, pass, and persevere like a championship team. Teague attacking like a madman, fun seeing him abuse his little bro. I saw someone call DeMarre an "average" 3, he is not. A very good 3 Bud and the staff has made him into. He's flexing some PG skills out there now, resetting the offense and all. Muscala starting to find his way too. I never been a Pierce fan, but I always respected him. It went up a little this year with the fountain of youth he's found. Lets Fu&@ing Go, Indiana too. He is an average 3. Considering the fact that he was a backup 3 most of his night, being an average starting 3 is nothing to be ashamed about. He played great tonight. 12 pts - 11 rebs - and played lockdown defense on multiple people tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Atlantaholic Posted April 12, 2014 Premium Member Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 He is an average 3. Considering the fact that he was a backup 3 most of his night, being an average starting 3 is nothing to be ashamed about. He played great tonight. 12 pts - 11 rebs - and played lockdown defense on multiple people tonight. His defense on Joe was stellar at the end of the game. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNorthCydeRises Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 How did we win against the best team in the East this calendar year going 1-19 from three? Going 20-21 from the line and playing some hellish defense behind boss performances from Jeff and Sap (Sega Genesis Altered Beast) that's how. One of the best wins of the year easily. I love this little scrub team. The Pero put back two hand dunk and that wacky And-1 Teague had were choice. Got a few drinks in me, watch Wardell The Second do his thing later tonight, get some loving and I'm a happy boy. Leggo They were injured. At least that's the excuse Hawks fans would give. - No Deron - No Blatche - No Anderson - No Livingston - No Lopez Regardless of injuries, that was a good win by the Hawks tonight. If you're hurt, oh well. Suck it up and keep playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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