Moderators lethalweapon3 Posted March 22, 2015 Moderators Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 “One day soon… all of this will be yours…”Along the way to the best mark in the Eastern Conference, and their first Division title in 21 years, Mike Budenholzer’s Atlanta Hawks have defeated… at least once… every single team in the NBA.Except for one.Coach Bud’s former employer pays him a visit, as Gregg Popovich’s defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs roll into the Highlight Factory (3:00 PM Eastern, SportSouth, FoxSports Southwest). While the Hawks are licking their wounds from a bruising road trip and seeking to avoid losing three-straight for the first time in nearly a calendar year, the Spurs have a little bit more to be concerned about.At just 43-25, San Antonio is looking down at the kerfuffle among New Orleans, Phoenix, and Oklahoma City (4.5 games behind) and know they want no part of that fray for the final playoff spot. Not since Toni Kukoc’s 1999 Bulls (and the 1970 Celtics before that) has the host of the Larry O’Brien Trophy failed to reach the playoffs the following season. Whatever you do, Spurs, don’t look down! Doing that causes people to lose to teams like the Knicks, something the Spurs managed to do this past Tuesday before righting the mothership against floundering Milwaukee.Instead, San Antonio is looking up, winners of three of their past four (Knicks? What Knicks?). They’ve struggled all season long to barge into the Western Conference’s Top-4 for first-round homecourt advantage. But now with Portland (one game ahead) banged up and sliding, the Spurs know now the iron is hot, and they are primed to strike.The Spurs have a competitive week ahead, with OKC and Memphis plus a home-and-home with Dallas looming. But while Coach Pop is notorious for resting players no matter how “big” the game seems in importance to the fans, know that he will do only so much as necessary to keep from losing the upper hand on his protégé.After two consecutive early season losses in the Alamo City and a 105-79 shorthanded loss in Atlanta last season, Bud sits at 0-3 in his coaching career against Pop. While it’s something Budenholzer would never admit, he’d like to experience the bliss of notching his first coaching victory over his mentor, while he’s young.To do that, Bud will need to put out a team that’s committed to playing his brand of Hawks basketball, featuring gritty defense and a balanced, precise offense, and not trying to outwit opponents at their own games.Two nights after getting roasted in Golden State, the defensive effort in Oklahoma City on Friday (129.4 opponent points per 100 possessions, 3rd worst of the season) was the Hawks’ worst showing since November. Atlanta’s problem was not so much do-it-all Russell Westbrook, who shot just 33 FG% on 24 shots but took 17 more free throws (17-for-17 FTs) than Al Horford, but the failure to contain Dion Waiters (11-for-18 FGs), Steven Adams (5-for-9 FGs), Nick Collison (6-for-9 FGs) and Anthony Morrow (6-for-10 3FGs).Three of this season’s five top opponent shooting performances from the floor, based on opponent effective field goal percentages, occurred during the Hawks’ recent two-week-long road trip, including when Atlanta got snowed under by Denver.With all due respect to the injured Kyle Korver and Mike Scott, their absences are not the explanatory factors for Atlanta’s defensive sag. It will be nice once Thabo Sefolosha gets his sea legs back, but the Hawks need the healthy starters, particularly Jeff Teague, DeMarre Carroll, and Al Horford, to recalibrate their on-court defensive strategy.They certainly cannot blame the bench corps who came to play in Oklahoma City, especially not Pero Antić (career-high 22 points), Shelvin Mack, and Dennis Schröder, who helped keep OKC at bay for the first three quarters. Today’s matchup will feature two speed demons off the bench in Schröder and San Antonio’s Patty Mills. The Australian missed the season’s first 30 games due while recovering from surgery on his shooting shoulder, but the Spurs are 20-5 since Mills’ return when he gets more than 15 minutes of floor time.With Mills back to support Tony Parker (18.5 points per-36, lowest since 2004-05; career-high 44.9 3FG%, most 3FG attempts per game since 2004-05), the Spurs are only recently playing at a pace (97.4 possessions per 16th-highest in NBA, but 8th this month) that Pop would prefer.Spurs leading-scorer Kawhi Leonard (15.9 PPG; 20.0 PPG in last ten games) continues to gradually take over the leadership mantle after winning Finals MVP in 2014. His defensive activity (2.9 SPG, 1.2 BPG) has helped Tim Duncan (now the 2nd-oldest player on an NBA roster) and Tiago Splitter clamp down on the interior (57.6 opponent restricted-area FG%, 6th-lowest in NBA).San Antonio’s defensive contractions have left themselves exposed in spots along the perimeter (35.9 above-the-break opponent 3FG%, 2nd most in NBA), although Danny Green does what he can to shoo long-range shooters away for San Antonio (13.6 3FGAs above-the-break per game, fewest in NBA). While Kyle Korver probably won’t have Spurs asking who that masked man was today, Kent Bazemore and DeMarre Carroll need to utilize off-ball screens that allow them to be open for drive-and-kick assists from the Hawks’ lead guards.Part-time bat exterminator Manu Ginobili will be out-of-action today with a sprained ankle, likely springing Marco Belinelli (6-for-9 FGs in his last visit to Atlanta) loose off the bench. The Spurs’ guards and wings will take threes when drives to the hoop aren’t available, but only Green (40.2 3FG%) and Belinelli (38.3 3FG%) are efficient from that range. When only one of that duo is in, Bazemore and Carroll must recognize the need to help Horford and Paul Millsap (3 boards in 37 minutes @ OKC) secure rebounds and kickstart the transition offense.Aside from perhaps Carroll, every Hawks starter should be capable of outpacing their opposing Spur in transition down the floor. The Hawks are 23-5 when Millsap gets to the free throw line five or more times in a game, 33-4 when Horford (five total FTAs in his last seven games) simply earns at least two foul shots. Having Duncan, Splitter and Boris Diaw finding themselves chasing the Hawks’ starting bigs from behind is one way to get Bud his first win over Pop.Let’s Go Hawks!~lw3View the full article 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taymattluke Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Team ball. Stop play individual , 1 on 1 basketball. As a team , we are great. But there is not 1 player on our team who is all star quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JETSET Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 (edited) Team ball. Stop play individual , 1 on 1 basketball. As a team , we are great. But there is not 1 player on our team who is all star quality. Then why do Millsap and Horford have multiple all-star appearances? Horford would be a 4 or 5 time all-star if he didn't miss two seasons due to injury. Korver being back should give the offense a nice boost today. Lets get back on track with a solid W. Edited March 22, 2015 by JETSET Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 I'm at the game. Go Hawks!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spursfanpeacemaker Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 My dream match is finally here!!!!! This match is going to be like basketball porn! Lot's of team ball movement and unselfishness! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicholasp27 Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 We have 4 all-star quality players I think what you mean is not one that's all-star quality at ISOs 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Great game thread as usual lw3!!! I know you are fully into March madness so this is much appreciated. LETS GO HAWKS!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spursfanpeacemaker Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 (edited) I'm at the game. Go Hawks!! Where are you sitting? lower or upper levels? Edited March 22, 2015 by Spursfanpeacemaker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 I'm at the game. Go Hawks!! Enjoy! My dream match is finally here!!!!! This match is going to be like basketball porn! Lot's of team ball movement and unselfishness! Don't jerk it too hard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucastheThird Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Kyle's back! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spursfanpeacemaker Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 (edited) Looks like Pop and Bud will have a dinner date tonight!!! They are really close, and known each other for 20 years! Olivia Harlan @Olivia_Harlan · 44m44 minutes ago Then he told me him and Bud would get dinner tonight. Then asked me how to get to the court. #atl #sanantonio @ATLHawks Olivia Harlan @Olivia_Harlan · 47m47 minutes ago Talked to Coach Pop one on one after he addressed the media. Praised the humility and trust of this @ATLHawks team Pop have a lot of respect for @ATLHAWKS Edited March 22, 2015 by Spursfanpeacemaker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spursfanpeacemaker Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 (edited) Kyle's back! WOoohoo this is awesome keep posting pics and tonight's crowd energy!!!!!! Edited March 22, 2015 by Spursfanpeacemaker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Where are you sitting? lower or upper levels? Lower level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spursfanpeacemaker Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Lower level. Ahh cool! I can tell from the pic lol. Enjoy! Don't jerk it too hard. i'll try Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators lethalweapon3 Posted March 22, 2015 Author Moderators Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 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 ~lw3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 ~lw3 Pop is a straight up comedian. He's honestly funnier than the bunch of em. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucastheThird Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Lower level. Which section? I sit in 108 with my brother. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Mule Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Father VS son? Even their names say so. Pop VS Bud! Time we took one from these guys. We never have. Hawks east VS Hawks west - - And, we're the host team. GO TEAM ATL !! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucastheThird Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 WOoohoo this is awesome keep posting pics and tonight's crowd energy!!!!!! I have more videos. Will post later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnice Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 They need. a timeout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now