Official Game Thread: Nuggets "at" Hawks

[lethalweapon3]

 

One trip to The Varsity will change your life, Nikola!

 

Our predictably unpredictable Atlanta Hawks are going nowhere -- at least, in the standings, they are. While several Eastern Conference clubs are beating up on one another, the Hawks will continue their lurch toward the All-Star Break by playing Western Conference teams, like the visiting Denver Nuggets tonight (7:30 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, Altitude Sports in DEN).

Despite another horrible home loss, this time to Utah last Monday night, Atlanta remains closer to the East’s 2-seed (Boston) than they are to the 7^th seed (Chicago). That means, aside from a possible slide down to the 6^th seed, below Jeff Teague’s surging Pacers, the Hawks (30-22) are likely to remain smack in the middle of the playoff picture, unimpacted by the shifting sands around them. Another skin-of-their-teeth victory, another double-digit defeat, won’t make much difference in the near-term.

The Nuggets, reinvigorated with passing wizard Nikola Jokic at center, are interested in staying in the 8^th-seed in the West. The team hasn’t been to the playoffs since getting dispatched by Steph Curry and Jarrett Jack’s upset-minded Warriors in 2013.

In their case, Denver is slightly closer to 7-seed OKC than they are to the 15-seed Lakers. Willing to commit to second-year pro Emmanuel Mudiay (out tonight with a back injury), Denver is apparently disinterested in the 2017 bumper crop of point guards to be had in the lottery. Head coach Mike Malone is hopeful his early-season experimentation (with Jokic off the bench, or starting at power forward) didn’t blow his team’s postseason chances.

Home to the lowest average attendance in the NBA, the Pepsi Center was sold out last Friday for a Nuggets game against Milwaukee. The Greek Freak is often worth the price of admission, but he alone isn’t what’s filling up the arena for a Bucks-Nuggets game.

Jokic has tantalized with his crafty moves and zippy dishes served from the high and low post. Starting regularly only since mid-November, his ability to move the ball as a big (5.8 assists per-36, 1^st among NBA centers) is drawing comparisons to Arvydas Sabonis, Vlade Divac, and Marc Gasol. “I believe the only muscles you need in basketball,” Jokic was quoted by Sports Illustrated as saying, “are the ones in your brain.”

The Joker’s passing has been able to offset the steep learning curves for Mudiay and two rookie guards, Jamal Murray and Atlanta native Malik Beasley. His efficient scoring (65.0 TS%, 3^rd in NBA) has allowed the Nuggets to bubblewrap Danilo Gallinari (out with a groin strain), Wilson Chandler and Kenneth Faried (starting tonight, after missing Monday’s 110-87 win over Dallas for personal reasons) as GM Tim Connelly works the phones for trades. And while Giannis’ Bucks, Porzingis’ Knicks and Joel’s 76ers have been settling southward of late, Jokic’s Nuggets (23-28) has moved to the top among the West’s sub-.500 clubs.

Denver still has a sour taste from Atlanta’s visit back in December. They were up 108-100 with just 98 seconds to go when some fortuitous whistles (and a technical foul called on Malone) granted the Hawks nine unanswered free throws to close out the proceedings. Six of Dennis Schroder’s 12 fourth-quarter points came from the free throw line. Schroder has 27 points in the game, followed by Paul Millsap, who went 8-for-10 from the line to finish with 20 points.

Jameer Nelson has been filling in for Mudiay, the Nuggets 5-4 in this latest span. Malcolm Delaney struggled to keep Nelson, who turns 35 years young tomorrow, in front of him during the December matchup. Both he and Schroder have to stop Denver from making hay out of dribble penetration.

Jokic is seeking to bounce back after being generally ineffective in that December contest (fouled out in 19 minutes, 5 TOs). At turns, he’ll try to work Dwight Howard (DNP’d in December @ DEN) into foul problems and draw Atanta’s center away from the basket. Howard will do well to stay at home in the post and thwart Jokic’s attempts to connect with cutting teammates like Faried, Gary Harris and Will Barton (season-high 31 points, 5-for-7 3FGs, 8 rebounds, 5 assists vs. DAL on Monday).

The Nuggets center and guards will also be on the lookout for Denver’s many three-point shooters (even without Gallinari), most notably stretch forward Darrell Arthur, who sinks 1.5 threes per game at a 50.7 3FG% clip. In the five games since Thabo Sefolosha was shelved to heal a groin injury, Hawks opponents have hit on just 32.1% of their three-point attempts (10^th lowest in NBA since Jan. 29), which would be really encouraging if Atlanta was shooting better than 31.1% (25^th in NBA) themselves.

Millsap and the Hawk forwards have to be sufficiently familiar with Denver’s personnel to know which opposing player is going to loft shot from the perimeter and which are likely to put the ball on the floor and barrel toward the hoop. Faried’s return provides a boost to Denver’s NBA-best second-chance scoring, so boxing out the Manimal, Jokic, and Jusuf Nurkic is key to the Hawks suppressing their opponent’s offense.

The win over Dallas notwithstanding, Denver is all about offense. Atlanta needs to exploit the Nuggets’ lackadaisical defense (110.2 D-Rating, 30^th in NBA), although Denver does perform marginally better on the road (109.4 road D-Rating, 24^th in NBA).

The Nuggets allow 18.7 PPG off turnovers, making it incumbent on Schroder, Kent Bazemore, and Tim Hardaway. Jr. to pounce as every transition scoring opportunity arises. Sefolosha’s absence has been most felt in this area, as opposing players have turned the ball over just 11.6 times per game, compared to Atlanta’s 15.2.

Millsap insists that a return to top-notch defensive intensity is the key to avoiding another huge letdown. “We have to get back to being that defensive powerhouse that we were earlier,” he told the AJC on Monday, after the Hawks got tuned up by the Jazz.

Bazemore disagrees. “I don’t think it’s defense,” he retorted. “I think we put ourselves in a tough position with quick and hurried shots, not quality shots, and scrambled back on defense.” Baze added, “We got to move the ball. That helps everything else.” While the tie always goes to the All-Star in any disagreement, the correct answer to the Hawks’ in-game woes is usually somewhere in the middle. If they figure it out soon, they might finally be going places.

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

 

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[lethalweapon3]

If you're looking to say hi to a future Hall of Fame player, Falcon great Morten Andersen says he plans to be at the game tonight.

~lw3

[cam1218]

THJ has gotten so much better on those "Korver" catch and shoot three plays we like to run. A lot of those missed the rim completely last year.

[lethalweapon3]

2nd half was basically: "You win the game!" "No, YOU win the game!" "No! I insist!"

~lw3

[Guest]

32 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

2nd half was basically: "You win the game!" "No, YOU win the game!" "No! I insist!"

~lw3

Just got home from a loooong day of out of town biz travel, had to go to Sacramento...shoulda stayed there for Friday night's game lol...haven't read the game preview or watched the game..DVR'd it...I usually wait to watch but for some reason wanted to jump on squawk tonight and judging from the few posts in this thread, I get the feeling we won...:-) unless you meant your turn my turn for the Nuggets..lol..guessing also Timmy was good at the catch n shoot tonight..lol.. ok..time for a bit of food, the game preview and watching the game. 

 

I did however play the 2k last night and we barely won the game...they say game of inches but Gary Harris's last second 2 was centimeters away from a 333333333...lol..

 

ps Nice shoes G Harris lol

 

pps I was up 54-37 at the half and withstood a furious Nuggs second half rally....;-)

[Guest]

Also wondering if Soth's boy had any more magical Magic style dimes tonight...

Jokic

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Dwight did go for 11 pts - 13 rebs tonight.  Only 1 assist though.

[Guest]

1 minute ago, TheNorthCydeRises said:

Dwight did go for 11 pts - 13 rebs tonight.  Only 1 assist though.

Ur kidding? 

If it's true it's the first time my player of the game stats were almost right..lol..2/3 ain't bad.

[hazer]

I'm loving The Menace/THJr backcourt. And Bembry. Come on freshPrince, join the youth wave.

[Sothron]

1 hour ago, Spud2Nique said:

Also wondering if Soth's boy had any more magical Magic style dimes tonight...

Jokic

He had at least one good pass but he was killing the offensive glass tonight.

18 points, 15 boards with 9 off rebounds. Jokic is the real deal. I would give anyone on our roster to bring him to Atlanta.

[Trout7]

I don't know if i will get the interest to be on here or not the rest of the season, 45 seasons as Falcons fan culminating in that Shanahan shitshow has sucked away my sports energy for now. Good luck Hawks.

[Guest]

Great game Hawks! Loved the oops upside your heads by THJ from Dennis! Speaking of Dennis, love him and every time I criticize him he comes through, thanks to our German contingency as well...by the way, I bet one of them is Denny himself. ;-) Loved the Bembry slamma jammas as well..he's getting some good burn, love it. Kudos to Baze as well, hot 3's to start the game and a key block to end it! Baze talked the talk and walked the walk. 

 

We need to go in an win the Sac game on Friday to back this one up. Nice job Kings tonight BTW. 

 

Friday @Kings

Monday @Blazers on TNT

Wednesday @Clippers 

 

I want all three games but I'll take 2/3.

 

LETS GO!!!

 

[Guest]

2 hours ago, Sothron said:

He had at least one good pass but he was killing the offensive glass tonight.

18 points, 15 boards with 9 off rebounds. Jokic is the real deal. I would give anyone on our roster to bring him to Atlanta.

Ya imagine him in our system...a big that can do it all including amazing passing, great rebounding and some pretty good outside shooting..he's got it all..

 

Id love Murray or Chandler in a trade as well. If Denver keeps this crew together they have a very bright future.

[StephenHawking]

vor einer Stunde, Spud2Nique sagte:

by the way, I bet one of them is Denny himself.

 

Nah you'd recognize him in a second because HE ONLY WRITES THIS WAY FLEXGANG WE A FAMILY. LETS GET THIS W TONIGHT.
 

[Guest]

6 minutes ago, StephenHawking said:

Nah you'd recognize him in a second because HE ONLY WRITES THIS WAY FLEXGANG WE A FAMILY. LETS GET THIS W TONIGHT.
 

Ga ga ga gaaaaaaaaaatttttttttt heeeeeeeeemmmmmm....;-)

[Thomas]

6 hours ago, Trout7 said:

I don't know if i will get the interest to be on here or not the rest of the season, 45 seasons as Falcons fan culminating in that Shanahan shitshow has sucked away my sports energy for now. Good luck Hawks.

Maybe after a few cases of Red Bull it will be easier to cope with. Sunday night certainly took some starch out of all of us. 

[Guest]

Hawks win ...

Hawks win, cRaps lose ....

Hawks win, cRaps lose, Pasers lose ...

Hawks win, cRaps lose, Pasers lose and Sellts lose ...

Hawks win, cRaps lose, Pasers lose and Sellts lose to the Cousins-less Kangs ...

[macdaddy]

Denver has a ton of talent.   Hope some of it comes our way.   

[ISOJOE]

vor 23 Minuten, macdaddy sagte:

Denver has a ton of talent 

...and a firstround pick which I would use to draft a certain player 

Edited February 9, 2017 by ISOJOE

[Guest]

Denny and Timmy:

Quote

Tim Hardaway Jr. pointed and Dennis Schroder delivered. Hardaway converted two alley-oop passes from near half court after signaling Schroder as part of the Hawks’ fast start.

“He pointed up,” Schroder said. “I trust my teammate. We are playing fast and that’s best for the team.”

Hardaway’s first dunk came late in the first quarter and gave the Hawks a 35-23 lead. The second came late in the second quarter and gave the Hawks a 69-51 lead.

So, do the Hawks practice such acrobatics?

“Actually, we practiced those yesterday,” Hardaway said. “We have a drill where we do backcourt cuts, passing and try to make five in a row on lob passes. We worked on that yesterday in practice. Tonight we did a good job of catching lobs.”

From half court?“

No,” he said. “From the 3-point line.”

Hardaway said he only calls for such lobs with the path to the basket is clear. It was.

I'm loving the pairing of these two young legs - get out and run the break. And I have no fear that the fastbreak will be botched.

Loving Bembry's game - that dunk was sweet.

(I think Prince has some kind of injury - he was on the bench using a strap or something stretching his right leg)