Official Game Thread: Raptors at Hawks

[lethalweapon3]

“Get Out.”

 

Back to the Crab Barrel? It’s about to get a bit uncomfortable for the loser of tonight’s game, here at Philips Arena, between the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors (8:00 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, TSN2 in TOR). Several playoff-hungry squads (6-through-11 seeds, separated by five games in the East) are waiting for either team to fall in their direction, in hopes they might sink their claws into them.

The Hawks survived what amounted to NCAA-First-Round-in-Dayton-quality action on Wednesday. In what exemplified more March Sadness than Madness, the Brooklyn Nets made just one more critical goof to allow Atlanta (35-29) to advance. Toronto (38-26) fended off the Nets at home themselves, back on January 17, but have gone just 10-13 since, a slide that led to some sharp maneuvering by GM Masai Ujiri to plug holes ahead of their upcoming playoff dash.

At the trading deadline, Ujiri flipped Terrence Ross to Orlando in exchange for the Magic’s free-agent error, Serge Ibaka (career-high 16.4 PPG and 45.5 3FG%, plus 1.9 BPG in 7 games w/ TOR). He also converted the gravity-bound Jared Sullinger and a pair of second-rounders into former Suns forward P.J. Tucker (45.7 FG% in 7 games w/ TOR).

It’s hoped that the pair of acquisitions, in combination with former Hawks DeMarre Carroll (questionable for tonight, sprained ankle) and Lucas Nogueira, will boost the Raptors’ subpar defensive units, taking pressure off super-scoring All-Star guards DeMar DeRozan (27.4 PPG; 12.5 PPG and 10-for-28 FGs last two games) and Kyle Lowry.

When last these two teams met up, on December 16, the Hawks managed to turn a 128-84 loss into an embarrassment… for the other team. Barely two weeks after getting drubbed in Toronto, Atlanta returned to the same floor and caught the Raps off-guard, seizing the first half 69-52 before hanging on to prevail, 125-121.

What was a key difference? While his Hawks teammates continued to shoot poorly from outside, Kyle Korver swished six of his ten three-pointers. In Korver’s departure, Atlanta (4-for-20 3FGs vs. BKN on Wednesday) will need to find a sharper shooter, be it Junior Hardaway or Ersan Ilyasova, to help keep pace tonight.

At the time of that loss to Atlanta, the Raptors were putting up offensive efficiency values of historic proportions, exceeding 110 points in 27 of their first 41 contests. They have leveled off since then (110+ points in four of last 23 games; 104.7 O-Rating since January 17, 22^nd in NBA), and were truly laid low when Lowry exited to repair an aggravatingly painful wrist on his shooting hand.

Toronto was already a low-volume passing team before Lowry’s post-All-Star-Game surgery (15.0 assist% pre-Jan. 17, 29^th in NBA), but their ballhandlers have been going it alone all the more (NBA-low 13.6 assist% since Jan. 17) without his direction on the floor. The Raptors began this month totaling just 11 assists in a home loss to the Wizards, two nights after their 12 assists barely helped them squeak past the Knicks in MSG.

Better ballhandling by scoring-minded Cory Joseph, and a team-approach to better ball movement has helped of late. But by pressing a tighter defense and a slower tempo, as regulated by coach Dwane Casey, the Raps are more likely to pull out games with double-digit, instead of triple-digit, tallies.

Their 94-87 win in New Orleans on Wednesday was greatly enhanced once the malleable Pelican Anthony Davis left the game with a first-half wrist injury. Toronto’s comeback from a ten-point deficit against the Pellies added to their NBA-high 17 double-digit comeback wins this season.

Lowry is certain to return in time for the postseason, but the Raptors certainly planned on opening the first round at the Air Canada Centre. They are desperate to avoid giving away homecourt advantage, especially versus teams like the frenetic Hawks, who are just as likely to pull off fluky wins versus good teams as they are getting blown out by mediocre ones. In the event of a two-team tie at season’s end, tonight’s winner clinches the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Their perimeter defensive woes remain well-documented, but Atlanta, with the help of Dwight Howard and Paul Millsap, continues to make things tough on opponents around the rim (57.8 opponent restricted-area FG%, 4^th-best in NBA; 38.2 opponent paint points per-48, 3^rd-best in NBA).

The Hawks' wing defenders will want to compel Raptor ballhandlers, like DeRozan, Joseph, Ibaka and Carroll, to pick up their dribbles outside the paint and settle for long-range two-point shots. They can further neutralize Toronto (80.0 team FT%, 6^th in NBA) by keeping them from amassing points off free throws. Toronto will strive to play Atlanta’s bigs with heightened physicality, in hopes of inducing early foul trouble and softening the Hawks’ interior.

A shrewder Dennis Schröder (31 points, vs. BKN on Wednesday, 20 consecutive FT makes) should be able to continue carrying the Hawks offense tonight, but his overall effectiveness will depend on how well he sets up his teammates for scores.

Schröder must resume connecting with Howard (10-for-13 FGs, 15 rebounds @ TOR on Dec. 16) until Jonas Valanciunas or Lucas Nogueira can figure out a way to stop him. If Dennis strays off-script, coach Mike Budenholzer should again turn first to former Raptor Jose Calderon, who is growing more acclimated with the Hawks’ gameplans.

The six-game homestand comes to a close for Atlanta tonight, but Hawks fans have been left with a bad taste in their mouths, following long stretches of poor-quality play. Ahead of a tough two-game road trip that begins tomorrow, the Hawks need to present their best basketball in weeks tonight, if they wish to keep departing Hawks fans from feeling even more crabby about their team’s playoff prospects.

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

 

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[Dnice]

I'd be in favor of a derozan ft fest, if Baze would pick up all those fouls.

[Guest]

Chris Vivlamore 

 

✔ @CVivlamoreAJC

Thabo Sefolosha won't start vs. Raptors after being late for pregame walkthrough. http://www.ajc.com/sports/basketball/sefolosha-held-out-starting-lineup-after-being-late-walkthrough/Sx1tCLjcnuxffZuqgtquhJ/ …

Chris Vivlamore 

 

✔ @CVivlamoreAJC

Thabo Sefolosha won't start vs. Raptors after being late for pregame walkthrough. http://www.ajc.com/sports/basketball/sefolosha-held-out-starting-lineup-after-being-late-walkthrough/Sx1tCLjcnuxffZuqgtquhJ/ …

[Guest]

Great game thread as usual lw3! 20 years ago I might have wanted us to drop this game and go for the 6th spot and match up with whoever 3 would be, but I think it's just better to play hard and let the chips fall where they may.

BTW this is me with the game threads...neverrrr miss my lw3 game threads...

 

 

[Guest]

Oh also...Do-It-all Pauuuulll to the rescue!!!

[Guest]

6 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

Chris Vivlamore 

 

✔ @CVivlamoreAJC

Thabo Sefolosha won't start vs. Raptors after being late for pregame walkthrough. http://www.ajc.com/sports/basketball/sefolosha-held-out-starting-lineup-after-being-late-walkthrough/Sx1tCLjcnuxffZuqgtquhJ/ …

Chris Vivlamore 

 

✔ @CVivlamoreAJC

Thabo Sefolosha won't start vs. Raptors after being late for pregame walkthrough. http://www.ajc.com/sports/basketball/sefolosha-held-out-starting-lineup-after-being-late-walkthrough/Sx1tCLjcnuxffZuqgtquhJ/ …

Timmy? Ersan? Who starts?

[Dnice]

This team is a drag, play good d, and come up empty on offense.

[Thomas]

Ain't nothing quite like watching a brick fest. Both teams look far from ready for the post season. 

[Thomas]

Dennis really shined to close this game out. Very nice to see. Gray will appreciate his work at the line late along with the rest of us.

[capstone21]

Fought tooth and nails for this one ... great win

[BudBall]

I love Dennis, I wonder how much more he can improve.

Edited March 11, 2017 by ISO

[StephenHawking]

Ersan is the man! Key moment in the game was his charge. Love Calderón too. Great to see some new options to our second unit.

[Lurker]

It's obvious who this team feeds off of.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

13 minutes ago, Lurker said:

It's obvious who this team feeds off of.

Yep.

Edited March 11, 2017 by TheNorthCydeRises

[benhillboy]

Dennis slick one of the most exciting players to watch in the league right now.  If we're building a team around him priority #1 is getting a player (preferably a 1 but could be an Igoudala-type wing) who can defend and facilitate a little better than he can to relieve some pressure.  Could it be Bembry?  That man playing time done vanished.

Let him focus on steadily improving his scoring.  He's taking over games regularly yet only scratched the surface.  He still has room for improvement on his three, mid, floater, and variation of finishes.  Dribble drive and free throw shooting already in the bag.

[AHF]

Dennis really seems energized since Bud held his feet to the fire.

[Lurker]

I know I left y'all hanging but I didn't really mean Bazemore.

Seriously, if what Dennis/Tim have shown is close to true, the offense may not be far away from a fix. It just can't happen until this summer unfortunately and if it does, it wouldn't be sexy moves.

[BigDog90]

1 hour ago, benhillboy said:

Dennis slick one of the most exciting players to watch in the league right now.  If we're building a team around him priority #1 is getting a player (preferably a 1 but could be an Igoudala-type wing) who can defend and facilitate a little better than he can to relieve some pressure.  Could it be Bembry?  That man playing time done vanished.

Let him focus on steadily improving his scoring.  He's taking over games regularly yet only scratched the surface.  He still has room for improvement on his three, mid, floater, and variation of finishes.  Dribble drive and free throw shooting already in the bag.

Dennis needs a Horford-like center. One who can draw the center out the paint and set high screens for him.

Dwight need to come off the bench.

Shooters are definitely a must for a Dennis led team. Him and Hardaway can easily average 40+ points if they had the spacing.

[rd79]

2 hours ago, BigDog90 said:

Him and Hardaway can easily average 40+ points if they had the spacing.

Each or together? ;-)

[JTB]

This was the best second half team offense I seen in a long while from this team and maybe the best game I've seen offensively from all the starters.

dennis-

fantastic 4th quarter

 

THJ -

just continue to show why he's this team second best scorer and many times best scorer. @Lurker hit the nail on the head...this team clearly feeds off of Dennis & Timmy! Not just that but having those two on the court along with millsap and Howard and suddenly we see the offense really flows and may not be too far from being fixed....for the 200,000,000 time this year I repeat there's no reason THJ shouldn't be a starter.

 

SAP-

of course always doing his thing on both sides of the ball

 

Howard-

had a great game and played with a lot of energy. 2nd time this year he has shown Toronto that they can't handle him. He's a big reason we have Torontos number this year in my opinion.

 

Ersan-

just absolutely love this guy right now. He's doing everything he's capable of to contribute. My favorite thing about having him added to the bench is being able to put him on the floor with Howard or Sap! It's been working great and he's been giving both those guys good time to rest on the bench 

 

Last-

i think bud should try moose and ersan on the floor together off the bench with Calderon running point and seeing what that may give them. Two tall guys that can stretch the floor off the bench. 

Oh and the defense from prince yesterday along with those hustle plays were absolutely superb from the rookie. He really does have the ability and skill set to be a legit "3" in this league and be effective playing his natural position.