Official Game Thread: Hawks at Nuggets

[lethalweapon3]

“Haven’t you heard, Joker? I am The Greatest Offensive Player to Ever Play in the NBA!”

 

The Lords of Steady Internet Connection haven’t been kind this weekend, so just a couple tidbits ahead of today’s rematch in Denver between the Atlanta Hawks and the Nuggets (9 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, Altitude TV in DEN).

Who’s probably the only person to ever successfully transform from a Kitten into a Bulldog? This is your annual complaint that Paul Millsap should have had his number retired at Louisiana Tech by now. The folks in Ruston, who take pride in calling their hoops program “Power Forward U.”, say you had to be first-team All-Conference and led a team into the NCAAs via a conference championship, in order to qualify. But it isn’t Millsap’s fault that the Dunkin’ Dawgs veered out of the Deep South to join the Western Athletic Conference, right before the pride of nearby Grambling State Laboratory High School (Go Kittens!) committed to play there, the last Louisiana Mr. Basketball to even come to this mid-major program.

The school finally got to its senses and left the WAC in 2013, but the men haven’t been to The Big Dance since 1991. The man remains the only player in NCAA D-1 history to lead the nation in rebounding for three straight seasons (only two dudes have led D-1 twice in a row since), but the undersized pivot also had to accomplish that while traveling from upstate Louisiana to far-flung places like Honolulu, Fresno, Reno, and San Jose in between classes. Still, he earned a spot the NBA and not only stuck around, but got on four All-Star teams, and gets Louisiana Tech mentioned literally wherever he plays. What more is Sap going to have to do? Consider the context or just change the rule, LaTech, and get his number up in the rafters. P.J. Brown’s, too.

Jockeying for the top spot all-time in the category of career Offensive Rating on basketball-reference are three active players. Rudy Gobert, Chris Paul, and the Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic (career-highs of 27.2 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 8.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 42.7 3FG%, 87.1 FT%), the latter quite worthy of his current MVP-candidate accolades. Jokic checks in as of today at 122.12, just ahead of Wendy’s pitchman Reggie Miller. Also hovering at 122, although not yet qualifying under bball-ref criteria for the ranking, is CP3’s dunkin’ Deacon alum, the Hawks’ John Collins (career-high 38 points, 4-for-5 3FGs, 12 rebounds in the 124-108 win @ GSW on Friday).

Collins’ O-Rating using bball-ref’s secret recipe has increased in each of the past three seasons, presently at a career-high 125.5 efficiency despite accommodating Clint Capela in the paint and an array of coalescing offensive talents around him. Tonight, that group may or may not include rising forward De’Andre Hunter (still questionable, knee soreness).

What happens when we get a clash of these two offensive titans, Collins and Jokic? Surprisingly, not much so far. Collins has shot just 44.4 FG% (51.8 TS%) in five career games (three starts) against the Nuggets, his lowest percentage versus any NBA opponent. One of the only teams where Collins’ sterling O-Rating has fared worse has been Orlando, who graciously accepted Gary Harris, a top-5 protected first-round pick, and R.J. Hampton in exchange for Aaron Gordon and Gary Clark this past week. Gordon and JaVale McGee hope to be available to help Jokic and Millsap clog the interior today.

Hawks games have been hit-or-mostly-miss for The Joker as well. His 46.5 FG% and 54.0 TS% against Atlanta (11 games, all starts) are NBA-lows. The collectively odd clankfests between Collins and Jokic were exemplified during February 21’s 123-115 win by the hosts at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena.

Collins and Jokic each collected double-doubles but combined to shoot 10-for-28 from the floor (incl. 2-for-10 on threes, both sunk by Jokic, the last one too little, too late). Denver needed late scrambles by Jamal Murray and fellow guard Facundo Campazzo just to try and bail themselves out of a 91-69 hole, thanks largely to the brilliance of Trae Young (35 points, 15 assists vs. DEN), Capela and a hot-handed Tony Snell (4-for-5 3FGs vs. DEN). The team that squeezes the most out of their amazing individual offensive frontcourt talents will likely have the upper hand through most of tonight’s game.

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Sixth-man guard Monte Morris (team-high 6 assists, plus 7 rebounds and 15 points @ ATL on Feb. 21) moved into the starting lineup right after Denver's loss in Atlanta last month, but he's been out the past couple weeks due to a strained quad. His unavailability and Harris' trade will require more immediate bench help behind Murray and Will Barton. PJ Dozier has struggled from the perimeter of late, but he'll likely benefit most from an uptick in playing time.

~lw3

[Buzzard]

I look forward to this game. I hope Hunter can go but I am trying to be less optimistic.  Denver is 7 - 3 over their last 10 and won their last game. We are 8 - 2 and won our last game. On paper this should be a good one.

Go Hawks!

[RedDawg#8]

We need this win, I hope we are ready to compete tonight.

[Spud2nique]

Awesome thread Lw3! (Or should I say Pistol Pete Maravich @lethalweapon3, Kyle Korver doesn’t do justice because like Pistol was, you are magical with the threads. I guess this ties in Pistol with all the Millsap Louisiana talk! Full circle ️ Didn’t Sap lead the NCAA is rebounding like 3 straight years? I remember seeing that stat back in the day and just being amazed. Probably one of my top 10 Atlanta Hawks of all time. Hard hat lunch pail 🪣 Paul! Retire his number everywhere, love that guy.

 

Jokic is amazing. They are a tough team. Specially at home. They were winners getting Gordon too he might be a perfect fit for them but hopefully after tonight.

Hawks +160  +4.5  o/u 222

Go Hawks!

ps Facundo Campazzo is a lil baller, reminds me of lil JJ Barea a bit, small in stature but huge heart , also possibly a buddy of Tony Soprano.  

I can’t stop saying Facundo Campazzo, it’s addicting I’ll tell ya!  

 

[JeffS17]

No one seems to have an answer to Jokic right now.  I personally think he should be the MVP frontrunner (if hes not).  Im hoping we disrupt him a bit and clamp down the rest of the team.  We should have no problem scoring tonight.

 

Hawks 126 Nuggets 118

[MarylandHawk]

We have always played this team well, Trae in particular. Let’s hope we keep their number and give them a run for their money. 

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[bleachkit]

14 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

 

 

No surprise there.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

2 hours ago, JeffS17 said:

No one seems to have an answer to Jokic right now.  I personally think he should be the MVP frontrunner (if hes not).  Im hoping we disrupt him a bit and clamp down the rest of the team.  We should have no problem scoring tonight.

 

Hawks 126 Nuggets 118

Interesting to see the trends with the Nuggets as it relates to Jokic's production.

• Nuggets 9 - 7 when he scores 30 pts or more
• Nuggets 11 - 8 when he has 10 assists or more
• Nuggets 16 - 3 when he has 12 rebounds or more
  • Nuggets 10 - 2 when he has 4 offensive rebounds or more
• Nuggets 5 - 10 when he attempts 5 threes or more

OK . . we may have found the key to them winning the game.  Keep Jokic off the boards, and turn him into a perimeter shooter.  Might even hope he knocks down his first couple of 3s, so that he'll keep shooting them.

[Dnice]

Jokic may have 17 dimes if they don't get some stops..close the back door  please. 

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Early shot clock deep 3 . . . in rhythm.

 

( splash )

Great pass Collins.

[Peoriabird]

Bogi is horrible on defense

[hawkzlova123]

3 minutes ago, TheNorthCydeRises said:

Early shot clock deep 3 . . . in rhythm.

 

( splash )

Great pass Collins.

i love that splash

[TheNorthCydeRises]

LOL . . Trae knew he couldn't toss the lob to Gallo.  that should've been an easy 2.

Good thing he's a good FT shooter.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

These passes by Trae . . wow.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Oh no . . . not HIM!

[Dnice]

Getting whipped on the back door,  going to be a long night. 

[Dnice]

Damn I missed the bama shot live...

[Carmine]

Nice hustle Mays