The Atlanta HAWKS thread- Defund Tony Ressler

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by Gaknight, Apr 8, 2015.

  1. Gaknight

    Gaknight Well-Known Member
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    What players hate him? He had a brief thing with Collins but they have remained steadfast in wanting to play with each other long term. Vince Carter is gone and speaks highly of Trae. His current teammates love him

    Lon Kruger didn’t hate him. Nate doesn’t hate him.
     
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  2. Virgil Caine

    Virgil Caine Well-Known Member
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    You’ll just have to believe me. You think dudes would say publicly that they don’t like him?
     
  3. Sanjuro

    Sanjuro Not a co-conspirator
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    No one important on the team hates Trae. They may have disliked some of his pulling up from the logo when they were losing in 18/19 and 19/20 but the know he is one of the toughest dudes in the league.
     
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  4. Gaknight

    Gaknight Well-Known Member
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    This team isn't going to the ECF if they hate Trae.
     
  5. bcuga

    bcuga Administrator
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    They don't dislike Trae. You can tell by watching them play together on the court. Him and Collins are so in sync on the court Trae was able to throw an alley pop off the backboard. You don't do stuff like that if you aren't enjoying your time together.
     
  6. Gaknight

    Gaknight Well-Known Member
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  7. BudKilmer

    BudKilmer Well-Known Member
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    that’s 4 months of the season. What the f.

    Chelsea Lane leaving to go back to NZ. Did she suck at her job? Why are we losing our high lottery picks not named Trae to tons of injury time
     
  8. Sanjuro

    Sanjuro Not a co-conspirator
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    Onyeka injury is tough. He needed the time at Summer League and a full training camp. Basically means that Capela won’t be traded now next season. But at least OO will have plenty of court time to get in shape before the playoffs. Probably a little better chance now that Collins is re-signed (not that I didn’t expect that regardless).
     
  9. Gaknight

    Gaknight Well-Known Member
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    John Collins resigned?
     
  10. Sanjuro

    Sanjuro Not a co-conspirator
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    Resigned to re-sign, maybe?
     
  11. Gaknight

    Gaknight Well-Known Member
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    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
     
  12. Gaknight

    Gaknight Well-Known Member
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    It would be weird if we don’t get(or already have) a deal done with Collins. He’s dominated all forms of social media the last few days.
     
  13. Gaknight

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  14. Fran Tarkenton

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    Hawks season rewind: Insight, moments, behind-the-scenes stories from Atlanta’s wild 2020-21

    Chris Kirschner Jul 22, 2021[​IMG] 34 [​IMG]
    There have been a few weeks to process everything that happened in the Hawks’ 2020-21 season, and it’s still hard to comprehend what this team went through and accomplished.

    Completely overhauling the roster in the offseason. Losing their prized free-agent signing less than 10 games in. Continuously blowing leads in the fourth quarter. Firing their coach midway through the year. Winning eight straight games. Clinching a playoff berth. Making it to the Eastern Conference finals.

    The only way to describe this year is to call it a wild ride, so I wanted to look back at the moments and games that I thought defined the season. Included below are insights and some stories I hadn’t told during the season on some of the biggest events for the Hawks.

    Let’s get to it.

    Nov. 24, 2020 — Bogdan Bogdanovic signs with Hawks

    Bogdanovic’s offseason wasn’t the smoothest because of how much uncertainty there was with where he was going to end up.

    At first, it was going to be Milwaukee. Sacramento and Milwaukee reportedly agreed to a sign-and-trade that would have sent Bogdanovic to the Bucks and Donte DiVincenzo to the Kings as the two main pieces in the deal. The problem was no such agreement was allowed because free agency hadn’t started when the trade was first reported. Because this was clearly tampering, the deal fell apart. With Bogdanovic a restricted free agent, he would have had to agree to the trade. He had no knowledge this was happening behind his back, he said.

    “When that Milwaukee situation happened through the media, I was really pissed,” Bogdanovic told The Athletic. “I was in Serbia, and no one reached out to me. No one talked with me. No one asked me anything. I woke up, I saw it and then I didn’t know what to do. I called my agent, and he told me to calm down because there was nothing they could do, because I was a restricted free agent and they couldn’t do anything like that.”

    When the deal broke off, that allowed the Hawks to swoop in. Bogdanovic first met with the Kings to see where they stood because they, ultimately, had matching rights and could have decided to bring him back. This was what Bogdanovic expected before free agency began. The Kings, he said, consistently told him he was in their future plans — until he wasn’t.

    “I joined a team that wasn’t even in the back of my head,” Bogdanovic said of the Hawks. “When I was getting ready for another season, I expected to be with (Sacramento). I didn’t know I was leaving. They told me how they were going to keep me and to not even worry about the market because they were matching any offer. They told me to expect my value to be between $15 (million) and $17 million.

    “The summer before, I declined an offer to sign with them, but there were other reasons. They changed the coach, my role was questionable, and I just didn’t (want to) stick with a team that was rebuilding again. I didn’t want to go through that process anymore, so I didn’t sign. I thought my value was higher. What they offered me the next year was pretty much the same offer, so they obviously don’t respect you much. Even if I ended up signing somewhere else for smaller money, that could be a good opportunity to play because I was just looking for another chance.”

    Bogdanovic felt disrespected by Sacramento with its new offer and with the organization trying to trade him. By then, Bogdanovic wanted out. It still wasn’t his choice, though, because of matching rights. Atlanta offered Bogdanovic a four-year, $72 million deal with a player option in Year 4 and attached a 15 percent trade kicker in his contract. That offer was higher than what the Kings originally thought his value was, but it wasn’t like his contract was an absurd overpay; there aren’t countless wings who can pass, dribble and shoot at a high level — and even with Buddy Hield on the roster, there’s no reason to let guys like Bogdanovic walk for nothing.

    The Kings let him walk, though, and he signed with the Hawks. Those 48 hours when the Kings debated matching Atlanta’s offer were stressful for Bogdanovic, who already had his mind made up that he wanted to be a Hawk.

    “At the end of the day, I would have had to go there,” Bogdanovic said of the possibility of Sacramento matching. “I would have been pissed for the first two weeks that they tried to do me like that. It’s not even a problem. It’s a business, and they can trade you. But I always felt like I had some type of relationship with them, and there are some things that happened in Sac that is not for the media and not for the world. But no one hit me up before they tried trading me. I just felt ‘be-traded.'”

    Bogdanovic was the prized signing for the Hawks this past offseason, and he looks to be a key part of the team’s future alongside Trae Young in the backcourt.

    Dec. 21, 2020 — Hawks and John Collins fail to come to terms

    Atlanta offered Collins a four-year, $90 million extension before the start of the season, but Collins declined and decided to test the market at the end of the season. Collins said on several occasions before the deadline how he hoped to go into the year with a new deal, but it didn’t happen that way.

    “They have the right to offer whatever they want, and nothing has to happen either way,” Collins told The Athletic last month. “I still felt like I had an opportunity to prove myself again. I don’t feel like there was any ill will or uncertainty. It was a conversation where I told them that I still want to be with the Hawks and I don’t want to go anywhere, but it wasn’t an offer that I felt comfortable accepting at the time.

    “I feel like they knew there was going to be no change in my professionalism and nothing from me that would cause this team to go in a downward spiral in any way because it’s not who I am. I feel like, at the end of the day, it’s just basketball for me. I try not to think about it, but there’s no denying I wanted to get it done back then. I know that’s the nature of the NBA.”

    Because no deal was agreed upon, trade rumors surrounded Collins up until the trade deadline.

    Dec. 23, 2020 — Hawks blow out Bulls in season opener; Young scores 37 on 12 field goal attempts

    I saw so many horrendously played basketball games by the Hawks in my first two seasons covering the team, so the season opener was certainly a nice change of pace. It was clear in Game 1 that this was going to be a different season. Atlanta had so many threats on the floor who could score on multiple levels.

    But the story of the opener was Young. He was unbelievable and looked like a man on a mission to prove every single doubter wrong. He finished 10 of 12 from the floor and had 37 points. He’s the only player in NBA history to score 37 points on 12 or fewer attempts.

    I remember watching this game thinking to myself, “Oh, man. This is going to be a fun ride.” I didn’t realize it was going to be as fun as it turned out to be.

    Dec. 30, 2020 — “That’s not basketball!”

    Young is one of the NBA’s elite foul drawers and a constant source of frustration for opponents because of the manner in which he receives the whistle on some plays. Early in the season, Young’s childhood idol, Nets coach Steve Nash, was agitated with the Hawks guard.

    Young went to the line 16 times in the Hawks’ game against the Nets, and Nash was caught on camera complaining to an official about Young’s foul-drawing technique.



    Young would later tell The Athletic how he learned some of his moves from watching Nash play. This wasn’t the end of the controversy surrounding Young and fouls. As we reported, Lloyd Pierce would mention during an NBA Competition Committee call how he “hates” some of the shots Young takes at times and the fouls he’s able to draw on them. It was a perplexing revelation because Pierce and the Hawks were beneficiaries of Young’s ability. The league ended up changing the rule for next season on the shot seen in the video above; it won’t be called.

    Jan. 1, 2021 — “We are not a joke”

    This somehow felt like a playoff game for the Hawks, and it was only the fifth game of the season. It was a good litmus test for the young Hawks going up against Eastern Conference favorite Brooklyn after having played the Nets close in the previous game and falling short. They won this game, 145-141, and Collins said the Hawks proved they aren’t a joke. Kevin Durant also made a prescient comment afterward, stating, “They’re gonna be a team to be reckoned with this season.”

    Turns out, he was right. But things got ugly first.

    Jan. 6, 2021 — Young plays arguably the weirdest game of his career

    After beating the Nets, the Hawks dropped consecutive games to the Cavaliers and Knicks, both projected to be cellar dwellers in the Eastern Conference. The Hawks blew a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter of the Knicks game, which turned out to be a recurring theme for Atlanta in the first half of the season.

    But this game against the Hornets was so bizarre that it led me to text multiple people afterward to ask if something was wrong with Young. I’ve watched every single game of Young’s Hawks career and had not seen him play so deliberately passive before. I remember thinking at the time that he was playing like he was trying to prove a point to someone. He wasn’t shooting, he wasn’t creating, he was sloppy and he was getting off the ball sooner than he normally does. It was weird. He finished with seven points and seven turnovers. It wasn’t like the Hornets had a roster full of defensive stoppers, either.

    After talking with some people after the game, I learned what had happened the day before.

    Jan. 8, 2021 — Am I a saboteur?

    There were many angry Hawks fans this day. I had countless accusatory messages of how I was trying to sabotage the franchise. The overreaction was absurd but a good reminder that not everyone understands how journalism works. I’m here to report on the good, the bad and everything in between. I’m not here to cheer for the Hawks, and frankly, that’s how I like it because I feel like I’m able to do my best work when I have no attachment in either direction. That’s not to say I’m a robot. I’m a basketball fan, and some of the stuff we saw this year was so much fun that it’s hard not to have some excitement.

    What I learned after the Charlotte game was that Collins expressed frustration with the offense and how it needed to have more ball movement — and his criticism was directed toward Young. The point guard took exception to his critique and let others know about it. There wasn’t a heated exchange. There wasn’t a moment where the two needed to be separated. No punches were close to being thrown. The story was more about how this young team was still trying to work through issues, even after having started 4-1.

    The way other outlets chose to report on my story was most frustrating. It was painted as Collins and Young hating each other. That was totally false. In our story, Collins says, “Trae is my brother regardless.” There were stories on how Collins had to be traded. It was just ridiculous garbage that had zero context, but the players see that — and their inner circle, agents and everyone important see that — and it comes back on you when your story was the first one.

    “I don’t know why people thought I had ill will against Trae,” Collins said last month. “You guys weren’t in the room to hear what I said to my dude. That’s my mans. If I go talk to him, I’m going to dap him up, and there is nothing wrong. That’s what happens in the heat of the moment sometimes and in competition. That was back in the day when we had to watch film with everyone watching in the gym. I definitely feel like if someone wasn’t right next to what was happening and they saw the commotion and said something, that’s just what happens with stories, especially with headlines — and no one actually reads the story. I can’t help but be honest and real. And I know the context can get lost sometimes from reporter to reporter, and then what people think I did is being viewed in a different way.”

    The story definitely caused waves, and I have no qualms about my reporting. Collins isn’t mad at me. Young isn’t mad. Travis Schlenk isn’t mad. Everyone moved on. It happened, I found out the details and gave fans insight into the team dynamics that they couldn’t get elsewhere. I did my job.

    Jan. 9, 2021 — Bogdanovic suffers avulsion fracture

    It was a frustrating start of the season for Bogdanovic. He was in a role he didn’t think he was going to have when he signed with the team, coming off the bench and primarily being used as a spot-up shooter. Bogdanovic also had COVID-19 before the season and was still trying to get himself into shape.

    He was inserted into the starting rotation in the ninth game but left early after suffering an avulsion fracture in his knee that would cause him to miss 25 games.

    “I told myself I needed to get back to where I was,” Bogdanovic said of his rehab. “I went to the gym and had a great training staff around me. I was lifting five to six times a week, getting shots from sitting in a chair. I didn’t want to lose my rhythm. I wanted it. I really wanted it. I didn’t want to be that guy who got hurt, took their money and didn’t do anything. I am not that kind of guy.”

    Jan. 22, 2021 — Clint Capela’s first triple-double

    This was one of the wildest performances of the season for any Hawk. Capela finished with 10 blocks against the Timberwolves. He transformed the middle of the Hawks’ defense, and this was the game that showed the difference from starting Alex Len, Damian Jones and Dewayne Dedmon at center to Capela. This was the first triple-double Capela notched on any level except one.

    Jan. 29, 2021 — De’Andre Hunter hurts his knee

    Hunter was arguably the best all-around Hawk for the first 20 games. He truly leveled up in all areas from his rookie season and emerged as one of the most improved players in the NBA.

    He left the game this night against the Wizards after landing awkwardly on a dunk. It didn’t look serious because he stayed in the game right after the play but was eventually removed. It was later revealed that he partially tore his meniscus. It was a devastating blow for him and the Hawks.

    Feb. 1, 2021 — “Ol’ steroid ass”

    The Hawks-Lakers game was briefly delayed because Juliana Carlos, or as LeBron James dubbed her “Courtside Karen,” was screaming and cursing at the Lakers star while sitting courtside with her husband, Chris. James could be heard on video calling Carlos’ husband “Ol’ steroid ass.” That’s just good old-fashioned humor.

    The Carloses were escorted out of the arena, and Juliana left the court with her middle fingers in the air. She then went on a profanity-laced tirade directed at James on her Instagram page. She eventually released an apology and deleted her Instagram account.

    Feb. 10, 2021 — Hawks blow lead on national TV

    The troubling trend of the Hawks blowing fourth-quarter leads continued, this time on national television against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. The Hawks were 9-7 after this game when entering the fourth with a lead; only Detroit and Minnesota had worse records. The Hawks had the worst point differential in the NBA, too.

    At this point of the season, it was clear this team just had no confidence in what it was supposed to do in late-game situations.

    Feb. 12, 2021 — “They have to feel us”

    To get an idea of how bad this game was for the Hawks, they outscored the Spurs, 42-15, in the fourth quarter and still lost by double digits. It was a wretched performance just after having blown a lead on national TV. It felt as if the Hawks just forgot to show up to this game.

    Afterward, Pierce repeated how he felt like the Spurs didn’t “feel them.” I understood what he meant with his phrasing, but my question, which he clearly took exception to, was asking how, as the coach, can he make sure an opposing team “feels” the other team because he said it was one of the main reasons they were embarrassed.

    At the 5:30 mark, Pierce went on a rant using defensive terminology (which was actually insightful).



    Feb. 15, 2021 — The end of a 1-7 stretch

    Once again, the Hawks melted late in the fourth quarter, this time against the Knicks. It was their seventh loss in eight games. Young didn’t put up a shot attempt in the final three minutes, and Collins didn’t attempt a shot in the final 14 minutes, even though he was cooking the Knicks in the first three quarters.

    This is what Pierce said after the game about not featuring two of the best players in late-game situations: “I think if you get caught playing a game where you’re trying to get John and Trae the basketball, and every team in the league knows you’re trying to get John and Trae the basketball, it’s probably going to be a little bit harder for that.”

    I was befuddled he said this and wrote as much after the game. Every important player in the NBA has the ball in crunch time and tries to make plays, even though teams know what’s coming. You’re not bringing Bruno Fernando into the game because no one is expecting it.

    Feb. 16, 2021 — Nate McMillan briefly takes over

    Pierce missed three games for the birth of his child, which gave the Hawks a brief look at McMillan. From the moment Pierce brought him in this past offseason, McMillan was looked at as a candidate to take over if the season went sideways at any point.

    The Hawks went 2-1 during this stretch under McMillan.

    Feb. 23, 2021 — Hawks find a new way to embarrass themselves

    This was the game where I first started hearing whispers that Pierce was possibly getting fired at the All-Star break. There were so many mistakes in the final five minutes against the Cavs though, that it was hard to place the blame on one person. Everyone screwed up.

    Cleveland entered this game on a 10-game losing streak, and it didn’t matter because the Hawks wilted in the fourth quarter. At this point, Atlanta was 0-8 in games decided by six points or fewer.

    This play about summed up the first half of the Hawks’ season:



    Feb. 24, 2021 — Danilo Gallinari can’t miss

    Gallinari was one of the biggest disappointments for the Hawks in the first half of the season. He ended up missing some time due to a sprained ankle, and it never seemed like he was 100 percent healthy. Against the Celtics this night, Gallinari made 10 of 12 3-point attempts, and at least for one night, we didn’t have to talk about Pierce’s future.

    Feb. 26, 2021 — Hawks listless in awful uniform game in Oklahoma City

    Somehow, the Hawks wore red this night, and the Thunder wore orange. How this slipped through the cracks and was able to happen, I don’t know. It was torturous to watch this first half with the uniforms looking like this.



    The Thunder eventually switched to their white uniforms in the second half. This game was just depressing for the Hawks. Oklahoma City was desperately wanting to lose as many games as possible — the Thunder didn’t even start a center in this game; their tallest player was Isaiah Roby at 6-foot-8. Capela and Collins dominated the first half, and the Hawks just went away from both in the second half. Oklahoma City pulled away and won by nine.

    I started working on a potential head coaching candidates story after this game. The Hawks were obviously done with Pierce.

    Feb. 28, 2021 — Hawks lose to Heat in Pierce’s final game

    It felt fitting that Pierce’s final game was one final late collapse. The Hawks were down two with 2:24 left and ended up losing by 10. Even if they ended up beating the Heat again in the following game and the Magic before the All-Star break, the inevitable was happening. Pierce even seemed resigned to that fact in an interview with The Athletic in the days prior to the Heat game.

    March 1, 2021 — Hawks fire Pierce

    The timing was weird to me because the team made it seem like it was a decision that was hastily made when, in actuality, they were already leaning this way. Pierce was allowed to coach practice in Miami before being fired at the team hotel afterward.

    As reported, Pierce lost the locker room a long time before this date. Players already had started tuning him out and going to assistant coaches, instead of Pierce, for guidance. Schlenk said the Hawks needed a “new voice,” and McMillan reluctantly took the interim tag. He didn’t want to be perceived as the guy who took the assistant coaching job with the idea of potentially taking over for Pierce, who was in the final year of his guaranteed contract, at some point.

    As an aside, Pierce and I had a good reporter-coach relationship in my first two seasons on the beat. He especially helped me learn the NBA with how detailed he would explain the game when asked about it. I found him to be a good quote and always available in those rebuilding seasons.

    He had things he took exception to a few times. We would talk it out and move on. His demeanor was much different this past season, even before it began. Perhaps it was the stress of being in a make-it-or-break-it year. He wasn’t as friendly as he was in his first two seasons; those around the team even said the same thing behind the scenes. By the end, we didn’t have a relationship. I was blocked on Twitter and Instagram for reasons I’m still unsure of. Maybe it was for asking challenging questions and stating bluntly how poorly the team was playing. Either way, Pierce was extremely gracious with his time and helped me learn how to interview better, how to listen and deal with professionals. I will always greatly appreciate him for that.

    March 11, 2021 — The unlikely hero

    Tony Snell was a sneaky-important player for the Hawks in the regular season because of the injuries to Bogdanovic, Hunter and Cam Reddish. They needed someone who could fill wing minutes competently, and Snell was that guy.

    Against the Raptors, the Hawks trailed by 15 with six minutes to go but clawed back with good defense and timely buckets. On the final possession, the Raptors swarmed Young, who found a wide-open Snell for the buzzer-beating win. This felt like the first momentum-shifting win of the season for the Hawks, and you could say it was the first time they “believed.”

    March 20, 2021 — Hawks win eight straight

    The Hawks hadn’t won four straight games in the Pierce era, and they did so in their first opportunity with McMillan in the first seat on the bench. Atlanta beat Miami, Orlando, Toronto, Sacramento, Cleveland, Houston, Oklahoma City and the Lakers before losing to the Clippers.

    It wasn’t necessarily the hardest schedule, but it gave them a sorely needed confidence boost that they could win games they were supposed to win.

    March 24, 2021 — Hunter’s knee swells up

    Hunter returned from knee surgery for two games and then was shut down after the same knee swelled up. He wouldn’t return until there were four games left in the season. Hunter eventually had another setback in the playoffs, which caused him to miss the Philadelphia and Milwaukee series. He underwent another surgery on his knee and is expected to be healthy by training camp.

    March 25, 2021 — Lou Williams returns

    The minutes Young sat were a disaster in the first half of the season. Rajon Rondo, one of the team’s additions in free agency, wasn’t productive, and the Hawks were getting burned when he was on the floor. Backup point guard has been an issue for the Hawks since Young was drafted.

    For the second straight season, the Hawks made a move at the deadline to acquire a new backup for Young. Rondo was traded to the Clippers for Williams, two second-round picks and cash. It was an absolute home run of a deal for Schlenk, as Williams, while inconsistent, did have some big moments in the regular season and playoffs. That the Hawks got two second-round picks in this deal is still mind-blowing.

    April 23-25 — Back-to-back convincing wins

    By now, it was clear something special was happening with the Hawks in the second half. They were still dealing with frequent injuries, but unlike the first half, they were now winning despite them. These two games against the Heat and Bucks were remarkable wins because Young missed both games and the Hawks beat two playoff teams. Solomon Hill and Onyeka Okongwu started for the Hawks against the Heat, and Atlanta still won by 15 points.

    These were the games where I truly felt the Hawks were trending upward and could potentially be a tough out in the playoffs because their depth was shining.

    May 5, 2021 — A beatdown of the Suns

    I try to keep my composure when I’m watching a game from press row, but I remember nearly falling over in my seat multiple times as the Hawks trounced the Suns, 135-103. What was remarkable about this result was that the Hawks scored 135 without having a 20-point scorer.

    One of my favorite highlights of the season also happened in this game. I got out of my seat and stood up for this one and just stared at the court in disbelief.

    May 12, 2021 — Hawks clinch playoff berth

    The Hawks officially locked up a playoff berth after two thrilling wins over the Wizards, who were playing as well as anyone in the league. Collins hit a shot in the corner to seal the game, and it was almost a cathartic feeling for him as the longest-tenured player on the team.

    After the game Young had a message for everyone: “We’re here now.”

    May 23, 2021 — “It’s quiet as f**k in here”

    I’m still not sure why the Knicks were the overwhelming favorite by the national media in this series. Maybe the teams’ regular-season matchups factored into the thinking, or it was just the excitement of the Knicks being back in the playoffs. But the Hawks had more talent, and it showed immediately.

    After getting cursed at all game, Young hit the go-ahead shot in the final seconds for the Hawks to take Game 1 on the road. Young paraded down the court and turned to the crowd while yelling, “It’s quiet as f**k in here.” It’s one of those iconic moments that will always be remembered in Young’s career, no matter what he ends up accomplishing.

    June 1, 2021 — Capela says they’re going to send the Knicks on vacation

    The Knicks series was extremely chippy and overtly physical, and the Hawks were sick of it. They felt like there were calls that should’ve been made but weren’t, and the Knicks were starting to play a little dirty with their backs on the wall.

    Capela was tired of the Knicks’ tactics and let it be known prior to Game 5 that the Hawks were going to send them on vacation. That’s what I loved about this year’s team. They were unafraid to speak their mind about anything. Sports should be fun and entertaining in all aspects, and this team was exactly that.

    June 2, 2021 — Young’s bow

    Up until this point, most of Young’s quotes in his career have been forgetful. He’s just not the best interview on the team, and that’s OK. Not everyone can be Collins, Kevin Huerter or Hill when it comes to providing great insight and being unapologetically themselves when talking to reporters. But this was a side of Young that I hadn’t seen in three seasons.

    Young bowed at center court of Madison Square Garden after draining a deep 3 to end the series against the Knicks. Afterward, he provided a legendary quote that I sure hope was off the cuff because it was so good.



    June 6, 2021 — Hawks steal Game 1 against Philly

    Coming into the season, the Hawks weren’t expecting to get this far. The hope was the Hawks were going to be in the Play-In Tournament and possibly make noise in their first-round matchup against one of the top two seeds. Getting to the second round was a major accomplishment.

    But we learned in the second half of the season that this Atlanta team is fearless. The Hawks didn’t care they were on the road in Philadelphia, one of the toughest places to win on the road this season. The Hawks punched the Sixers in the mouth from the moment the game tipped off. They scored 42 points in the first quarter and were up 20 at halftime.

    Atlanta nearly collapsed in the fourth quarter but held on for a 128-124 win. They weren’t done winning in Philadelphia.

    June 14, 2021 — The first comeback

    Resilient is another adjective to describe this team. Down 18 to the No. 1 seed, you’d think a young, inexperienced team would be out of a game under those circumstances, but nope.

    The Hawks didn’t play well at all in this game but still somehow found a way to tie up the series against the Sixers at 2-2.

    June 16, 2021 — Simply unbelievable

    The Sixers were running away with Game 5. It was over — at least that’s what it seemed like. Philly’s crowd was electric, and the Hawks had no energy in the first half. Philly asserted its dominance, and it seemed like the Hawks’ season was going to be over once this series got back to Atlanta with them down, 3-2.

    Nope.

    A historic collapse from the Sixers led to one of the most stunning and best wins in Hawks franchise history. I had to walk around the arena after the news conferences were over because I had no idea how I was going to write about this game. It was hard to process in the moment because of how unbelievable it was. It’s one of the greatest games I’ve ever been to, and it happened to be my first road game in 15 months since the pandemic began.

    June 18, 2021 — Collins dunks on Joel Embiid

    This was one of the best plays I’ve ever seen in person. I was in shock that Collins caught the ball with one hand and then posterized one of the best defensive players in the league like this.

    Collins ended up making shirts with the picture of this dunk, which he now sells on his merchandise store.

    I’m sure this dunk felt good for Collins because he’s been annoyed with Embiid over the past few years. Two years ago, before the start of the season, Collins was driving around with former Hawk Justin Anderson when Embiid called his former Sixers teammate. Anderson had become accustomed to Embiid’s trash-talking, but while Collins was in the front seat, Embiid yelled out on the other line, “You guys suck! You guys can’t even get on TNT, and you’re in Atlanta!”

    The Hawks would end up getting the last laugh.

    June 20, 2021 — Huerter, the hero

    Young wasn’t his usual self, so someone had to step for the Hawks if they were going to pull off a Game 7 upset on the road.

    That man was Huerter, who scored 27 points and made 10 of 18 from the floor. Huerter deserved to have a moment like this because he was superb all regular season, and casual NBA observers needed to know the Hawks were more than just Young. Players like Huerter were one of the main reasons the Hawks were one of the best teams in the league.

    Huerter’s performance led us to receive one of the funniest videos I’ve seen this year. It’s just incredible content. Please watch if you haven’t already or if you have watched it, watch it again. It never fails to make me laugh.



    June 23, 2021 — Young delivers historic performance

    The shimmy. The off-the-glass alley-oop to Collins. This was Young’s masterpiece. He finished with 48 points and 11 assists — in the EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS. He’s only 22! I watched most of this game shaking my head at the absurdity that Young was able to achieve that night. It was special.

    June 27, 2021 — Young steps on referee Sean Wright’s foot

    This season was marred by injuries across the NBA, and this one with Young happened to be the biggest of the year for the Hawks. It was such a fluke that Young happened to step backward on top of Wright’s foot, causing a bone bruise. Young missed two games before returning in Game 6 against Milwaukee, but he clearly wasn’t himself as he played through pain.

    July 3, 2021 — The end of a special ride

    What a season it was. The Hawks lost to the Bucks in six games, but instead of an ending, it felt like just the beginning of the Hawks’ path toward their first title in Atlanta.

    Related reading
    Offseason primer Part I: New contracts, Cam Reddish expectations and more
    Offseason primer Part II: Consolidation trades, free agency, draft options
     
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  15. BudKilmer

    BudKilmer Well-Known Member
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    I forgot about “Ole steroid ass” :laugh:

    And lmao at Lloyd blocking Chris Kirshner of all people on Twitter and Ig. Atl media aint exactly New York
     
  16. Fran Tarkenton

    Fran Tarkenton Hilton Honors VIP
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    Chris is like younger than us, a UF and Mizzou grad. An honest good faith dude.
     
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  17. BudKilmer

    BudKilmer Well-Known Member
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    i mean the hawks beat is basically Chris, Sarah Spencer of the ajc, Brad Rowland and then the random Vivlamoore or Schultz that pop in. I mean if Lloyd can’t handle that, he needs to go coach JV basketball in Montana
     
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  18. Gaknight

    Gaknight Well-Known Member
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    But he’s a Knicks fan
     
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  19. Gaknight

    Gaknight Well-Known Member
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    Right before this it was Brad, Robby Kalland, and Bo Churney(RIP). So basically random 20 somethings. This doesn’t make Lloyd sound great
     
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  20. BudKilmer

    BudKilmer Well-Known Member
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  21. Boom TittyMilk

    Boom TittyMilk User Formerly known as Big R
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    Who we liking tonight
     
  22. Fran Tarkenton

    Fran Tarkenton Hilton Honors VIP
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    Think if we stay put its one of

    Ayo Donsonmu

    Cam Thomas

    Jaden Springer

    Jared Butler
     
  23. Fran Tarkenton

    Fran Tarkenton Hilton Honors VIP
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    But I think we really want Duarte
     
  24. Snakes

    Snakes clumsy interloper
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    we are apparently offering cam and the 20th pick to move up. Can't say i'm thrilled about that but i'll TITS at this point.
     
  25. Fran Tarkenton

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    Would not like it either
     
  26. Snakes

    Snakes clumsy interloper
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    you have to think that if the staff around him every day are willing to trade him for a rookie then there is something he does that they don't like. Again, Schlenk has drafted phenomenally since we hired him so if there is someone he wants to go up and get then i'm all for it.
     
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  27. It'sAlwaysSunnyInAthens

    It'sAlwaysSunnyInAthens Well-Known Member
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    Please don't trade Cam.
     
  28. It'sAlwaysSunnyInAthens

    It'sAlwaysSunnyInAthens Well-Known Member
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    Who are we going to draft in the late lottery with more upside than Cam? All the reports say we are just trying to save a few bucks. Gross.
     
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  29. Gaknight

    Gaknight Well-Known Member
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    I dont believe it. It has sounded like wishful thinking gm's from the start. If we package our current talent we should be looking at proven stars and not unproven draft picks.
     
  30. Gaknight

    Gaknight Well-Known Member
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    Also unless the NBA decides to play with 2 balls next season I do not think Cam Thomas and Trae fit on the same team.
     
  31. Pile Driving Miss Daisy

    Pile Driving Miss Daisy It angries up the blood
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    Jesus
     
  32. BudKilmer

    BudKilmer Well-Known Member
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    Lots of guys I like are falling!
     
  33. Gaknight

    Gaknight Well-Known Member
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    Cam Reddish wasn’t traded shocking
     
  34. BudKilmer

    BudKilmer Well-Known Member
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    Jared Butler or Cam Thomas IMO
     
  35. Gaknight

    Gaknight Well-Known Member
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    I’m interested in Usman Garuba
     
  36. BudKilmer

    BudKilmer Well-Known Member
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    I’m not sure how I feel about this
     
  37. It'sAlwaysSunnyInAthens

    It'sAlwaysSunnyInAthens Well-Known Member
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    Isn't he pretty redundant with big o?
     
  38. Fran Tarkenton

    Fran Tarkenton Hilton Honors VIP
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    Jalen Johnson is high value but a glutton of Forwards now
     
  39. BudKilmer

    BudKilmer Well-Known Member
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    isnt he more of a 3/4?

    gallo replacement?
     
  40. It'sAlwaysSunnyInAthens

    It'sAlwaysSunnyInAthens Well-Known Member
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    I don't know much about him. Just saw the cliffs are 6'8 d first pf.
     
  41. Fran Tarkenton

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    pure 4

    he had a good game defensively for Spain against Argentina. Looks polished due to playing against Pros with Real Madrid. So training wheels are basically off.
     
  42. Gaknight

    Gaknight Well-Known Member
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    My boss(Real Madrid’s biggest basketball fan) compares him to Draymond
     
  43. Fran Tarkenton

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    if Ayo, Butler, or Springer are there in 2nd trade up please
     
  44. allothersnsused

    allothersnsused Wow that’s crazy
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    Not a huge fan of the Johnson pick but TITS above all else
     
  45. Snakes

    Snakes clumsy interloper
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    TITS
     
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  46. High Cotton

    High Cotton Where does this fall in our Christian walk?
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    Happy with Johnson and Sharife, but most excited we didn't trade Cam. Definitely a glut of F's but maybe we see Huerter as a big 2 some. Could see a trade for a 2 but Cam is off limits for me unless management knows a dirty secret.

    Sharife can learn to shoot behind Trae and Lou, maybe even get some good experience in College Park. Don't expect much from him next year but would love to get him 10 minutes a night.
     
  47. BudKilmer

    BudKilmer Well-Known Member
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  48. Boom TittyMilk

    Boom TittyMilk User Formerly known as Big R
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    Maybe he even gets a late 2-3 inch growth spurt
     
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