Bad loss, the building was electric, we were facing one of our greatest enemy, the start was promising but after halftime we fall flat on our faces and never hinted at changing the tide.
Offense:
There’s some bad luck involved but we were beaten on most 50-50 balls, our hands were slippery and some players, Bridges in particular (could someone told him he’s not in Brooklyn anymore*?), made lazy passes that lead to turnovers.
JB had an off night but this team should have enough firepower and talent to overcome nights when he’s well guarded (or the three ball doesn’t go in), instead we failed to adjust.
I’m probably wrong but I remember only one play in which we targeted Young, outside of that we basically put his man (mostly Bridges) in the corner and let The Rat relax.
OG had an off night too and KAT basically has no reputation with the refs, he gets mugged and mauled in a way that would get Embiid 20 FTs a night.
Anyway we should have been up by 15 in the first half, with all the turnovers and missed FTs Atlanta’s comeback started from our mistakes.
Defense:
I think on balance the defense was a little better, we just can’t stop Trae in the 3rd when the game flipped and with KAT on the bench we were destroyed under the boards.
It’s not that we can’t get stops, but the Hawks had 22 offensive rebounds (including 4 in a single offensive sequence, by 4 different players) and when you defend well but can’t corral the caroms you lose energy and gain frustration.
We’re small.
Precious is a good “dynamic” rebounder but a bad one “positionally” (he’s 6’8″ and unable to box-out my late grandmother), Hart is a fantastic rebounder for his size but he’s 6’4″, Bridges is soft as mashed potatoes, OG’s defensive assignment often took him away from the boards (and he’s not a good rebounder to start with), Sims is a leaper but not a “timely” leaper. KAT’s basically our size right now and when he’s in foul trouble we’re more or less fucked (and Mitch’s return is far than ever).
Overall:
We went AWOL in the last 9:50 of the 3rd (29-10 Hawks, from +10 to -9) and from then on Josh’s bomb with 5:46 that cut the lead to 6 was the closest we were in the 4th.
No fake comeback, no urgency, no momentum.
After 25 games and coming after two iterations of a blue collar, overachieving, never quitting team, this group looks soft and soulless.
I’m not saying they lack effort, just that they don’t scare (and don’t bully and don’t outwork) no one anymore.
And our coach isn’t shining, I grade his year so far underwhelming.
What’s next:
On paper the next 9-games stretch could help us (2 games vs Orlando w/o Paolo and Franz, 2 against the abysmal Wizards, home games with Toronto, San Antonio and Utah, away at New Orleans, Minnesota the only real hurdle), we should go at least 7-2 but so far this team has been more Forrest Gump’s chocolate box than NBA top-6 so who knows?
Anyway I’d love to wake up Jan 3rd and be 22-12 (or even better, 23-11). 😉
It’s too early to panic but the fit between coach and roster feels odd.
It’s too early to panic but the vibes are bad.
It’s too early to panic but there’s a LOT of work to do.
Or else…
Let’s Go Knicks!
* I’ve never been a Bridges stan, I’m wary of players who put up numbers on shitty team (I call it “The Tony Campbell effect”) and I’m not fond of the Villanova frat narrative (I don’t like JB & Josh podcast too) but I did remember him as a good glue guy and above average defender in Phoenix when they went to the Finals.
My expectations about him weren’t sky high (despite the overpay) but especially on defense he’s been much much worse than I thought he would be.
A few months after the trade the “we have the perfect wings to stop Boston’s Jays” hope looks more like an LSD induced dream.
I’d be happy to be deadly wrong.