Some Thoughts for Sunday

[jpotter33]

- Excellent, excellent offensive game from IT tonight, but we can't depend on him going for 40 every night to win. We're REALLY going to need KO back by Sunday, because without him we're essentially without 40 points a night with Bradley and KO out and Crowder virtually useless offensively.

- I want to see Smart on Teague more when he's in the game. The little bit that he was on him tonight, Teague was limited. When we did put him on Teague, IT was on Baze, and they didn't take advantage of it. So I really want to see that more in the coming games, because Teague and Schroeder's penetration has hurt us much more than Korver. And IT and Turner just can't stop them.

- I really liked Steven's rotation tonight, because he finally allowed our big remaining 6 (JJ, Crowder, AJ, ET, IT, and Smart) to play big minutes, and Sullinger (11), Hunter (7), and Rozier (16) only received limited minutes. KO would help us enormously, because that's a lot of minutes for Amir the rest of the series if we stick to this rotation.

- We went back to switching a lot of stuff, and I'm still not a fan of it, though we didn't get burned nearly as much tonight as we have previously when we switched everything. Having JJ in there instead of Sully makes that more possible.

[Vox_Populi]

- I really liked Steven's rotation tonight, because he finally allowed our big remaining 6 (JJ, Crowder, AJ, ET, IT, and Smart) to play big minutes, and Sullinger (11), Hunter (7), and Rozier (16) only received limited minutes. KO would help us enormously, because that's a lot of minutes for Amir the rest of the series if we stick to this rotation.

I agree with the rotations too. He also didn't bother putting in Zeller. But looking at Sully's minutes...what on Earth has happened to him? He was better tonight, but I don't understand. At least Crowder is playing hurt.

[dwoumn]

- I really liked Steven's rotation tonight, because he finally allowed our big remaining 6 (JJ, Crowder, AJ, ET, IT, and Smart) to play big minutes, and Sullinger (11), Hunter (7), and Rozier (16) only received limited minutes. KO would help us enormously, because that's a lot of minutes for Amir the rest of the series if we stick to this rotation.

I agree with the rotations too. He also didn't bother putting in Zeller. But looking at Sully's minutes...what on Earth has happened to him? He was better tonight, but I don't understand. At least Crowder is playing hurt.

He doesn't match up well defensively against Hoford nor Millsap. It's hard for Coach Stevens to play him when he's getting beat defensively. On offense, if he's not hitting his mid range or getting offensive rebounds, he isn't helpful on that end of the floor. Sully has an array of post moves but the C's hardly establish the post much in Coach Stevens offense.

[Smart457]

You have to switch when you go that small since most guys are quick enough to handle any of those switches.

[jpotter33]

- I really liked Steven's rotation tonight, because he finally allowed our big remaining 6 (JJ, Crowder, AJ, ET, IT, and Smart) to play big minutes, and Sullinger (11), Hunter (7), and Rozier (16) only received limited minutes. KO would help us enormously, because that's a lot of minutes for Amir the rest of the series if we stick to this rotation.

I agree with the rotations too. He also didn't bother putting in Zeller. But looking at Sully's minutes...what on Earth has happened to him? He was better tonight, but I don't understand. At least Crowder is playing hurt.

He doesn't match up well defensively against Hoford nor Millsap. It's hard for Coach Stevens to play him when he's getting beat defensively. On offense, if he's not hitting his mid range or getting offensive rebounds, he isn't helpful on that end of the floor. Sully has an array of post moves but the C's hardly establish the post much in Coach Stevens offense.

Yep. He's almost worthless in this series, especially because he can't even board well with the more athletic guys he's playing against. He was guarding Milsap a couple of times tonight, and he was absolutely destroyed by him. Zeller probably wouldn't be any better, though his offense might be better than Sully's right now.

[Vox_Populi]

- I really liked Steven's rotation tonight, because he finally allowed our big remaining 6 (JJ, Crowder, AJ, ET, IT, and Smart) to play big minutes, and Sullinger (11), Hunter (7), and Rozier (16) only received limited minutes. KO would help us enormously, because that's a lot of minutes for Amir the rest of the series if we stick to this rotation.

I agree with the rotations too. He also didn't bother putting in Zeller. But looking at Sully's minutes...what on Earth has happened to him? He was better tonight, but I don't understand. At least Crowder is playing hurt.

He doesn't match up well defensively against Hoford nor Millsap. It's hard for Coach Stevens to play him when he's getting beat defensively. On offense, if he's not hitting his mid range or getting offensive rebounds, he isn't helpful on that end of the floor. Sully has an array of post moves but the C's hardly establish the post much in Coach Stevens offense.

Yeah..I agree they're too fast for him, but he just seems extra bad. He's not even rebounding like usual.

[saltlover]

I also like the rotations, although I thought Hunter looked out of place.  Rozier is useful tho, and can hopefully soak up a few more minutes for IT, Smart and Turner.

It's probably because he's the new toy, but if Olynyk is out again, I wouldn't mind seeing what Holland can do with the 7 minutes we gave to Hunter.

[SparzWizard]

I don't think IT4 is going to be playing Sunday because of potential suspension for hitting Schroeder's head...sigh.

[max215]

I don't think IT4 is going to be playing Sunday because of potential suspension for hitting Schroeder's head...sigh.

If IT is suspended would it even be worth watching? We'd lose by 40.

[SparzWizard]

I don't think IT4 is going to be playing Sunday because of potential suspension for hitting Schroeder's head...sigh.

If IT is suspended would it even be worth watching? We'd lose by 40.

And then come back and win by 40 in Atlanta Game 5, win Game 6, and Game 7. 

/justdreaming

[hwangjini_1]

starting jerbko and turner was good. turner was the ball handler and that gave IT some space.

but the key was that jerebko and others were hitting 3 pointers early on. CBS schemes got them open shots and they made them. in the second half the got away from that game plan and they seemed to lack confidence in their shots.

i think jerekbo, rozier, and hunter in the corners, combined with prayers, may open up the floor again.

by the way, has anyone seen how turner is hitting corner threes lately. put him there as well.

[green2k16]

none of this matters if we dont have isaiah. please no suspension

[jambr380]

That wasn't a real hit. Sure he swung and made contact with his head, but it was slow and not out of anger. He looked like he was more just instigating Schroder (and he succeeded). I said it in the game thread, but Perk wasn't suspended last year for a much more egregious hit and JR Smith's was like something out of the UFC.

Also, it would be really bad for ratings if they suspended IT - they would need to be making an example out of him which would be odd after such a fantastic game.

[Smitty77]

WHY would the NBA want to suspend IT?  How does that benefit them??

But, Adam Silver ALLOWS Mike Scott to play for the Hawks all year and in the playoffs even though he admitted having MDMA and pot in his car prior to the season!!!

Make PERFECT sense to me!!!

Without Scott, who will likely spend half a decade minimum in jail, the Hawks do NOT win Game 1.

Smitty77

[D Dub]

Dwayne Wade broke Rondo's arm in half once, didn't even pick up a foul much less a suspension ...