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2016-17 Season
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wdt92 wrote:the format is originally from spiderxx7 and his excellent Toronto Raptors story. Definitely check out that link if you haven't given his story a chance yet! Great graphics and you can really see the time he puts into it.
cavs4872 wrote:Cool! Interesting choice. Following.
spiderxx7 wrote:Hey man, thanks! Really means a lot. Will be definitely following, hope you can keep Dwight around. His year in Atlanta in real life was tough.
ATLANTA -- It was a surprising night for the Hawks tonight in their home opener.
They came into the season with so many questions. Can Dennis Schroder lead a team as the starting point guard? Can Dwight Howard fit in with the space offensive that Coach Budenholzer has utilized since the 2013-14 season? Can the team have the shooting to combat the lack of Kyle Korver's presence?
The answer from tonight's game...
Well, it's yes. However, the Hawks have an entirely new question from the performance. Is all of that enough to maintain a spot in the upper echelon of the East this year?
Howard, who returned to the city where he grew up, did nothing to disappoint tonight. Dwight Howard surprised many with how well he actually did fit in. He hit a jump shot starting the third that began a run for Atlanta through that entire quarter. This led to a decent scoring night for Dwight as he finished with 11 points on 4-7 shooting while abysmal as usual with 50% shooting from the free throw line. He defensively wreaked havoc on the Wizards throughout the night, particularly bothering guards entering the paint finishing the night with many altered shots and 2 blocks. Finally, Dwight did something the Hawks haven't had in quite some time, and that is his ability to dominate the boards. Howard finished tonight with an impressive 16 rebounds.
"The worst thing you can do going into the first game at home is lay an egg," Dwight Howard said after the game, "I think all of us were nervous going into the game because we really wanted to put on for this city. We let the nerves get the best of us tonight. We're going to have to do better, we still don't feel 'settled in.'"
The Hawks who were behind going into the third only 76-70, seemed to just not have enough to beat Washington tonight. The Wizards hit 3/3 buzzer-beating shots to end the first 3 quarters which definitely hurt Atlanta's morale. But despite that, the Wizards as a whole didn't have an outstanding night tonight, however, John Wall's 5 steals (3 in the fourth) really changed the tempo of the game and allowed Washington to gain control. Which led to his impressive 21 points, but most impressively on 50% shooting from 3.
"We came into their building and got a win," John Wall said after the game, "I feel that's what's important. Tomorrow we're going to have to watch the film, they got too many open looks, but tonight we got the win and that's what's important."
TIP-INS
Paul Millsap finished with 16 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, and 1 steal. However, his presence tonight was mostly quiet dealing with foul trouble throughout the first half.
Markieff Morris also finished with 21 points tying Wall for leading scorer for Washington, however, his shooting percentage was heavily decreased by Atlanta's defense.
Steve Smith: "Atlanta, coming home! I remember I had a chance to go back home to Detroit and had to pick between the Hawks and Pistons. I picked the Hawks. What, in your mind, helped make that decision from a basketball standpoint?"
Dwight Howard: "It all really comes down to Coach Bud. Spending time with him, I realized he's exactly what I need at this point in my career. For me, I'm all about growth, getting better. He pushes all of us to get better. Whatever part of my life, I want to grow. I want to improve and move to the next level. Coach is the perfect coach for me to do that."
Steve Smith: "Last night definitely saw some of those results! You posted 24 and 15 with those huge five blocks! You got what, 3 on Embiid?"
Howard laughs as he responds.
Dwight Howard: "Yeah, but it isn't about that. We got the win, and that's what we care about. Last night is exactly what I mean about Bud helping us all grow. Paul had a rough game so everyone stepped up to try and help our captain. All of our guys are leaning so much on each other. It really isn't like something I've been a part of before."
Steve Smith: "As a big man, and leader yourself, I don't think I've ever heard you refer to another player in that manner before like you just did with Millsap. Is that early on a thing? The kumbaya syndrome?"
Dwight Howard: "Not at all, it's not even Millsap's team either. That's the crazy thing. If you asked Dennis, Paul, myself, Kent or any one of our guys; I don't think anyone would say 'this is MY team.' I've never experienced that before coming here. I'm not wanting to throw anyone under the bus who I've played with before, but it's just a rare environment. I'm happy to be home with that environment."
Steve Smith: "Can this group, with Dwight Howard, bring a championship to the city of Atlanta?"
Dwight Howard: "Well that's our goal. We have already begun to hold ourselves to that standard as we step on the floor. Last night and opening night against Washington really helped us move closer to that goal. Last night we had that big comeback in the fourth. We can't ever give up. That is the standard this team has to play up to. If we can commit ourselves to win every single day, we will be a very good team moving into the Playoffs."
Steve Smith: "You get a chance to write your legacy. This will all be things you can control, what would you want your legacy to be?"
Dwight Howard: "Champion. I think, despite everything that's happened before, they can say whatever they want about what I did or was rumored to be. However, if I win a title, they can't say I never won. I went to the Finals with the Magic in 2009, and I thought we could do that every year. I didn't understand the timing I had and how much effort it really takes to get over the hump. Hopefully sooner rather than later, it will happen."
Steve Smith: "Number 8. Can I at least get a number 8 jersey?"
Dwight laughs as he gives Smitty dap.
Dwight Howard: "Oh yeah! You know a lot of us was talking today about me taking your moves too. You know that head fake into the spin? I did that last night. That's definitely your number, so I'm going to try and carry on your legacy and make some threes and try and help Atlanta get that championship."
spiderxx7 wrote:That's the Dwight I like!
Molly: "So fellas, last night was a damper for all of us fans here in Los Angeles, as again the Lake-Show put on a disastrous performance. Losing their fifth game in a row in a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks! Does this game last night say more about the Lakers being bad on this skid or more about how good the Hawks are?"
Max: "Well I'll start if you don't mind."
Stephen A.: "Well you better! After that horrendous prediction, you had to begin the season. 'Oh Stephen A. you'll see! The Lakers will be a battling 8th seed team!' Oh, I'm going to enjoy hearing this!"
Stephen A. laughs as he leans forward in his chair.
Max: "Well thankfully I'm a good eater, so I can eat some crow when I have to. See, this loss was a huge statement for both. Now, if you give me a second to explain. The Lakers last night actually played a good game. Dare I say a great game! D'Angelo Russell, who you still haven't given proper credit for his ability being better than your pick of Jahlil Okafor-"
Stephen A.: "I'll give him credit for last night, it was a hell of a performance. I was going to get to that in my point."
Max: "Well, good! D'Angelo Russell really proved to the Lakers they have at least one great pick there out of that cast. The shots he hit, the pace he forced the Hawks to play, it was amazing! The fact that Russell led them with two big threes to drive them to what I thought was the win was, and I'm going to say something you'd call blasphemous, but it was Kobe-like. Actually watching last night, I also really liked Randle as well. He struggled against Dwight but he got the boards, but with this season I think everyone has struggled against Howard. Zubac though looked impressive. I think the Lakers looked good last night. However, I think the Lakers, despite my pick, has struggled to get out of that losing mentality. They can't get it right. This is also where I'll give credit where it is due to the Hawks. They were ultra impressive. When I saw that drive in the first by Schroder, I knew he was going to go off. It was just a feeling about him last night. Then Dwight Howard, man oh man. This guy so far has looked amazing! I know I said I thought Dwight would hurt the Hawks spacing, but so far he's hitting mid-range shots, and he's single-handedly raised the Hawks rebounding per game as a team to first in the league! I think it may really have been his back that has plagued his decline these past few years, cause last night I saw a prime Dwight Howard out there. An Orlando Magic Dwight Howard. Against that team with that guy, I think the Hawks really have improved thus far in this young season."
Stephen A.: "Well there are quite a few things to say here so I'll try and start from the beginning. First of all, don't you ever compare De-An-gelo Russell to the GREAT Black Mamba! That truly is blasphemous! Secondly, and moving to the larger point here, I agree with the basis of your comments about the game and where these teams are. But I feel you're missing part of it. So starting with the Lakers, that team has been a dumpster fire for so long that I think they don't know how to be anything but a dumpster fire. Now you say this game showed the Lakers what talent they have, I say the Lakers can't recognize that talent. I promised I wouldn't talk bad personally about Jim Buss out of respect for the great Dr. Buss, but I will say basketball-wise, his ego is too large to see past the lore of his own decisions. He wants a championship so badly under his name of decisions, I think he's going to throw away this talent. Luke Walton has done a good job thus far, but I think Jim and the Lakers will try and jump to get rid of him. That's just how the Lakers have been these past few seasons. Now on to the Hawks- oh and before I forget, D'Angelo Russell had a tremendous game last night. 37 points, 7 steals and led that team to overtime. He's growing up and deserves the credit for last night. But onto the Hawks. I am not sure if that team will get enough credit for the job it has been doing. Coach Budenholzer has done an excellent job preparing that team, and might I also personally add a future congratulations to Dwight Howard. Just in case we don't cover it, he's closing in on 26th in the NBA's top rebounders of all time. This season he's been playing excellent. I still don't think they have enough to beat Cleveland, but in the end, they'll be there. That's for sure. But on point, I think this game says far more about the Lakers than the Hawks."
spiderxx7 wrote:Schroder playing great. You will try to keep him around too?
CP: "I don't want to throw shade at the Clippers, but I am not happy. They aren't happy. We don't trust one another on the court, and as a result, one thing has led to another. We have had fights after every game this season and the magic we had in Lob City is gone. I don't think the way this got out was very professional, but at the same time, that's not on me. That's on them. I will continue to be professional and perform up to my expectations of championship levels. Though again, we aren't happy in this situation."
RN: "So, following these unexpected reports, do you think you will be happier elsewhere?"
CP: "You and I both know I can't answer that. However, I will say, I think we all have expected something very different since I came here and even when Doc got here. I am not sure any of us got on the same page from that point. We have to get on the same page, or this entire season will be lost."
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