Real Games Lost #5, Utah Jazz Vs. Atlanta Hawks

by Kris Willis on Nov 11, 2011 1:23 PM EST

ATLANTA GA - DECEMBER 07: Damien Wilkins #3 and Josh Powell #12 of the Atlanta Hawks defend the basket against Derrick Favors #14 of the New Jersey Nets at Philips Arena on December 7 2010 in Atlanta Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this Photograph User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Lest we forget that if not for this on going lockout, the Atlanta Hawks would have hosted the Utah Jazz tonight at Philips Arena. It also continues a tough stretch of games that the Hawks would have had to start the season if it had happened.

The Jazz are a team that I consider to be in transition. They are likely parting ways with their free agent forward Andrei Kirilenko but have a talented trio of frontcourt players in Al Jefferson, Paul Milsap and ex Georgia Tech standout Derrick Favors. The Jazz have quite a bit of money tied up in Jefferson and Milsap but it is clear that Favors is the future in their frontcourt.

I am not nearly as confident in the Jazz without Jerry Sloan on the bench and with Deron Williams in New Jersey but this team still has some talent for coach Tyrone Corbin. I am not sure if Devin Harris is who the Jazz think of as their answer at point guard but you certainly can do a whole lot worse.

Of course we will never know what would have happened in tonight's game. I would have enjoyed watching Josh Smith and Al Horford matching up with Jefferson, Milsap and Favors. Also Harris has tormented the Hawks in the past from the point guard position. It would have been interesting to see what kind of effect Kirk Hinrich and Jeff Teague could have had in slowing him down.

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Imaginary final score 101-91 Hawks

Big man shootout
Horf/Smith combine for 48 points/23 rebs
Favors/Jefferson/Millsap/Kanter combine for 57 points/30 rebs
No one can matchup with JJ’s size at the midrange – 33 points
Jeff Teague proves > Devin Harris

"We did a lot of good things last year, and now we've got Julio ... That does nothing but improve the offense, and we expect to do better. That's our goal, to lead the NFL in everything. Every offensive category." -Roddy White

by Beachy Keen on Nov 11, 2011 1:29 PM EST reply actions

okay correct me if im wrong

but I thought Devin Harris got traded and Derron Williams played for the nets

M-V-TEAGUE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Upon hearing that the nfl lockout was over, I faced in the general direction of Seattle and gave them the finger. GO RAMS
Follow me at @Th3_Prophet

by Throw on Nov 11, 2011 2:28 PM EST up reply actions

same with favors

M-V-TEAGUE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Upon hearing that the nfl lockout was over, I faced in the general direction of Seattle and gave them the finger. GO RAMS
Follow me at @Th3_Prophet

by Throw on Nov 11, 2011 2:29 PM EST up reply actions

Yes, they got traded to the Jazz from the Nets

I would have been interested in seeing Kanter play. I felt he had the low post offensive game to make it in the pros. Of course by the time he gets to play again he’ll be a couple years between playing meaningful games, so it’s hard to say how that affects his development.

by Evildallas on Nov 11, 2011 3:33 PM EST up reply actions

True

It is amazing at how rotten Kanter’s luck has been. He couldn’t get eligible last season and then goes to the NBA to find a lockout. I liked what I saw of him during the draft combine and would like to see how that translates to the league.

@Kris_Willis

by Kris Willis on Nov 11, 2011 4:14 PM EST up reply actions

I should have definitely mentioned Kanter in the Jazz frontcourt picture

My bad guys

@Kris_Willis

by Kris Willis on Nov 11, 2011 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

Of all players who should be in Europe

he’s the main one, just to get game action again.

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 11, 2011 6:00 PM EST up reply actions

I like him

I think he is a better version of Gortat

by ATLpaul on Nov 11, 2011 7:21 PM EST up reply actions

Deron plays for the Nets

Jazz received Harris and Favors in the trade

right?

@Kris_Willis

by Kris Willis on Nov 11, 2011 3:32 PM EST up reply actions

Yes, Deron Williams for Favors, Harris, 2 first round picks

by Beachy Keen on Nov 11, 2011 3:41 PM EST up reply actions

Ignorance alert...

Assuming a deal is finally reached, how do we know which games we’ll actually lose? Wouldn’t they re-work the schedule? I doubt they’ll just pick up with the current schedule, since each team will need to play the same amount of games.

I don’t recall what happened the last time a season was shortened.

I guess my point is: we still might face Utah at home, which would mean the game hasn’t truly been lost, but merely postponed.

"Don't go ninja'n nobody that don't need ninja'n!" ~ Kung Fu Hillbilly.

by Jman781 on Nov 11, 2011 4:39 PM EST reply actions