10/27 Game Thread Detroit Pistons @ Atlanta Hawks

[Kobe_6/8]

The Atlanta Hawks aren't going to catch anyone off-guard this time around after the best season in franchise history.

They're hoping to produce similar results, though, despite a new face in the starting lineup.

Atlanta opens its season Tuesday night against the visiting Detroit Pistons, who are merely seeking their first playoff berth in seven seasons.

The Hawks' 60 wins in 2014-15 were a club record and the most in the Eastern Conference, and they won 19 in a row from December-January. They were dumped from the playoffs in unceremonious fashion, however, losing by an average of 13.3 points while being swept by Cleveland in the Eastern conference final.

"Last year was just a step," said Kyle Korver, who shot 49.2 percent from 3-point range to lead the league for a second straight year. "It ended up being a lot bigger step than we thought it was going to be. But it was just a step. We weren't there yet. We weren't the champions."

Atlanta is tasked with replacing the only non-All Star from its starting lineup in DeMarre Carroll, who signed a $60 million deal with Toronto. Kent Bazemore, who averaged 5.2 points last season, will start in his place alongside Korver, Al Horford, Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague.

Carroll averaged 12.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals and shot a career-best 48.7 percent, serving as a Swiss army knife of sorts for the Hawks.

"He was somebody that everybody enjoyed being around," coach Mike Budenholzer said. "He had a real caring way about him. And that's how he played. He cared about those around him. He gave us a heck of a two years."

Budenholzer also has additional responsibilities after being promoted to president of basketball operations in June.

"I'm sure there's a lot to be proven," the third-year coach said. "I've got to carry on the leadership, carry on the vision. A lot of good things happened the last two years. It's a great challenge."

The Pistons haven't reached the postseason since 2009, though they showed some progress last season. The 32 wins were their most since that year, and they went .500 over their final 54 games under first-year coach Stan Van Gundy.

That was with Greg Monroe averaging 15.9 points, though, leading the team in scoring for the third time in four seasons. He left for division rival Milwaukee, and 22-year-old center Andre Drummond is poised to supplant Monroe as the team's new cornerstone. That's what Detroit is hoping for, at least.

"I hate losing. I can't stand it. It's the worst feeling," said Drummond, who is 84-139 in his career. "People laughing at our team, that's not a good feeling. I want to rub it in somebody's face that we're a great team."

Drummond took a step back in terms of efficiency last season, though. Though he increased his scoring and rebounding averages to 13.8 and 13.5 -- the latter good for second in the league -- he shot 51.4 percent compared to 62.3 in 2013-14. Drummond was again a defensive force with a career-high 1.9 blocks per game.

The Pistons also added Ersan Ilyasova and Marcus Morris, and signed Reggie Jackson to an extension. Jackson averaged 17.6 points in 27 games for Detroit after being acquired from Oklahoma City.

The Hawks have won 12 of the last 13 meetings in Atlanta and 18 of the last 26 overall. Detroit won the teams' preseason finale, 115-87 at home on Friday. Rookie Stanley Johnson scored 20 points for the Pistons.

http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=400827888

http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/41/56/56/8842160/3/628x471.jpg

[zizozain]

Atlanta Hawks

:roll: :roll: :roll:

[atljonesbro]

Hawks win incoming.

[ArbitraryWater]

mods pls delete

nobody watches Atlanta

[Twiens]

Stanley Johnson about to take over this league!!!

[Richesly]

mods pls delete

nobody watches Atlanta

Sold out 40~ games last year. Also a top ten in the T.V market, which means most fans like to watch the game from the T.V due to Atlanta traffic.

I think there is a reason owners would have been dumb to move the Hawks.

[atljonesbro]

Lets Gooooooooooo

[Richesly]

It would suck being a piston fans right now gettin dat ass handed to 'em. This is basically a tune up game for us :roll:

[EricGordon23]

Link?

[atljonesbro]

Disappointed Wilt Tavares is inactive :(

[Kobe_6/8]

Pistons 5 point lead at halftime :pimp:

[bluechox2]

korver is done

[hawksdogsbraves]

Just got to knock down 3's and we'll be fine, the Pistons had a lucky first half in that regard.

[LikeMike]

Those Hawks jerseys are nice.

[EricGordon23]

Pistons taking care of business

[ZMonkey11]

Just got to knock down 3's and we'll be fine, the Pistons had a lucky first half in that regard.

Luck continuing in the 2nd half doe.

[hawksdogsbraves]

Luck continuing in the 2nd half doe.

We're just playing straight up bad now lol

Get Schroder back in here Teague is a bum

[ZMonkey11]

Ghost Faaaacccee

[Proctor]

Hawks in playoff form

[atljonesbro]

Hawks suck

[JimmyMcAdocious]

This is such a SVG team. He sure likes to build his teams the same way...

[hawksdogsbraves]

Way to start the season Hawks you lazy ****s

Take out all the starters and let the bench play the rest of the way, at least they look like they want to be out there tonight.

[atljonesbro]

Trade Jeff right away for a legit starting sf

[hawksdogsbraves]

Trade Jeff right away for a legit starting sf

Idk how we could get fair value for that. Probably should have picked Oubre or something and not traded our pick for some chucker scrub.

For as bad as we're playing thought the Pistons are still crazy lucky, they probably won't have 3 games where they shoot this well from deep this season.

[atljonesbro]

Idk how we could get fair value for that. Probably should have picked Oubre or something and not traded our pick for some chucker scrub.

For as bad as we're playing thought the Pistons are still crazy lucky, they probably won't have 3 games where they shoot this well from deep this season.
Yeah lots of fluke shots but the Hawks are playing like total shit. We need to just give Dennis the reigns asap I'm tired of teagues shit

[ArbitraryWater]

It would suck being a piston fans right now gettin dat ass handed to 'em. This is basically a tune up game for us :roll:

Hawks getting their ass handed to them

[ZMonkey11]

Idk how we could get fair value for that. Probably should have picked Oubre or something and not traded our pick for some chucker scrub.

For as bad as we're playing thought the Pistons are still crazy lucky, they probably won't have 3 games where they shoot this well from deep this season.

How bout we give the Pistons a little respect and say they are a much improved team that cant hang with the big dogs. They had a great stretch last season where they rolled over people. And A LOT of close games that could have went either way.

[Kiddlovesnets]

Are they hacking Andre Drummond now?

[atljonesbro]

Alpha schroder. Beta Teague

[EricGordon23]

woohooo were running away with it now

[hawksdogsbraves]

How bout we give the Pistons a little respect and say they are a much improved team that cant hang with the big dogs. They had a great stretch last season where they rolled over people. And A LOT of close games that could have went either way.

I mean I don't want to disrespect the Pistons, you're outplaying us on both ends right now. But I don't believe you're a playoff team and we should win these games at home.

54% from 3 is lucky as hell that's just a fact :confusedshrug:

Stanley Johnson looks like a beast though :cheers:

[atljonesbro]

Just chucking threes holy shit play the damn game

[atljonesbro]

Dennis can't start soon enough

[hawksdogsbraves]

I'm sickened by this display, I'm on team atljonesbro for this season. This looks like playoff Hawks. Where's the ball movement? Last year's midseason stretch feels like a dream.

[atljonesbro]

Kent bazemore is having the most abysmal game I've ever seen

[JimmyMcAdocious]

Wouldn't surprise me to see the Pistons in that 7-8 area. Are they worse or even less talented than the Celtics, Pacers, Hornets, or Magic? I'd say they are more talented than all those teams and SVG is a good coach with a roster clearly designed for his system.

Probably mostly depends on what you think of Reggie Jackson.

[atljonesbro]

I can't watch this shit man. We chuck 3s, help too much on defense, can't rebound the ball. Where the **** the Tavares?

[TrueBlue89]

No excuses for the Hawks this year. I expect another 60 win season, not a great start.

[hawksdogsbraves]

Wouldn't surprise me to see the Pistons in that 7-8 area. Are they worse or even less talented than the Celtics, Pacers, Hornets, or Magic? I'd say they are more talented than all those teams and SVG is a good coach with a roster clearly designed for his system.

Probably mostly depends on what you think of Reggie Jackson.

Yeah I think it depends on if Reggie plays like an All-Star, (or close) and KCP takes another step forward. He certainly looks good tonight. Morris is a solid starter.

Stanley Johnson looks like a stud, but their bench is pretty weak beyond that.

[EricGordon23]

Pistons will finish 5th or 6th

[atljonesbro]

I'd love for coach Bud to explain why a 7'3 monster wingspan center can't get on the court. He looked INCREDIBLE in the preseason yet he's inactive

[atljonesbro]

Lamar Paterson has played some great minutes

[atljonesbro]

The only optimism I can have about this game is that Dennis is in fact an allstar if he starts and we started 0-1 last year. Otherwise....

[GrapeApe]

My wife and brother-in-law are at this game and they've both been sending me a lot of obscenity-laden texts. :oldlol:

I told them the Pistons were pretty solid. From the box score it looks like Teague has really struggled and he's -23 on the court.

[Hotlantadude81]

Detroit has mediocre talent, but too much uninspired play from the Hawks.

[Hotlantadude81]

My wife and brother-in-law are at this game and they've both been sending me a lot of obscenity-laden texts. :oldlol:

I told them the Pistons were pretty solid. From the box score it looks like Teague has really struggled and he's -23 on the court.

No, the Pistons are not solid.

[hawksdogsbraves]

The only optimism I can have about this game is that Dennis is in fact an allstar if he starts and we started 0-1 last year. Otherwise....

20 points and one TO in 25 mins :cheers:

Meanwhile Teague rocking a -20 +/-

God the offensive boards, pathetic effort

[atljonesbro]

If Walter Tavares isn't in the next game Bud is a f*cking idiot

[hawksdogsbraves]

You're not gonna win many games giving up 23 offensive rebounds. Drummond is always going to give our small front line fits, idk why Bud didn't play Splitter more and/or have Taveras activated.

[Foster5k]

Hawks are who we thought they were. The Hawks. Nothing to see here folks.

Not to mention, these guys could go 82-0 and still get swept in first round.

[atljonesbro]

You're not gonna win many games giving up 23 offensive rebounds. Drummond is always going to give our small front line fits, idk why Bud didn't play Splitter more and/or have Taveras activated.
Coach Bud had a massive ego. His love affair with pero is all you need to know this

[GrapeApe]

No, the Pistons are not solid.

By solid I mean a playoff contender. I think they're going to surprise people this year. SVG will have them in the hunt.

[Hotlantadude81]

By solid I mean a playoff contender. I think they're going to surprise people this year. SVG will have them in the hunt.

Their lineup is made up of role players. Drummond is the only player in their lineup that would start for basically every other team in the league.

[hawksdogsbraves]

By solid I mean a playoff contender. I think they're going to surprise people this year. SVG will have them in the hunt.

Well that sucked, but kudos to the Pistons you outplayed us. Drummond gives our small front line fits.

Good luck this year

[embersyc]

Deeeeeeeeetroooooit Baaaasketbaaaaaaaaaall!

[alanLA92]

Wait, there was another game on? :eek: :eek: :eek:

[bluechox2]

its over atlanta...you let your glue guy walk

[GrapeApe]

Well that sucked, but kudos to the Pistons you outplayed us. Drummond gives our small front line fits.

Good luck this year

I'm not a Pistons fan. I live in the Atlanta area and my wife and her family are Hawks fans. I'm a Heat fan so there's a "friendly" rivalry between us and needless to say I've been talking a bit of trash to them tonight. However I like SVG as a coach and I think he'll have the pistons playing better than the sum of their parts.

Hawks are a good team though and it should be a very competitive three team race in the division.

[Rake2204]

As a Pistons' fan, I enjoyed seeing the club get off to a solid start.

That said, Dennis Schroder wreaked some havoc out there tonight. Steve Blake carved up Atlanta's 15th string in the preseason finale on Friday (something like 12 assists in 20 minutes), then Schroder came in and just gave him nightmares tonight. I thought Schroder was going to turn the tide all by himself, d'ing up full court and whatnot then operating via pick-and-roll.

[T_L_P]

By solid I mean a playoff contender. I think they're going to surprise people this year. SVG will have them in the hunt.

SVG is one of the most transformative coaches of the past few decades, tbh.

The Pistons have pretty marginal talent, but he'll get them to the Playoffs because his system breeds wins.

He's the man.

[Rake2204]

SVG is one of the most transformative coaches of the past few decades, tbh.

The Pistons have pretty marginal talent, but he'll get them to the Playoffs because his system breeds wins.

He's the man.Preach.

https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nh0QO1jV_8zLPQlPg7-4shtxppc=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4189779/svp.0.jpg

[Heavincent]

Preach.

https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nh0QO1jV_8zLPQlPg7-4shtxppc=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4189779/svp.0.jpg

I ****ing love this picture.

[ZMonkey11]

As a Pistons' fan, I enjoyed seeing the club get off to a solid start.

That said, Dennis Schroder wreaked some havoc out there tonight. Steve Blake carved up Atlanta's 15th string in the preseason finale on Friday (something like 12 assists in 20 minutes), then Schroder came in and just gave him nightmares tonight. I thought Schroder was going to turn the tide all by himself, d'ing up full court and whatnot then operating via pick-and-roll.

At what point did you think the tide would turn?!? Tip-off?

[Rake2204]

At what point did you think the tide would turn?!? Tip-off?I was a little worried when Atlanta went on a 14-0 run to take a 30-25 lead early in the second quarter. I wasn't sure if Detroit had to just find a way to weather the storm or if the Hawks had just finally woken up and were about to assert their dominance.