Hawks vs. Raptors: Friday Night Lights

Atlanta Hawks @ Toronto Raptors: Eastern Conference Powers Collide

If you have plans Friday night, I suggest showing up fashionably late. If you’re scheduled for work, I recommend calling in sick (make it convincing).

If you’re not a resident of either city, and currently do not subscribe to NBA League Pass, let this battle for East supremacy coax you into calling your local cable provider. The 45 minutes on hold will be worth it.

What happened to celebrating the win over Philly? … And the return of DeMar DeRozan … DeRozan is on deck. Meanwhile, it’s time to up the ante. The Raps might be well trained in the art of not looking past an opponent (well, not lately, let’s be honest), but I have no problem filling the role.

Victories over the Celtics and 76ers, while notable, fail to erase the surrounding negative noise. Not to mention committing back-to-back turnover sins with 18 and 17 in their last two games respectively (while averaging 11.8 for the season, pre-Philly).

Which begs a question of either motivational failure, or simply not up to the task. Toronto hasn’t beaten a team with a record above .500 since two days after Christmas.

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The top two seeds in the East find themselves at opposite ends when it comes to current optimization. “Hot-Lanta” has soared to new heights, reeling off 10 straight wins, prevailing in 14 of their last 15, and, wait for it … conquering in 22 out of their last 24.

I’ll have what they’re having.

The Raps? … Well, the “We The North” community knows the drill, “We The Concerned” is presently a more suitable slogan. Dropping six of their last 10 contests has the fan base on high alert.

For Raptors’ fans at the moment, this matchup supersedes any ESPN or TNT spotlight; even the growing rivalry with the Cleveland Cavaliers takes a backseat. This is about going toe-to-toe with the ones who stole the East’s top spot right from under you. And possibly home-court advantage as well.

For Hawks’ supporters, the sky is seemingly the limit. It’s time to match the second-best record in the league with proper attendance numbers. New ownership should bring an end to its 21st overall ranking.

An interesting addition to the spotlight has former Raptors’ President and CEO, Bryan Colangelo, alongside his father Jerry Colangelo, and past NBA players Grant Hill and Junior Bridgeman, as one of the pursuing groups.

But this tilt is filled with intriguing subplots:

DeRozan to the rescue: With Wednesday’s return, Toronto is now 14-3 with DeRozan, 12-9 without. Although, the disclaimer of this team recently hitting a brick wall of fatigue is in order.

The implications are locked and loaded, waiting to take shape. Consistent use of the shot clock, minimizing transition points against, and the double-team effect to provide open looks are all welcomed back with open arms. Double-D’s timing couldn’t be more perfect with swirling Hawks about to invade T.O.

Twenty points, 9-for-14 from the field, four boards, three dimes, a theft, a rejection, and most of all, enhanced ball movement and patience in the half-court set. Even though one had to sift through the rubble of sloppy play to find them.

Battle of the bigs: An unfair matchup on paper. Specifically Al Horford vs. Jonas Valanciunas. Fresh off the first triple-double of his career, Horford, and his highly underrated existence, owns a prime opportunity to raise some serious havoc on Canadian soil.

Prepare yourself, Toronto:

Attention: to all Daily Fantasy Basketball enthusiasts, the Raps are currently not able to contain a force like this, giddy up!

A stat-stuffer or intimidating physical presence, Horford is not. Although, you bet your … that he would if he could. The Hawks’ offensive design simply doesn’t call for it.

What he brings is a tool box filled with effectiveness, owning the ability to help Atlanta’s cause is so many different areas. An NBA center isn’t usually prone to registering a triple-double by way of the assist category.

Running the floor, touch from the outside, elite passing skills from his position. Pick your poison, and Horford will contribute. When frontcourt mate Paul Millsap is on the same page — as deadly a duo there is in the Association.

Jonas: Your transformation is going well, progression is being made, and the physical shell is on the verge of being broken out of. But you still have one of two choices here. Find that missing gear, you might even gain the upper hand, if not, run … and hide.

The Kyle Korver Conundrum:

“Don’t call me Kelso” Korver has become one of the league’s most lethal weapons. A former journeyman of sorts who’s found a home in the ATL. After stints with Philadelphia, Utah, and Chicago, a possible All-Star has been born in the latter part of his career.

Korver’s remarkable season just keeps on rolling, mainly in part from his 3-point dominance. How dominant? Well, he’s one trey away from claiming top spot in total threes made, trailing only Wesley Matthews, but he’s attempted 67 fewer shots while achieving the feat.

Culminating in a whopping and league-leading .525 3-point percentage, with undervalued intangibles off the ball, and an unselfish offense that fits like a glove. Much like the rest of the ATL, they cannot be stopped, they can only be contained.

Now, it’s time for the lights to shine:

The Main Attraction:

Point Of Attack: Kyle Lowry vs. Jeff Teague

It’s understandable, the All-Star game is meant to be a spectacle. That’s what the “starters” are all about. But the selection of the reserves is where the recognition truly lies. Unfortunately, the basketball gods aren’t prone to exacting justice, so don’t hold your breath on whoever you’re voting for.

This particular point-guard showdown has everybody’s attention. Both of whom have gone above and beyond earning the league’s respect.

Tale Of The Tape:

Per Game Stats:

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/14/2015.

Advanced Stats:

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/14/2015.

Win Shares:

Thirty-five percent of the top 20 in win shares suits up at the point guard position, with Lowry (5.6) and Teague (4.8) both cracking the top 10. Simply put, the reliance factor of each squad’s floor general is of the immense variety.

Assist/Turnover Ratio:

Lowry’s 3.11 ratio (ninth overall) to Teague’s 2.65 mark (21st overall) is where the Raps’ anchor starts to move ahead. What makes this trumping that much more impressive is the disparity in minutes played.

K-Low has clocked 1,282 minutes of court time opposed to JT’s 1,072, along with a 34.6 to 31.5 difference when it’s averaged out. Teague’s played three fewer games; when combining DeRozan’s stint on the shelf, the uptick at the controls of the offense has been evident, becoming even more susceptible to turnovers.

The Decision: Both have been given the underground treatment for years. It was only a matter of time before the masses started singing their praises. It wouldn’t shock anybody if this game came down to a last-second drive to the hoop, with a chance to win it at the line.

The Baby-Faced Assassin wins the paper battle, but the hair-splitting reality has yet to play out. In hoops Hold’em, one has ace-jack, the other … an ace with a king kicker.

Feel free to go all-in on one certainty. Tune in on Friday and your weekend starts off with a bang.

Next: Toronto Raptors: The Restoration Project