Pic courtesy of Hawks Twitter

By: Bryce Sparling (@1788sports, @BryceS89)

Despite playing a team that couldn’t muster to get into the playoffs last year, the Hawks couldn’t end their pre-season campaign with a win. This was the last game the Hawks will have until they open the season on the road in Dallas on Wednesday 10/18

The 1st qrt was not kind to the Hawks. The Mavs went 5/11 from downtown, a trend which would continue into the night. Despite Bazemore going 2/3 in the 1st including a triple, this still couldn’t prevent the Mavs from opening up a 12 point lead at the end of the 1st. The effort and hustle were absolutely there in the 1st qrt, and rest of the game for that matter, unfortunately the points were not.

The 2nd qrt saw much of the same, to the dismay of Hawks fans. Dallas shot 5/10 from beyond the arc, including a pair of threes from someone named after a cartoon bear who enjoys stealing picnic baskets. One thing the end of the 1st and beginning of the 2nd proved, our bench is a weakness. The hawks shot 6/18 from the field in the 2nd while going 1/4 from beyond the arc. The effort was there, just not the production. Atlanta went into halftime being down by 16.

The 3rd was a bit of a resurgence quarter for your Atlanta Hawks. Although the 3pt defense didn’t tighten up over halftime, Dallas shot 4/10, the offense seemed to get going. Kent Bazemore and John Collins combined to go 5/6 from the field including a trey by Kent. Add in another 3 by Ilyasova and the Hawks were on a 12 to 5 run to close out the 3rd and only down by 10.

Unfortunately, the run and offensive proficiency didn’t continue into the 4th qrt. The Mavs went 5/9 from beyond the arc and opened up a double digit lead that they would not surrender. The Hawks tried to get into the 3pt contest, shooting 4/9 from 3pt land, including one from Luke Babbitt, but sadly it was not enough. A bright spot in the 4th was Mike “Moose” Muscala, going 3/4 from the field including a dunk and a 3pter. Despite the efforts, the Hawks fell to the Mavs 108-94

However unfortunate a preseason loss can be, at least there are some positives to pull away from the game. The effort and intensity were there. Every player, every position, every lineup, the effort was there. Baze was driving and not settling for jumpers. If you watch last season, you know the frustration that comes with Mid-range J Baze. Driving Baze is best Baze. Last thought, Dedmon could be huge for us. He fits in Bud’s system way better than I thought he would and is already developing a chemistry with Dennis.