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The Cavs head to Atlanta for their third and final game against the Hawks. Each team has won at home this season. The Hawks have been the epitome of mediocrity, with records of 11-10, 22-22, 31-31, and now 37-38. It’s been win one, lose one all year. They are 21-16 at home.
These teams last played in Atlanta on Feb. 24 with the Hawks winning convincingly; 136-119. It was the most points scored by any opponent on the Cavs this year, even including the three overtime games against the Celtics, who are 3rd in scoring. The Hawks scored an incredible 81 points in the first half. For the game they were 15-for-28 on 3’s. They got hot and it was contagious. They also had 24 fast break points and 58 points in the paint.
In the first game back in November the Cavs won 114-102 as the Hawks were just 11-for-34 on 3’s while the Cavs were over 50% on 10-for-19. The Hawks’ guards are the key; in the first game Dejounte Murray was 4-for-17 while Young was 10-for-22 and a -19, but in the second game Young had 34 points while Murray had 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. Bey and Okongwu came off the bench to score 19 and 15, respectively. It was one of those games where everybody on their team got hot on the same night.
My sense was the Hawks, especially Murray, were embarrassed at having scored just 102 points in November and came out with a mission.
The Hawks are tied for 8th place and battling with two teams for home court advantage in the play-in. They are three games out of 6th so they probably won’t be able to get there, but having home court advantage in the play-in is crucial. They need this one more than the Cavs.
Trae Young averages 27 points and 10 assists per game. Murray has a line of 20/5/6 on 46% from the field. Like the Cavs, the Hawks rely on two high-scoring guards to make their offense hum. When the Cavs contained them, they won. When they didn't, they lost.
De’Andre Hunter averages 16 points, John Collins 13, and Clint Cappella 12 points and 11 rebounds. Off the bench Bogdan Bogdanovic averages 14 points on 40% from deep. Onyeka Okongwu has played great against the Cavs this year, averaging 15.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 75% from the field. I was pulling for the Cavs to take him in the 2020 draft but they opted for Okoro instead. Okongwu went to Atlanta on the next pick. I still think I'd rather have Okongwu but I hope Isaac changes my mind in the next couple of years.
The Hawks are an excellent offensive team, ranking 4th in points per game (118.0) and 7th in offensive efficiency. They are the kings of the 2-pointers as they shoot fewer 3’s than anybody (31 per game) and rank 20th in 3-point percentage, but they are still 4th in scoring. They love the mid-range, ranking 2nd in frequency and 5th in accuracy. They’re a little below average at the rim.
The Hawks get a lot of shots up, ranking 2nd in field goal attempts. This is due to great ball protection (2nd fewest turnovers) and lots of second chance shots (9th in offensive rebound percentage). The Cavs have been forcing lots of turnovers recently and are now 5th in that category on the season, so it will be interesting to see if they can make the stingy Hawks cough up a few.
Defensively the Hawks are below average, ranking 25th in scoring defense. Only two other teams give up more points in the paint, so the Cavs should be attacking the rim relentlessly. The Hawks are below average in defensive rebounding so the second chance point opportunities should be there, although not so much if Jarrett Allen is out.
To win this game the Cavs need to match, or come close to matching, the Hawks on 3-point shooting. In each of the first two games the winning team had a big edge in that area, shooting over 50%. On the season the Hawks only make 35.4% on 3’s and the Cavs need to hold them to around that number.
The Cavaliers allow the fewest 3-point attempts of any team in the NBA. The Hawks shoot the fewest, so we should not see the Hawks putting up many 3’s tonight. But they beat the Cavs last month by hitting 15 of them in just 28 attempts, so they may try that approach again.
In the Hawks’ win Trae Young had 15 free throws; the rest of the team combined for just 8. Young is the master at getting into the paint and launching himself at the nearest defender, drawing the foul every time. The refs are aware that he’s a star and always give him the call. The Cavs need to figure something out - maybe doubling him and forcing him to give up the ball or dodging him when he picks up the dribble and watch him launch the ball at the rim before he hits the floor.
In the Cavs’ loss in Atlanta they gave up 49 points in the second quarter and that lost them the game. In the other three quarters they allowed 32, 27, and 28. This time they need to keep the defensive pressure on the entire game, control Murray and Young, and attack the rim relentlessly. Also they need to get back on defense and not allow 24 fast break points this time.
Jarrett Allen (groin) and Isaac Okoro (knee) are questionable and it’s very possible the Cavs will sit them, not wanting to risk aggravating any minor injuries right before the playoffs. It’s more important everyone is healthy than passing the 76ers for 3rd place. The Sixers have lost three straight and are now just 1.5 games ahead of the Cavs, so it's tempting to try and win out, but it would be foolish to play starters who are dealing with minor injuries just to try for a slightly better seed. The risk is bigger than the potential gain, IMO.
If Allen is out I don’t like the Cavs chances, especially on the road and against a high-scoring team that needs every win it can get.
These teams last played in Atlanta on Feb. 24 with the Hawks winning convincingly; 136-119. It was the most points scored by any opponent on the Cavs this year, even including the three overtime games against the Celtics, who are 3rd in scoring. The Hawks scored an incredible 81 points in the first half. For the game they were 15-for-28 on 3’s. They got hot and it was contagious. They also had 24 fast break points and 58 points in the paint.
In the first game back in November the Cavs won 114-102 as the Hawks were just 11-for-34 on 3’s while the Cavs were over 50% on 10-for-19. The Hawks’ guards are the key; in the first game Dejounte Murray was 4-for-17 while Young was 10-for-22 and a -19, but in the second game Young had 34 points while Murray had 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. Bey and Okongwu came off the bench to score 19 and 15, respectively. It was one of those games where everybody on their team got hot on the same night.
My sense was the Hawks, especially Murray, were embarrassed at having scored just 102 points in November and came out with a mission.
The Hawks are tied for 8th place and battling with two teams for home court advantage in the play-in. They are three games out of 6th so they probably won’t be able to get there, but having home court advantage in the play-in is crucial. They need this one more than the Cavs.
Trae Young averages 27 points and 10 assists per game. Murray has a line of 20/5/6 on 46% from the field. Like the Cavs, the Hawks rely on two high-scoring guards to make their offense hum. When the Cavs contained them, they won. When they didn't, they lost.
De’Andre Hunter averages 16 points, John Collins 13, and Clint Cappella 12 points and 11 rebounds. Off the bench Bogdan Bogdanovic averages 14 points on 40% from deep. Onyeka Okongwu has played great against the Cavs this year, averaging 15.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 75% from the field. I was pulling for the Cavs to take him in the 2020 draft but they opted for Okoro instead. Okongwu went to Atlanta on the next pick. I still think I'd rather have Okongwu but I hope Isaac changes my mind in the next couple of years.
The Hawks are an excellent offensive team, ranking 4th in points per game (118.0) and 7th in offensive efficiency. They are the kings of the 2-pointers as they shoot fewer 3’s than anybody (31 per game) and rank 20th in 3-point percentage, but they are still 4th in scoring. They love the mid-range, ranking 2nd in frequency and 5th in accuracy. They’re a little below average at the rim.
The Hawks get a lot of shots up, ranking 2nd in field goal attempts. This is due to great ball protection (2nd fewest turnovers) and lots of second chance shots (9th in offensive rebound percentage). The Cavs have been forcing lots of turnovers recently and are now 5th in that category on the season, so it will be interesting to see if they can make the stingy Hawks cough up a few.
Defensively the Hawks are below average, ranking 25th in scoring defense. Only two other teams give up more points in the paint, so the Cavs should be attacking the rim relentlessly. The Hawks are below average in defensive rebounding so the second chance point opportunities should be there, although not so much if Jarrett Allen is out.
To win this game the Cavs need to match, or come close to matching, the Hawks on 3-point shooting. In each of the first two games the winning team had a big edge in that area, shooting over 50%. On the season the Hawks only make 35.4% on 3’s and the Cavs need to hold them to around that number.
The Cavaliers allow the fewest 3-point attempts of any team in the NBA. The Hawks shoot the fewest, so we should not see the Hawks putting up many 3’s tonight. But they beat the Cavs last month by hitting 15 of them in just 28 attempts, so they may try that approach again.
In the Hawks’ win Trae Young had 15 free throws; the rest of the team combined for just 8. Young is the master at getting into the paint and launching himself at the nearest defender, drawing the foul every time. The refs are aware that he’s a star and always give him the call. The Cavs need to figure something out - maybe doubling him and forcing him to give up the ball or dodging him when he picks up the dribble and watch him launch the ball at the rim before he hits the floor.
In the Cavs’ loss in Atlanta they gave up 49 points in the second quarter and that lost them the game. In the other three quarters they allowed 32, 27, and 28. This time they need to keep the defensive pressure on the entire game, control Murray and Young, and attack the rim relentlessly. Also they need to get back on defense and not allow 24 fast break points this time.
Jarrett Allen (groin) and Isaac Okoro (knee) are questionable and it’s very possible the Cavs will sit them, not wanting to risk aggravating any minor injuries right before the playoffs. It’s more important everyone is healthy than passing the 76ers for 3rd place. The Sixers have lost three straight and are now just 1.5 games ahead of the Cavs, so it's tempting to try and win out, but it would be foolish to play starters who are dealing with minor injuries just to try for a slightly better seed. The risk is bigger than the potential gain, IMO.
If Allen is out I don’t like the Cavs chances, especially on the road and against a high-scoring team that needs every win it can get.
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