After a gratifying win in Boston last night, the Cavs come home tonight to face the Atlanta Hawks for the first time this year. Tonight's game begins a stretch of eight home games in the Cavs next nine games.
Atlanta Hawks
Record: 5-3, fourth in the Eastern Conference
Offense: 106.0 offensive rating (16th in the NBA)
Defense: 103.9 defensive rating (11th)
The Good
- Just like the previous team the Cavs played, the Hawks do a good job of spreading the wealth. They are second in the league in assists per game, averaging 25 per game, and do an excellent job of moving the ball around, leading the league with a 67.3 percent assist percentage. The Cavs struggled against teams that move the ball effectively; just look at the defense that was played against Boston and Portland. Look for Atlanta and point guard Jeff Teague to exploit the Cavs with ball movement, leading to open shooters like Kyle Korver (who could have a Ryan Anderson impact on this game).
- The Hawks are average in terms of offensive efficiency, but find a way to get their points. They their buckets by taking smart and effective shots, which is why their effective field goal percentage ranks fourth in the league. They won't beat themselves with dumb shots, which will be a problem for Cleveland. The Cavs got away with poor shot selection and turnovers from Boston, but cannot expect the same from Atlanta.
- Two players that have helped Atlanta to 5-3 record are Teague and power forward Paul Millsap. Teague averages 16 points per game, and is sixth in the league with 8.1 assists per game. He is considered one of the fastest players in the league, making him very tough to guard. Millsap has slowly developed himself into one of the better stretch fours in the league, averaging 16.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, while also shooting 37.9 percent from behind the arc. Just like Rondo last night, if these two play well, it won't be good for Cleveland.
The Bad
- If there is one game where the Cavs can show how "dominate" they are on the glass, this is it. Atlanta is one of the worst rebounding teams in the league, averaging 39.4 rebounds per game, which ranks 25th in the league. The Cavs should be able to exploit this weakness with Kevin Love, Anderson Varejao and Tristan Thompson cleaning up down low.
- Just like the Cavs, the Hawks struggle at defending the paint. Not only does their small front-court limit their ability to rebound, they also allow opponents to shoot 63.5 percent inside of five feet of the basket, which is the third worst mark in the league. The way LeBron and Kyrie have been attacking the rim of late, it's gonna be a long day for the Hawks on defense.
- To continue the theme of interior play for the Hawks, scoring in the paint is something they lack. As a team they rank 27th in the league in points in the paint per game. Facing a Cavs team that lacks a true rim protector, it will be hard for them to exploit a glaring weakness that the Cavs possess. Despite having one of the best big man combos in the league, it's hard to imagine they struggle on both ends near the rim.
The Matchup to Watch
Kevin Love vs. Paul Millsap
Over the last few years, Love has been known as the premier stretch four in the league. His ability to shoot the three and rebound at a high rate is a skill set that very few possess. However, he has not really had that "WOW" game that both Irving and LeBron have both had. Millsap, on the other hand, has quietly developed himself into a stretch four in his own right. These two will battle both inside and out, and depending who dominates this matchup, it could mean the difference in the final result of the game.
The Playlist
Let's be honest, is there any other artist or group from the ATL that we should play over OutKast? If you said yes, please, PLEASE re-evaluate your life. ATLiens, coming to Cleveland.
The Prediction
Cavs 113, Hawks 102
The offense for Cleveland is finally starting click, starting with the two best offensive weapons they have: LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. Their play over the last three games has been the exact reason they have won all three of those games, making up for the poor defensive effort they have shown. I expect the offensive juggernaut to continue, bringing the Cavs winning streak up to four heading into Monday's game against the Denver Nuggets.
No comments:
Post a Comment