One month ago it was the Cavaliers blowing the Hawks out on their home court, tonight the script was flipped as the Hawks returned the favor, giving Cleveland their largest loss of the season after a 127-98 beating in front of their home fans.
(AP Photo)
The Cavs seem to go as Lebron goes. In the first quarter Lebron came out aggressive, scoring 11 points and adding two assists. Those two assists in the first quarter however would end up being the only assists he had for the game, a bad stat for the primary ball handler of this team.
While Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love each finished the game with six assists a piece, unfortunately for the Cavs and their fans, they don't make the team go.
After the Cavaliers outscored the Hawks in the first quarter, the Hawks would then take control from the second quarter on, outscoring the Cavs 101-64.
Dion Waiters was a bright spot for the Cavaliers in the loss, as he had 21 points on 9-18 shooting off the bench.
Three Things
1. The Defense
It was bad, simple as that. Not going to win many games allowing the opponent to shoot 64.5 percent and allowing 16 three-pointers.
2. Love fading
Anytime the Cavaliers usually get off to a quick start, Kevin Love usually is a catalyst and tonight was no different. Love had nine points in the first quarter but would have only four for the rest of the game. This trend is all too common for Love as coming into the game, Love posted a 5.9 points per game average in the second and third quarters. This is something the Cavs must fix as they continue to build and try to enter among the elite teams.
3. Atlanta Hawks Soaring
The Atlanta Hawks, the team that has always been good but not good enough have won 11 of 12. While most analysis have picked the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, and Toronto Raptors as the main contenders to the Cavs, don't overlook these Hawks. With much of the Cavs roster still unproven in the playoffs, the Hawks have a solid Big Three in all-stars Al Horford and Paul Milsap with an underrated point guard in Jeff Teague, who didn't even play in Wednesday's matchup.
Stateline of the night:
Shelvin Mack: 24 points, 6-6 from deep, 3 assists
It was a career night for Shelvin Mack. The former Butler guard who was averaging only 3.8 points per game heading into the contest exploded off the bench for a career high and with multiple all-stars on the floor, stole the show for a night.
Whats next:
Cavs vs. Nets at the Q, Friday Dec.19 at 7:30 p.m. EST.
The Cleveland Cavaliers struggled to get anything going for much of their last game against the Celtics on Friday night, but on Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks, it was a completely different story.
The Cavs (5-3) made their first 11 three-point attempts of the night, including nine in the first quarter (the first team in history to make their first nine threes, according to the Elias Sports Bureau), and used the hot hands of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving to dispatch the Hawks (5-4) for their fourth straight win of the season. James had 32 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists on the night, while Irving contributed 20 points, 5 assists, and three steals.
After a rough start to the season, it seems like the team and its stars are starting to gel more and more, which is bad news for the rest of the NBA. The 33-point win over Atlanta on Saturday should help bring momentum for the next seven games, six of which are at home.
Three Things
1. LeBron is back to being LeBron
It was only a matter of time, right? LeBron James has been playing at his other-worldly level for the past couple of games, and the Cavaliers are taking advantage of it. In his past three games, James has averaged no less than 30 points each contest and no less than 7 assists. After opening the season extremely passive, it seems James has had enough and has gone full MVP mode. He's narrowly missed a triple-double a few times this year already and is already back to dunking and sending Kent Bazemore shots away with authority.
2. First complete game by the Cavaliers
The offense can be the best in the league, but if David Blatt's squad doesn't defend anyone, they most likely won't be the team holding up the hardware at the end of the season. Saturday, the Cavs turned in their first complete game of the season, lighting up the scoreboard but also shutting down the Hawks' offense for much of the night, holding Atlanta to 94 points en route to a 33-point victory. With much of the criticism coming at Cleveland for their lackadaisical defense, it was nice to see that it is, in fact, possible for this team to turn it up defensively.
3. Smokin' Joe better than advertised.
Could Joe Harris be the steal of the 2014 NBA Draft? The rookie shooting guard has performed exceptionally well (dare I say...Delly-esque?) in his filling in for the injured Matthew Dellavedova, and has even been playing over Dion Waiters in crunch time. Harris was at his best on Saturday, putting up 12 points (4-5 from three-point range) and 4 rebounds, along with 4 assists.
Statline of the night: LeBron James. 32 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 block.
Could it have been anyone else? LeBron played great once again and deserves the honors, though point guard Kyrie Irving helped dismantle the Hawks as well (hi Jeff Teague).
What's next: Nov. 17, at home against the Denver Nuggets, 7 p.m.
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.
