East Finals Preview: Atlanta Hawks vs Cleveland Cavaliers
By Mitchell Kay
May 15, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) handles the ball as Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) defends during the first half in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Who Has The Advantage?
On paper, Atlanta has a clear cut advantage here. However, that can all change. The Hawks are scoring 15 points per game in transition to Cleveland’s 6.9. Both teams are playing good defense on the fly, allowing opposing teams to score only 10 points per game respectively. Let’s look at the top playoff leaders in transition points:
- Jeff Teague 60 points
- DeMarre Carroll 50 points
- LeBron James 47 points
- Paul Millsap 32 points
- Kyrie Irving 30 points
The Hawks should push the ball consistently. It will open up the door for the long ball. Atlanta could find some real success against the Cavs on the fly. However, playing this way also comes with a risk. The Cavs are a good three point shooting team. Atlanta will have to work to get back defensively each time they play in transition to avoid defensive mistakes on the fly.
Atlanta is making 9.9 shots per game from downtown and the Cavs are making 9.7. Both sides are getting production from the land beyond the arc.
Next: Key Matchup