East Finals Preview: Atlanta Hawks vs Cleveland Cavaliers
By Mitchell Kay
May 13, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) celebrates their win over the Washington Wizards in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 82-81. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Overcoming Drama
Both the Cavs and Hawks had to survive some kind of drama to get here. Atlanta had to deal with The Truth and his late game heroics on more than one occasion. They showed tremendous poise down the stretch as Horford was able to secure an offensive rebound and close out a game. This was huge for the Hawks who needed a closer on that night and they had one of their stars deliver.
Paul Pierce, once again, hit a shot that looked like it was taken out of a 2K basketball game. The shot wouldn’t count and it gave Atlanta the win, allowing them to close the series in dramatic fashion.
May 14, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) prepares to shoot the ball over Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) during the second half in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at the United Center. The Cavaliers won 94-73. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland’s drama looked much different. Matthew Dellavedova committed a flagrant foul upon Taj Gibson that the refs either ignored or were oblivious to. Dellavedova was assessed a technical the next day but the damage was done. Taj Gibson reacted and was ejected and it was a turning point for Chicago. The Bulls never really recovered.
For Gibson, it was a very unprofessional moment, costing his team two points and the ball during critical closing moments. Ultimately, Gibson is accountable for himself. He allowed his emotions to dictate his behavior and the team paid for it.
The Hawks are going to have to deal with questionable calls with the Cavs, it’s a given in this playoff series. These things can’t become excuses for Atlanta.
With LeBron James comes all the lights, cameras and action that the media will bring. This is where maturity, professionalism, and discipline come into play. The Hawks need to do the exact opposite of what the Bulls did to handle the pressure.
Jeff Teague needs to lead this team like a floor general. Kyrie Irving isn’t a strong defender. This is a real chance for Teague to take things into his own hands and handle business. Teague will ultimately become the X-factor in this series, especially with Irving’s health.
The Hawks face their biggest test of the season. Only a seven game series stand between them and The NBA Finals. Most disagree, but this is a good match-up for Atlanta.
Prediction: Hawks in Seven