Hawks-Cavs Roundtable: Matchups And Predictions
The writers at Soaring Down South, @kobe519, @njkeatley, @KorverDPOY, @val_82games and @renfroconnor, got together to talk about the Atlanta Hawks, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Eastern Conference Finals.
1. Who Will Have The Most Important Game For the Hawks?
Kobe Kay: DeMarre Carroll He will be responsible for containing LeBron on defense, as well as contributing on the offensive end. At times, Carroll will be needed to defend the perimeter as the Cavs are a big 3-point shooting team. Carroll is going to have his work cut out for him.
Nolan Keatley: DeMarre Carroll. No stranger to drawing tough matchup assignments (the John Wall experiment worked alright), the Junkyard Dog will have to contain the league’s biggest threat and has done well handling him, especially the last time they faced off when LeBron James committed nine turnovers. Without Thabo Sefolosha’s backing, it’s a tall task but DeMarre relishes these challenges.
May 11, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) shoots the ball against the Washington Wizards in game four of the second round of the NBA Playoffs. at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mitchell McEver: Kyle Korver. Korver has struggled in the past two series but the Hawks have managed to stay afloat even without his production. If the Hawks want to compete against Cleveland, Korver will be a big part.
Valerie Morales: Paul Millsap. He has the ability to make life difficult for Tristan Thompson. The Cavs are short athletic bigs and Thompson having to guard Millsap on the perimeter and/or driving lane while remaining physical in the post is a heavy responsibility. If Millsap remains aggressive and versatile, he can limit Thompson’s strength on the offensive glass by forcing him to have to defend Millsap for the 35 minutes he is on the floor.
Connor Renfro: Jeff Teague. His defense and exploitation of a not healthy Kyrie Irving will pay dividends.
2. Who Will Have A Breakout Series?
Apr 10, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder (17) reacts after colliding with Charlotte Hornets forward Jeff Taylor (44) during the second half at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Hornets 104-80. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Kay: Dennis Schroder. His spark off the bench is going to be imperative as his individual production on the scoreboard will impact the win column. Look for Schroder to step it up in the East Finals.
Keatley: Dennis Schroder. Cleveland’s overall guard play isn’t a good matchup against Atlanta and Dennis has proven he isn’t bashful on the big stage. He’ll likely draw the slower Matthew Dellavedova, and if consistent, can do some damage on him, off the dribble. For Cleveland, keep an eye on Tristan Thompson who averaged 11.2 rebounds last series and has shown to hold his weight filling in for Kevin Love.
McEver: Dennis Schroder. Dennis has had his moments in these playoffs and has shown himself ready to play significant minutes in the postseason. He will frequently matchup with Dellavedova and should be able to out-perform him.
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Morales: Dennis Schroder. He has starter’s talent but is still learning to incorporate the mental aspect of the game to balance out his particular skill set. His athleticism is the difference maker going up against the Cavs second unit. When he plays with Teague, the Hawks have an athletic combo with quickness that is difficult to defend. With Dennis you are going to get your OH NO! moments but overall he should have a very good showing.
Renfro: Kent Bazemore. Bazemore will find his three point shot and a much needed defense off the bench.
3. Besides LeBron James, What Cavs Player Worries You The Most?
May 14, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) reacts after scoring against the Chicago Bulls during the first quarter in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Kay: Tristan Thompson is the biggest threat on the Cavs roster. The former 4th overall pick is a nightmare on the offensive glass. With Love out, he has answered the bell when his number has been called. He might be the most underrated player in the NBA right now.
Keatley: Kyrie Irving is the obvious answer when he’s healthy, but a pure shooter who never shies away from letting it fly, and who can be cringe worthy when he’s hot, is J.R. Smith. Granted, he can easily shoot you out of the building but the unexpected nature of his game is enough to cause concern.
McEver: Tristan Thompson: He’s a monster on the offensive boards and that is a weakness that has plagued the Hawks the entire season. If the Hawks aren’t careful, Thompson could easily dominate.
Morales: Kyrie Irving. There is a saying- a contested shot by a great player is better than an open shot by a bad player. Kyrie, struggling with foot and knee problems, has the ability to pick and choose his spots because LeBron is on the floor, spacing the court. I expect him to go hard and even though he is not fully healthy, he still has a very competent jumper, he can get into the lane faster than the Hawks can stop him, and his mental talent will carry him through his pain and suffering. He presents a ton of matchup problems for the Hawks and is a great clutch shooter.
Renfro: Timofey Mosgov. Whether or not Mosgov can stick with Al Horford off of pick-and-rolls will be a big factor. Horford’s mid-ranged shooting is so important for the Hawks and his ability to free himself and pull Mosgov away from the rim will help immensely.
4. Will Kyle Korver Be The Old Kyle Korver?
Apr 29, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver (26) reacts after making a three point shot against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Nets 107-97. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Kay: The only way that Kyle Korver will be the “old” Kyle Korver is if he can somehow hurdle the mental road block in front of him. This is something only he can figure out, not something that can be predicted. He is going to draw tough defenders in this series. Korver needs to stay aggressive and it will come.
Keatley: With all the excitement that Korver brings, you forget that he’s 34 years old. He just looked gassed the last series when Bradely Beal gave him little breathing room to operate. I expect Korver to find his form as the Cavs have slow rotational defense. The five day rest period will be a saving grace too.
McEver: Yes. Korver is still a fantastic shooter. He is bound to progress to the mean and start draining threes again. He has had a few days of rest to get his shooting rhythm back so I expect him to come out shooting lights out in Game 1.
Morales: One of the amazing things about Korver is his ability to stay appropriately optimistic given his shooting slump. Against the Wizards, he didn’t take as many shots as normal but he also didn’t pass up a lot of shots either. When he was open and comfortable, he shot the ball. The days off will either rejuvenate him or it will sink him deeper into the epilogue of his own body. Nevertheless, what Korver is doing on defense, in the absence of Thabo Sefolosha, gets overlooked. He has been tremendous so far in grinding it out defensively. Yes, it’s taking a toll but I think he will recover.
Renfro: Korver will struggle to get open and will be less efficient, much like in the Washington series. His defense on Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith will be paramount though.
5. Who Wins the Series?
May 13, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks fans cheer as one fan holds a sign about guard Jeff Teague in the fourth quarter of their game against the Washington Wizards of 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
Kay: After comparing playoff numbers and other analytics, this might be a good match up for Atlanta. With Love out, and Kyrie ailing, it really gives the Hawks an advantage in terms of depth. With home court, I’m going with the Hawks in 7.
Keatley: This is a knockout series that will go the distance. Hawks in 7.
McEver: Hawks in 7.
Morales: The Hawks playoffs habits have yet to be broken. They start off well, go into a slump, give up big leads and then have to fight for the game. As much as I love their offensive execution in tense moments, their lack of killer instinct whereas they cannot bury teams is going to be a problem in this series with LeBron James. Cavs in 7
Renfro: Hawks in 7.