Game Thread: Cavs @ Hawks

Post #1 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Mar 28, 2023 2:02 pm

Playoff-bound Cavs can make life complicated for Hawks

The Cleveland Cavaliers are back in the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2018, while the situation for the Atlanta Hawks keeps getting more complicated. Atlanta and Cleveland will complete their three-game season series on Tuesday at Atlanta.

The Cavaliers (48-28) are No. 4 in the Eastern Conference and clinched their spot in the playoffs with a 108-91 win over the Houston Rockets on Sunday. Cleveland missed the playoffs in each of the previous four seasons.

The Hawks (37-38) are tied with Toronto for the eighth spot in the East, three games out sixth place with six games remaining, and appear headed for the play-in tournament for the second consecutive year.

Atlanta has alternated wins and losses for seven straight games and fell to the Memphis Grizzlies 123-119 on Sunday. Four of Atlanta’s final seven games are at home.

“We can’t look too far ahead,” Atlanta’s Trae Young said. “We’ve got to take this next one before we go back on the road. We can control it. That’s all that matters.”

Cleveland and Atlanta split the first two meetings of the season. The Cavaliers won 114-102 on Nov. 21 at Cleveland and the Hawks prevailed 136-119 on Feb. 24 at Atlanta. The Hawks have won the last four meetings in Atlanta.

Atlanta has gotten stellar post play of late from Clint Capela and reserve Onyeka Okongwu. In the last two games, Capela produced 17 points and 17 rebounds against the Indiana Pacers and 18 points with 16 rebounds against the Memphis Grizzlies. Okongwu has totaled 25 points and 13 rebounds, eight of them offensive, over that span. He has had six games with four-plus offensive rebounds over the last eight games.

“(Okongwu) has been really good, particularly on the offensive glass,” Atlanta coach Quin Snyder said. “He is impacting the game so much on the glass. He has been tenacious rebounding and, as much as anything, I like the way he competes and he’s hungry to learn.”

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Post #2 » by **HMFFL** » Tue Mar 28, 2023 3:52 pm

Cavs are only favored to win by 1pt.

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Post #3 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Mar 28, 2023 4:23 pm

HMFFL wrote:Cavs are only favored to win by 1pt.

This is our biggest game of the season and the best real test of the QS era (so far).

I expect us to show up big time against a team that's been a tier below us for years now.

This is for pride, playoff position and title of best backcourt in the East. :rocking:

CP War Hawks · Post #4 » by **CP War Hawks** » Tue Mar 28, 2023 6:16 pm

Joe had them blow out Cle and NY Nets in back to back games. Not sure what the disconnect has been since then.

Post #5 » by **HMFFL** » Tue Mar 28, 2023 7:53 pm

Hawks are favored to win by 2 points now.

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Post #6 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Mar 29, 2023 12:41 am

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Post #7 » by **HMFFL** » Wed Mar 29, 2023 12:55 am

Come on Trae turn things around.

5 turnovers and 0/6 shooting start if the third.

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jayu70 · Post #8 » by **jayu70** » Wed Mar 29, 2023 2:36 am

Trae was miserably bad with 5 TOs in the first half, but only 1 TO in the 2nd half.

Good to see DJ find his game again. Besides the scoring 4 rebs, 5 assists, 2 steals - way to step up with Trae struggling.

OO with 12 Freethrow attempts????? Nice

The biggest surprise. My boy Vit was 1 of 9 that played tonight????? Can't wait to hear from Quin on that one.

Back at .500. Yeah!

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jayu70 · Post #9 » by **jayu70** » Wed Mar 29, 2023 2:47 am

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jayu70 · Post #10 » by **jayu70** » Wed Mar 29, 2023 2:59 am

Sticky Ricky!

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Post #11 » by **HMFFL** » Wed Mar 29, 2023 3:09 am

jayu70 wrote:Trae was miserably bad with 5 TOs in the first half, but only 1 TO in the 2nd half.

Good to see DJ find his game again. Besides the scoring 4 rebs, 5 assists, 2 steals - way to step up with Trae struggling.

OO with 12 Freethrow attempts????? Nice

The biggest surprise. My boy Vit was 1 of 9 that played tonight????? Can't wait to hear from Quin on that one.

Back at .500. Yeah!

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It was nice to see Trae make the best of his struggles.

OO was outstanding. I assume he starts next season.

DJ put us on his back.

Solid win!

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jayu70 · Post #12 » by **jayu70** » Wed Mar 29, 2023 3:26 am

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Post #13 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Mar 29, 2023 12:30 pm

The Good: We had control most of the game and even held the lead for a while.
The Bad: We gave up the lead again in the 4th
The Best Sign: We battled. We didn't stay down. We fought and clawed to stay in this game and make just enough plays down the stretch.

Great win.

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