Official Game Thread: Hawks at Cavaliers

[lethalweapon3]

“Workin’ on a Cleveland weekend vacation guide. You mind helpin’ me out?”

 

Our Atlanta Hawks helped the Orlando Magic slow their descent, if only for a moment, before the All-Star Break. Tonight’s host, the Cleveland Cavaliers (7:00 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, Fox Sports Ohio), hope the Hawks will do them a similar favor.

 

Sorry, Cavs. But my Hawks are on a very important, single-minded mission this evening. It’s time to firm up those sipping words!

 

“Trae Young is here in Chicago this weekend, despite the Hawks having ONE OF the worst records in the Eastern Conference.” Sip, everybody, sip!

 

“Ernie, ah’m tellin ya, there shouldn’t be anybody here on All-Star Weekend representin their conference when their team has the worst record!”

 

“Chuck, the Hawks (15-40) only have ONE OF the worst records. The Cavs (13-40) are worst.” Sip!

 

“All ah’m sayin, is we can’t have players on bad teams getting into All-Star Weekend.”

 

“Chuck, your Sixers were next-to-last in the Atlantic Division with a losing record when you went to the ’88 All-Stars.”

 

“Shaddup, Kenny. That’s ONE OF the worst ties you’ve got on that ah’ve ever seen.” Sip!

 

“Weren’t y’all near last place before 1992’s All-Stars, when you were barking your way out of Philly, too?”

 

“Aren’t you in need of a pedicure, Shaq? Listen, lemme say this. We were ONE OF the worst teams,” Sip!, “but ah had to put up with Kenny Payne and Charles Shackleford. And, one other thing… Collin Sexton is a Rising Star in this league, he’s a great rookie.”

 

“He’s… he’s not a…”

 

“ONE OF the best rookies in his class.” Sip! “Oh, Andre Drummond is ONE OF the best big men in basketball,” Sip!, “and he deserves to be here.”

 

“We’re going to go to a commercial break before Chuck starts advocating for Kevin Love, too.”

 

“That’s ONE OF the best ideas I’ve heard in this segment, Ernie.” Sip!

 

Forgive Chuckles and the stream of unconsciousness we and his TV partners must endure this weekend. Yes, the Cavs would remain percentage points behind Atlanta with the first win at Quicken Loans Arena in their last 13 tries. But we know Auburn Mathematics in the 80’s didn’t get much beyond the first decimal. Seeing both clubs tied in the “games behind” column of the standings would only further embolden Charles’ point, which is technically a line but for 80’s-era Auburn Geometry.

All-Star Break ’88 spelled doom for Barkley’s coach, Matty Guokas, and this season’s intermission could similarly be the end of the ‘lein. Cavaliers first-year coach John Beilein signed a five-year deal back in May of 2019. But we know by now that owner Dan Gilbert doesn’t mind paying coaches to get lost.

Beilein’s departure would make the next clipboard clutcher the seventh in Cleveland’s last seven-and-a-half seasons. Coming off the worst home loss in 50 years of franchise history (which IS saying something for those of us who recall the Richfield years), a 133-92 thumping at the hands of a Clippers team on a SEGABABA that sat Kawhi Leonard and Pat Beverley, the Cavs and Beilein need a momentum-shifting victory tonight in the worst way.

Andre Drummond (19 points, 2-fo-3 3FGs, 14 rebounds incl. 7 O-Rebs vs. LAC in his Cavs debut) won’t address the Cavs’ interior defensive woes the way Clint Capela is expected to eventually do for Atlanta. But the man can rebound, and as Kevin Love (questionable, sore Achilles) and Tristan Thompson zone out for the remainder of the season, Cleveland hopes Drummond (NBA-high 15.8 RPG, only player besides Love to lead league with 15+ RPG since 2003) should be able to hone in on his strongest attribute.

Cavalier opponents have had little trouble getting desirable shots up (NBA-worst 49.3 opponent FG%, incl. 56.2 opponent 2FG%; NBA-low 3.2 team BPG). But on the occasions where foes have lousy shooting nights, Drummond (1^st in NBA for both O-Reb% and D-Reb%, as per bball-ref) can help clean up the glass for Cleveland and give his team a puncher’s chance.

The early returns on the backcourt pairing of Sexton with Darius Garland (minus-12.0 points per 100 possessions, per bball-ref) continue to show little promise. Garland leads all rooks with 32 games hitting at least two threes, but he has been driving the struggle bus lately (31.3 3FG% in past 15 games). His lack of defensive production and inability to draw trips to the free throw line has him hitting the rookie wall like the Kool-Aid Man.

The Young Bull from Cobb County, Sexton has been carrying the Cavs on his back (22.8 PPG, 47.9 3FG%, 94.0 FT% in last 15 games), exemplified back on December 23 when his team-high 25 points (12-for-19 2FGs) helped the Cavs eclipse the Hawks in John Collins’ return to NBA action. The rookie that has best supported Sexton of late has been not lottery-pick Garland, but the final pick of 2019’s first round.

Kevin Porter nearly outscored Atlanta’s bench with 17 points (to the Hawks’ 15; incl. 9 in the final frame on Dec. 23), adding on 9 rebounds and teaming up with Love and Garland for a furious fourth-quarter opening rally to fend off the Hawks early. Porter was also one of the few bright spots against the Clippers (17 points in 27 bench minutes) and may be angling for Garland’s starting gig after the Break.

The lack of any significant defensive presence on the floor has harmed Cleveland’s chances of staying competitive (NBA-worst minus-9.4 Net Rating), perpetually at the mercy of opponents that aren’t having poor shooting nights, finish close and/or open shots, and hustle back defensively in transition. Atlanta hasn’t often been that kind of team, especially late (42-30 4^th-quarter deficit in the 135-126 loss to the Magic, whose 4^th-quarter offense was their season-best). But recent losses in Boston and Orlando suggest they’re beginning to sort things out.

Despite the struggles to thwart the East’s worst field-goal shooters as Monday’s outcome hung in the balance, a healthier set of Atlanta swingmen inclusive of Cam Reddish, De’Andre Hunter (available, played in ORL despite an ankle sprain) and DeAndre’ Bembry (probable, neuritis) ought to make it tougher to have Cedi Osman (38.9 3FG%) and, if he plays, Love, bailing Sexton and Garland out of tough spots. Wing players not patrolling the perimeter must be in position to disrupt passes in the paint and recover tip-outs and rebounds off wild shots that Thompson, Love and/or Drummond will be hunting for.

It’s fairly safe for bettors to take the Over no matter the line, as Young’s Hawks and Sexton’s Cavs (125+ regulation points at home vs. GSW, NYK, and LAC this month) give up buckets quite easily. But if the Hawks push the tempo and limit their own turnovers on offense, they should find themselves spending much of the evening playing with the higher of the two scores.

Cleveland’s coach may need Love to help Drummond play keep-away against Atlanta’s frontline of Collins (one of five players now averaging 20+ PPG and 10+ RPG; 56.7 FG% highest among the quintet) and Dewayne Dedmon. After all, Beilein doesn’t want news of his ouster to become a byline anytime soon.

Speaking of Love, I don’t even need three special words to make my weekend ONE OF the best ever. Two will do just fine. Sip!

 

Happy Valentine’s Day! Enjoy the All-Star Break. Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Ain't no Love in the heart of The Land.

~lw3

[Spud2nique]

Looove the Charles, Kenny Shaq show. Classic stuff lw3! Bring on Love and Drummond. Let’s continue to grow and gel. People are starting to finding their niches. Finish strong  

GO HAWKS!!!

[Spud2nique]

2 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Ain't no Love in the heart of The Land.

~lw3

Ok no Love never mind. Bring on Mr. Drummond! Different strokes for different folks. We still love you Kev!

[benhillboy]

You can’t get much worse than getting washed at home by 40 by a team missing their best player and nary a designated PG in their last game.  With no Love this has gotta be a wire to wire win.

Edited February 12, 2020 by benhillboy

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[Dnice]

Oh boy another struggling team. We got Minnesota, had 2 overtimes  vs NY,  couldn't get Orlando, so please take care of Cleveland. 

[JayBirdHawk]

He's baaaaack! 

 

 

[Bonkers]

Trae already starting with the hero ball bullshit smh

Edited February 13, 2020 by Bonkers

[terrell]

Horrible shot Trae damn..

2 fouls already. smh

[Vol4ever]

Drummond dominating no doubt.  

[Bonkers]

Does Trae thinks he needs to shoot every time wtf!!!

 

Pass the damn ball

[benhillboy]

Damian Jones is limited no doubt.  He sets some solid screens tho.

[terrell]

Huerter and Jones missing bunnies. smdh

[benhillboy]

Trae’s passing is just too brilliant.

You feel good every time Kevin sets his feet uncontested.

Am I crazy or are John’s hops noticeably regressed?

[Vol4ever]

For a big man Drummond can go coast to coast.  

[terrell]

10 minutes ago, Bonkers said:

Does Trae thinks he needs to shoot every time wtf!!!

 

Pass the damn ball

Starting to get on my damn nerves. Everytime he crosses someone, he just has to shoot..smh

Edited February 13, 2020 by terrell

[benhillboy]

When Larry Nance Jr start shooting threes?

[Vol4ever]

We need to step up