Official PLAY-IN Game Thread: Hawks at Cavaliers

[lethalweapon3]

“May I have your attention, please!”

 

“I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE.”

Instead, the Former King ran rings around the planet’s third-wealthiest sports owner. After winning two in South Florida, Former King was gracious enough to swing by the shores of Lake Erie and bestow a ring upon Dan Gilbert’s finger before heading out once more, earning a fourth ring with yet another team while hanging out in Central Florida.

Wouldn’t it be nice if Mr. Dan and Former King get to kick back, crack open a frosty O’Doul’s, and watch the 2022 NBA Playoffs together? There could be plenty of room in both these fellas’ busy schedules to make it happen.

I’m a self-titled Atlanta Sports fan, certainly a Hawks fan, so by definition I can’t be in the business of personally guaranteeing anything. But America’s most successful loan shark has gotten a glance at just how much his self-titled Personal Guarantees are worth. On this one, Dan’s deep into default. In case the Guardians are scouting, they should know Chuck’s hitting a higher batting average on Guar-On-Tees.

Immediately after spell-checking his Comic Sans missive and pressing ‘Send’, Gilbert’s Cavaliers were committed to figuring out a means to contend for championships without the aid of Former King. Twelve years removed from that 2010 Personal Guarantee to the Cavs faithful, frankly, those guys are still at it. It’s not like they haven’t had help along the way.

The Clippers sent the remains of Baron Davis and a first-rounder to Cleveland in 2011 for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon. That first-rounder became top-pick Kyrie Irving, who looked to be left to his own devices to figure out how to tricky-dribble the team around him into the postseason. Getting Tristan Thompson with their own pick at #4 wasn’t a bad deal, either.

More Lottery Luck landed The Land the top NBA picks in 2013 (moving up from 3^rd) and 2014 (up from 9^th). That gave them the fodder they needed to bring Kevin Love to town, to the great satisfaction of Former King. King, Kyrie, Kardashian and K-Love got the breaks they needed to win it all, at long last, for Cleveland in 2016. One ring was all there was to be for Mr. Dan, as a gentleman’s sweep during the next Finals at the hands of the Warriors quickly had King and Kyrie looking to faraway lands.

But, hey, Kevin’s still here! And more Lotto Luck was to come.

Yes, the Cavs dropped three spots out of the #2 position twice, in 2019 and 2020, leaving them to settle for Darius Garland and Isaac Okoro, respectively. No Zion or De’Andre Hunter, no Anthony Edwards or LaMelo Ball would be coming to save them, sorry. But then that old table-tennis ball magic came through once more last year, the Cavs eking up from 5^th to 3^rd and having Evan Mobley ripe for the picking.

Mobley proves ready to ball out from the jump for coach JB Bickerstaff and company. Garland breaks fully out of an injured Collin Sexton’s shadow (Ricky Rubio’s, too) and into the All-Star limelight. Getting in on the drama in Houston orbiting a plumpy James Harden, GM Koby Altman completes a four-team deal in 2021 that sent Harden to the Nets, Caris LeVert to the Pacers, and Jarrett Allen to the Cavs. Allen joins Garland in 2022’s All-Star festivities, proudly representing a team hovering around the top of the Eastern Conference. Now, LeVert’s here, too? Playoffs, here they come!

Even two-time world champion Rajon Rondo wanted in on the action. “This type of personnel, the DNA that we have, the character in this locker room with the coaching staff,” Rondo shared with a Cavs sideline reporter just a month after arriving via trade from Los Angeles (with nary a hint of Lakershade), “We got a chance to do something special.”

He could have stayed sunnin’ and funnin’ in L.A. with Former King. But the former veteran backup to Atlanta Hawks’ All-Star Trae Young knew he’d have a greater shot at meaningful postseason action for himself by returning East. To an extent, Rondo has been proven right. Rondo has a vital role helping Brandon Goodwin back up Garland as the Cavs, despite losing in Brooklyn a few nights ago, have a single shot at snapping a string of Playoff-less appearances that goes back to 1998.

It was under coach Mike Fratello, in those Nique-awful uniforms, that Cleveland last appeared in a Playoff game without the services of Former King. While Rondo was the top second-grade hooper in his class, it was under coach Lenny Wilkens that the Cavs last won a playoff series without Former King, a 1993 five-setter when they edged Rumeal Robinson, Drazen Petrovic and the Nets.

These hexes can’t go on forever. But I can personally guarantee they will extend at least another year if the Cavs fall at Mr. Dan’s Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse to the Hawks tonight (7:30 PM Eastern, ESPN, 92.9 FM in ATL). I don’t think I am underestimating how humungous this Play-In game is for Cavalier Nation, for the sun-setting Rondo and Love, and for one well-heeled guarantor in particular. Just making it to Miami for Game 1 of the first round would qualify as “something special.”

They have the misfortune of trying to tackle a Hawks team that is getting used to this business of playing spoiler to fatally-flawed NBA teams’ postseason hopes and dreams. They played the Caron Wheeler role to devastating effect during Wednesday’s 9-versus-10 game in hurtling the funhouse Hornets back to reality (Sixers and Knicks fans: “So, Charlotte, this here’s your first time?”). Particularly so in the second half, as Hawks fans realized how ever do they want, and need, an exceptional-playing Hunter (16 points, 4 rebounds in 3^rd quarter vs. CHA).

Atlanta by now ought to recognize, though, that the team that swatted the Hornets into ether is rarely the same once they leave the cozy confines of State Farm Arena. Open looks don’t fall so cleanly, the bottom-ten defense (117.3 post-Break away-game D-Rating, 22^nd in NBA) gets tight, and everyone not named Trae starts looking to each other for answers to the riddles on the road.

As @Final_quest noted following the Hornets’ game, the Hawks caught their first L of this season in this Fieldhouse in October, days after what felt like a momentous home triumph over Luka and the Mavs for the season opener. Cam Reddish led the non-Trae Hawks with 19 bench points as the team shot 38.4 percent from the field, including Hunter (5-for-16 FGs) and a foul-troubled John Collins (3-for-8 FGs).

With no Garland in that low-scoring affair, the Cavs didn’t shoot it much better (41.6 team FG%). But Rubio sure seemed to have his way taking pressure off of Sexton, while the questionable pairing of Mobley with Allen in Bickerstaff’s starting frontcourt looked like it might work out after all. For Atlanta, that 101-95 loss was a setback that kicked off a 1-8 start to the road schedule, quickly dampening expectations that the Hawks were ready to pick up where they left off.

Garland was unavailable once more, on New Year’s Eve, when Trae and the Hawks got a measure of payback in Cleveland, despite 35 throwback points from Love, with the help of Chaundee Brown, Wes Iwundu, and a whole other Cam, namely Cameron Oliver.

The Hawks would then go into 2022 to strike out a Jaywalker’s Row of opponents in their buildings – the Kings, Hornets, Magic, Wizards, Knicks, Pacers, Thunder and Rockets – all of whom as of Wednesday night are watching the NBA postseason from afar. The upshot is that Atlanta has to be considerably better, tonight, than the road teams that beat those opponents, if the Hawks want to return to Miami for a few days in a professional capacity, and to do something good once they arrive.

It is unlikely we’ll witness a Hornet Lover’s Feast resembling the one Clint Capela sopped up with a Cheddar Bay biscuit on Wednesday. This Win Or Go Home contest will feature Mobley and, more likely than not, Allen (sprained finger), which was not the case when the Cavs were blitzed in Atlanta by a 131-107 score on March 31. Cleveland will have answers that they lacked versus Capela and Mobley’s AAU-mate, Onyeka Okongwu.

The heightened challenge of scoring via lobs and floaters will require Young, Delon Wright and the Hawks’ ballhandlers to exploit Cleveland’s perimeter defense (38.5 opponent post-Break 3FG%, 4^th-highest in NBA, incl. 44.2% from corners). Swingmen and forwards staying in motion to get open while keeping Okoro, Lauri Markkanen and LeVert busy picking poisons will help Young generate scoring opportunities with greater efficiency, particularly for himself (6-for-17 2FGs, 1-for-7 3FGs, 11 assists, 3 TOs vs. CHA).

Bogdan Bogdanovic is listed as questionable due to a sprained ankle, but the presence of Kevin Huerter, Hunter and Danilo Gallinari still grants Atlanta a superior array of options. As the Cleveland bigs cluster to protect the interior, a few of Atlanta’s timely dimes for threes could come from the hands of Capela, whose Hawks are 12-2 this season when he registers at least three assists.

Depth has been a challenge during Cleveland’s slide out of first-round-homecourt territory. As Kyrie’s Nets had the Cavs climbing out from a 20-point first-quarter hole, Bickerstaff had to rely heavily on Rondo (9 assists in 27 bench minutes) to help Garland (34 points @ BRK, 5 assists, 6 TOs) move the ball, and on Love (3-for-4 3FGs, team-highs of 4 O-Rebs and 9 D-Rebs in 29.5 bench minutes) to hit threes and secure boards.

The Cavs need current starters Markkanen (54.2 eFG%, down from 59.4 last season w/ CHI) and LeVert (48.1 eFG%, down from 49.6 this season w/ IND) to have a positive impact, particularly on the offensive side of the court (combined 6 steals but 9-for-26 FGs @ BRK) and alleviate overreliance on a withering reserve unit. Getting Hunter and Danilo Gallinari to abdicate help in the paint would benefit Garland on his drives, and Mobley and/or Allen on his post plays.

If they fail at that this evening, there will be not much left for Cleveland to do but run it back for 2023. Love, LeVert, Markkanen, Cedi Osman, Okoro and Dylan Windler are all part of a core that could return, under contracts personally guaranteed, by Gilbert through at least 2022-23. Add in another dash of Lottery Luck (their own pick from the LeVert trade with Indiana is Lotto-protected), plus an extended offseason for recalibration and growth, and these Cavs might have a better chance, next season, at finally chasing after a ring, or at least a playoff series win, without the Former King.

Come on, Mr. Dan. What’s not to like?

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

[ShooterSays]

Hopefully Bogi is going to play. 

[Spud2nique]

34 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Jamario Moon.

Air Moon

35 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

1993 five-setter when they edged Rumeal Robinson, Drazen Petrovic and the Nets.

Loved me some Petro fuel ️ when he didn’t play us. 

36 minutes ago, lethalweapon3 said:

Rumeal Robinson,

He lent Mookie his comb. -D Versace

Awesome as always lw3. 

Vegas has Hawks -2 

2K By 1! Trae 52/8 dimes

TEAM TEAM TEAM pass it and move.

Go Hawks! 


 

 

[kg01]

Just need somebody to carry the scoring load early since Trae will get special attention (most likely) from the start.

Make the right play/read and no hot-potato'ing.  Let it fly, KevinBoGallo.

[JayBirdHawk]

 

Yes sir!

 

 

[JayBirdHawk]

Take from it what you will.

 

 

[REHawksFan]

10 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

Take from it what you will.

 

 

Kinda hoping he plays to be honest.  Can't imagine he'd be all that effective 

[JayBirdHawk]

We Ready. We Believe. We Move!!!

 

 

[kg01]

8 minutes ago, REHawksFan said:

Kinda hoping he plays to be honest.  Can't imagine he'd be all that effective 

He'll play and he'll be fine as long as he doesn't get hacked juuuuust right.  I mean, I'm not saying they should look to do it.  But IIWII.

Gonna be a tough game regardless.  Their bigs aren't stiffs like CHA's so we'll have to be smarter.  Our shooters gotta show up and we gotta gangbang the boards.

What?

[terrell]

24 minutes ago, REHawksFan said:

Kinda hoping he plays to be honest.  Can't imagine he'd be all that effective 

And he takes a shooter off the floor. I think the only way we lose is if Love, Osman, Lauri, etc are on fire from deep...CC and OO should be able to hold their own vs Allen..

[kg01]

7 minutes ago, terrell said:

And he takes a shooter off the floor. I think the only way we lose is if Love, Osman, Lauri, etc are on fire from deep...CC and OO should be able to hold their own vs Allen..

My fear is Mobley/Allen being able to break up Trae's passes, especially when they run high PnRoll.  Leading to fast break buckets for CLE.

Kevin Joseph Heurter came out last game with that serial killer look in his eyes.  Hope he keeps that same energy tonite.  If he and Bogd have average games, that'll go a long way to helping our cause.

And somebody's gotta run Love off the 3pt line.

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[gurpilo]

 Bad matchup for Hawks in my opinion, they have everything we lack, if Allen is playing the frontcourt of Allen, Mobley an Markkanen can be tough for us. Love is also a concern, we cannot defend him and Garland can score at will vs Trae, I have a bad feeling for today, is going to be really difficult.

[Diesel]

This is a tough game, but we have to focus and play our game.   We don't have a process.. so Trust Trae.

 

[Diesel]

Extra Incentive for Cleveland.

If they lose, they lose their pick this year.

Cleveland's front office may want them to tank...

[bleachkit]

Bottom line, we have to hit shots. Can't go cold tonight.

[JayBirdHawk]

10 minutes ago, bleachkit said:

Bottom line, we have to hit shots. Can't go cold tonight.

,,,and defend and rebound and not turn the ball over.

[Guest]

18 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

,,,and defend and rebound and not turn the ball over.

Picky, picky, picky ...

[Atlantaholic]

We've played like crap on the road. If we don't bring our A game tonight on the road we'll be toast. 

[bleachkit]

8 minutes ago, Atlantaholic said:

We've played like crap on the road. If we don't bring our A game tonight on the road we'll be toast. 

We have been brutally bad on the road. There's no denying it.