Live Thread: Cavs @ Hawks
2024-01-20Good evening CtB!
The Cavs have traversed to the Georgia Piedmont to take on the Atlanta Hawks in a key Eastern Conference matchup. It’s an opportunity for the Cavs to pick up a solid if unspectacular road win against a play-in conference opponent and expand their league-leading win streak to seven games. Also with a win, the Cavs can secure the series win for the season against Atlanta. For the Hawks, it’s a chance to notch a big win against a top opponent while also expanding their win streak to four games.
Statistically speaking, the Hawks’ offense will provide a stern test for the Cavs’ defense, while the the Hawks’ defense is an opportunity for the Cavs’ offense to light up the scoreboard and build momentum on that end of the court. What’s driving the Cavs’ recent success? The ole’ calculator says it’s simply rebounding and passing the ball better. The Cavs have gone from one of the worst rebounding teams in the NBA to a top 10 overall rebounding team. The Cavs’ assist ratio ranking has gone from bottom half of the NBA to top half since the start to season. Whenever the Cavs are winning the board and assist battle, they are usually winning the game. As Coach J.B. Bickerstaff loves to say about Cavalier basketball, it’s whoever the most unselfish and most competitive team that will win the game. Hopefully that continues against an Atlanta team that doesn’t rebound or pass the ball all that well.
Tip off is scheduled for 7:30PM Eastern time and will be broadcasted live on Bally Sports Ohio, Go Cavs!
Checking in on the numbers:
%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_image%2Fimage%2F71816031%2F1245100489.0.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=74a0edea555bb06da1e655d0805be0c6236af8656d653352e10e460d6685fc95&ipo=images "Live Thread: Cavs @ Magic")
Peak Dean Wade!
Spida wanted to jam that…
Souda getting a bit closer helped.
JA double double after the block.
Isn’t that some kind of record for JA now?
Franchise record 11 straight double doubles.
Nice!
Hawks wouldn’t do it, but I’d trade Darius for Dejounte straight up…
Cavs need a 3/4.
Not many avail…
…so does basically the whole league.
Gross
I mean at least he’s 6’5 and stays healthy lol
I guess. He played fewer games in his first five years than DG has played in four and a half.
ACL / knee stuff not a death sentence for longevity but neither he nor Darius are iron men.
Donny needs to recognize his J ain’t there tonight and start driving and getting to line…
Or just start making Js…
Amazing what a step or two in can do lol…
I really think it was our coaching.
Must be…
Donovan Chucking contested threes is not gonna stop the bleeding
Good TO. 27 down to 16.
Mitchell back. JB taking no chances.
He checked in when we were up 25, I thought?
If this ends ul a 30pt victory….combined with the 40pt Bucks win…I dunno, those kind of margins should garner attention. There’s luck catching opponents tired or without their best players, but finishing them off rather than playing down to their level is noteworthy.
Yeah, letting the Bulls getting back to 1 and then vaporizing them was a great finish too
Woof. That call. CPJ having a rough game defensively.
I absolutely love this box score… 7 Cavs in double digits… 7 Cavs with at least 4 boards… every Cav besides Dean has an assist…
Seems like the Cavs liked the box score a bit too much too.
I am not enjoying CP or Okoro tonight
Refs have to protect his majesty, Trae. Ridiculous.
It Is Written.
JA at 8 rebounds
How are they even looking at this? Elbow never came close to connecting…
Cause Trae went for the Oscar.
I bet he didn’t even hit him
Fucking flop
Cavalanche.
This aged poorly.
Allen just red hot.
JA just got fouled, no whistle.
Sam really has great footwork on D and he has almost as much length as Ice…
Love Allen’s fearlessness Bout taking that shot.
Back to back finds from Sam to JA for the sweet swish…
Trey Young transition D live look…
Lol.
Man. Cavs just grinding this team down. Love the road focus.
Been so impressed with Canadian Dynamite this season… love seeing #13 again too. Championship vibes…
Merrill needs just a sliver of daylight
A liver of daylight is even smaller than a sliver…
Yeah. I didn’t love that challenge. Too borderline, and best you’re getting is a jump ball.
Merrill makes a lot of good defensive plays because no one expects him to be anything but a traffic cone, but he competes on D and pays hard.
Yeah he’s sneaky good that way…
Sam Merrill killing it again.
Extremely pleasing trajectory (shot and career).
Rough rough game from Donovan. Hope he shows up late to ice it
Rough shooting but, boards, dimes and D have been solid…
JA with authority!
Lol. Delayed post.
He’s been so good since Evan went out…
I wrote an article about that!
I’ve gotta catch up lol
Lol. It hasn’t happened much lately. No worries.
LOVE the Sam/Niang two man game…
Okongwu does a lot of shoving in the back…
Max. Nice. His angles have gotten better
When the Hawks PA announcer shouts “DE-FENSE!” It should be accompanied by circus music…
Love Trash Young not getting usual phantom foul calls…
Nice couple plays by Dean Wade there, but defense getting a bit sloppy.
Have the Hawks gotten worse under Snyder? Or does he just not have the personnel to run what he used to in Utah? (Eg: defensive players)
Back to back after winning three straight and apparently getting in very late. They are playing Iike ass tonight.
But also, yes. But also it’s mainly cause Ttrae is a fraud.
But two of the three were buzzer beaters from Murray… they are incapable of good defensive stretches it seems…
Trae is the worst defensive NBA player I’ve ever seen.
Up 15 at half. I will gladly take that. Got as big as 20 but then we went 2 min without scoring. Anither blitzkrieg (spelling?) start at 15-4.
Not blistering shooting, 46/29 splits,,but better than ATL significantly. Not fouling much is big vs Young. ATL is 3-4 on FTs, we are 10-11. +5 on the glass,,more assists. Both teams only with 7 TOs.
B2B for ATL, save Trey. Let’s see if we can come out strong & throw some dirt on them.
Kind of a nice ATO by JB in that 2Q. Lmao he getting COTY love from ATL and Sirius commentators.
Roller coaster
Ah Strus, spent it before he had it lol.
For all his good traits, it’s weirdly his hands that are his biggest flaw…
Wish it didn’t take an injury to Caris to see some good CPJ run from JB…
Amen!
Bench got hurt in those minutes: he had a nice few possessions though. It’s so hard to find a spot for him in the new style unless he’s on with three shooters
Hawks should be trying to move T Young instead of Dejounte… one is a legit good player… the other is Trey Young…
Sam really is the best hair trigger gunner since La Flamma Blanca… the gravity is solar
Somewhere, Nate McMillan is nodding and counting his money.
Loving the fight. Not giving any free points. I almost wanna say the word “ruthless” but it’s probably too early.
And just like that. Please sign Merrill to a multi-year deal.
Under contract for next season.
Nice
Sam and Max!
Sam warming up.
Man
The Hawks transition d is butt.
TT schooling okongwu
CPJ so smooth!
G-Wagon!
TT! Great drive
Pretty ok minutes for CPJ. Hard with no shooters but Merrill and Niang
Should give Wade more run tonight.
Nice close to the quarter.
Bench bleeding badly.
Yeah. No LeVert.
CPJ missed Okoro in the corner. Bad turnover. Then he took Trae off the bounce.
That Niang dribble (shudder).
LMFAO. Trae is the worst defender in pro basketball
Uh oh – Strus leaving the floor.
Glad max is OK.
Nice start. Hopefully not serious for Max
Okoro looking engaged.
FEEL THE SAME AS SIMMO——- FOR SOME REASON/ PROBABLY TRAE —- I DESPISE THESE HAWKS——-PUNKS IS AN APPROPRIATE “ POLITE “ VERBAGE 👍
Go Cavs, smash these punks.
Bring back Lauri! Bring back Lauri!
Go Cavs!