Recap: Cavs 121, Hawks 114 (or, Hang Ten)

Nevermind that December weather, wherever you are. Just grab a surfboard and go hang ten, brah, ’cause that’s what the Cavs are up to: winners of 10 straight games, the team improved to 10-0 when Jae Crowder scores 10 or more points, and also found a way to play 10 players 10 or more minutes in a game without garbage time. Gnarly! Thursday night’s game at the bottom-feeding Atlanta Hawks’ home may have been a little tighter than expected, but the Wine & Gold found a way to get it done and match the franchise’s second longest winning since LeBron returned home.

The Game

The hosting Atlanta team was coming off of a blowout loss and five days of rest, and as expected, the young Hawks came out of the gate hot — trouble for them was, the Cavs came out even hotter. In the first quarter, both teams set out to a blistering pace that saw the Cavs score 42 and the Hawks 35 of their own. Both teams seemed to push every transition opportunity and score early in the shot clock.

Cleveland had a tough time keeping the Hawks’ guards out of the paint, but the Cavs continued to play aggressively on defense and used stops and turnovers to fuel an efficient attack. The ball movement was excellent as the Cavs netted 10 (there goes that number again) assists in the frame and shot 63% from the field, with LeBron James himself going 4-for-4.

.@KingJames 👑 with the Royal Flush! 😳 pic.twitter.com/47C8ds8see

— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 1, 2017

Nevertheless, Atlanta was undeterred and continued a high-octane attack fueled by the speedy Dennis Schroder. The Hawks pushed the fast pace into the second quarter as they were looking to wear out the older, less rested Cavaliers in a redux of the two teams’ previous meeting. Schroder seemed to march into the paint at will, using high screens from his teammates then turning on the jets. No Cav seemed able to stay in front of him. Schroder used dribble penetration to score three consecutive layups that stretched the Hawks’ lead as high as nine with just under two minutes in the half.

On the Cavs’ end, the team rushed shots throughout the quarter and went cold, going 2-for-8 from deep. Cleveland had poor communication on defense and lost Hawks players off of just one or two screens. It wasn’t until the final minute and a half that the game slowed down a bit. Three Kevin Love free throws and a J.R. Smith jumper brought the score to within a very manageable four points at halftime. Hawks 67, Cavs 63.

Tyronn Lue made an interesting decision to start the second half, rolling out a large lineup of LeBron, J.R., Jeff Green, Crowder, and Love. Love canned a triple on the first possession, Green then hit a pair of freebies to take the lead, and after LeBron hit a 26-foot three pointer the Hawks called a frustrated full timeout. Cleveland would not relinquish its lead the rest of the game.

“It’s been hard fought, but let’s hug it out” (photo from cleveland.com)

The third quarter started off looking like the first in a back-and-forth shootout as both teams trades baskets without much separation. However, Lue’s strategy appeared to pay off: having LeBron play at the 1 meant the King was checking Schroder. After lighting the Cavs up, Schroder managed to get off only two field goal attempts, both outside the paint and the only make coming from 15 feet out.

The new mindset seemed to fuel the Cavs, as they were able to stretch their lead as high as 12. The Hawks tried to keep up their pace from the first half, but the Cavs were becoming more patient and playing smarter. Cleveland’s reserve crew was able to close out the quarter with a nine-point lead. Cavs 99, Hawks 90.

The bench lineup of Jose Calderon, Dwyane Wade, Kyle Korver, Cedi Osman, and Channing Frye started the final quarter and was able to maintain the lead until the starters began checking back in about halfway into the quarter. The Cavs were executing well, but several missed corner threes alongside a few fouls and turnovers on offense let the Hawks right back into the game. At one point, LeBron kicked the ball out three times in a row for corner threes and all three missed.

Atlanta brought the score within one on a couple free throws. During the stoppage in play, Coach Lue interestingly substituted Wade and Korver for Crowder and Green, respectively, to fill out the Cavs’ closing lineup alongside LeBron, J.R., and Love. The decision proved to be a sound one.

‘Bron would go on to drill a filthy faceup three pointer from 26 feet out to go up by two possessions with 1:48 remaining. On the ensuing Hawks possession, Wade picked DeAndre Bembry’s pocket and tapped the ball out to a racing James, and a little give-and-go action between the BFF’s resulted in a Wade floater to put the Cavs up six. Wade’s floater would prove to be the dagger as Cleveland iced the game with free throws. Cavs 121, Hawks 114.

https://twitter.com/danfavale/status/936428012840673282

Final Thoughts

-Yes, this one was closer than Cavs fans would prefer. But even in a close game, Coach Lue found a way to play 10 guys in double digit minutes, with only three above 30 minutes and LeBron topping out at 38. The coach deserves his props. So, has Lue settled into his desires lineups? If that’s the case, even better times may lie ahead for Cleveland.

-The main story behind this game is that the Hawks, namely Dennis Schroder, were able to speed their way into the paint throughout the first half until the Cavs sniffed things out in the second. Cleveland doesn’t really have any guards who can stay in front of the speedsters of the league, and Atlanta, coming off of five days rest no less, was exploiting a weakness. The tone of the game shifted once LeBron James matched up on Schroder on the defensive end in the second half. James may not be as quick, but his size and smarts make him incredibly difficult to get past. What were once clear driving lanes for the Hawks in the first half turned into traps, steals, and behind-the-back blocks in the second. Dwyane Wade was instrumental on defense as well. Ten steals and blocks were accumulated by James and Wade alone. Including these two:

LeBLOCK! #AllForOne pic.twitter.com/NyoD9tklrB

— NBA (@NBA) December 1, 2017

LeBLOCK James (I) 👋⛔ pic.twitter.com/uREWZCxsZP

— Tercer Equipo NBA (@NBATercerEquipo) December 1, 2017

–Isaiah Thomas looks like he’s having so much fun over on the bench. That deserves its own shoutout. He will be a joy to have back.

-Last but not least, something many CtB’ers have been waiting for… Cedi Osman played 11 meaningful minutes in a real live NBA game! And he showed pretty well! The Jedi finished with five points on three shots, hitting his lone three-point attempt, grabbed four boards, and also recorded an assist and a steal. But, most of all, he looked like he belonged. Maybe he was just always cold blooded.

Quite the showing from @cediosman tonight. The rookie won't take an opportunity with the @cavs for granted: "I don't have a reason to be scared." pic.twitter.com/kxrHCaAP0q

— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) December 1, 2017