CLEVELAND — The Atlanta Hawks are well known for their commitment to defense and unselfish offensive play. If for one night only, the Cleveland Cavaliers out-Hawked the Hawks.
The Cavs beat Atlanta using the Hawks' own weapons to take Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, 104-93, and by doing so, may have unlocked a pair of key factors to their championship run.
After putting up sky-high offensive rating numbers in Round 1 against the Detroit Pistons, the Cavs need to prove they can sustain elite efforts of play on both ends of the court.
For this, Atlanta serves as the perfect model to both learn from, and ultimately, defeat.
Where the Hawks Thrive
Atlanta ranked second in assists per game (25.6), assist percentage (66.3) and defensive rating (98.8) during the regular season, per NBA.com. For basketball purists, watching them play most nights was poetry.
This hasn't been the case for the Cavaliers, of course. Most complaints surrounding their offense stem from poor ball movement and the sometimes irresistible desire to play hero ball. While the Hawks ranked near the ...
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Article written by Greg Swartz
Cavaliers Beating Hawks at Their Own Game Is a Good Sign for Cleveland
May 2nd, 2016 by Greg Swartz Leave a reply »
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