May 20 vs Hawks

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ecf-game-1-watch-party-at-the-q-may-20-2015

ECF, Game 1: Watch Party at The Q – May 20, 2015

clenadams

Kyrie only played 27 minutes.  Was he on restrictions, or was it due to J.R.'s hot hand?
  Was not on a restriction, and he got banged up a little bit, and we limited his minutes as a result.

J.R. was outstanding during the third and fourth.  Could you tell me if there's anything specific that you did to get him open and available for those shots? 
  Yeah, we got him the ball.  Doesn't take a whole lot for him to get it up there.  Those people    and most do, of course -- that know J.R., when he gets hot, he gets smoking hot.  He was terrific.  Probably overlooked in his great shooting performance was the fact that he defended as well as he did and he got eight rebounds. I'd love to know when the last time a guy made    how many did he make?  Eight.  When a guy made eight threes and got eight rebounds.  That's an interesting question.  I don't remember, but I'm sure it's happened.  That's pretty unusual.

David, can you kind of talk about LeBron's night.  He was really dominating there for a while, and it seemed like he tweaked the ankle, he did something to the ankle 
Stepped on somebody on the sidelines.

And he kind of had to adjust from there. 
Well, LeBron came in with a purpose today, and he led his team, as he is wont to do in big games.  Gave it to us at both ends. I thought down toward the end we all got a little bit winded, but that's just because we were playing so hard on the defensive end, it probably had an effect on us at the other end.  But he was terrific, just terrific.

Considering J.R. Smith scored 28 points, hit eight threes tonight, what are some things that concern you that the Cavs can work on that were maybe unnoticed because you got the "W" tonight, thanks to J.R. Smith's hot hand? 
  Number one, we can always do better.  When you have a good team, some nights one guy is the guy that gets it for you, and another night it might be someone else.
If you meant by the question that perhaps maybe we're not going to win unless J.R. Smith makes eight threes, then I would beg to differ, because we have other weapons on our team and we play good basketball in many other facets of the game. Tonight was a game that J.R. stepped up in a big way, and obviously he had a big part in that victory, but it's still a team victory, and tomorrow it may be somebody else.  Now, if you can promise me he'll do it again, then I'll be happy to live with that.

The difference in your team's defense from the first half to the second half, what did you like about what you guys did defensively in the second half? 
  Well, a couple things.  You know, it's not the first time, and it's also not an abnormal thing.  Number one, we turned it over nine times in the first half, and we gave up a lot of transition baskets as a result of that, and we were a little bit out of rhythm defensively because offensively we were not as responsible with the ball as we needed to be. The second thing is I thought we adjusted well to how they were playing, and they were playing very well on offense, as Atlanta is capable of doing.  A lot of times it's the other guy, too.  They were moving the ball, and they were making some shots, and they were attacking.
We just sort of adjusted and found our rhythm defensively.  We were better with the ball, which led to less easy transition baskets.  And when we have the chance to lock in and play the half court defense that we've been playing throughout the playoffs, we've got a good shot. The guys stepped up, and they were terrific at the defensive end in the second half, just terrific.

In the first half, particularly in the second quarter, LeBron had a lot of success in the block scoring in the post.  It seemed like in the fourth quarter, maybe he went away from that a little bit.  He was obviously matched up against a different defender.  What did you see out of his approach in the fourth? 
  Paul Millsap was guarding him, and he was guarding him at the perimeter, and we were attacking him that way.  That was his advantage.  But perhaps we could have put him back down in the post even against Paul, and if so, that's on me, not on him. But I still thought that we controlled the tempo of the game in that fourth quarter.  We were tired a little bit, and we had to slow the game down, and we did.  Ultimately, we came away with the victory.

At the end of the game, you guys, the offense seemed to get bogged down.  Was that, just as you were saying, that the guys were tired, or was there something that was kind of leading you to take more jump shots than usual? 
  We could have played it better at the end, to be honest with you, but I think that's going to be tomorrow's subject.  I think tonight we're going to be happy that we beat a very good team on their floor in the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals. I thought we did a lot of things very, very well, and there's still a lot to improve, and that's good news.

In the series against Chicago, Chicago went into that series as one of the best three point shooting teams in the postseason.  Atlanta is one of the best three point shooting teams in the postseason.  4 of 23 tonight for Atlanta.  What are you doing specifically when it comes to guarding the three point line?  And has that been a point of emphasis? 
  All year.  All year.  The Cleveland Cavaliers last year were the last place team in the league, giving up three point shots, makes, total, percentage wise.  That's been a point of emphasis since day one here, and we've definitely improved in that area, and we wanted to.

J.R., you were obviously in the zone tonight.  How much fun is it to not only be in a system that fits your skill set but encourages you shoot? 
  It's extremely fun.  It's easy to play.  I get a lot of open shots.  It's easy to get into a rhythm early.  Once I start shooting, whether I make or miss, everybody tells me to start shooting.  So it's a great situation.

I have one for both of you guys:  J.R., before you came to Cleveland, you had a certain reputation in the league.  People had a certain idea of who you were.  How important was it for you to change that reputation, and what steps do you think you made as soon as Cleveland called you, saying they were interested in trading for you? 
  It was extremely important because more than anything, for my parents.  My parents, they know what type of person they raised, and they know what type of person they inspired me to be.  So it wasn't really for myself, it was more for them, if not for anybody.

J.R., how important was it for you to keep things rolling after you got hot early? 
I just try to just roll with the punches.  I mean, once the team pretty much starts closing out, just try to get in attack mode, and at the same time, try to find my teammates.  It's kind of hard, hitting the shots I was hitting, to try and pass the ball, but you've got to figure out a way.

J.R., for you to be on this platform right here on the major stage, Eastern Conference Finals, how gratifying is this for you, a person who's been through all that you've been in throughout your career, and to be at this stage and people talking about you in a positive light and talk about what you're doing on the basketball court. 
  Like I said, it's great.  It's a great situation for me.  It's more for my mom.  I mean, she's probably my biggest fan.  When all those negative things are being said and stuff like that, me personally, I really don't care, but for her, to see her hurting, to see her go through those situations, to feel the way she feels, it's a terrible feeling for me because I know I'm putting her in those situations.
  So if anything, it's just for her.

You and DeMarre seemed to be jawing a bit in the first half, but after he went down, you seemed to share a moment.  Can you share what you said to him? 
  At the end of the day, we're all a brotherhood.  NBA is a brotherhood, and you never want anyone to get injured, even in combat.  So that's what went through my mind.  Obviously, I love competing versus anybody who loves to compete as well.  He's one of those guys that was competing throughout the night, throughout the postseason.  I'm not sure the severity of the injury right now.  But I hope he has a recovery, whatever it is.  You just don't want nobody to get hurt like that.

LeBron, could you tell us the difference or which, I guess, the group of shooters that you played with in Miami and compare those to this group you have now because both can explode. 
  I've been fortunate enough to play with some shooters to help spread the floor for myself and what I do best, and that's being in attack mode.  To be able to play with one of the all time greats in Ray Allen, and also play with Mike Miller and Shane Battier and James Jones still, and then you get a guy like J.R. Smith, who's able just to shoot the ball and have the extreme confidence that every time they let it go, that it's going in.  I've been blessed to play with guys like that. When you have guys like that, you have to utilize them while they're on the floor.

LeBron, can you talk about the play in the last 37 seconds, when you went for a dunk. 
Coach drew up a play, and we just try to run it to perfection.  He drew up a play, and Double T [Tristan Thompson] came up and set a screen-and-roll.  I was able to get to the middle of the floor.  The ability, the way we were shooting the three ball tonight, kind of kept those last two defenders at bay, and I was able just to turn the lane and make a big play for our team at that time.

LeBron, when the organization first approached you and said, We can make a move to get J.R. Smith but we have concerns, what was your idea about the importance and the value of getting a player like this in your franchise? 
Get him here, and I'll take care of it.

You said you planned to take care of it? 
Yeah, I got him.  You get him here, I got him.  Yeah, I got him (laughter).

LeBron, what worked for you for the team defensively against the Hawks against their three point shooting? 
  We have a great coaching staff, first of all, that gives us a game plan.  We kind of, throughout these six days, we've kind of been balancing ways we can try to    not stop what they do, but just try to limit some of their touches, limit some of Kyle Korver's touches and some of their other three point shooters.
  We're the number one defensive team in the playoffs, and it has a lot to do with when we go out, as a coaching staff, they give us the game plan.  And for us as players, we go out and execute it.  For us to win ultimately, we have to defend.
Tonight we shot 44 percent from the field, but we defended.  We gave ourselves a chance.  When you defend at a high level, you give yourself a chance to win every night.

LeBron, you touched on it a little bit, but two quick questions:  What was it that you saw in J.R. that made you very in favor of bringing him to Cleveland?  Number two, what type of satisfaction do both of you get after having a game like this against the Hawks? 
  Me and J.R.'s history go back long before he came into the NBA.  Before he came into the NBA, he came to my hometown, and we worked out multiple days, multiple times.  For me, as a leader of a team, you always just want to try to give someone an opportunity.  With the talent this guy presents, I knew the man he was, and I didn't really care about what everybody else thought about him.
  Obviously, our front office, they have the last say so, and for me, they have the last say so, but when they made it and said they were going to do it, I was definitely all for it.  I felt like, for me, we were getting a great piece, not only on the floor, but off the floor, as well, because I'd known him before he even got to this point.
To answer your second question, to be able just to make plays to help your team win is all that matters for me.  We have a guy like this that was shooting the ball extremely well, who broke the game open, but also the contributions from Delly off the bench again, and the two bigs, both of them having double doubles.  That was big time.

Two questions:  One, could you take us through what happened in the third quarter, I think when you stepped on the camera guy.  And then, two, after some really good quarters offensively, second and third quarter, you guys seemed to get out of rhythm a little bit in the fourth.  What happened there until you finished with that dunk? 
  Like you said, in the third quarter, I went to contest DeMarre Carroll's three point attempt, and the cameraman, I guess his foot was out further than it should be, but I stepped on his foot and turned my ankle.
  I'm happy that it didn't cost me the rest of the game.  I was able to go out there and make a few plays.
  I think, to answer your second question, we can't worry about how many points we're up or how many points we're down; we have to continue to play our game.  It starts with me.  I take all the responsibility for it.  In fourth quarter, I played way too much isolation basketball, one on one basketball, a lot of defenses set, and I was letting the clock run down way too much.  I just had to take the shot or I was giving it to my guys late in the shot clock, and they couldn't do nothing with it besides shoot it or turn the ball over.
  So I will do a better job.  I'll probably watch the game over again tonight, as I try to get my body ready for Game 2.  So it starts with me.

LeBron, what Kyrie's going through right now, can you say anything to him?  Is this something that he has to become resigned to the fact that maybe the rest of the playoffs he'll be laboring through these injuries? 
  It's tough, and I know it sucks for him.  This is the moment he's been waiting for.  This is the biggest stage.  Physically, he's not capable of doing what we all know he's capable of doing, and it's starting to, I guess    hopefully, it doesn't continue    or hopefully it doesn't get into his mind.  For me, that's my role at that point, to let him know when he's on the floor, no matter what he's going through, we need him to be aggressive, as aggressive as he can be with the injury, and not worry about things that he cannot control; only worry about the things that he can control.
  Like I said, that will be my job to help him understand, no matter what he's going through physically, never let it creep into his mind where it affect him mentally.

LeBron, you mentioned the defense in the postseason for you guys, giving up 51 to Atlanta in the first half and then 38 the rest of the way.  What changed in the second half for you? 
  We started to get kind of a rhythm of what they wanted to do, but we also just put pressure not only at the point of attack, but when the ball was moved from side to side.
  Like I said, our coaching staff gives us a game plan, and it's up to us to execute it.  They're going to make shots.  They're one of the, if not the best with Golden State, best offenses we have in our league.  We just try to make it tough on them.

LeBron, you mentioned the iso ball.  Do you know, in the midst of it, in the middle of the game, can you feel it slowing down?  Can you feel you're doing it too much?  Or is it only after the game when you can kind of decompress a little bit and look at the numbers? 
  I kind of sense it.  I sense it during the game a little bit, and it's tough sometimes with our main ball handler not being on the floor, and that's Kyrie.  That's something that I'm not happy with, something I'm not really comfortable with doing.  I can do it, but I don't like to play that much isolation basketball late in the game.  I'd much rather get the ball moving from side to side and get a good look after that.
So like I said, I'll be more conscious about that in Game 2, if that opportunity presents itself, where at least I can get the ball moving to start and then maybe at the back side, or like the third option I can get it back at the end.  At least we got the defense moving instead of them just watching me pound the ball for 24 seconds.  That's not good basketball.

(On  winning game one on the road)
“It was  definitely big for us. Whenever you’re the team that’s on the road first you  want to be able to take away the home-court advantage, and that’s what we did  tonight. But like Coach (David Blatt) said, we didn’t come here to get one  game, we came here to get two. Now it’s on to game two and getting prepared for  that.”

(On  gaining rebounding advantage during the game)
“We have  to control the glass. Kyrie Irving said the team that wins the rebounding  battle wins the game, so we definitely take pride in it.”

(On how  J.R. Smith fits in to what this team does)
“He gives  us a scoring punch, especially in these kinds of games when the offense is  missing shots. He’s a scorer, and he’s been a scorer in this league for 11  years. He can score in bunches, and that’s what he did tonight…He definitely  saved us tonight with his energy and his spark off the bench, but as an offense  we’ve got to get better. We had a couple of offensive droughts, and we’ve got  to get better, because we know they’re going to make some adjustments.”

I  think between tonight and Game 2, the mindset is there are lots of things that  we can do better, a few things that we can build on, but there's a stretch  early in the fourth quarter where they were able to create a little bit of  separation and a lead.  A few things happened during that time that we've  got to do better, and I think, if we continue to attack and we continue to play  with pace and move the ball better, then I think that's going to give us our  best chance going into Game 2.

Any particular information about DeMarre at this  point?
At this point, I think the doctors are saying it's a knee  sprain.  He'll have an MRI tomorrow, and we'll know more tomorrow.

Given his professional journey, how excited he  personally was to be in this series, what are the thoughts among the staff in  the locker room about the injury?
Well, he's such a great teammate, everybody's just concerned  for DeMarre, and I'm hoping that he's healthy and ready to help us as soon as  possible.  That's how we feel about each of our teammates, each of our  players. I know there's that same feeling for DeMarre, and it's the  playoffs.  So everybody would like him to come through this as healthy as  possible.

Coach, quick question, if DeMarre is out, will we  probably see more presence of Mike Scott or Mike Muscala as well in Game 2?
DeMarre is a perimeter defender, player. I think, most  likely, more Kent Bazemore and some players like that. Mike Scott and Mike  Muscala are always ready.  We'll see what we learn tomorrow and figure out  what gives us our best chance.

DeMarre is obviously a primary defender on LeBron,  but he also led this team in scoring this postseason.  How tough would it  be to replace him offensively as well as defensively?
DeMarre is a complete player.  He has a big impact on  both ends of the court.  Other people will have opportunities to make  defensive plays, to make offensive plays, and that will be a great opportunity  and a great challenge.

Mike, did the ball stop moving, or did you stop  making shots?  Or was one a function of the other?
I think we'll go back and look at the film, and you always  learn more.  Sometimes things aren't as bad as maybe you think initially  or sometimes they are.  I think ball movement is critical to us.   Playing unselfishly is critical to us.  Our group understands that.   So if we can improve and get better there, I think it's something we've been  doing all year.  So I think it's something they understand.  If  that's what we need to do, we'll do it.

Obviously, J.R. Smith got away from you a little  bit.  I wonder if your initial impression is whether it's defensive lapses  or was he just making shots?  How do you look at that?
Both.  I think it doesn just reflecting back now  without having gone through the film, he did make a handful of tough shots, but  he's a shooter.  He's somebody that can get hot, and he was a priority  coming into the game, and I think we can do a better job and not have any  breakdowns going into the next game.

Coach, were you happy with the amount of switching  that was occurring in the first half with LeBron?  It seemed like Teague  was defending him a lot.
  Yeah, you know, every game you have multiple ways that  you're going to try to defend pick-and-rolls.  I thought at times it was  effective and helped us.  There were a couple of examples where their  execution was good.  So I think with any team, with any player, you have  to change up your looks, give them a few different looks, and we'll continue to  do that going forward.

You guys, in the second quarter, there were a lot of  times when they ran the Ky and LeBron pick-and-roll, and you ended up with  Teague guarding LeBron down in the post.  They exploited that a fair  amount.  Is that something you're going to try going forward, or are you  going to try different matchups or different tweaks on that?
  Yes, similar to the question prior, I think we'll throw  different looks at them.  Like I just said, we've got to give them  different looks, and that's the challenge between now and Game 2.

(On the bench stepping up)
“Everybody will (have to step up). It’s a  team effort. We just have to learn from this game and make adjustments and get  ready for Game 2.”

(On facing Mozgov)“He’s  big. He’s a presence inside. We just have to be mindful and make sure we keep  him off the boards as best we can.”

(On DeMarre Carroll)“He’s  a great player, but most importantly, a great guy and a great teammate.  Obviously it was really tough to see him go down. We want to be there for him,  and hope for the best.”

(On the late comeback)
“When the time starts to dwindle down, your  back against the wall, you just start swinging. That’s what we’ve done, and now  we know what we’re capable of, chipping into that lead and almost getting back  in the game. It gives us some confidence going into Friday.”

(On J.R. Smith getting hot)
“Obviously those were tough ones. I thought  we had some momentum there for a while. He came in…give him credit. He’s one of  those guys that’s very capable of doing that. Obviously it’s going to be a key  to not let that happen again.”

(On drawing from experience of losing the  first game of last series)
  “We have to look back to that series. We lost  Game 1 last time too. We feel like we can play better. We’ll watch the film  tomorrow and see what we can do.”

Al, talk about what happened in the third quarter,  the run that they were able to go on in the third quarter, what you guys  weren't able to do defensively.  And also talk about the injury to DeMarre  Carroll and how you guys felt when you saw that.
  The third quarter, I mean, I really can't point to anything that  we necessarily did wrong.  You've got to give them credit.  They kept  executing.  They got hot there scoring the ball.
We  have to figure out a way to come out to a quicker start in the third.  We  only had 16 points in the third quarter.  So we need to be better there.
As  far as DeMarre, we're hoping he's okay.  I'm sure tomorrow he'll get an  MRI and things like that, but we're just hoping for the best for D.C.

The last play when Millsap was guarding LeBron, it  was like 20, 30 seconds left, LeBron was able to break through and get a  dunk.  What happened with that?  Was there a defensive  breakdown?  How did he have a wide-open look?
  Yeah, it was a breakdown.  The guy went up to set the screen,  and Paul and I were supposed to switch it.  Paul was supposed to send it  to me.  I was on the other side.  He just went down the middle and  just missed coverage there.

Kyle Korver struggled in the last few games to get  off from behind the arc.  What can you guys do more to get him open?
  That's a good question.  We just got to make sure he gets  more looks, meaning through our offense, and we'll have to figure that  out.  At the same time, teams are much more aware of him.  Everybody's  attention is on him, so they're really making sure that they contest when they  get out there. So we just have to keep finding ways to try to get him going  again.

What do you think you guys will need to do  differently against Tristan Thompson?
  You know, we've just got to keep playing our style of  ball.  I think tonight, the way we were defending, a lot of us, we had to  leave him and Mozgov to go double LeBron or something, and they were able to  just pound the glass.  So that's something that I'm sure we'll look  at.  We just have to do a better job of boxing out and making sure that we  get those rebounds.

game-quotes-cavaliers-at-atlanta-hawks-may-20

Game Quotes: Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks - May 20

clejgabriele

Wrap-Up – The Cavaliers have found countless ways to win as they work their way through the 2015 Playoffs. On Wednesday night in Atlanta, the Wine and Gold utilized major production off the bench – even if it was just one guy off the bench – to pull past the Hawks and hold on for the 97-89 win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

As he has many times throughout his NBA career, J.R. Smith caught fire in the second half of Wednesday’s series opener – canning five of his eight bombs after intermission, including three straight to start the fourth quarter and extend Cleveland’s lead from seven points to 18.

The Cavaliers would need every bit of that cushion in the fourth quarter as the Hawks put together a furious rally that saw them cut the Cavs lead to just four, 91-87, with under a minute to play.

But LeBron James put an end to that rally in emphatic fashion, splitting a trio of Hawks defenders and crushing a right-handed dunk with 27.9 to play to send the sold-out crowd for the exits.

LeBron led everyone with 31 points, going 12-of-26 from the floor to go with eight boards, six assists and a steal. After a slow start by both James and the Cavaliers, the four-time MVP took over in the second period – going 7-of-9 from the floor for 14 points as the Wine and Gold erased Atlanta’s early lead and went into the locker room tied at 51-apiece.

Smith notched his all-time NBA-record 14th game of hitting at least eight three-pointers in a game – going 8-of-12 from beyond the arc (10-for-16 overall) to finish with 28 points, eight boards, three assists, a steal and a blocked shot. Smith was the only Cavalier reserve to score on Wednesday night.

Going against a pair of All-Star big men, it was the Wine and Gold’s frontline that stole the show in Game 1. Both Tristan Thompson and Timofey Mozgov doubled-up – going a combined 10-for-16 from the floor and grabbing nine of their combined 21 rebounds off the offensive glass.

In his sixth start since Kevin Love was lost for the playoffs with a shoulder injury, Thompson notched his third straight double-double and fourth in his last five games – finishing with 14 points, 10 boards and a pair of blocks.

Mozgov notched his second double-double of the postseason with 10 points and a game-high 11 boards but failed to register a blocked shot for the first time in 11 playoff games with the Cavs.

Kyrie Irving rounded out the Cavaliers in double-figures with 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting, but the three-time All-Star was obviously still not quite himself – logging nine minutes of action in the second half, including just over three in the final quarter.

Jeff Teague led the Hawks with 27 points, but was held to just 10 after intermission – as the Cavaliers held the entire Hawks team to just 38 second-half points. As a team, Atlanta – the top three-point shooting team in the Eastern Conference – shot just 17 percent from long-distance, with their top marksman, Kyle Korver, going just 2-of-4 from deep, finishing with nine points in 36 minutes of action.

As big a concern as conceding homecourt advantage to the Cavaliers is for the Hawks, much of their attention will focus on forward DeMarre Carroll, who planted his left knee awkwardly on a third-quarter fastbreak and crashed to the floor on the baseline. Carroll was helped off the floor and straight the Hawks locker room. He’ll have an MRI done on Thursday to determine the extent of his injury.

Both teams shot 44 percent from the field on Wednesday night, but in a continuation of the Chicago series, the Cavs were excellent on the boards – out-rebounding Atlanta, 49-37, including 12 offensive boards to just seven for the Hawks.

Turning Point – Nearly every turning point of Wednesday’s win was keyed by J.R. Smith.

Near the start of the second quarter, the Cavaliers found themselves down eight, 28-20, before Smith began heating up. And in just over a minute of play, he drilled a pair of treys to cut Atlanta’s lead to a deuce. Not long after, he canned his third three of the quarter, setting the table for LeBron’s flurry that tied the game and eventually gave Cleveland a brief lead before halftime.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Smith’s onslaught gave the Wine and Gold a sizeable lead that they’d need every bit of – extending their edge to 18 points before the squad went cold for most of the remainder of the period.

By the Numbers – .292 … opponents’ three-point percentage against the Cavaliers in the 2015 playoffs – best mark among remaining NBA teams. In their last two games – Game 6 vs. Chicago and Game 1 vs. Atlanta – the Cavs have held their opponent to a combined 8-for-43 from beyond the arc.

Quotable – J.R. Smith, on being viewed in a positive light after all the negative press he’d gotten before coming to Cleveland  …

”It's a great situation for me. But it's more for my mom. She's probably my biggest fan. When all those negative things are being said and stuff like that, me personally, I really don't care. But for her, to see her hurting, to see her go through those situations, to feel the way she feels, it's a terrible feeling for me because I know I'm putting her in those situations. So if anything, it's just for her.”

Up Next – After stealing homecourt from the Hawks with Wednesday’s win, the Cavaliers will try to get greedy on Friday night when they gird up for Game 2 at Philips Arena. The series shifts back to the North Coast on Sunday for Game 3 at The Q, with Game 4 slated for Tuesday night. Both squads return to the ATL next Thursday for Game 5 and back to Cleveland the following Saturday if there’s a Game 6. If the series goes the distance, Game 7 takes place back in Atlanta on June 1.

cavs-hold-off-hawks-take-game-1-in-atlanta

Cavs Hold Off Hawks, Take Game 1 in Atlanta

clejcaione

Listen to Radio Play-by-Play announcer John Michael's Call of the Game during Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks on May 20, 2015. J.R. Smith nails his 8th 3-pointer of the game, setting a Cavaliers playoff record and giving the Cavaliers an 85-67 lead over the Hawks.

Escucha a la voz en español de los Cavaliers Rafa "El Alcalde" con la narración de la jugada del partido entre Los Cavaliers de Cleveland y Los Hawks de Atlanta en el Philips Arena de Atlanta, GA el 20 de Mayo del 2015. Los Cavs consiguieron la primera victoria en las finales de conferencia al derrotar a Los Hawks 97-89 en su propia casa. JR Smith anoto 28 puntos de la banca convirtiendo 8 de 12 de larga distancia. Su séptimo triple puso arriba aLos Cavs por 13 temprano en el último cuarto.

call-of-the-game-cavs-at-atlanta-hawks-may-20

Call of the Game: Cavs at Atlanta Hawks - May 20

Cavs.com

ecf-game-1-cavs-at-hawks-may-20-2015

ECF, Game 1: Cavs at Hawks - May 20, 2015

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Nothing could have been more beneficial to the Wine and Gold – and specifically a banged-up guard Kyrie Irving – than the five-day layoff after their Game 6 win in Chicago.

Kyrie came into the series battling some nagging injuries, specifically a sore right foot, and seemed to aggravate everything when he inadvertently stepped on Tristan Thompson’s foot early in the affair. With Irving unable to return, Matthew Dellavedova had the biggest game of his young career, netting 19 points in the series-clinching win.

The Cavaliers – who’ve given Kyrie plenty of rest and treatment – will need both guys as close to healthy as possible as they go against Atlanta’s potent point guard combo of Dennis Schroder, who’s shot 89 percent from the stripe in the playoffs, and All-Star Jeff Teague, who’s averaged 14.2 points and a team-leading 7.8 assists. Atlanta ranked second in the league in assists at 25.7 per game, dishing 25 or more helpers on 49 occasions – recording assists on 68 percent of their made baskets, best in the NBA.

If the Cavaliers hope to knock off the East’s top seed, their point men will have to match up well against Atlanta’s.

Timofey Mozgov and Tristan Thompson have been rock-solid through the first two rounds of the playoffs, with Thompson making a major leap in Cleveland’s Second Round series with Chicago. But the competition gets stiffer as the Cavaliers climb the Eastern Conference ladder. And they’ll have to get past a pair of All-Stars in Atlanta’s frontcourt if they want to make it to the next step.

Thompson has been stellar in relief of the injured Kevin Love, notching three double-doubles in his last four starts and averaging 10.4 points and 11.8 boards in his last five – including a clutch 13-point, 17-rebound performance in Game 6. (LeBron James has also been big in compensating for Love’s absence – averaging 11.0 rebounds per game against the Bulls.) The Cavs come into the Second Round leading all playoff teams in blocked shots at 7.6, powered by Mozgov – who’s averaging 2.2 swats per contest, notching at least one block in each of his 10 postseson starts.

Al Horford has been great throughout the playoffs, averaging 15.8 points and 10.2 boards through the first 11 games. Paul Milsap is right behind at 15.3 and 8.6. If the Cavaliers hope to get past Atlanta, they’ll need to match up well against the Hawks dynamic duo.

The Cavaliers coaching staff – and the backcourt duo itself – deserves a ton of credit for making the smooth transition, with J.R. Smith moving to a reserve role with Iman Shumpert’s insertion into the starting lineup. When Smith returned, the Wine and Gold didn’t skip a beat and the duo – dealt together in a three-team deal by the Knicks in early January – have actually solidified the squad on both ends.

In the Chicago series, Shumpert averaged 12.7 ppg, with Smith scoring at a 12.8 ppg pace. Both hit huge shots and both played excellent defense throughout the Second Round. J.R. Smith has been one of the most prolific three-point shooters of his generation, but he and Shumpert are about to take on someone that’s just as deadly – All-Star guard Kyle Korver.

The Wizards did a good job of bottling up Atlanta’s sharpshooter, but he’s always a threat to go off – and the main reason the Hawks were the top three-point shooting team in the Eastern Conference. But the Wine and Gold come into the Eastern Conference Finals as the second-best squad against the three-pointer, holding foes to .305 shooting.  Something’s gotta give.

Just when you think LeBron James can’t do anything more to etch himself into Cavaliers postseason lore, he has a series like the one he did against the Bulls – becoming the first player since Magic Johnson in 1991 to put together a series with averages of at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

He’s one of six Cavaliers who’ve won it all, and now that the Wine and Gold are in the rarified air of the Eastern Conference Finals, the youngsters will rely on him even more to take the next step.

James has faced the Hawks three times this season – erupting for 32 points in Cleveland’s 33-point win at The Q in early November, netting 21 as Atlanta returned the favor one month later and struggling with 18 points and a season-high nine turnovers in the Cavs’ March 6 loss in the ATL.

The Hawks’ DeMarre Carroll, like Tristan Thompson, has made a name for himself during the 2015 Playoffs, averaging 17.1 ppg in the postseason, doubling-up in his last two outings against the Wizards – including a 25-point, 10-rebound outburst in the deciding Game 6. LeBron – who the Hawks blitzed in the pick-and-roll in Cleveland’s March 6 loss – has said that he “relishes the challenge” of going up against Carroll.  That challenge begins on Wednesday night in the Dirty South.

As we’ve seen through the first two series, the stars will pretty much do what they’re going to do, but it’s often the role players that dictate the direction of the game.

In Cleveland’s Second Round series with Chicago, James Jones helped the Cavs bounce back from a loss in the opener with 17 points off the bench in Game 2. Matthew Dellavedova was very good defensively throughout the series against Derrick Rose and Aaron Brooks – and came up huge on the offensive end when Kyrie was sidelined in Game 6 – going 7-of-11 from the floor for 19 points. Even Kendrick Perkins scored on a couple of big second-half hoops in the six-game Semifinal set.

For the Hawks, reserves Kent Bazemore, Dennis Schroder and Mike Muscala each had big moments in their six-gamer against Washington. (And although Shelvin Mack and Mike Scott have barely seen action so far in the postseason, the Cavaliers have learned the hard way exactly what each of those guys can do.)

The Hawks have four All-Stars in action, the Cavaliers have two, including arguably the game’s greatest player. But so often in the postseason, it’s a role player who makes the difference.

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Five Keys: Cavaliers at Hawks - Game 1

The Cleveland Cavaliers have teamed up with Snapchat to host an "Our Story" during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals series against the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday night.

Snapchat users cheering on the Wine &amp; Gold across Northeast Ohio will be able to post snaps to the same story, which can be viewed on the app worldwide. In order to submit content to Our Story, a phone's Location Services settings must be turned on. Snapchat will approve select snaps that get submitted.

Fans are also encouraged to send snaps to Cavs all throughout the playoffs for the chance to be featured in photo galleries on Cavs.com.

Game 1 tips off at 8:30PM, but the fun starts at 7:30PM at the Official Watch Party at The Q, presented by Bud Light. Tickets are still available here.

Cavs Nation can also cheer on the squad at over 45 local bars and restaurants serving as Official Cavs Watch Party locations listed here: https://www.nba.com/cavaliers/playoffs/locations

Learn more about Snapchat's "Our Story" here: https://support.snapchat.com/a/our-story

add-your-watch-party-snap-to-our-story-during-game-1-of-the-ecf

Add Your Watch Party Snap To "Our Story" During Game 1 of the ECF!

The Cavaliers will square off with the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Philips Arena. Tipoff is at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Cleveland has displayed a strong defensive performance in this year’s playoffs, holding teams to under 100 points in eight of the 10 contests. The Wine and Gold rank 2nd in the NBA in opponent points per game (92.6), 2nd in opponent field goal percentage (.408) and 2nd in opponent three-point field goal percentage (.305).

In the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Cleveland held Chicago under .400 shooting in each of the final four contests and a combined .401 shooting from the field throughout the series. The four consecutive games holding an opponent to under .400 shooting set a new franchise playoff record. The last team to hold an opponent to under .400 shooting in four or more consecutive playoff games was the Memphis Grizzlies (four straight from April 21-29, 2014).

The Cavaliers lead all postseason teams in blocks per game at 7.6. Cleveland had 12 blocks against the Bulls in Game 5, which was just one shy of tying their franchise postseason record for blocks in a single game (13 on May 3, 1989 at Chicago).

Get into the conversation with other die-hards.

Atlanta advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals after defeating the Brooklyn Nets in the opening round and the Washington Wizards in the Semifinals.

The Hawks have a balanced scoring attack with six players averaging double-digits throughout the playoffs led by DeMarre Carroll's 17.1 points per game.

Probable Starters/Status Update*presented by Cleveland Clinic

Status Update: Anderson Varejao, (Left Achilles Tendon Rupture, Out), Kevin Love, (Left Shoulder Dislocation, Out)

Hawks: PG - Jeff Teague, SG - Kyle Korver, SF - DeMarre Carroll PF - Paul Millsap, C - Al Horford

Status Update: (Hawks) - Thabo Sefolosha, (Right Calf Strain, Out)

Cleveland went 1-3 against Atlanta during the 2014-15 regular season. The Cavaliers trail the all-time series against the Hawks 96-117 (61-47 Home, 35-70 Road).

In the season series against the Hawks, the Cavs shot a combined .408 from the three-point line, while connecting on at least 13 three-pointers in three of the four matchups, including a franchise-record 19 triples in the 127-94 win on Nov. 15.

TV: TNT, Radio: WTAM 1100, 87.7 FM La Mega, ESPN Radio

Be sure to tune into #CavsLive pregame show on FOX Sports Ohio starting at 7:30 p.m.

For live in-game updates, follow @cavs, @CavsJoeG, @CavsFredMcLeod, @MrCavalier34, @CavsJMike, @chones22, @FSOAllieOop and @ElalcaldeRafa on Twitter.

After tonight's game, the two teams will square off in Game 2 of the series on Friday at Philips Arena. Tipoff is at 8:30 p.m. ET. View Series Schedule

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GameDay Preview: Game 1 at Atlanta Hawks

Presented by:

fubo

REMAINING ROUND 2, GAME 4 TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW. <strong><a href="https://seatgeek.com/cleveland-cavaliers-tickets?market=open&amp;aid=15870&amp;pid=web&amp;rid=50624&amp;utm_medium=partnership&amp;utm_source=cavs_ticketing&amp;utm_campaign=web&amp;utm_content=playofftickets">FIND SEATS &gt;&gt;</a></strong>