The Atlanta Hawks have reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in team history, and to move to the next round they'll have to knock off the Cleveland Cavaliers. Here are KL Chouinards 8 keys to the series:
1) Dribble penetration.
If Jeff Teague and Dennis Schröder can get to the middle of the floor, the Hawks should be able to get great shots either at the rim or from their three-point shooters. Schröder averaged 6.3 assists in just 19.1 minutes per game against Cleveland this season.
2) Keep DeMarre Carroll out of foul trouble.
When the All-NBA Defense Teams come out in the next week or two, look for Carroll's name. He deserves a spot. Carroll will be the Hawks' best bet at slowing LeBron James. The only time the Hawks (3-1) lost to the Cavaliers this season was when he missed a game due to injury.
3) Minimize three-point field goal attempts.
The four teams remaining are 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in three-point shots attempted per game in the playoffs. It's a valuable shot, and unlike Brooklyn or Washington, the three-point shot has been a weapon for the Cavaliers all season long.
4) Keep Tristan Thompson off the offensive glass.
The Cavaliers lost three-point shooting, floor spacing and defensive rebounding when Kevin Love suffered a shoulder injury. However, in adding Thompson to the starting lineup, the Cavs have added an elite offensive rebounder. Atlanta has to box him out and eliminate second chances.
5) Turn LeBron over.
James is a fantastic offensive force, averaging 26.5 assists and 7.9 assists per game in the playoffs. He is also turning the ball over 4.6 times per game, right near the top of the NBA. The Hawks will need to get those turnovers to have the best chance at winning.
6) Find Al Horford running the floor.
Much like they did in the series against Brooklyn, the Hawks have a sizable speed advantage at the center position. Atlanta can make Timofey Mozgov uncomfortable if they up the tempo in transition. Another way to neutralize Mozgov is to attack the rim and attempt to get him in foul trouble.
7) Get Kyle Korver early shots.
Cleveland will do everything they can to keep the ball out of Korver's hands, but the more shots he gets, the more consistent his feel with the ball will be. And just about every Korver shot is a great shot.
8) Hawk the ball.
One of the keys to Atlanta's March 6 win over Cleveland was their dogged disruption of the passing lanes. The Hawks were eager to send two defenders at ballhanders and were still savvy enough to make the correct rotations to get back into place when the Cavs made good passes. An aggressive defensive approach will minimize field goal percentage allowed, force turnovers, and eat up time from the shot clock.
Story by KL ChouinardTwitter: @AnaheimAmigos