How should the Cavaliers handle the final 2 games against the Hawks, who could be their R1 opponent?
Atlanta Hawks (45-34, fifth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (50-29, fourth in the Eastern Conference)
Cleveland; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Cleveland seeks to continue its three-game win streak with a victory against Atlanta.
The Cavaliers are 31-18 in conference games. Cleveland is seventh in the NBA with 28.4 assists per game. James Harden leads the Cavaliers averaging 8.1.
The Hawks are 26-23 in Eastern Conference play. Atlanta ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference scoring 51.6 points per game in the paint led by Jalen Johnson averaging 11.7. | https://www.espn.com/nba/preview/_/gameId/401811013
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10 Comments
First like 💪🏾
Trying to pick and choose who you play in the playoffs is such a weak mindset. If you are trying to win a championship, you shouldn't care who you play because you should believe that you can beat anybody. There's nobody in the east that the Cavs can't beat in a series.
This is simple; with Toronto only 1 game back with the tiebreaker, you go hard against Atlanta at home tonight to force at least a split (so we don't have to hear how Atlanta owned us in 2025-2026) and likely have Toronto be the 5 seed by Friday morning after beating Miami again on Thursday. Ideally NY/Bos have a tough game and wins (pushing their magic # to 1 and giving control to tank on Sunday). Toronto will have a good but winnable test again a tired NY team on Friday and hold onto the 5 seed on Sunday giving Cavs the option to play hard on Friday or just tank the last 2. Do not play to pass NY but let Toronto pass Atlanta. This is the way. (and has been for THREE weeks).
In my opinion we're now in a pickle… Because I don't want us to go ahead of the knicks but I rather play the raptors who are directly behind the hawks. But I also have think we should win bother the hawks and raptors. So staying in the 4th slot is the most important thing atm
Remember.. the cavs are not in the business of winning a title this year. They need to get past the 2nd round to keep Mitchell engaged in wanting to resign long term. Otherwise, if they choke again in the 1st or 2nd rd.. its a wrap. Nobody is beating Boston.
Sit Allen, Mobley, Hardin, and Mitchell. Give more time to Tomlin, he'll be needed for perimeter defense in playoffs
They should play to win.
Mobley's pathetic free throw shooting scares me come playoff time
REST! REST! REST! REST! REST!
The Knicks have the tiebreaker against the Cavs so they can afford to have the same record as New York and still be the 4th seed. They should try to beat Atlanta and push them down out of the 5th spot and they keep the 4th seed.
All of this still means that they are not a true title contender in my opinion, but they have to build for next season.