Hawks-Cavaliers: Player Matchups from Atlanta's Perspective

The city of Atlanta, its fans, and the Hawks are taking a beating today. 

The playoff series against the Heat is being called the worst seven-game series of all time. A local sports radio personality called the Atlanta sports media “soft-assed” because fans were upset by a question for coach Mike Woodson. And on PTI today, Michael Wilbon called Atlanta “the worst sports city in America.” 

Ouch. All I know is that I may be in the minority, but I think the Hawks have a very good chance to take the Cleveland Cavs to six or seven games in Round Two of the NBA playoffs.

Here is my take on the player matchups from the Hawks’ perspective:

Joe Johnson vs. Moe Williams

Joe Johnson is coming off a superb Game Seven performance against the Miami Heat.  Johnson is the best playmaker on the Hawks team and he will handle the ball to initiate the offense just as much as point guard Mike Bibby. 

Johnson has to have a monster series for the Hawks to have a chance against the Cavs. He needs to come through especially in the fourth quarter like he did last season against the Celtics. The major obstacle for JJ is not Moe Williams, because Delonte West will guard him most of the time. West’s ability to get close to Johnson and disrupt his dribble penetration gives Johnson all kinds of problems. Look for Joe to use his size advantage.

Mike Bibby vs. Delonte West

The main liability for Bibby is on the defensive end of the court. He is going to have to guard Delonte West, because West is the least explosive of the Cavs starting guards. 

Bibby could be used to double team Lebron, but he lacks the size to bother anyone on double teams. However, Bibby was the most consistent player for the Hawks against the Heat. He is on fire from the three-point line and he had an important hard drive to the basket on Sunday. Bibby has to stay aggressive on the offense. 

If any of these games are close, Bibby is going to be a major factor shooting perimeter shots in the fourth quarter.

Mo Evans vs. Lebron James

Lebron just was named the MVP of the NBA. Mo Evans is a journeyman who will be giving up inches and pounds to LeBron. The one good aspect of this match up for the Hawks is that Lebron does not have a great post up game. 

Evans will be able to match up on the perimeter.  He has to make Lebron shoot perimeter shots. That is the only chance for the Hawks.  You cannot get beat off the dribble and foul him.  He is shooting 15 free throw attempts per game in the playoffs.  

On the other end of the floor, Evans has to be ready to catch and shoot, because he is going to get open looks. James will be able to roam around which might lead to some great blocks and steals, but it also might lead to Evans making some three-point shots.

Josh Smith vs. Anderson Varejao

If Smith will attack the basket like he did on Sunday, this match up favors the Hawks.  Varejao is aggressive on defense and he is the best help side defender on the Cavs. When he helps, J-Smoove has to crash the offensive boards and scores. 

Smith also should be able to attack Varejao off the dribble and beat him down the floor in transition. The Hawks can steal Game One if Smith comes out with a huge game with something like 24 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks performance. Defensively, Varejao sets a ton of ball screens. 

The Hawks have switched ball screens most of the year. This means that Smith is going to have to guard Lebron out on the perimeter. I actually think Smith can rise to the challenge, because he is almost as athletically gifted as LeBron. He is just not as tough mentally. Yet.

Al Horford vs. Zydrunas Ilgauskas

This is such an intriguing match up. Horford is really a power forward and he had trouble guarding the bigger Jermaine O’Neal on the block in the last series. Big Z is not a great post up player. He gets baskets by setting screens and facing up. 

The Hawks are likely to switch a Lebron-Z ball screen and then double Lebron on the drive. That means Ilgauskas is going to have to knock down open 20-foot jump shots.  He can do this. 

Offensively, I am waiting for a huge, bust out performance from Horford.  The ankle injury might slow him down, but he has to use his quickness against Ilgauskas. Horford has to his a couple medium range jumpers to bring Ilgauskas out from the basket.  Then, he can drive around him and attack the basket. 

I would like to see Horford draw some more contact and shoot more free throws in this series.

The Hawks Bench

Will Marvin Williams play? Without Williams, the Hawks lose their best option defensively against Lebron. This season Williams was able to challenge Lebron because of his wingspan and his defensive focus. 

I think he needs to play even if the wrist hurts. Guarding Lebron gives Williams a chance to prove he deserves a multi-year contract from some NBA team.

Flip Murray and Zaza Pachulia played great in the Hawks’ four victories against the Heat. These two are pretty consistent—they play good at home and bad on the road. I guess Zaza’s 18-rebound performance in Game Five in Miami is the exception that proves the rule. 

Murray is instant offense and he is not going to be afraid of West, Moe Williams, or Daniel Gibson. Murray is also playing for his money next year. He was on the verge last August of going to play in Russia! Now, if he has a big series, he is looking at signing for a very good money either with the Hawks or with someone else next year.