NBA Playoffs 2015: Friday's Schedule, TV Info and More
The No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference is staring down a deadly combination—a 1-0 deficit in a playoff series and LeBron James.
The Cleveland Cavaliers walked into Atlanta and beat the Hawks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals and stole home-court advantage away in the process. Now James and company will attempt to get greedy in Game 2 and set up a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series before it shifts back to Northeast Ohio.
Here is a look at Friday’s postseason schedule, the broadcast information and a prediction.
2015 NBA Playoffs: Friday Schedule
Matchup: Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: TNT
Prediction
Atlanta didn’t only lose Game 1 Wednesday.
Swingman DeMarre Carroll suffered a bone bruise, although it looked much worse when it happened. Considering the season-ending alternative of a torn ligament or structural damage in the knee, the Hawks likely breathed a sigh of relief when they received the official injury diagnosis.
Carroll averaged career highs in points per game (12.6) and three-point percentage (39.5) this season, but his defense is what is most important in this series. Someone has to slow James down, and Carroll is Atlanta’s best option for the daunting task, as NBA on ESPN pointed out:
James scored 31 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out six assists in Game 1. If Carroll cannot go, the Hawks will have an even more difficult time containing James, which could spell doom for Friday’s showdown and the rest of the series.
USA Today’s Dan Wolken underscored Carroll’s importance and noted that all hope is not lost for the Hawks if he plays:
Atlanta is certainly not the only team in this series dealing with physical setbacks.
Kevin Love is out for the playoffs, and Kyrie Irving is fighting through knee and foot concerns that have hampered him for most of the postseason. He only scored 10 points in Game 1 and was visibly hobbled on his way to three fourth-quarter minutes.
Cavaliers coach David Blatt discussed Irving’s worrisome health, per the Associated Press (via ESPN.com): "He wants to be out there at his best and he's dealing with a situation that's not easy for him. On the other hand he's still out there contributing and giving us things we really need and battling through this thing with heart and with courage."
The goal for the Cavaliers since the day James returned was a championship this season. They are only seven wins away from lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy, but achieving that task will be incredibly difficult if Irving is nowhere near 100 percent.
Fortunately for Cleveland, shooting guard J.R. Smith filled the void in Game 1 with 28 points and eight rebounds. Most importantly, he drilled eight of 12 shots from three-point range and spaced the floor beautifully when Atlanta collapsed on James’ penetration. His long-range shooting carried the Cavaliers offense for extended stretches and ultimately ended Atlanta’s chances.
You can call it an aberration for a player who averaged 12.1 points per game during the regular season to score 28, but Smith is shooting 40.6 percent from three-point range in the playoffs.
He outgunned Atlanta’s sharpshooter Kyle Korver in Game 1 (Korver hit two threes on four attempts) and picked up the scoring slack for the injured Irving.
Even with Smith’s heroics, the Hawks are well within striking distance. They went 35-6 at home this season and get another chance in Atlanta Friday.
The Cavaliers may ultimately win this series and challenge for the Larry O’Brien Trophy because they have James and the Hawks don’t, but it is difficult to envision Cleveland stealing both of the first two games in Atlanta without a healthy Irving. Yes, Smith played fantastically in the first contest, but that took a special and unusual effort (he scored 28 points in a single game three times all year and never more than 29).
Smith will regress to the mean in the second game, and James’ efforts will not be enough to carry the Cavaliers to another victory in Atlanta, especially if Carroll can play and Irving is limited.
Prediction: Cleveland wins the series, but Atlanta wins Game 2, 98-94.
