NBA Playoff Schedule 2016: TV, Livestream Coverage for Wednesday's Semis
Meeting the Atlanta Hawks in a second straight postseason, the Cleveland Cavaliers can once again use them as a stepping stone to the NBA Finals.
The Cavaliers, who swept the 60-win Hawks in last year's Eastern Conference Finals, opened their semifinal showdown with a home victory on Monday night. Despite registering 25 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and five steals, LeBron James was not impressed with his team's 104-93 win.
“We played an OK game,” James said in a news conference, per ESPN.com's Ohm Youngmisuk. “I don’t think we played to our standards. The first game is always kind of a feel-out, and we look forward to the challenges of Wednesday.”
Atlanta kept the matchup tight late into the fourth quarter, but Cleveland squashed a one-point lead with a 10-0 run down the stretch. On Wednesday night, the Hawks get another chance to steal one on the road.
If James thinks he can handle the Monstars, he better not have much trouble vanquishing the Eastern Conference's No. 4 seed in Game 2.
Game 2: Atlanta Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (CLE Leads 1-0)
When: Wednesday, May 4, at 8 p.m. ET
Where: Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland
TV: TNT
Livestream: Watch TNT
A key piece to last year's sweep over Atlanta, Tristan Thompson corralled 44 rebounds and seven blocks. Adding a larger sample size to his success, he scooped up 40 boards in three 2015-16 regular-season bouts—all Cleveland victories. He continued his dominance over Atlanta in Game 1 by absorbing 14 boards while swatting two more shots in 40 minutes.
The big man collected seven offensive rebounds for extra possessions and second-chance points—a byproduct of Atlanta's kinetic defense drifting away from the limited scorer. Atlanta head coach Mike Budenholzer discussed the dilemma with ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin.
"If you help, then he's active on the boards," Budenholzer said. "I know it's more important that we make them miss first. That's our priority, and then we have to have all five guys in there competing, getting after it. Credit to him. He's a good player. He plays off their penetration and shots well."
As noted by Cavs play-by-play announcer Fred McLeod, Thompson also played a pivotal role in Paul Millsap's inefficient 17 points on 19 field-goal attempts:
Al Horford also struggled, going 4-of-13 with 10 points and six rebounds. Cleveland removed Kyle Korver from the equation and limited the prolific deep shooter to one field-goal attempt. The extra attention was nothing new in this matchup, as Korver told Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“They’ve done it for a couple years,” he said. “They are a very smart team. They are really good at it. This is why they are one of the best in the NBA, if not the best. They know what they are doing. They are all on a string. It’s a definite challenge.”
Jeff Teague wasn't of much service, either, going 2-of-9 and prematurely declaring the series over after one basket in the first quarter of Game 1:
It turns out there's more to just believing it. When the starting point guard couldn't soar, Dennis Schroder kept Atlanta alive with 27 points off the bench, including five three-pointers. The backup guard at least kept things interesting, and it also helped that Kevin Love shot like Daffy Duck (4-of-17) for the Cavs.
Love's rough night also included Kent Bazemore colliding into his right shoulder on a pump fake and an uncomfortable landing on his toe.
He exited the game before the final buzzer but erased any fears he'd miss Game 2, courtesy of CBS Sports' Ken Berger.
"I'm fine," Love said. "It was just one of those plays. You've always got to watch those plays when you pump-fake on the three-point line or on a jump shot and you're leaning in and get hit, but I feel good."
With Thompson dominating inside and James doing typical James things, Cleveland doesn't need a monster Love outing to extend its lead. As long as everyone else doesn't adopt Bill Murray's defensive philosophy, the Cavs remain in good shape.
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