NBA Preview: Atlanta Hawks (18-12) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (8-20)
The Atlanta Hawks will host the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight, and will be looking for a third straight win over the struggling Cavaliers. While on the other hand, the Cavaliers
will be hoping to bounce back from a disappointing loss at home to the Utah Jazz.
The Hawks are among the league leaders when it comes to home wins, a feat which in large part rests on their robust defence. With the Cavaliers coming into their backyard,
it is an ideal opportunity for the Hawks to continue their prolific home run.
How did Atlanta fare in their last game?
The Hawks, who are off to the best start in franchise history and are an impressive 18-12 in the National Basketball Association (NBA), are coming off a tough 91-81 home
victory against the Orlando Magic on Monday.
Al Horford flourished in another move from center to power forward with 24 points, 11 rebounds and four assists to lead the host Hawks. With 19 points and 20 rebounds,
Dwight Howard had more than half the Magic's boards, as Atlanta out-rebounded Orlando 51-38. Joe Johnson scored 17 for Atlanta, and Mike Bibby had 15. Josh Smith scored 12 points, 10 boards and three blocks as the Hawks improved to 15-4 when he registers at
least two.
Smith said after the game, "I wish we could get revved up for everybody else like we get revved up for Orlando and other good teams with good records.” The
Hawks played offensively and limited Orlando to 35.2 percent shooting – their lowest of the season. The Magic tied the game at 55 on a Howard dunk with less than five minutes to play in the
third quarter, but Orlando missed its next 11 shots from the field in the next 12 minutes.
In the middle of that stretch Atlanta took a 77-62 lead on a Marvin Williams dunk, following Josh Smith's block off an attempted dunk by Howard at the other end.
How did the Cleveland Cavaliers fare in their last game?
The Cavalier’s performance has not up to the mark this season, as they have already lost 20 times. In addition, Cleveland is on the verge of recording its longest road
slide, since dropping 13 in a row between October and December 2003.
Despite making a season-best 12 three-pointers, Cleveland Cavaliers lost their previous match against the Utah Jazz at Quicken Loans Arena, 101-90.
Cavaliers Coach Byron Scott said, "For me, and hopefully for the guys in that locker room, losing is always frustrating. I do not like it. I don't enjoy it," "I can deal
with it because we are going to continue to get better. I know the guys in that locker room will continue to give me that same effort."
Daniel Gibson did all he could, and made seven of 8 from beyond the arc en route to a career-high 29 points in Cavaliers 11th defeat
in their last 12 games. Gibson is shooting 63.0 percent from the three-point range over his previous six games.
Gibson said after the game, "I'm not real big on personal things. If it results in a win, then I'm excited about it," "If we are not winning, then for me, I just want
to figure out what we need to do in order to win our next game."
Mo Williams scored 16 points and dished out 10 assists against the Jazz. He is averaging 20.3 points and 11.6 assists in his previous three games.
The entire third quarter, when the Jazz methodically broke down the Cavaliers behind the heady play of point guard Deron Williams (17 points, 10 assists) -- extending
a five-point half time lead to 12 by the start of the fourth.
The Cavaliers should learn a lesson from their past performance and concentrate on defence, as they are surrendering 102.9 points per game.
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