The Cleveland Cavaliers arrive in Atlanta with a quick turnaround and a challenge waiting at the end of a Wednesday-Thursday back-to-back. It’s only their second road game of the season, and they’re trying to do it against a Hawks team that comes in looking to snap a three-game skid.
Atlanta’s start has been uneven overall, but the pieces are easy to see. The Hawks have built this group around defensive versatility, and that’s why this version of the team has been so intriguing.
Jalen Johnson brings All-Star-level size and playmaking, Nickeil Alexander-Walker gives them another two-way presence, and Dyson Daniels adds more speed and agility to the mix. That defensive end hasn’t been as sharp as expected through five games, though, and that has kept Atlanta from getting rolling.
The Hawks opened with a 132-125 win in Orlando, then blew out Charlotte by 47 points. Since then, the results have gone the other way. They’ve lost back-to-back games to Houston and Miami, dropping them to 2-3.
Even with those defensive issues, Atlanta has been loud on offense. The Hawks rank seventh in offense, first in assists and first in scoring points off turnovers.
Johnson has been the centerpiece of that attack, piling up 19.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game even with his scoring down from last season’s breakout. Alexander-Walker has matched him at 19.6 points per game and is knocking down threes at a 42% clip on nearly nine attempts a night.
The biggest surprise has been Aaron Wiggins, who came over in a salary dump from Oklahoma City and has scored in double figures in every game so far while coming off the bench each time. Atlanta has also gotten solid early contributions from its other new faces, Luguentz Dort and rookie Kingston Flemings, who have helped shape the back end of the rotation.
Cleveland, meanwhile, also played Wednesday and had to claw back against Washington before escaping with the win. That means both teams are dealing with the same short-rest setup, but the Cavs have another issue to manage: Atlanta has given them trouble at home during the Donovan Mitchell era thanks to the Hawks’ perimeter pressure.
That pressure could show up right away. Mitchell is expected to see Dyson Daniels, while James Harden gets Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Those are matchups that have not gone Cleveland’s way very often. The Cavs may need a big night from Peyton Watson, who just delivered his best game as a Cavalier on Wednesday.
But Atlanta’s depth gives Quin Snyder plenty of answers if Watson does get off to a strong start, especially if the Cavs find a little room against CJ McCollum. Snyder can counter by turning to Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins and stacking more length and activity on the floor.
Cleveland has yet to show a full 48-minute performance, and this trip gives them another chance to try. Still, with the rest situation, the matchup history and Atlanta’s depth all pointing the same direction, this has the feel of a difficult spot for the Cavaliers.
Cleveland Cavaliers - James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Atlanta Hawks - CJ McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu
In Other News...
Hawks Could Catch A Break If Cavs Lose Two Key Rotation Pieces
Clevelands injury report has given Atlanta a small opening ahead of a matchup that could matter in the early standings. Jaylon Tyson and Meleek Thomas are both listed as questionable for the Cavaliers because of a cervical strain and right foot soreness, and both have been part of the rotation in the seasons opening stretch.
For the Hawks, the timing is worth watching because Cleveland is still chasing a fourth straight win and expects its starters to be available. If those two rotation pieces cannot go, the Cavaliers would have a thinner bench and a little less flexibility in a game Atlanta could use to test a team trying to keep its momentum rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Frontcourt Issues Are Putting Real Pressure On Quin Snyder
The Hawks have kept things tight through their first five games, leaning on a strict nine-player rotation while the frontcourt has begun to look a little vulnerable. Rebounding and interior defense have been recurring issues in recent games, and that has pushed some attention toward Asa Newell and Zuby Ejiofor, two young bigs whose presence could give Quin Snyder another way to address the physical problems inside.
Newell and Ejiofor have barely seen the floor so far, with their only action coming in a lopsided win over Charlotte, but both were first-round picks for a reason. Newell brings the more polished offensive game, while Ejiofor is viewed as the stronger defender, which gives Atlanta a couple of different options if Snyder decides the rotation needs to grow. [Read more 🡒]
CJ McCollum May Be Shaping A Hawks Backcourt Change Already
Kingston Flemings made a strong case for a larger role in Atlantas home loss to Miami, turning a bench opportunity into the kind of performance that tends to linger with a coaching staff. The young guard put up a career-high 23 points in 28 minutes, giving the Hawks a jolt while working alongside a backcourt that has been shifting in real time.
CJ McCollums presence still looms over that conversation, even with the veteran not on the floor to finish the game as the staff went with the hotter hand. Flemings was quick to point to McCollums guidance and the way the veteran has helped him grow, which adds another layer to a situation that already feels like it could influence Atlantas backcourt mix before long. [Read more 🡒]