The second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs tips off Monday night with a rematch of last year's Conference Finals. In that matchup, the Cavaliers, despite missing Kevin Love, were able to sweep the Hawks and advance to the Finals. This year, Love is healthy and Cleveland looks even more dangerous. That could spell trouble for the Hawks.
Hawks vs. Cavaliers, 2016 NBA playoffs: Time, TV schedule and live stream for Game 1
The second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs tips off with a rematch of last year’s Conference Finals.
Atlanta, though, is a very different team than it was last season. This year's Hawks rely on a defense that was second in the league in points allowed per possession. That unit is anchored by Paul Millsap, who could find himself in the spotlight this series. Atlanta head coach Mike Budenholzer will likely try slotting him onto LeBron James.
The key for the Hawks will be keeping James out of the paint and forcing him to take jumpers. If they can do that, keep the pace down and figure out how to slow down the suddenly explosive small lineups of the Cavaliers, they might have a chance of pulling off the upset. But the odds are certainly against them.
How unlikely is an upset? After Game 1 we’ll know.
How to Cavaliers vs. Hawks Game 1
Place: Quicken Loans Arena
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: TNT
Streaming: WatchTNT
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