The Atlanta Hawks are on the verge of seeing their post-season drift away from them as they head into Game 3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers needing to win.
Where: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland.
When: Monday May 25, 01:30 (UK time)
Watch live: Click here to watch on BT Sport online!
The Cavaliers are in complete command of this series as they prepare to host their rivals having won both road games to take a 2-0 lead.
With LeBron James averaging 30.5 points, 8.5 assists and 8.5 rebounds through the first two games, the Hawks seemingly don’t have an answer to stop him and it is becoming a case of when, not if, their season ends this week.
Coach Mike Budenholzer has also had to deal with injury problems which haven’t helped his cause as both Al Horford and DeMarre Carroll struggled their way through Game 2 with knocks.
However, the biggest blow was to come later that night with Kyle Korver ruled out for the rest of the post-season after suffering a severe ankle sprain.
With the sharp-shooter out the picture, the Atlanta offense is weakened significantly and so they will need to formulate other strategies to get themselves back involved in this series before it is too late.
It would help if they started by returning to their philosophies and culture of ball movement and team-first basketball, as that hasn’t been at the forefront of their play so far this series.
What makes this even more frustrating from the Hawks is that they haven’t been able to take advantage of Kyrie Irving’s absence, and so LeBron and his support cast are doing a great job of nullifying their threat and being efficient offensively themselves.
Atlanta are running out of time, lose this and they will be pushed to the brink of elimination with the next two games being played in Cleveland. If they have an answer, now is the time to deliver it.
Prediction: It is all crashing down around the Hawks right now and expect the Cavs to open up a 3-0 with a dominant performance on their home court, led by who other than LeBron James.
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