Cavaliers-Hawks Preview

By BRETT HUSTON
Posted Jan 20 2012 11:54PM

The Atlanta Hawks haven't played particularly well on the road, but they've been awfully tough to slow down at home.

That's what makes Saturday night's game especially significant for Atlanta.

Winners of five straight and seven of eight at home, the Hawks try to take advantage of a visit from the Cleveland Cavaliers before heading out on a five-game road trip.

Atlanta (11-5) held opponents to 86.5 points while sweeping a four-game homestand that ended with Wednesday's 92-89 win over Portland, and its outstanding defense carried over to the first half of Friday's trip to Philadelphia.

The Hawks held the 76ers to 34.1 percent shooting in the opening 24 minutes and led 47-39, but couldn't keep getting stops after halftime. A 14-0 Philadelphia third-quarter run turned the game around and Atlanta couldn't recover in a 90-76 loss that left coach Larry Drew fuming.

"It got tough for us and we quit," Drew said. "That's what happened. I was more disappointed than frustrated."

The Hawks fell to 4-4 on the road, where they're averaging just 91.5 points, but it's been a different story at home. Atlanta has scored 101.6 points per game at Philips Arena, where its only loss came in triple overtime Jan. 5 to a Miami team missing LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

That road inconsistency has made it particularly important for the Hawks to win the games they should at home - they'll begin a five-game trip Monday in Milwaukee - and Saturday's contest certainly falls in that category.

Cleveland (6-8) was a bit lethargic in Tuesday's return from a seven-game road trip, a 105-95 loss to Golden State, but it was flat-out bad Friday. Reigning MVP Derrick Rose sat out for Chicago, but the Cavaliers couldn't come close to taking advantage in a 114-75 loss - the worst at home in franchise history.

Like Drew, Cleveland coach Byron Scott was hardly pleased.

"We didn't react to their physical play whatsoever - besides the whining." Scott said. "You cannot let a good team like they are come in and play harder, be more physical, more aggressive and expect to win or even be in the game.

"We have a long way to go. Simple as that."

That massive margin of defeat inflated Cleveland's points per game differential at home to minus-5.4, but it's been better on the road. The Cavaliers are 4-5 away from Quicken Loans Arena, where they've been outscored by an average of just 1.0 point.

They didn't pick up their fifth road win last season until March 16, in their 33rd game.

Rookie Kyrie Irving has been Cleveland's model of consistency despite already surpassing the number of games he played in his brief collegiate career, scoring at least 20 points in each of his last five road contests.

But the Cavaliers generally haven't won unless Antawn Jamison's provided a second scoring threat. They're 4-1 when Jamison scores at least 20 points and 2-7 when he puts up 19 or fewer.

Jamison missed two of the three games in last season's series against Atlanta, all losses.

While Irving has given the Cavs some consistent scoring on the road, Joe Johnson's done that for the Hawks at home. The five-time All-Star has scored at least 23 points in his last four games at Philips Arena, where he averages 21.9 points - 7.4 more than on the road.

Johnson was held to eight points Friday.

Marvin Williams has only given the Hawks 7.3 points per game since returning from a sprained ankle last week, but he should enjoy seeing the Cavs. He averaged 23.3 points last season versus Cleveland.

Johnson scores 25 as Hawks roll past Cavs 121-94

By CHARLES ODUM
Posted Jan 22 2012 2:00AM

ATLANTA (AP) Hawks coach Larry Drew expected a strong start from his team against Cleveland.

Drew was especially pleased to see Atlanta follow through with a strong finish to put away the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second half.

Joe Johnson scored 25 points and the Hawks, coming off a loss that prompted Drew to say they quit, responded with their highest-scoring output of the season in a 121-94 rout Saturday night.

"I thought from start to finish we were in an attack mode," Drew said. "You could see the aggression. You could see the energy."

The Cavaliers did not have a similar response to an ugly loss that drew strong criticism from their coach. Chicago's 114-75 blowout of the Cavaliers on Friday was Cleveland's most lopsided home loss in team history, prompting coach Byron Scott to say, "We didn't react to their physical play whatsoever - besides the whining."

Rookie guard Kyrie Irving scored 18 points to lead the Cavaliers, who have lost three straight and six of eight.

"We're going to see what type of men we have," Scott said. "Sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom to learn, but I don't think we're anywhere near rock bottom yet. Last year we lost 26 in a row, so hopefully we won't see that streak start again."

Cleveland's Antawn Jamison, who had 10 points, bemoaned the team's back-to-back ugly losses.

"To come out last night and perform the way we did was disappointing," Jamison said. "But to come out again, after what we talked about, and pretty much give the same performance, is even worse.

"Last night, we didn't compete at all. But tonight, we do stupid things."

Scott said the Hawks "obviously were playing harder than we were."

Johnson scored 19 points in the first half for Atlanta, which sat all its starters in the final quarter. Jannero Pargo, who opened the fourth with back-to-back 3-pointers, had a season-high 14 points.

Jeff Teague also scored 14 as the Hawks moved past Friday night's 90-76 loss at Philadelphia.

After that defeat, which ended a four-game winning streak, Drew said: "It got tough for us and we quit."

Teague said the Hawks wanted to make sure they did not have another letdown.

"I think we all wanted to bounce back," he said. "I don't think we took (Drew's criticism) personally. We've got to get the killer instinct. I think we're starting to get better at that."

The Hawks improved to 5-1 since losing All-Star center Al Horford for three to four months with a torn left pectoral muscle.

"We understood the importance of winning this game before a five-game road trip," said Josh Smith, who had eight points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals.

With his team facing a big deficit, Scott also rested his starters in the fourth. Tristan Thompson had 16 points for Cleveland and Alonzo Gee added 14.

Thompson had X-rays on his left ankle after the game. He remained in the game after turning his ankle in the fourth quarter.

The Hawks had 31 assists, one below their season high, and 11 steals. Atlanta scored 23 points off Cleveland's 20 turnovers.

"When we move the ball like that, we become tough to defend," Drew said. "We're just a totally different ballclub when we really move the ball."

The Hawks made 57.8 percent of their shots in the first half to lead 61-42 at the break, then stretched the lead to 75-46 with a 14-4 run to open the second half.

The Cavaliers had a spirited start but couldn't maintain the pace against the Hawks. After a 16-all tie, the Hawks pulled away with a 9-0 run and kept their lead in double figures through most of the second period.

The Hawks stretched the advantage to 81-51 in the third quarter, and Pargo's two 3-pointers pushed it to 95-63 early in the fourth.

Notes: Cavaliers G Daniel Gibson was held out for personal reasons. ... Irving had seven turnovers and two assists. ... Hawks C Zaza Pachulia made his third start and had 13 points. ... G Kirk Hinrich, who has missed the first 17 games of the season while recovering from left shoulder surgery, said he hopes to play during Atlanta's upcoming five-game trip. ... Dr. Xavier Duralde, who performed the surgery on Horford, checked the center on Saturday and said Horford can begin strengthening work in six weeks.

Notebook: Hawks 121, Cavaliers 94

By Matt Winkeljohn, for NBA.com
Posted Saturday January 21, 2012 10:38PM

THE FACTS: Two teams entered Philips Arena Saturday upset after horrible losses a night earlier, and the Atlanta Hawks left the Cavaliers feeling that way after Joe Johnson scored 17 of his 25 points in the first half to lead Atlanta to a 121-94 rout.

The Hawks closed the first quarter with an 13-3 run and never looked back on the way to beating Cleveland for the fifth straight time.

Rookie point guard Kyrie Irving scored 18 points, but had seven turnovers as the Cavs followed the worst home loss in franchise history (114-75 Friday to the Bulls) with another poor defensive showing.

Atlanta led the 76ers 47-39 at halftime Friday only to score 10 points in the third quarter of a 90-76 loss in Philadelphia, but the Hawks (12-5) suffered no prolonged droughts Saturday. They made 55.4 percent of their shots (46-for-83) and hit a season high in points.

By quarter, they scored 27, 34, 28 and 32 points. Joe Johnson made 10-of-18 shots, and was 5-for-9 from beyond the 3-point line.

Atlanta point guards Jeff Teague and Jannero Pargo added 14 points each (a season high for Pargo), Zaza Pachulia had 13 (to tie his season high), and 12 of 13 Hawks scored.

Atlanta's sixth straight win at home left the Hawks 8-1 in Philips. The Cavs (6-9) have lost three straight.

QUOTABLE: "We let ourselves down [Friday] in the second half, and everybody knew it. We understood the importance of winning before we [go] out on a five-game road trip."
-- Atlanta's Josh Smith

THE STAT: A couple jump out. Atlanta's 31 assists were one short of a season high, and the the Hawks' 31-10 assist-to-turnover ratio was superb, especially when juxtaposed against Cleveland's 18-18 ratio. The Hawks' 10 turnovers were one more than their season's best effort of nine. Atlanta also cranked up its transition game, out-scoring the Cavs 30-13 in fastbreak points.

TURNING POINT: Trailing 16-14 in the first quarter, the Hawks broke free for good from there when they turned up the pressure on defense. Atlanta forced Cleveland to miss six of seven shots over the final 4:58 of the period, and the Cavs turned the ball over four times in that span -- twice on shot clock violations.

QUOTABLE II: "Sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom to learn, but I don't think we're anywhere near rock bottom yet. Last year, we lost 26 in a row so hopefully we won't see that streak start again."
-- Cavs coach Byron Scott.

QUOTABLE III: "I think right now we're worse than we were last year."
-- Cleveland's Antawn Jamison

HOT: Scott said before the game that he would continue to limit Irving's minutes until he plays better defense, but the rookie from Duke continues to scorch it while on offense. After making 8-of-10 shots Saturday (in 27:01), he's made 29-of-50 -- including 5-for-10 from distance -- over the past five games. . . . Pachulia tied his season highs in points (13) and assists (four), and grabbed six rebounds while shooting 6-for-7. . . . Pargo's six assists were a season high. . . . Cleveland's Tristan Thompson tied his career high with 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting.

NOT: Smith had a game-high 11 rebounds and tied his season high with five assists, but he shot just 2-for-9 and has made but 7-of-24 over his past two games.

NOTABLE: Cleveland reserve guard Daniel Gibson missed the game for "personal reasons." . . . Pachulia started at center for Atlanta after Jason Collins started the previous three games in the wake of Al Horford suffering a torn pectoral muscle. . . . Joe Johnson's five 3-pointers represented a season high.

UP NEXT: For the Cavs, Tuesday @ Heat, Wednesday vs. Knicks, Friday vs. Nets. For the Hawks, Monday @ Bucks, Wednesday @ Spurs, Friday @ Pistons.

• Cavaliers: Eyenga, Thompson
• Hawks: Hinrich, Horford

• Cavaliers: --
• Hawks: Johnson

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
• Officials: #48 Scott Foster, #56 Mark Ayotte, #70 Brent Barnaky
• Attendance: 15922
• Duration: 2:05