Cavaliers-Hawks Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Nov 29 2012 4:57PM

After an inconsistent start to the season, the Atlanta Hawks have found their groove and enter the weekend as one of the NBA's hottest teams.

That doesn't bode well for the slumping Cleveland Cavaliers, who already have had their hands full in this series of late.

The Hawks try for a seventh consecutive victory overall and an eighth straight over the visiting Cavaliers on Friday night.

Atlanta (9-4) recorded its worst start in five years by opening 3-4 but has since picked up the pace, putting together six wins in a row behind a continued focus on defense.

They're forcing a league-best 17.9 turnovers per game and are limiting opponents to averages of 92.0 points and 42.5 percent shooting - both rank near the top. They clamped down again Wednesday in a 94-91 win over Charlotte.

"These games, in the past, one of them we would've dropped if we didn't come out with enough energy and little things like that," said Al Horford, averaging 17.2 points and 10.0 rebounds during the win streak. "I think this year we're doing a good job even though it's closer than we would like. But we're getting the wins."

Horford, Josh Smith and Lou Williams all scored 17 points Wednesday, with Horford and Smith combining for 24 rebounds, 12 assists and eight blocks. The Hawks held the Bobcats to 39.5 percent from the field.

"My selling pitch is always gonna be defense," coach Larry Drew said. "I don't expect us to shoot the ball well every single night, but our defense has to be our staple - it has to be what we hang our hat on... defense has to be our No. 1 priority."

The Hawks, who last won seven straight Nov. 7-20, 2009, have to like their chances of keeping things going with the Cavaliers (3-12) coming to town. Atlanta is looking to match its longest win streak in the 42-year history of the series, having previously won eight in a row over Cleveland from April 13, 1982-Dec. 3, 1983.

The Cavs haven't won in this series since LeBron James left the team, and none of those six games were decided by fewer than 12 points except for the last one. The Hawks prevailed 103-102 in overtime March 21 behind Smith's 32 points and 17 rebounds.

Cleveland has dropped 10 of 11 after Tuesday's 91-78 loss to Phoenix. Anderson Varejao had 20 points and 18 rebounds, but the Cavs shot 35.7 percent and were outscored 42-28 in the paint.

"I'll make just a real quick statement - Andy Varejao was fantastic," coach Byron Scott said. "Everybody else stunk tonight. Anything else you need to know?

"We gotta get into our stuff quicker, faster, better screens, better set-ups... we just gotta get better at a lot of little things on both ends of the floor."

While very little has gone the Cavaliers' way of late, Varejao has been a bright spot. The Brazil native is averaging a career-high 14.5 points and leads the league with 14.9 boards per game.

"The way Anderson is rebounding the ball right now, the only comparison you can make is to Dennis Rodman," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said.

Cleveland continues to play without leading scorer Kyrie Irving (fractured finger) and could be missing fellow guard Daniel Gibson (elbow contusion) for a second straight game.

Rookie Dion Waiters (finger contusion) should be available. He's averaging 15.0 points to rank second among first-year players but has shot 30.2 percent from the field over his last eight games.

The Cavaliers have dropped eight straight on the road, where they're allowing 102.7 points per game - compared to 95.2 at home.

Gee lifts Cavaliers past Hawks, 113-111

By CHARLES ODUM
Posted Dec 01 2012 12:58AM

ATLANTA (AP) Dion Waiters' shot worked more like a Hail Mary pass, and Alonzo Gee was in position to make the winning catch.

Gee scored on a putback with less than 1 second remaining, lifting the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 113-111 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night that snapped a four-game losing streak.

Gee rebounded the missed 3-pointer by Waiters and quickly followed up for the tiebreaking basket. The Hawks, out of timeouts, couldn't manage a shot before time expired.

"I thought it was good," Gee said of Waiters' shot. "He was in rhythm and I thought it was going in. And then I caught it and I was, like, `Oh!"'

Cavaliers coach Byron Scott wanted Waiters to attempt a higher-percentage shot.

"Yeah, I guess I've got to be a little more specific and say, `Try to get to the basket,"' Scott said.

Scott said Gee "bailed him out."

"It didn't touch nothing," Scott said of Waiters' shot. "Luckily, Zo was there to rebound the ball and put it in."

Josh Smith took the blame for Atlanta's loss, saying he should have boxed out Gee but instead was "ball watching" on Waiters' shot.

Jeremy Pargo led Cleveland with 22 points, including three straight baskets late in the game. Waiters scored 21 and Anderson Varejao had 20 points and 18 rebounds as Cleveland earned its second road win in 11 tries.

Smith had 25 points for Atlanta, which had won six in a row. Al Horford had 15 points and 11 rebounds, but he got little help as the Cavaliers outrebounded the Hawks 49-28.

"I think this was a reality check for us in a way that we need to get back to work and get better on the defensive end," Horford said, adding the Hawks "got baited" into a high-scoring pace.

Tristan Thompson had 15 rebounds and six points for the Cavaliers.

Daniel Gibson's 3-pointer with 4:24 remaining gave Cleveland its first lead of the second half at 99-97. Smith scored for Atlanta before Pargo took over with three straight baskets for a 105-99 lead.

A three-point play by Jeff Teague and a 3-pointer by Lou Williams with 1:16 remaining pulled the Hawks back into a tie at 105-all.

Pargo then set up Varejao for a running jump shot, and Waiters converted a layup to give Cleveland a four-point lead. Smith's 3-pointer with 18 seconds remaining trimmed the difference to one. Varejao sank two free throws before Williams answered with a tying 3-pointer with 13.6 seconds left.

Varejao posted his seventh straight double-double. It was his 11th game with more than 15 rebounds this season. He began the night with an NBA-best 14.9 rebounds per game.

Varejao had help; the Hawks never found an answer for Pargo's drives to the basket.

"We had a tough time defending them off the dribble," Atlanta coach Larry Drew said.

Asked what his guards should have done better against Pargo, Drew said: "Defend him. Just take the personal challenge and defend him."

Drew said the Hawks, who survived recent close wins over Washington and Charlotte, can learn from the loss.

"I told the guys, maybe we needed a game like this," Drew said. "We've been home for a little while and we've dodged a couple of bullets with some teams."

Cleveland led 54-50 with less than 3 minutes to go in the first half before the Hawks closed out the quarter with a 17-2 run. Smith started the run with three straight baskets; a 3-pointer, followed by a jam on Teague's assist and then a hook shot.

Drew called timeout with 2 seconds remaining. Ivan Johnson took the inbound pass, dribbled a few feet beyond the top of the arc and then launched a buzzer-beating 3-pointer - only the third of his career.

A smiling Johnson celebrated with chest bumps from Smith and Anthony Morrow as the Hawks left the court leading 67-56.

The Hawks kept the lead until late in the fourth quarter.

"It was one of those nights where we would play hard, get comfortable, play hard, get comfortable," said Williams, who had 18 points. "At the end it cost us. It didn't come down to the one offensive rebound where they lay it up. That's the one that everybody will look at, but I think they did a good job of rebounding the ball all night."

NOTES: The Hawks went 23 for 32 at the foul line, compared to 21 of 22 for the Cavs. ... Gibson returned after missing one game with a sore right elbow. ... Cleveland ended a streak of seven straight losses in the series. The Cavaliers' last win in the series came on April 2, 2010, and their last win in Atlanta was on Dec. 29, 2009. ... Atlanta's DeShawn Stevenson made four 3-pointers for 12 points.

Notebook: Cavs 113, Hawks 111

Micah Hart, for NBA.com
Posted Fri Nov 30, 2012 11:18 PM - Updated Sat Dec 01, 2012 5:08 PM

THE FACTS: Cleveland snapped Atlanta's six-game winning streak when Alonzo Gee scored on a put back with 0.4 seconds to play to take a 113-111 victory. It's only the fourth win of the season for the Cavs, who came back repeatedly throughout the game to finally take the lead in the final minutes.

Lou Williams hit a 3-pointer off an out of bounds play to tie the game at 111-111 with 13.6 seconds left. The Cavs then put the ball in rookie Dion Waiters hands, but his air ball was way off target. Fortunately Gee got behind Josh Smith for the rebound and putback, and DeShawn Stevenson's desperation heave was too late and too short.

QUOTABLE: "It's my fault, didn't box out." -- Josh Smith on the game's final possession.

THE STAT: 49. The Cavaliers out-rebounded the Hawks 49-28, leading to 27 second-chance points in the game -- none bigger than the two by Gee for the win.

THE STAT II: 21-22. It's the little things that help a losing team pick up a big road win, and the Cavaliers made the most of their trips to the free throw line, missing just one on the night. In a game decided by two points, the Cavs' ability to take advantage at the foul stripe coupled with the Hawks missing nine free throws (23-32) made a huge difference.

TURNING POINT: Atlanta led 97-89 after two Josh Smith free throws with 7:28 left in the game. Cleveland then went on a 16-2 run over the next five minutes to take a 105-99 lead, and they never trailed again.

QUOTABLE II: "Anderson Varejao was terrific. And this time, everyone else didn't suck." -- Cavs coach Byron Scott. After Cleveland's loss to Phoenix in their last game, Scott said to the media: 'Anderson Varejao is fantastic, everybody else sucked.'

HOT: The Hawks in the first half. Atlanta scored a season-best 67 points in the first 24 minutes.

NOT: Dion Waiters started hot for Cleveland, hitting 4-7 in the first half on his way to a team-leading 14 points. He couldn't keep it up in the second half however, hitting just 2-9 from the field, including the airball that fortunately led to the winning basket.

GOOD MOVE: When Waiters went cold, Scott put the ball in the hands of guard Jeremy Pargo, and Pargo did not disappoint. Pargo scored on four straight possessions down the stretch for the Cavs, helping them turn an eight-point deficit into a six-point lead.

BAD MOVE: Hawks coach Larry Drew chose to start a smaller lineup against the Cavaliers, starting DeShawn Stevenson instead of Zaza Pachulia against the Cleveland's rugged frontline. The Cavs saved several possessions throughout the game with timely offensive rebounds, including the game-winner.

NOTABLE: Varejao continues to churn out numbers for the Cavaliers. Raggedy Andy posted his seventh straight double-double with 20 points and 18 rebounds. It was also the seventh straight game with 15-plus rebounds for Varejao.

UP NEXT: For the Cavaliers, Saturday vs. Portland, Monday @ Detroit, Wednesday vs. Chicago. For the Hawks, Wednesday vs. Denver, Friday vs. Washington, Saturday at Memphis.

• Cavaliers: Irving, Jones
• Hawks: Korver

• Cavaliers: --
• Hawks: Smith

• Lead Changes: 12
• Times Tied: 8

• Arena: Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
• Officials: #48 Scott Foster, #56 Mark Ayotte, #74 Curtis Blair
• Attendance: 13094
• Duration: 2:16