Cleveland Cavaliers Have the Antidote for Atlanta Hawks’ All-Star Front Line

In a clash of Eastern Conference powers, look for much of the action to take place in the paint, where All-Stars and workhorses collide.

This is where the Atlanta Hawks’s All-Star frontcourt of Paul Millsap and Al Horford primarily operate. It’s also home to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ talented duo of Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson. While most NBA teams deploy a traditional center-power forward tandem, these two squads are very different in their similarity.

“Against the Hawks, in terms of Millsap and Horford, we are kind of the same active bigs,” Thompson said after Cleveland won Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Atlanta, 104-93, on Monday.

Ever since the Cavs decided to bench center Timofey Mozgov midseason, both teams essentially use a pair of power forwards up front. It’s been an effective strategy, but what happens when each gets a taste of the other’s medicine?

What They Bring to the Table

For Atlanta, Millsap and Horford have similar skill sets. Both can put the ball on the floor, face up, hit jumpers, defend and pass beautifully for someone of their stature. There may not be one elite skill between the two, but there are very few weaknesses.

For Cleveland, it’s the exact opposite. Besides hitting the glass, Love and Thompson offer offense/defense options for varying scenarios, yet they have compatible skill sets. 

Love brings an impressive array of post moves plus the ability to step out and stretch the floor. Thompson ideally won’t shoot anything from outside of five feet, but he can guard multiple positions and effectively defend the pick-and-roll with his athleticism and lateral quickness.

The Cavs can play both at the same time with ease. They must do so to beat Atlanta.

Thompson, the Hawk Tamer

Of the four, Thompson is the only one never to have been named an All-Star. He also may be the most effective for this series.

Cleveland’s $82 million man helped secure his payday in large part due to last year’s Eastern Conference Finals against these same Hawks. During a four-game sweep where he started at power forward, the 6’9″ Texas product put up 11.8 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks on 64.3 percent shooting from the field.

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