The NBA playoffs standings and 2015 schedule has the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks set for Game 1 of the eastern conference finals and players like LeBron James, Al Horford, Kyrie Irving and Jeff Teague will be looking to push their teams to a 1-0 lead with a win on Wednesday and it comes after the Hawks defeated the Wizards and the Cavs took down the Bulls in the previous round of the postseason.
The Cavaliers have had six days off and they needed all of them, as both James and Irving are coming into Game 1 banged up. The Hawks needed six games to take care of the Wizards and now they are trying to advance into the finals as the number one seed in the east. The Hawks only lost six games at home this season and now they have the chance to take a 1-0 lead against the Cavs on Wednesday night.
James is leading the Cavs with 25 points per game and seven rebounds, while the Hawks have Paul Millsap leading with 16 points and seven rebounds per game. Jeff Teague has been playing well and he is averaging seven assists per game in the postseason. The Hawks beat the Cavaliers this season while putting up 119 points, but the defense by the Cavs has been much better through the postseason. The Hawks are a strong shooting team and if they get hot, they could get a win in Game 1.
Both teams are dealing with key players being out, as the Cavs have been without Kevin Love since Game 4 of the first round, while the Hawks have Thabo Sefolosha out after the NYPD broke his leg by beating him at a nightclub in April. The teams have had to adapt without those players in the lineup and Kyrie Irving comes into Game 1 banged up but ready to play after dealing with a shoulder issue.
James comes in dealing with a slight back injury, but the star said that it will not be an issue and he should suit up for Game 1 of the series. James said that he has been dealing with some injuries all postseason, but it has not been anything serious. James had 38 points in Game 5 against the Bulls and while he struggled in Game 6, the Cavs were able to pick things up.
Kyrie Irving has dealt with knee and shoulder issues, but the time off after the Bulls series has helped him greatly. The Hawks will have to find a way to limit the impact of James and Irving if they want to win this series. The Cavaliers will have Irving in the game on Wednesday night and he said that he should have no limits with minutes even though he is banged up.