Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 Lessons From ECFs Game 1

2 of 6

May 20, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll (5) reacts after an apparent injury during the fourth quarter of game one of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

5. DeMarre Carroll’s Absence Will Change This Series

The Hawks did not play their best basketball last night. After being one of the most efficient three-point shooting teams in the league this season, Atlanta was a miserable 4-for-23 (17.4 percent) from downtown in Game 1. Kyle Korver was a non-factor with nine points, Paul Millsap went 3-for-11 from the field and Dennis Schroder was an unmitigated disaster, missing eight of his 10 shots.

But after DeMarre Carroll’s knee injury, the Hawks are REALLY going to have to rally to have any chance of winning this series, especially after surrendering home-court advantage and a 1-0 series lead.

On the defensive end of the floor, Carroll is perhaps Atlanta’s best defender…and even if he weren’t, he’s definitely their most important defensive player in this series. Who else on this team can shoulder the load of defending LeBron James for the majority of a 48-minute game?

To be fair, Paul Millsap actually did a good job defending LeBron last night after Carroll left the game (contrary to Reggie Miller‘s constant bemoaning of how far out Millsap was defending him). But Millsap alone isn’t going to be able to hang with LeBron for the majority of a series, and all that exerted energy is going to take its toll on his offense.

Speaking of offense, Carroll’s absence is going to be huge on that end too. Through Atlanta’s first 12 playoff games, he was the Hawks’ leading scorer. He had shot the lights out from three-point range in the postseason (nearly 44 percent), and with the rest of the starting lineup struggling from deep (looking at you, Kyle Korver), Carroll’s absence will have a major two-way impact.

Carroll will be undergoing an MRI today, and the Hawks will be hoping it’s “only” a hyperextension or a knee sprain, as the team called it last night. But on a non-contact injury like that, I’d be surprised if it weren’t an ACL. Either way, if Carroll misses the rest of this series, or even just Game 2, the Cavs could cruise to victory.

UPDATE: Carroll’s injury has been ruled a mild hyperextension and he is questionable for Game 2.

Next: No. 4

Home/Cleveland Cavaliers