Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 Keys To Beating The Hawks

Apr 11, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver (26) grabs a rebound ahead of Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 11, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver (26) grabs a rebound ahead of Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland Cavaliers
Apr 1, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) shoots the ball against the Atlanta Hawks in the third quarter at Philips Arena. The Cavaliers defeated the Hawks 110-108 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Kyridiculous

Kyrie Irving had the most disappointing regular season of his five-year career in 2015-16, averaging 19.6 points, 4.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game on 44.8 percent shooting from the field and 32.1 percents shooting from three-point range — all the lowest numbers either since his rookie season or in his entire career.

In Cleveland’s four-game sweep of Detroit, however, Irving played some of the best basketball of his career, averaging a team-high 27.5 points and 4.8 assists per game on .471/.471/.750 shooting splits.

Maybe it was just a favorable matchup against Reggie Jackson and a Pistons team he torched during the regular season, but if Irving can play at such an elite level for the rest of the postseason, no one is beating the Cavaliers in the East.

After Jeff Teague and company gave up 24.2 points and 5.0 assists per game to Isaiah Thomas and his inefficient shooting splits in the first round, the potential is there for Irving to light it up if he can ride his early playoff momentum into the second round.

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