The Atlanta Hawks are facing a deep hole, down 2-0 going to Cleveland. KL Chouinard has six tips that might make this a series:
1) Protect the three-point line.
The Cavaliers have attempted 28 threes per game in the series, and their conversion rate is nearly 40 percent (39.3%). After the Game 2 loss, Al Horford hinted at the Hawks might be looking to tweak their defense.
2) Off-ball movement.
The points are down, the assists are down, the shooting percentages are down. Not a lot is going right for the Hawks. Their off-ball movement hasn't been good enough to yield results, save for some early Kyle Korver scoring in Game 2. The Hawks need more productive motion, and it will be even more difficult with Korver out.
3) Get Kent Bazemore a role in the offense.
It doesn't necessarily have to be as a scorer, but Bazemore has to fit with the other four Hawks starters in other ways: by screening, by cutting, and by getting to the corner for three-point spacing at the right time.
4) Play Hawks basketball.
Is that cliche? Perhaps. But the cycle of Hawks basketball, the plan when the team plays the idealized version of their game, has the Hawks forcing turnovers, getting out in transition, and scoring points that allow them to set up their defense. Atlanta badly needs to use the fast break for easy points.
5) Get defensive rebounds.
It would be great for the Hawks to play more crisply in the fast break, but it's tough to get a quick start and an odd-man advantage without having the ball. The Cavs have 23 offensive rebounds through the first two games of the series.
6) Believe.
The Hawks have to fight the mental hurdle of losing the first two games at home. Once something goes right for them in Game 3, they need to feed off the confidence gained while staying poised and true to the game plan.
Story by KL ChouinardTwitter: @AnaheimAmigos