The top two teams in each conference have advanced to the Conference Finals. In the Eastern Conference, it is the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks who will have court advantage over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
We have seen how big a factor home court advantage has been in the 2015 NBA Playoffs. It was most apparent when the Houston Rockets were able to win three straight games against the Los Angeles Clippers and completed a spectacular comeback on their own floor in Game 7. In the East, however it took both the Hawks and Cavaliers six games as they each ousted their opponents on the road.
Looking ahead to the Eastern Conference Finals matchup, which will begin Wednesday in Atlanta, the health of the Cavaliers will be the biggest factor. Injuries have continued to mount and, after losing Kevin Love for the season back in the first round, the Cavs were dealt an injury to Kyrie Irving. The second leading scorer for the Cavaliers in the playoffs, Irving sprained his left knee in Game 6 against the Chicago Bulls. He skipped the team's latest practice for treatment and his status for Game 1 is unknown. LeBron James was also given a scare after spraining his ankle in Game 4. Although James would stay in the game to hit a game-winning baseline jumper at the buzzer, it is a wonder if he is fully healthy.
Role players such as Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith, and Tristan Thompson will be expected to elevate their play against the Hawks. Both Shumpert and Smith are averaging double figures in the postseason, while Thompson nearly averaged a double-double against the Bulls. All three players scored successfully against the Hawks in the regular season. That fact is most relevant to Thompson, who will be tasked will slowing down Al Horford and Paul Millsap in the post.
Both Horford and Millsap are averaging at least nine rebounds and 15 points per game in the postseason. The veteran duo also averaged 17 and 18 points per game, respectively, in the regular season against Cleveland. But the Hawks play a team game and it has been DeMarre Carroll who has led the scoring in the playoffs with 17.1 points per game. Carroll played excellent basketball in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and was a crucial reason why the Hawks were able to reach their first Eastern Conference Finals since 1970. Carroll finished a series-clinching Game 6 in Washington with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Jeff Teague finished with 20 points and seven assists, completing another successful series after overcoming an injury scare in Game 1. The sixth-year point guard is averaging 15.3 points and 7.4 assists per game in the postseason.
The X-Factor for the Hawks, however, will be Kyle Korver. Korver has struggled throughout the postseason and, after shooting nearly 50 percent from three-point range in the regular season, that number has dipped to 35 percent in the playoffs. The twelfth-year veteran shot just 12-for-42 from long range in the Conference Semis against the Wizards and only scored in double figures in two of the six games. Korver averaged just 7.8 points per game against the Cavaliers during the regular season, but will need to score effectively and defend well against the Cavs' guards-primarily Iman Shumpert.
Even with a major injury concern, the second-seeded Cavaliers have the edge in the series. Rebounding will be key and if the Cavs outrebound the Hawks and limit the effectiveness of Horford and Millsap they will have a big advantage. Starting LeBron James at the four might be David Blatt's best move as the Hawks primary focus will be defending the third-leading postseason scorer. Not only does James lead the team averaging 26.5 points per game in the postseason, he also leads the Cavs in rebounds (10.2) and assists (7.9).
The battle of the benches will be the most influential matchup in the series and players like James Jones and Matthew Dellavedova will square off against the likes of Dennis Schroder and Pero Antic. While the Hawks have a notoriously well-rounded lineup, the Cavaliers' second unit has the advantage. LeBron James will get his, but it will be the other guys on the floor who will be called upon to pick up the slack.
Prediction: Cavaliers in 6
MVP: LeBron James
James will go to his fifth consecutive NBA Finals, while the Cavaliers will reach their first NBA Finals since 2009.