5. Coaching: David Blatt vs. Mike Budenholzer
The Cavs’ David Blatt, in his first year as a head coach in the NBA, is off to an impressive 8-2 record so far in his early playoff career. Blatt has faced a lot of criticism this year during his team’s up-and-down roller coaster season, but he continues to develop great team chemistry and make the necessary adjustments needed for the Cavs to succeed.
Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer is in his second season as an NBA head coach, although he has many more years of experience in the NBA than Blatt does. Before winning the 2014-15 NBA Coach of the Year award this season, Budenholzer was an assistant from 1996-2013 with the San Antonio Spurs under head coach Gregg Popovich. Just like Popovich continues to do for all these years, Budenholzer embraces highly efficient team basketball, with spreading the wealth on offense as well as sound defensive play.
Although the Hawks won three of four meetings against the Cavs this season, Atlanta raises some concern as they have struggled against the eighth-seeded Brooklyn Nets and the fifth-seeded Washington Wizards, despite John Wall missing Games 2-4 due to fractures in his left hand and wrist.
The Cavs, despite Love’s absence for the rest of the playoffs, continue to hit their stride at the perfect time and outplayed a healthy, aggressive Chicago Bulls team. Ultimately, you should anticipate the superstar duo of James and Irving putting the Cavs on their shoulders, with Cleveland punching its ticket back to the NBA Finals against either the Houston Rockets or Golden State Warriors.
Prediction: Cavs in 6
