Place: Phillips Arena in Atlanta, GA.
Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
TV/Radio: FSN Ohio/WTAM 1100 AM

Projected Cavaliers Starters:

PG: Jeff McInnis
SG: LeBron James
SF: Eric Williams
PF: Carlos Boozer
C:  Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Cavaliers Injury Report: C Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje (sprained ankle) and SG Kedrick Brown (knee tendinitis) is on the injured list.

Projected Hawks Starters:

PG: Jason Terry
SG: Boris Diaw
SF: Stephen Jackson
PF: Chris Crawford
C:  Joel Przybilla

Hawks Injury Report: PF Obinna Ekezie (torn ACL), PF Alan Henderson and SF Chris Mills (bone spurs and Achilles tendon) are on the injured list.  SG Travis Hansen (foot stress reaction) and C Zeljko Rebraca (back) are out.

Key Matchups:

Jeff McInnis vs. Jason Terry - Terry is still the most dangerous Hawk in terms of facing the Cavaliers.  He can run the two man game very well and when you add his three point shooting range and ability to get into the lane penetrating he is the type of PG that can give the Cavaliers fits.  The Hawks have absolutely no inside presence and are strictly a perimeter team relying on production from Terry and Jackson.  Jason Terry does play with high energy which can channel to his teammates.  He can also be turnover prone for a starting PG.  Defensively, McInnis has to fight through the screens on pick and rolls situations rather go under which he does too often as well as pick up Terry in transition as he will run to wings and corner and spot up for three pointers.  As always denying penetration is a key because the Hawks to play a drive and kick game.  Offensively, McInnis has been playing the PG position as well as any Cleveland PG since Andre Miller.  The Cavaliers have been a much better and more efficient offensive team.  Against Terry, McInnis should continue to be aggressive offensively even though Terry leads the Hawks in steals he isn't a good defensive player.

Stephen Jackson vs. Eric Williams - Jackson now has the green light for the Hawks.  He is a long, athletic 6-8 with some good skills.  Jackson can get to the basket but he prefers to spot up and shoot from the outside.  He is a solid three pointer and the Hawks will find him out top and in the corners.  Jackson is also a solid ballhandler and passer and Atlanta will run the two man game with him as well.  When he does decide to put the ball on the floor he can get into the lane and create space and get his shot off.  Jackson is a pretty good offensive player when he utilizes his whole game.  Defensively, Williams has to be careful of being drawn in too far in help situations.  Williams is always looking to help and can sucked in too far and be unable to recover to shooters.  Jackson usually likes to stay outside so Williams should be as physical as he can and try to negate his athleticism.  Offensively, Williams has to play his game and look to post up make Jackson play defense.  Jackson can play defense if he wants to but he often will not.  He is second on the Hawks in steals and will gamble for them.

When Cleveland has the ball: The gameplan for the Cavaliers against the Hawks should be a simple one.  Get out and run against a porous defensive team and in the halfcourt pound the ball inside to Boozer and Ilgauskas against a thin and undersized Atlanta frontcourt as well as be aggressive going inside and not settle for outside shots.  The Hawks know they are undermanned inside so expect them to zone and try to pack it in against the Cavaliers.  Being baited into outside jumpers is one way the Cavaliers can keep Atlanta in the game.  The Cavaliers had 31 assists in the last meeting and need to keep that kind of ball movement going.  Ball and player movement can be effective against a team that tries to pack it in because it will get them moving.  Lastly, dominating on the boards as they did in the last game will also let the Cavaliers control the game.

When Atlanta has the ball: The Hawks after all the changes they have made have not had a whole lot of time to practice together so they like to keep it simple.  They want to get out and run and use what talent they have.  They have no low post presence so they shoot a lot of jumpers and run a lot of two man games and pick and rolls.  They run a lot of pick and pops with Chris Crawford and will occasionally post him up on the block..  The Hawks want to drive and kick to their shooters and will use pick and roll to help get into the lane.  They will also isolate Crawford on the perimeter against bigger defenders as he is a bit quicker and better with the dribble than given credit for.  Defensively, the Cavaliers must first not turnover the ball and let Atlanta get run-outs and they must get back in transition and defend all the two man games the Hawks will run.  The guards must get over screens and the big men must show and recover.  They must be active and aggressive defensively and deny penetration and make Atlanta shoot contested jump shots.  Also, Cleveland must be wary of the banged up Bobby Sura who has regularly gotten into the lane with the dribble and while he has not always finished the drive and kick has always been his game.  Wesley Person is still a dangerous three point shooter and the Cavaliers cannot lose focus and leave him on the perimeter or lose him in transition.

Game outlook: The game tonight against the Hawks is more about attitude and mental approach than any Xs and Os.  If the Cavaliers go out and lay and egg on the road and lose to a Hawks team they have just beaten by 32 points they will have lost the momentum they gained by two quality victories over New Orleans and Milwaukee.  They must come out with the same energy and sense of urgency they showed against Milwaukee which was on the second night of a back-to-back.  Atlanta has some very quality wins at home including the Los Angeles Lakers but if the Cavaliers are truly hungry to make the playoffs this is a game they have to win.