5 Cavs games that jump out in second half of 2022-23 season

Key Cavs game No. 5 of second half: At the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, March 28 @ 7:30 PM

For the fifth and final outing that jumped out for the second half of the 2022-23 Cavs season, this March 28 matchup at the Atlanta Hawks also came to mind.

The Hawks eliminated the Cavaliers in the Play-In Tournament last season, before losing in five games to the top-seeded Miami Heat in the first round. The Cavaliers got out to a hot start in that outing, before well…..Trae Young going nuclear happened in the second half.

In this meeting, which will be the last between the two in the upcoming regular season, I’d look for plenty of fireworks in this matchup, and Hawks offseason trade acquisition Dejounte Murray being involved will provide more storylines here as well.

Does Atlanta run more offense through him here, and use Young as more of a movement shooting presence at times for stretches? By this point in the season, that duo could be humming, and how others mesh with them is a fair question, but by then, it could be difficult to account for.

Other things to look out for here could be what the Cavaliers’ rotations look like by this point, and here, I could foresee the likes of Lamar Stevens, or Ochai Agbaji getting more defensive stretches versus Young, who has given Okoro issues previously.

And not to be discounted, which 5 is more effective as a roller and rim protector between Jarrett Allen and Clint Capela could eventually be the difference here.

With how both teams are constructed, and both having star young lead guards, this is a matchup that could be a budding rivalry looking onward.

Generally speaking, however, I just can’t wait for the 2022-23 Cavaliers season to tip off.