The Hawks have fared well against a number of talented big men this postseason. They faced the Nets’ Brook Lopez in the first round and were successful against the Wizards’ Nene and Marcin Gortat in the second round.
They will be challenged again by the Cavaliers’ Tristen Thompson and Timofey Mozgov in the Eastern Conference finals.
“There are some similarities, their size and their length,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said Monday. “Cleveland’s bigs, their work on the offensive glass here recently has been something we’ll have to be prepared for and take care of. Washington was similar. The thing that is also similar is they are going to play some groups where there is a non-traditional big that will spread you out and they have more shooting. You have to be prepared for both.”
Schroder’s speed
Hawks’ forward DeMarre Carroll was asked Monday about the speed of teammate Dennis Schroder.
“I don’t know, those overseas guys be quick,” Carroll said of the young guard from Germany. “They don’t look that quick but they are quicker than they look. That’s like (Leonardo) Barbosa, it looks like he’s kind of almost skating. Dennis is kind of the same – he looks slow but he’s quicker than what he looks. He is a quick guard. He’s a tough matchup for a lot of people.”
Sefolosha makes appearance
Thabo Sefolosha, who has been out following surgery to repair a right fibula fracture and ligament damage, made an appearance at practice Monday. Sefolosha was on the practice court with his walking boot on his right foot and using a leg cart when the session was opened to the media. He joked with teammates and even took a few shots while seated on the cart following the workout.
Sefolosha required surgery after being injured during an arrest with teammate Pero Antic in New York in the early morning hours of April 8 and was lost for the season. Sefolosha had surgery on April 15 to repair the damage and his expected to be ready by next training camp.
Sefolosha appeared to be in good spirits.
Irving says he will play Game 1
Cavaliers All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving declared himself ready for Game 1 despite battling foot and knee injuries. He missed a weekend practice but was back on the court Monday.
“I’m going to go,” Irving told reporters in Cleveland. “The last few days of treatment, rest and a combination of a lot of things I feel pretty good going into Wednesday’s game.”
Irving has been receiving treatment for a strained right foot and left knee tendinitis that has hampered him this postseason.
Announcers set
All games of the Eastern Conference finals will be telecast by TNT. Marv Albert will call the best-of-seven series with analysts Reggie Miller and Chris Webber.
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