NBA Matchups: April 8

It’s the last NBA Matchups that’s a normal-sized slate (find a new slant, 15 games on Friday). Motivation is the biggest part of the remainder of the NBA season, so let’s hit that first before we tackle some macro situations. There’s a lot of B2B stuff from last night, so it’s tough to talk through it with so many teams losing motivation to win (Rockets win, Suns loss, Wolves win really changed a lot last night). Get us to the playoffs.

ATL @ CLE | MIL @ DET | MIN @ ORL | MEM @ DEN | POR @ SAS | OKC @ LAC | DAL @ PHX

Highly motivated to win:

Magic – Arguably the most motivated to win with a dogfight in the Eastern Conference play-in tourney.

Nuggets – Were able to move up to No. 3 and probably need two more wins to lock it down (three to play).

Hawks – They still need to win another game to hold onto the fifth seed.

Blazers and Clippers – They’re doing all they can to try to get up to the No. 8 seed (outside chance Clippers can get to No. 7, need a miracle). These two play each other on Friday.

Slightly motivated to win:

Wolves – The Rockets did them a huge favor to get the Wolves a playoff spot. They’re basically locked into the No. 6 seed and may just sit today before the Rockets game on Friday.

Spurs – It’s pretty much a lock that they are the No. 2 seed unless OKC screws around.

Thunder – One more win can basically put the No. 1 seed away for them (or an SAS loss). They could easily take today off.

Suns – It’s pretty close to a lock that they are going to be the No. 7 seed. They could rest guys today.

No motivation: 

Pistons – They’re locked into the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference (can’t catch OKC or SAS for overall No. 1 seed, either).

Unclear motivation:

Cavaliers – They’re currently the fourth seed and could move up to three if they can catch the Knicks. However, they may prefer to be the fourth seed and cannot move down to the fifth seed.

Motivated to lose:

Bucks – They’re almost a lock to be No. 10 in the lotto standings, but maybe they can catch the Bulls (down two games).

Grizzlies – They are trying to move up to No. 6 in the lotto rankings and are highly determined to do so.

Mavs – With the Pelicans getting a win last night, a loss could help them stay in the 6-7 spots (tied with Memphis, who will be very tough to catch).

Atlanta Hawks at Cleveland Cavaliers

Team Totals: Hawks 117.3, Cavs 119.3

Injury Report: Donovan Mitchell (Q, ankle), Jaylon Tyson (Q, toe), Dean Wade (Q, ankle)

Hawks projected starters: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, C.J. McCollum, Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu

Cavs projected starters: James Harden, Max Strus. Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Snyder quotes: Said they had too many breakdowns and mistakes, said they had been great with execution lately but did not execute against the Knicks, said Landale is an important part of the team and they missed him, said they put Bradley in a tough spot to play right away, said he thought they played OK in the PNR game against the Knicks, said Risacher only getting seven minutes is more about the main guys playing so much, said we’re “past the point” of looking at guys and they know who they want to play.

Atkinson quotes: Said the Grizzlies shot it great and they were still able to get the win, said they have good momentum heading into the playoffs, said CPJ is “positionless” and those guys can contribute in the playoffs, said Schroder wasn’t playing well offensively earlier but now he knows how to handle his offensive role.

Stats and Notes: 

*The Hawks really missed Jock Landale against the Knicks. Onyeka Okongwu was +10 in his 37 minutes, and they still lost by three. The Hawks struggled inside the arc against New York, and it could be tough to score inside against the Cavs as well. Defensively, the Hawks have been excellent, and even against some non-tankers, they’ve been very good. We’ll have to see how Cleveland plays this one.

Great matchups: Evan Mobley, Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Good matchups: Onyeka Okongwu (will play a ton), Dyson Daniels

Bad matchups: Jalen Johnson