Game Night Observations: Bad Transition Defense, Time for a Gut Check and One Good Thing

After three days off, the Cavs didn't look so good.

MY COUCH — The Cleveland Cavaliers were eliminated from NBA Cup contention on Friday night with a 130-123 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Friday’s game was the first time this season — other than Opening Night — that the Cavs had three days off prior to a game. The inattention to detail and lack of transition defense made that difficult to believe.

The Cavs lost this game on the defensive end of the floor. More accurately, they lost the Hawks in transition, and that’s where the game was lost. Atlanta scored 36 of its points in transition. The Hawks were 14-of-21 from the floor on those opportunities and routinely beat the Cavs down the floor.

In multiple losses — and even some wins — this season, that’s been the story for the Cavs. They’re currently 21st in transition points allowed per game. Some nights it’s because they get beat down the floor after missed shots, some nights it’s after made shots, and on other nights, like Friday, it’s opponents forcing turnovers and beating the Cavs down the floor.