NBA second-round playoffs: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Atlanta Hawks

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

First round: Defeated Detroit, 4-0.

4. Atlanta Hawks

First round: Defeated Boston, 4-2.

Season series: Cavaliers 3-0.

Key stats: Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving is cooking in the playoffs, averaging 27.5 points per game, second-best in the postseason. He’s making 47% of his three-pointers. The Hawks were fifth in points allowed (93.8) and in points scored (100.5) in the playoffs and third in assists (22.7).

Outlook: It has become clear that the Cavaliers are more than just LeBron James in these playoffs. He has gotten plenty of help from Irving and Kevin Love. But in three regular-season games against the Hawks, James and Irving were the force, averaging 54.8 points as a duo. The Cavaliers won all three by almost 10 points per game, and the Hawks are essentially the same group that was swept by Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals last spring. All-Star forward Paul Millsap, frontcourt player Al Horford and guard Jeff Teague make the Hawks go. Well, all three better be at their best if Atlanta is to have a chance in this series.

Prediction: The Cavaliers, and James in particular, are in a mission. Cleveland in five.