The Cavaliers took the easiest route to get to the second round with a healthy and fairly easy sweep of the once powerful Pistons. Unlike their new opponents, the Hawks, they had to use the maximum of seven games to defeat the Heat. So, which team has the edge coming into this series? Think about this, the Hawks needed seven games to knock off the Heat, and now they are facing the best team in the regular season, what chance do the Hawks possibly have? Also, LeBron James was just named the MVP for the 2009 season, and accepted the award at his old stomping grounds at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s High School. You don’t think he is even more jacked up and ready to show the NBA that he truly deserved that MVP award? This should be another easy series for the Cavaliers, but the Hawks will give the Cavaliers, somewhat of a challenge. If this series doesn’t finish in four games in favour of the Cavaliers, then maybe five games at most it will take Cleveland to dispose of the Hawks.
As predicted in the first round, the Cavaliers beat the Pistons in four games, and it pretty much looked like shooting practice for Cleveland. LeBron James was unstoppable and there was absolutely no answer for him, and the same will happen in this upcoming series versus Atlanta. Neither Josh Smith nor Joe Johnson can defend James, and even if they do stop him here and there, they cannot do it for a full 48 minutes. With over ten days of rest for the whole Cleveland team, they will have an even bigger advantage over the Hawks, who only had one days rest after their series win.
The supporting cast for the Cavaliers stepped up in the first round. As usual Mo Williams was at his best running the offense and providing that strong and consistent secondary scoring in support of LeBron. It pretty much boiled down too, if any player was on the court at the same time with LeBron, they were bound to score, and get their shots off.
Defensively, the Cavaliers played as a group and completely shut down the Pistons in every which way. In the four game sweep, the Cavaliers only allowed 78 point per game, held Detroit to only two games with 80 or more points, and once under 70 points. If the Cavaliers play that kind of defense, the Hawks will have a tough time to score, and that’s where more of the onus is placed on Joe Johnson.
The Hawks need Johnson to match LeBron for whatever he does, because if he can’t and falls a few points short, that could be the difference in a few games. The Hawks need all of their scorers to score at a consistent rate, and that was most evident with Mike Bibby, who was on and off more than a bathroom light. Josh Smith needs to score a bit more to provide a solid second option in scoring behind Johnson. Defensively, he was one of the best for the Hawks and should do the same versus Cleveland.
Defensively, the Hawks must play as a team. That sounds easy to do, but it is hard to accomplish. If the Hawks could do that, they will give themselves a chance in this series and can prolong it. Home court will be extremely important for the Hawks. They did lose one game versus the Heat, but did go 3-1 at home. This time around, they must be perfect at home, because on the road in Miami, the Hawks went 1-2, and averaged just 77 points a game. We all know what the Cavaliers did at home this season, just two losses in 41 games.
SERIES PREDICTION --> THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN THIS SERIES IN 4 OR 5 GAMES AT MOST.
*ONLY WAY THE ATLANTA HAWKS COULD WIN THIS SERIES IS IF THEY COULD SOMEHOW STOP LEBRON JAMES (WHICH PROBABLY ISN’T HAPPENING), AND WIN AT LEAST 2 GAMES IN CLEVELAND.
The opinions and thoughts expressed in this or any other article written by 12nadnuk are of his thinking and what he thinks is correct or close to it in the sporting world. If there are any problems by anyone, 12nadnuk is open for rebuttal and what not, and honest criticism. There is also a comments section, so feel free to post what is on your mind about the article. Thank you for reading.
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