Series Thread: 4 Atlanta Hawks (48-34) vs. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers (57-25)

[Shaqdaddy11]

Pistons 44 wins, Rockets 41 wins
Hawks 48 wins, Blazers 44 wins

Pistons/Hawks - East
Rockets/Blazers - West

Switch those teams to the other conference and how many games do they win when they have to play GS, San Antonio and OKC twice as much?

 

[gordontrue]

The best part about the 3's was that they came as the result of ball movement and player movement (with the exception of some of JR's who - as LeBron said after the game - is the only one of them that has a permanent green light to shoot)

Of course, "getting hot" played a part. Of course the Hawks defense played a part .

But even before this game the Cavs were leading the teams in the playoffs in 3P/G and 3P%. And that is with 4 of their 5 games coming against the Pistons whose series-long strategy was to take away the "others" and the 3 pont shot.

I doubt there is a single person that has followed the Cavs closely all season that wouldn't agree that the ball movement + player movement with Lue has been so much better than it ever was with Blatt.

 

[bksballer89]

The only guys on Cleveland I would be ok with shooting open 3's are Delly, Shump, and Lebron.

If Frye, Love, Kyrie, and JR are constanly getting open looks then the defensive strategy needs to be changed or the players are not doing their job

 

[gordontrue]

Pistons/Hawks - East
Rockets/Blazers - West

Switch those teams to the other conference and how many games do they win when they have to play GS, San Antonio and OKC twice as much?

About the same. This isn't last year. Have a look at the SOS numbers. The difference between East and West SOS is as close as its been in years... and virtually identical. (Very slight edge to the West).

The mediocrity after the top 4 makes up for the dominance in the top 2.

For the first time in years... the argument can be made that top-bottom the East is the stronger conference.

 

[gordontrue]

The only guys on Cleveland I would be ok with shooting open 3's are Delly, Shump, and Lebron.

If Frye, Love, Kyrie, and JR are constanly getting open looks then the defensive strategy needs to be changed or the players are not doing their job

Agreed... but I'd be careful with Delly. He's actually ahead of all of those guys in his percentage this year. Partly because he's so selective, though, so I understand why you have him where you do.

 

[bksballer89]

Pistons/Hawks - East
Rockets/Blazers - West

Switch those teams to the other conference and how many games do they win when they have to play GS, San Antonio and OKC twice as much?

You do realize after the top 4 in the West, The East was clearly the better conference this year right. From 5-15, the east was hands down better

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

About the same. This isn't last year. Have a look at the SOS numbers. The difference between East and West SOS is as close as its been in years... and virtually identical. (Very slight edge to the West).

The mediocrity after the top 4 makes up for the dominance in the top 2.

For the first time in years... the argument can be made that top-bottom the East is the stronger conference.

Having to play the top 3 teams in the west an additional six times does almost guarantee at least another 4 losses though. In which case the Hawks would have less wins than the Blazers, after Portland plays the Sixers an additional two times.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

You do realize after the top 4 in the West, The East was clearly the better conference this year right. From 5-15, the east was hands down better

Better in record because they're in the west. When you're almost guaranteed 8 losses from the start by having to play GS and SA more often, of course teams ranked 5-10 will look worse off.

 

[gordontrue]

Having to play the top 3 teams in the west an additional six times does almost guarantee at least another 4 losses though. In which case the Hawks would have less wins than the Blazers, after Portland plays the Sixers an additional two times.

I get what you're saying... but you can't just account for the Spurs, Warriors, & Sixers... then leave out the Lakers, Suns, and big drop-off between 5 - 13.

SOS accounts for the entire schedule... and the east/west numbers are basically the same.

 

[bksballer89]

Better in record because they're in the west. When you're almost guaranteed 8 losses from the start by having to play GS and SA more often, of course teams ranked 5-10 will look worse off.

Cleveland is not a push over and neither is Toronto (great regular season team). You can make a case that teams at the bottom of the East were guaranteed 6 losses at least facing the top 2 teams in the East.

 

[bksballer89]

I'm sorry but there is no case anyone can make saying the West was better than the East 5-15.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Cleveland is not a push over and neither is Toronto (great regular season team). You can make a case that teams at the bottom of the East were guaranteed 6 losses at least facing the top 2 teams in the East.

So basically what you're saying is that Philly struggle beating Toronto just as much as the Lakers would do beating San Antonio?

.... no!

 

[Shanemansj13]

If they played every game like that, they would be 88-0, but it doesn't work that way.
If the Heat played like they did vs the Cavs in their 2 home games this year (assuming we beat Toronto) we'd win the series vs the Cavs. It also doesn't work that way.

The Cavs will be wishing they saved that one for the Finals vs wasting it on the Hawks.

Nah, they needed a game like this. They haven't been playing great just good so it is a boost. They don't need a boost for this series but they are capable of having something similar to what we saw last night, obviously not the same but just a great game. I think if they just stay consistent, they don't have to hit 25 3's, then they will have a shot to win it all but hopefully these guys will still be clicking come June.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

I just loved reading through this thread and seeing everything downplayed by everyone.

Literally any other team and that game would have been treated very differently on here. Which is fine. I'm actually enjoying it.

Shout out to @Mecca and @trojanfan12 for not being afraid to give props when they're due.

You must have skipped over my posts.
I said the Cavs were playing insanely great, and it wouldnt make any difference what the Hawks defensive strategy way.
My issue with them was launching 5 straight minutes of 3 point shots just to chase a record vs just playing the game.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Pistons 44 wins, Rockets 41 wins
Hawks 48 wins, Blazers 44 wins

"they played in the East, doesn't count"

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Pistons 44 wins, Rockets 41 wins
Hawks 48 wins, Blazers 44 wins

I would take the Rockets and or Blazers over either the Hawks or Pistons in a 7 game series.

Who would you take?

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

I'm sorry but there is no case anyone can make saying the West was better than the East 5-15.

Who cares about the East 5-15 though? Are they really competing for the title? Swap the 8th seeds around the conference and the Rockets end up having a better record than the Pistons purely because of the strength of the top 5 teams in the West.

 

[bksballer89]

So basically what you're saying is that Philly struggle beating Toronto just as much as the Lakers would do beating San Antonio?

.... no!

Point is Philly & Brooklyn are almost a lock to lose to Toronto/Cleveland as the Lakers and Phoenix are to lose to San Antonio and Golden State

 

[bksballer89]

I would take the Rockets and or Blazers over either the Hawks or Pistons in a 7 game series.

Who would you take?

Considering how Houston played this year, I would take Detroit over Houston and I think Portland and Atlanta is a toss up

 

[gordontrue]

You must have skipped over my posts.
I said the Cavs were playing insanely great, and it wouldnt make any difference what the Hawks defensive strategy way.
My issue with them was launching 5 straight minutes of 3 point shots just to chase a record vs just playing the game.

Possible. I was reading quickly and not paying close attention to who was saying what.

The last few minutes did bother me a little bit. I'd rather have seen them continue to focus on ball movement/player movement rather than just on shooting 3s. But it was mostly bench guys we won't see much... so I don't think its a huge deal.