Post-mortem: Cavs 97, Hawks 82

Many apologies for nothing for the third quarter, but things go a little intense.  Mo Williams said in his post-game press conference that the Hawks deserved some credit for the way they played.  He’s right.  They gave the Cavs fits until the team finally succumbed in the fourth quarter.

The Cavs set a record for consecutive double-digit victories in the playoffs, this being their seventh.  It wasn’t particularly easy as each time they tried to put the Hawks away, they came clawing back.  They answered a 13-4 run by the Cavs in the third quarter with a 13-0 run of their own. It wasn’t until late in the third quarter when they had an 8-0 run to end that period and into the second that the game was sewn up.

This is one of those games that you file away for later reflection.  They won because LeBron James decided to take over the game.  He dropped 47 points on the Hawks and added 12 rebounds and eight assists for good measure.  Even he realized it was special, comparing it to his performance against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals two years ago.

James normally sits to start the fourth – not in this game. He played 96 percent of it and scored 13 of the Cavs 25 points in it.  He apparently told Brown he was going to take over the game.  Teammates had no problem with it.

But don’t underestimate the effect Zaza Pechulia’s ejection with 1:33 left in the third after being called for a blocking foul had on the outcome of this game.  Atlanta Hawks Coach Mike Woodson admitted as much.

 Post-game quotes of note:

”He took the ball and put it in his hands and said ‘I’m going to score for us.  And I said: ‘OK’.  And I told everybody else:  ‘Let’s defend.”’  Coach Mike Brown on LeBron James’ performance.

”From what I’m hearing, it was clearly a block.  And Zaza just overreacted.  But what you going to do?  We have to keep playing and we didn’t do that.”  – Coach Mike Woodson on Zaza Pechulia’s ejection.

 First half:  Cavs 47, Hawks 46

Give the Hawks credit for not going without a squawk.  Defensively, they’ve been superb smothering the ball and forcing the Cavs into several 24-second violations and limiting the number of shots that they got off. But what should worry the Cavaliers is the fact that after shooting 29 percent in the first quarter, they shot 67 percent in the second to make the game close.  They aer smothering the ball on defense and getting decent looks on offense.

First quarter Cavs 22, Hawks 18

This one isn’t about to be as easy the two at Quicken Loans Arena.  As they shold, the Hawks are playing like cornered animals.  At this point, they are in nothing-to-lose mode and they have buckled down.  Case in point:  they have gotten off seven more shots than the Cavs in the quarter.  The Cavs benefited from a few Hawks shots rattling in and out and they are currently limiting the Hawks to 29 percent shooting from the field.

Game: Cavs vs. Atlanta Hawks

Broadcast: TV: ABC (WEWS Channel 5) ; Radio: WAKR (1590 AM); WTAM (1100 AM), WHBC (1480 AM)

Starters: Cavs: LeBron James (F); Ben Wallace (F); Zydrunas Ilguaskas (C); Delonte West (G); Mo Williams (G). Atlanta: Maurice Evans (F); Josh Smith (F); Al Horford (C); Joe Johnson (G); Mike Bibby (G).

Injury update: It should tell you what this game means that most of the injured Hawks starters are going. Joe Johnson is hobbled and the only type of pregame activity he could perform was basic set shots. He shuffled a little bit, but that’s about it.  If he can’t go full strength, that greatly diminishes any chance the Hawks have in this one.

For the Cavs, Delonte West will play after being poked in the eye Thursday night.  He was in good spirits after Saturday’s shootaround:

I didn’t see the replay, but it felt like his finger push my eyeball back in my head, so I had to take the standing eight count to make sure my eye was still there. 

On whether he’d wear goggles during the game:

They asked me about that.  You’re not going to catch me with no goggles on; I promise you that.  You’re not going to have me on the James Worthy tip.

Tarence Kinsey is questionable with a right sprained ankle, but will be available if needed.

Post mortem:

This one looked more than dicey as the Cavaliers enter the fourth quarter.  The Heat had the lead at 67-58 to end the third and the momentum.  For much of the game, the Cavs looked listless.

Then, they just flicked it on.  On defense they came up with a couple of memorable stops in the fourth quarter, including one where Delonte West and Mo Williams worked like hell to create a steal.  West got the ball and found LeBron James streaking to the basket for an easy slam dunk.

So it went for the fourth quarter as Cleveland remebered they are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA and decided to play that way, forcing five turnovers and holding the Heat to 35 percent shooting. 

James deserves some praise for hindering a driving Heat led by Dwyane Wade.  In the final quarter, James held him to just six points.  Once again they won a game because of defense.

Quotable:

Mike Brown on what was said between the third and fourth quarters:

I don’t know if I said anything special.  We just knew we weren’t playing our best basketball.  We knew that Miami was doing a heck of a job. But there was plenty of time and we just needed to go play.

LeBron James on guarding Dwyane Wade in the fourth quarter:

I wanted to try to stay in front of him as much as possible.  Once he sets in the lane he’s too dangerous when he gets a full head of steam.

At the half:  Cavs 44, Heat 42.

Yeah, this is one of those pretty ones.  Cleveland’s shooting 41 percent and Miami 39.5.  If there is such a thing as a holiday hangover, the Cavs have it.  That breezy style of play that helped them zip through the first quarter of the season is is on hiatus.  It certainly isn’t fair to assume that’s how the season would go, but the past few games, teams have played them close.

Shawn Marion said in published reports that he would play James close without drawing fouls.  Yeah well, he’s only got one foul, but James has 20 points and a couple of continuation plays in the game. Overall, both teams continue to struggle from the floor.

The Heat are beating the Cavs on the boards, in the paint and on second chance points.  If they’re going to pull this out, they need to wake up from their holiday slumber.

Game: Cavs (25-4) vs. Miami Heat (16-12)

Broadcast:  TV: FSOhio

WAKR (1590 AM); WTAM (1100 AM), WHBC (1480 AM)

Starters: Cavs:  LeBron James (F); Ben Wallace (F); Zydrunas Ilgauskas (C); Delonte West (G); Mo Williams (G).  Heat:  Shawn Marion (F); Udonis Haslem (F); Joel Anthony (C); Dwyane Wade (G); Mario Chalmers (G).

Injuries:  Cavs:  Eric Snow (knee); Wally Szczerbiak (knee). Miami:  James Jones (wrist); Dorell Wright (knee)

Officials:  Bennett Salvatore, James Capers and Leroy Richardson.

Streaking:  The Cavaliers have won three consecutive against the Heat, five-in-a-row and 15 consecutive at home and remain the only undefeated team in the league in their own place. The Heat have won four consecutive.

Two things to watch:

• Delonte West on Dwyane Wade.  West has performed admirably on defense against some of the league’s premier shooting guards, but this will very much be his stiffest test.  Offensively Wade is completely, he’ll drive as well as hit the perimeter shot.  West and the rest of the Cavs will have to bring their A-game.  Not what they showed the other night.
• LeBron James on Shawn Marion – Power v. Power.  Marion has a reputation of being a fierce defender, but James always presents everyone a fierce test.  His best bet, blanketing James, but not so much as to draw fouls. 

Post mortem:

Early lackluster play doomed the Cavaliers tonight.  In the first quarter they weren’t as aggressive as they have been in going after the ball.  The Hawks beat them on the boards throughout the game with the Cavaliers only winning the fourth quarter by a single board. 

This team’s dilemma is that they’ve grown accustomed to be able to turn things on at will.  The problem:  With center Zydrunas Ilgauskas and guard Daniel Gibson gone, they do not have that luxury.  They have to play intelligent basketball throughout the quarter.

In the fourth quarter their defense failed them.  It reminded me of those days when they were close to grasping a win only to have it yanked away becuase they couldn’t get a defensive stop.  The Hawks’ Joe Johnson burned them with 11 points in the fourth quarter and even Coach Mike Brown admitted that they didn’t have an answer for him.

It didn’t hurt that the Hawks shot 39 free throws to the Cavs 23.

On the good side:  they erased a 14 point deficit to make things close and even had the chance to tie the game on separate three-point attempts by Mo Williams and Delonte West that both landed with thuds.

Both got good looks, but neither shot fell.  I don’t necesarily know that there’s such a thing as a good win.  However, with their win streak now gone, this one can serve as a reality check that in their current roster configuration, the Cavs need to play four quarters of basketball, not just over two.

Quotable:

Coach Mike Brown on the disparity in free throws:

We didn’t lose the game because of that, but I was a little shocked with the way the disparity was. You question some calls, but I’m sure when we win come games, our opponents question some calls too, so I’m OK with it.

LeBron James on the loss:

It was just a matter of who got more stops in the end, and the Hawks came up with more than we did.  We definitely had our chances tonight, but the Hawks just made more plays.

At the half:  Atlanta 47, Cavs 38
The Cavs suffered through their lowest scoring first half of the season.  What’s surpising is the Hawks’ margin of victory isn’t greater.  They had opportunities to blow this one open and couldn’t.
Another observation:  Zydrunas Ilgauskas’ value to this team is even more evident.  The middle of the court is congested.  Z’s ability to hit from the outside forces teams to protect the perimeter – not to tonight.  Because of that you see Anderson Varejao trying to pick up the slack, but he’s not Z, he can’t be relied upon to hit that open 15-19 foot jump shot.  He needs to play his game and quit worrying about whose shoes he’s filling.

Game: Cavs (20-3) at Atlanta Hawks (13-9)

Broadcast:  TV: FSOhio
WAKR (1590 AM); WTAM (1100 AM), WHBC (1480 AM)

Starters: Cavs: Anderson Varejao (F); Ben Wallace (F); LeBron James (F); Delonte West (G); Mo Williams (G).  Hawks:  Marvin Williams (F); Josh Smith (F); Al Horford (C); Joe Johnson (G); Mike Bibby (G)

Injuries:  Cavs:  Daniel Gibson (sprained left toe); Zydrunas Ilgauskas (left ankle sprain), Eric Snow (knee).  Hawks: Speedy Claxton.

Officials:  Mike Callahan, Derek Richardson, Scott Wall

Streaking:  Cavs tied a club record Friday night with its 11th consecutive win.  Atlanta won its last outing beating the Miami Heat.

Last time:  The Cavs beat the Hawks 110-96 at Quicken Loans Arena.
What to watch:

• This is the second week out of three that the Cavaliers have had contend with two back-to-backs in a week.  The last time out they went 4-for-4.  Although the goal is to continue winning, look to see whether mental and physical fatigue has set in.
• Anderson Varejao stepped up in a major way to fill the shoes of an injured Zydrunas Ilgauskas with 17 points and seven rebounds.  For the Cavaliers to continue to win, Varejao will have to continue to deliver.  It would make a big difference if Darnell Jackson, who looks as if he may have moved ahead of fellow rookie J.J. Hickson continues to rebound.
• Delonte West on Joe Johnson.  Some fans wonder why West gets so much ink and airtime in the area.  It’s simple, don’t just look at the box score.  West’s value shows up on the defensive side of the ball.   Tonight he’ll have his hands full with the Hawks’ Joe Johnson who stands about four inches taller and averages 23 points per game. During their first game earlier this season, West held Johnson to just four points.  Understand the value now?

Quotable:

From the coach’s office:

Mike Brown on why he doesn’t simply try to out score opponents and relies on defense:

It’s happened time and time and time again with teams that try to go that route. They’ll go that route three or four years, win a ton of games, but then all of a sudden we have to figure out a way to play defense and the whole team is dismantled and usually the coach is gone.

From the locker room:

LeBron James on the contributions of Anderson Varejao:

Andy’s been playing exceptionally well.  He kept up his performance like he did when he was coming off the bench last night by starting.  We need that same effort until Z gets back and I think he’s ready for the challenge.

Post mortem:

You know what’s funny?  I wrote a piece on Delonte West about 10 days ago about how well he’d been playing since coming back to the team.  I saw him on a limited basis toward the end of last season and the playoffs last year.  There’s a vast difference in who he is now and it’s definitely translated to the court.  As is custom, someone just looked at the points he averaged per game and sneered.  Tonight proved that it’s not just offense with West.  It’s defense as well.  What stands out most is the fact that with some help he held Joe Johnson to 4 points.  The guy had been averaging 25. He plays on both sides of the ball and that’s why Mike Brown starts him at shooting guard.

The Cavaliers barely looked back in this one after going on an 11-0 run.  They led by as many as 28 and the Hawks, at one point, chopped that to 11 in the fourth quarter.  But unlike in Detroit (I’m beginning to think the team has a mental block when it comes to the Pistons), they regrouped and held firm.  Crucial 3-pointers by LeBron, Delonte and Mo Williams helped down the stretch.

But the Cavs won this one because they protected the ball with only 9 turnovers, shot a blistering 51 percent from the floor and smashed the glass (barely) 41-37.  Instead of collapsing in the third quarter, they won it, along with the first two.  Still, the team didn’t put all four together as the Hawks outscored them 38-31 in the fourth.

Let’s face it, the likelihood that the Cavs would hold the Hawks to the pathetic 33 percent they shot for the entire game.  Ultimately, it showed that the team possesses the resiliency to bounce back after a tough loss.

Quotable:

Mike Brown on the Hawks comeback:

Broadcast:

TV:  FSOhio

WAKR (1590 AM); WTAM (1100 AM), WHBC (1480 AM)

Starters: Cavs:  LeBron James (F); Ben Wallace (F); Zydrunas Ilgauskas (C); Delonte West (G); Mo Williams (G).  Hawks:   Marvin Williams (F); Al Horford (F); Zaza Pachulia (C); Joe Johnson (G); Mike Bibby (G). 

Officials: Greg Willard, Brian Forte, Courtney Kirkland

 Injuries:  Speedy Claxton (left knee chonodromalacia), Josh Smith (sprain left ankle)

Streaking:  Cavs have lost one; the Hawks have won two in a row.

What to watch:

 -          How the Cavs bounce back from that ugly loss against the Pistons, a game that they should have had in hand, but allowed to be stolen from them in the second half.  Mike Brown said that he hopes it’s something that they could learn.

-          The Atlanta Hawks’ Marvin Williams has been on a tear the past two games  with consecutive double-doubles, including one game against the Charlotte Bobcats where he scored 22 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

-          The Cavs’ Mo Williams averaged more than 20 points per game in the past five contests.  So far he’s as advertised. 

Quotable:

 From the coach’s office:

 Mike Brown on firing of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s P.J. Carlesimo:

 You feel bad for guys like P.J. especially the older guys.  You understand that the same as you get hired, you get fired. To be Jerry Sloan, to be Gregg Popovich, to be Phil Jackson, to be Pat Riley is very hard to do. 

From the locker room:

 LeBron James on his name being the first one mentioned after the New York Knicks made two trades to clear salary cap room:

 They didn’t care about the guys that was coming to them.  It doesn’t bother me; it’s funny, but at the same time people need something to write about some times.