Cavs first win in Round 2 was not that difficult

Game 1 of the Cavs-Hawks didn't provide a lot to grab hold of, so let's grab hold of this: The Cavs have won all five of their playoff games by double digits. They become the fifth team in NBA history to win five or more postseason games by 10 or more points — and the first since the Detroit Pistons in 2004.

The Cavs have barely been challenged. They sure weren't by Detroit, and by game's end they weren't in the first game by Atlanta. A slow start disappeared in minutes, and the Cavs pulled away for a 99-72 win. As usual, LeBron James led the way (34 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, four steals).

Perhaps that is enough to grab onto right there. The Cavs are playing so well and so together they are not being challenged. And when a team plays less than its best and wins going away, it's in pretty good shape.

Atlanta is not a good road team. The Hawks will play better at home. But Delonte West guarded Joe Johnson and Johnson scored 11 points. Josh Smith had five points the second half. The Hawks team scored 28 the second half, the fewest by a Cavs opponent in team playoff history.

"We decided that we were going to defend and not allow them to get back into their comfort zone," James said.

Think Atlanta leaves this game with hope? Yes, the Hawks will rest on the fact they were weary coming off a seven-game series vs. Miami, that they barely had time to realize they won that series before coming to Cleveland. Blah blah blah.

Perhaps it's this simple: The Cavs, even on a night that's not their best, are the better team. And three games from now, that reality might just be driven home.

"We established," James said, "why we've been dominant in the postseason."

 Random thoughts …

—Marvin Williams' injured wrist clearly affected him. The Cavs pretty much dared him to shoot.

—At one point, Ben Wallace went for an offensive rebound and got fouled. He got up and pointed to the floor, saying he did not want a shooting foul. That's not something you see often — a guy lobbying so he does not have to go to the free throw line.

—Josh Cribbs was back again, wearing sunglasses in Quicken Loans Arena.

—Halftime, which is interminable in the playoffs, featured Frisbee catching dogs. One dog was touted as the Canine Frisbee Dog world champion. At what point do Frisbee Catching Dogs become an Olympics demonstration sport?

—In the second half the PA announcer said: "Back on the floor for Atlanta Ronald Murray." When he played for the Cavs he was Flip.

—LeBron James: "We looked pretty good."

—The home crowd drowned out David Stern when he presented James the MVP trophy prior to the game. James seemed overcome by the fan response. "These fans are the ones who have seen me grow from an 18-year-old kid to a 24-year-old man," he said. "Definitely an emotional time."

—Delonte West's line: 13 points, nine assists and a healthy chunk of time guarding Joe Johnson.

—James is now averaging 32.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game in the postseason.

Stating it clearly, from James, summarizing the game succinctly:

"Defensively we weren't very good the first half. … The third quarter was really all about buckling down on the defensive end."