Cleveland Cavaliers @ Atlanta Hawks - Rd 2, Game 3

[Allanon]

Good luck to the Hawks.

I hope they get Joe Johnson back for this game...anybody hear?

I keep hearing that the Cavs are going to sweep the Hawks, I just don't think so. I think if the Hawks have all their players back this game, they'll win it.

Go HAWKS!!

[Spur-Addict]

The real question is, what's the status of Horford and Williams? W/o those two, even with Johnson, I don't see a win for ATL.

[Allanon]

The real question is, what's the status of Horford and Williams? W/o those two, even with Johnson, I don't see a win for ATL.

Yah, I agree about Horford's injury, I forgot about it. That's pretty huge.

Wiliams, I think will be missed but not as much.

[Thunder Dan]

I predict a Cavs victory

Yu_moia-oVI

[DrHouse]

Without Joe Johnson and Horford @ 100% the Hawks have no chance.

[Thunder Dan]

Without Joe Johnson and Horford @ 100% the Hawks have no chance.

what are the chances you start a Cavs related thread by the end of the night?

[Spur-Addict]

what are the chances you start a Cavs related thread by the end of the night?

:lol

[iggypop123]

are you serious the hawks arent even close to 100% this is pathetic game. not worth watching.

[DrHouse]

what are the chances you start a Cavs related thread by the end of the night?

Lebron has no midrange jumpshot.

[Allanon]

Lebron has no midrange jumpshot.

This is one of the strangest anomalies in the NBA.

LeBron is actually shooting 3's pretty well of late. Great work inside the paint.

It's not un-common for a young player to not have a post-up game. But beyond that, anything in between the paint and 3 point line is no-man's land for LeBron.

I don't think there's ever been an elite player that can shoot the 3, score in the paint but can't score consistently in the mid-range.

[Ghazi]

Lebron doesn't shoot well in the mid range though, 37.5% on 2-PT jump shots.

But he's the best at getting to the paint.

[Spur-Addict]

Williams, Horford, and Johnson will play.

[Allanon]

Williams, Horford, and Johnson will play.

All 3? Then it's do or die time. Should be a good game tonight.

Should be alot of physical play, finally.

[Spur-Addict]

All 3? Then it's do or die time. Should be a good game tonight.

Should be alot of physical play, finally.

Yup. I'm wondering who'll start to look at the officials first.

[Nocioni]

Lebron big game

[Spur-Addict]

Josh Smith already looking at the refs. I'm not sure if that is a bit of foreshadowing or not.

[resistanze]

Atlanta is too damn small and weak to handle LeBron.

[Spur-Addict]

It just looks too easy for LBJ sometimes.

[Methenysz]

it really is hmm hawks fighting though

[resistanze]

Ben Wallace is useless, damn.

[Spur-Addict]

Mike better up LBJ's minutes tonight.

[Allanon]

1 point game at the half.

Let's see what the Hawks can do with this.

[Thunder Dan]

1 point game at the half.

Let's see what the Hawks can do with this.

why do you want the Hawks to win? Just curious, a few weeks ago there was no way the Cavs could beat the Lakers, so wouldn't you want the team that the Lakers are sure to beat to make the Finals?

Laker fans have a ton of inconsistencies. They are convinced the Cavs don't stand a chance vs. the Lakers, yet they are obsessed with them

[redzero]

And people call Kobe a rapist...

[Spursfan092120]

LOL...Lebron shoves dude to the ground and there's a no call...

[KidCongo]

Shades of the Bucks game here from LeBron.

[resistanze]

Does LeBron even set his feet? :lol

[Allanon]

why do you want the Hawks to win? Just curious, a few weeks ago there was no way the Cavs could beat the Lakers, so wouldn't you want the team that the Lakers are sure to beat to make the Finals?

I've rooted for the Hawks since around January last year...feisty team.



Laker fans have a ton of inconsistencies. They are convinced the Cavs don't stand a chance vs. the Lakers, yet they are obsessed with them

I think you're obsessed with Laker fans. My rooting for them has nothing to do with them going up against the Cavs.

I'll be rooting for the Cavs when they play against the Magic or Celtics.

[pauls931]

The one problem I see is if you somehow stop lebron, cleveland is fooked. However if you stop Kobe, LA has enough talent to still pull off a win.

[Laker-fan-in-SanAnto]

This game sucks A$$.

Where did all this Cavs fans come from?

[Methenysz]

I don't know what cleveland is doing right now but okay...

[Laker-fan-in-SanAnto]

This game WAS sucking A$$! Now we have a ball game.

[Allanon]

Wow, nice run by tha Hawks.

[pauls931]

where were his feet, replay please.

[lefty]

Wow, wll played Zaza


On your way to the locker room

[TampaDude]

Patch just got tossed.

[Methenysz]

Hawks getting pissed ROFL

Varejao is that annoying for real

[KidCongo]

where were his feet, replay please.

Inside

[Methenysz]

Prepare to see lebron going to the line alot now

[TampaDude]

Hawks getting pissed ROFL

Varejao is that annoying for real

+1 I don't think there is another player in the NBA right now that is better than Varejao at getting under an opponent's skin and drawing fouls.

[Chieflion]

LeBron leads his team up by 7.

[KidCongo]

Oh man that shot to end the 3rd by LBJ was sick.

[Allanon]

Last 3 minutes were a self-detonation by the Hawks.

Joe Johnson's gotta get alot more aggressive.

[Thunder Dan]

come on Cavs, close these guys out and save me money on Playoff tickets. Do it for the economy

[Chieflion]

Thats it. Johnson. Do it.

[KidCongo]

Fuck the 3's go inside.

[Chieflion]

This is why they let you wide open, Smith.

[TampaDude]

That was damn close to being a flagrant on Horford.

[TampaDude]

Fuck the 3's go inside.

+1 LeBron needs to drive that shit every fucking time for the rest of the game.

[TampaDude]

The Hawks are not going to go quietly tonight...they know if they go down 0-3, their season is over.

[Thunder Dan]

This is why they let you wide open, Smith.

that is the difference between Smith and Wallace. When guys leave Wallace wide open, he knows it's because he sucks at shooting. Smith just thinks it's a missed assignment on defense

[Methenysz]

+1 LeBron needs to drive that shit every fucking time for the rest of the game.

Agree

[KSeal]

+1 LeBron needs to drive that shit every fucking time for the rest of the game.

I don't understand why the guy doesn't do that on every play of the game. He'll either get a dunk or a foul called. Just do that shit all day long.

[TampaDude]

LeBron starting to take over the game now.

[Chieflion]

LeBron with 39 points 9 rebounds and 8 assists.

[Chieflion]

Its 3-0 for the Cleveland LeBrons. Just too good.

[Chieflion]

41 points for LeBron.

[Chieflion]

Who paid Josh Smith 10 million a year. That is stupid.

[Thunder Dan]

lol, the Hawks with 4 points in the quarter

[KidCongo]

Who paid Josh Smith 10 million a year. That is stupid.

I thought that was a bargain for the Hawks. Guess not :lol

[Chieflion]

lol, the Hawks with 4 points in the quarter
If you have a pussy, Joe Johnson, for a leader.
A dumbass chucker in Josh Smith.
A point guard who cannot create plays, Mike Bibby.
A failure of a starting center in Horford with only 4 boards, duh.

[Chieflion]

A desperate run?

[TampaDude]

I don't understand why the guy doesn't do that on every play of the game. He'll either get a dunk or a foul called. Just do that shit all day long.

You were saying??? :lol

[TampaDude]

A desperate run?

Yeah...too little, too late, though...

[Chieflion]

Yeah...I expect this game to be very close at the end...the Hawks know they can't afford to lose this game...however, the Cavs should...I repeat, SHOULD...be able to hang on for the win.
Nope, its over.

[TampaDude]

Nope, its over.

Yeah...the Hawks gave up.

[TampaDude]

Once again, LeBron seals the deal for the Cavs...this series is OVAH!!!

[Chieflion]

Any doubts about LeBron now?

[Chieflion]

The Hawks sucked so bad I heard MVP chants for LeBron in their own arena.

[TampaDude]

Any doubts about LeBron now?

Nope...not that I ever had any...

M V P

[KidCongo]

Bad luck Allanon.

[Methenysz]

Hes gotta fix his free throw percentage though :lol


But Regardless M.V.P no doubt about it last two games just incredible perfomances

[pauls931]

This is soft, Cavs playing a team in the 2nd round that probably wouldn't even make the playoffs in the west. I'm glad Joe Johnson is ok though, was a bit worried about him after the last game.

[KSeal]

Any doubts about LeBron now?

Are you kidding me? Lets see him put up a good game and win against an elite team. Putting up 47 on a shit Hawks team that wouldn't even make the playoffs in the West isn't all that amazing.

[DAF86]

Are you kidding me? Lets see him put up a good game and win against an elite team. Putting up 47 on a shit Hawks team that wouldn't even make the playoffs in the West isn't all that amazing.

47 pts 12 rbds and 8 assts.

[resistanze]

Yes, a Yao-less T-Mac-less team is much more challenging.

[DAF86]

I'm sure the Lakers would find a way to lose a game against the Hawks.

[Laker-fan-in-SanAnto]

This cavs team reminds me of the Lakers of last year. Lakers Pretty much had it easy the first three rounds. They weren't tested at all. Then the finals came and they faced a Celtics team that throughout the first three series they were tested and in the Finals they wanted it more than the Lakers. This soft team that the Cavs is facing aint helping in their way to the finals. Don't be surprised if the Cavs don't win it this year, that's all I'm saying.

[KSeal]

47 pts 12 rbds and 8 assts.

Against a team that could barely win 40 games in the East. Lets see him do that on Artest and Battier, wouldn't happen. Just go look up the box score the last time the Rockets and Cavs played.

[resistanze]

This cavs team reminds me of the Lakers of last year. Lakers Pretty much had it easy the first three rounds. They weren't tested at all. Then the finals came and they faced a Celtics team that throughout the first three series they were tested and in the Finals they wanted it more than the Lakers. This soft team that the Cavs is facing aint helping in their way to the finals. Don't be surprised if the Cavs don't win it this year, that's all I'm saying.

Yep, we all know what steamrolling your competition before the finals did to the Lakers back in 2001.

[DAF86]

Against a team that could barely win 40 games in the East. Lets see him do that on Artest and Battier, wouldn't happen. Just go look up the box score the last time the Rockets and Cavs played.

Luckily for him he won't have to face the Rockets in the playoffs.

[Laker-fan-in-SanAnto]

Yep, we all know what steamrolling your competition before the finals did to the Lakers back in 2001.

This is for all the Kobe haters. They steamrolled in 01' cause of Shaq, 08' no Shaq no steamrolling in the finals.

[TampaDude]

This is for all the Kobe haters. They steamrolled in 01' cause of Shaq, 08' no Shaq no steamrolling in the finals.

Kobe will never win an NBA Championship without Shaq.

[Thunder Dan]

This cavs team reminds me of the Lakers of last year. Lakers Pretty much had it easy the first three rounds. They weren't tested at all. Then the finals came and they faced a Celtics team that throughout the first three series they were tested and in the Finals they wanted it more than the Lakers. This soft team that the Cavs is facing aint helping in their way to the finals. Don't be surprised if the Cavs don't win it this year, that's all I'm saying.

Except the cavs arent soft and they play defense

[KSeal]

Kobe will never win an NBA Championship without Shaq.

Link?

[Lebron4MVP]

The Cavs have been dominant so far in the playoffs. The law of averages will come into play eventually and they will be tested. Adversity is inevitable for the Cavs. They are guaranteed to really experience it if they do indeed win it all. The question is will it be in the ECF or possibly the NBA Finals?

[Jacob1983]

I think the Magic probably pose the biggest threat to the Cavs. Lebron and the Cavs can handle Kobe and the Lakers but they might struggle against the Magic. It would suck to sweep your way to the Finals and lose in the Finals.

[j.dizzle]

I always give Cle props cuz they try really hard every game but I do gotta admit that both Detroit & Atl played like D-League teams..Its not the Cavs fault they got to play these teams but atleast try..I thought Atl would atleast keep 1 game close haha. I understand a few of Atl's main players are injured but both Det & Atl looked like they didnt even care. Props to Cle though for taking care of business..Orlando/Cle will be a sick ass series though if that goes down. Orl causes a grip of matchup problems so atleast it'll be 6 or 7

[Lebron4MVP]

I think the Magic probably pose the biggest threat to the Cavs. Lebron and the Cavs can handle Kobe and the Lakers but they might struggle against the Magic. It would suck to sweep your way to the Finals and lose in the Finals.


As much as I love to point out LA's flaws, they will be a much bigger problem for the Cavs than Orlando. Lakers have better talent, a better coach and a better team.

[Jacob1983]

The Lakers don't play defense. Defense wins championships.

[ducks]

but they will be facing denver not lakers
and nuggets will be physically with the cavs

[TampaDude]

Link?

Can't have a link for something that has never happened, and is never gonna happen. :lmao

[Lebron4MVP]

The Lakers don't play defense. Defense wins championships.

This isnt football. Yes you need D but you also have to have a solid O. You can have the best D in the world but if you arent able to produce points especially late in games especially against a team like the lakers, then it is a moot point.

[KSeal]

Can't have a link for something that has never happened, and is never gonna happen. :lmao

Wow :lmao It went right over your head now didn't it.

[E20]

Lebron's a motherfucking beast.

It seems this year that opposing teams cannot stop him. Compared to last year and teh year before teams could have made him struggle by collapsing the whole defense on him, but this year he's just unstoppable. I guess since the D needs to keep somewhat of an eye on Mo Williams, Lebron can just flat out go nutz.

[KSeal]

This isnt football. Yes you need D but you also have to have a solid O. You can have the best D in the world but if you arent able to produce points especially late in games especially against a team like the lakers, then it is a moot point.

Houston Rockets are a perfect example. Even with Yao and their defense they were having trouble stopping and scoring against LA. Not to say the same will happen with the Cavs, but some of this softness, defense stuff is a little over blown when comparing the two.

[j.dizzle]

A lot of ppl keep saying the lakers dont play D haha..They dont have the best road record in the league for nothing..When they need to play hard on D they do. Lebron is a beast though but the teams they played so far have no real big men clogging the middle..I would love to see how he would do in a series agaist battier & artest..He hasnt been tested so far but he will be next round & if Cle reaches the finals

[Lebron4MVP]

Houston Rockets are a perfect example. Even with Yao and their defense they were having trouble stopping and scoring against LA. Not to say the same will happen with the Cavs, but some of this softness, defense stuff is a little over blown when comparing the two.

The rockets have 2 damn good perimeter defenders. Outside of Lebron, Cavs dont have any other great lockdown guys. Not to mention if Kobe is playing this well against Battier/Artest, he is going to have his way with an undersized sg in West. Lakers will expose that weakness rather quickly forcing coach Brown to insert Wally or Pavolic into the starting lineup. That takes away a slasher/distributor and in ways makes the O a little worse. Cavs wont get away with using a Williams/West backcourt against LA.

[KSeal]

Lebron's a motherfucking beast.

It seems this year that opposing teams cannot stop him. Compared to last year and teh year before teams could have made him struggle by collapsing the whole defense on him, but this year he's just unstoppable. I guess since the D needs to keep somewhat of an eye on Mo Williams, Lebron can just flat out go nutz.

I'm sorry to kill your LBJ lovefest high you've got going but pretty much every elite team this year has shut LBJ down. Against the Lakers 14 for 45 shooting in two double digit loses, enough said.

[Jacob1983]

If the Lakers do make it to the Finals this year, they will be one of the worst defensive teams to make it to the Finals. The Lakers a great offensive team but they're shitty when it comes to defense.

[Laker-fan-in-SanAnto]

If the Lakers do make it to the Finals this year, they will be one of the worst defensive teams to make it to the Finals. The Lakers a great offensive team but they're shitty when it comes to defense.

Thanks for being the first person to bring it to my attention!

[JoeTait75]

Christ, this makes my head hurt (this and the four shots of Jack I took during the game.) LeBron was great tonight. Period. The other stuff can be saved for a rainy day. Just give credit where it's due.

[DrHouse]

My only recollection of ORL-CLE playing was the last regular season game they played when the Magic absolutely face fucked them all over the court.

How do both of the teams matchup? I don't watch EC basketball much...

[KSeal]

If the Lakers do make it to the Finals this year, they will be one of the worst defensive teams to make it to the Finals. The Lakers a great offensive team but they're shitty when it comes to defense.

LBJ combined 14 for 45 shooting in two double digit loses disagrees :lmao

[E20]

I'm sorry to kill your LBJ lovefest high you've got going but pretty much every elite team this year has shut LBJ down. Against the Lakers 14 for 45 shooting in two double digit loses, enough said.

We're talking PO's here. In past PO's in a 7 game series, teams focused all on Lebron and made him shoot like 15-40, but this year this isn't affecting him.

lol Laker fans holding on to Lebron's bad shooting game against the Lakers in the regular season as their only means of expalining that the Lakers will beat the Cavs.

[KSeal]

We're talking PO's here. In past PO's in a 7 game series, teams focused all on Lebron and made him shoot like 15-40, but this year this isn't affecting him.

lol Laker fans holding on to Lebron's bad shooting game against the Lakers in the regular season as their only means of expalining that the Lakers will beat the Cavs.

:lmao You're impressed that LBJ hasn't been stopped by the Piston and Hawks :rollin You can't be serious, those teams are such shit. They shouldn't even be in the playoffs.

14 for 45 is his combined shooting in both games against LA. There are plenty more points to be made about how the Lakers can beat the Cavs but that isn't the topic, the topic is stopping LBJ, and how nobody can anymore according to you, when the Lakers have done it both times they played this year. That's worth something no matter how much you try and discredit it.

[DrHouse]

The Lakers are a matchup nightmare for the Cavs.

[Jacob1983]

The Cavs will have homecourt in the Finals. When's the last time the Lakers won the Finals when they didn't have homecourt? The Lakers will be like the 1996-1998 Jazz and the 2001-2003 Nets and lose in the Finals 2 years in a row.

[KSeal]

The Cavs will have homecourt in the Finals. When's the last time the Lakers won the Finals when they didn't have homecourt? The Lakers will be like the 1996-1998 Jazz and the 2001-2003 Nets and lose in the Finals 2 years in a row.

It could be worse, they could be like the Dallas Mavericks.

[Jacob1983]

Losing two years in a row in the Finals is more embarassing than losing one time in the Finals. It shows that a team had two chances to win the championship and blew it.

[KSeal]

Losing two years in a row in the Finals is more embarassing than losing one time in the Finals. It shows that a team had two chances to win the championship and blew it.

I'm pretty sure having HCA and then blowing a 2-0 lead in the finals only to come back the next year to win 67 games and be the best team in the NBA with the MVP only to then lose to the eight seed in the first round is far more pathetic of a team and franchise.

[Jacob1983]

Not buying it. Losing two years in a row in the championship is worse.

[KSeal]

Not buying it. Losing two years in a row in the championship is worse.

Of course you're not buying it.

[E20]

lol i'll bump this thread after the finals.

[KSeal]

lol i'll bump this thread after the finals.

Please do, once your new butt buddy LBJ shits all over the Lakers you can bump this thread and prance around in all your glory as if it was your team that beat the Lakers. Pathetic douche..

[Lebron4MVP]

The Cavs will have homecourt in the Finals. When's the last time the Lakers won the Finals when they didn't have homecourt? The Lakers will be like the 1996-1998 Jazz and the 2001-2003 Nets and lose in the Finals 2 years in a row.


Homecourt is a moot point if the Cavs arent able to generate enough O against a team like the Lakers. Plus LA is certainly capable of splitting in our house. The fact that we have a small backcourt is going to be an issue assuming we meet them. West could be seen as a nonfactor. Kobe will destroy him. Sasha/Wally are just spot up shooters and they wont do any better on Kobe plus the Cavs will be easier to defend with West out of the starting lineup. The matchups just dont favor the Cavs. I know we still have another game with the hawks and then the ECF before we get there but this is something to think about assuming we meet them.

[TampaDude]

Wow :lmao It went right over your head now didn't it.

Actually, I was thinking that very thing about you. :lmao