Cavs-Hawks Second round series

[jlb1705]

Originally Posted by BigWoof31

Cavs in 7.


Last years Celtics team was light years better than this years Cavs team and the Hawks are better this year with the addition of Mo Williams, Mario West and Flip Murray (and the subtraction of Josh Childress).

Atlanta wins every game at home and Cleveland sweeps at the Q

The Cavs are better this year with the addition of Mo Williams.

The Hawks are better this year with the addition of Mo Somebodyelsewhoisnotasgoodasmowilliams.

[BigWoof31]

I shouldn't have given an opinion in this thread. Predictably - everything is interpreted as a slam against the Cavs. I promise you, that's not what I'm doing.
The only thing negative I said was that I felt the 08 Celts were a much stronger team than the 09 Cavs (deeper too).

Cleveland outclasses Atlanta at every position. Their bench is better (marginally, but it's deeper) and they have a once in a generation talent leading the team. The coach has got the team playing good defense and the Q is a tough place to play.

But - this isn't the first dance for these Hawks either. It it's a running/gunning style game, Atlanta has a good chance og doing some damage. On the flip side a half court game swings a significant advantage to Cleveland.
I think Cleveland has 10-15 point wins at home and 3-5 point losses on the road.

[BigWoof31]

Originally Posted by jlb1705

The Cavs are better this year with the addition of Mo Williams.

The Hawks are better this year with the addition of Mo Somebodyelsewhoisnotasgoodasmowilliams.

Maurice Williams (known as Mo to Atlanta fans). To clarify - he'll be Mau Williams from this point forward.

[Napoleonbuck]

Originally Posted by BigWoof31

The only thing negative I said was that I felt the 08 Celts were a much stronger team than the 09 Cavs (deeper too).

I'd have no problem if you qualified this statement in any way, but you just saying it isn't good enough really, not on a pro-Cavs board.

[Brutus1]

Originally Posted by BigWoof31

This isn't my praise of the Hawks - this is my praise of the Celtics of 08.
Three hall of famers in the starting lineup and a very, very deep bench.

Boston won it all with a Rookie at PG (Rondo has greatly improved this year) and a terrible head coach (nobody thinks much of DR). They were the ultimate savvy veteren team that knew when to turn it on and off.

Understood, but my point was that the Celts weren't even light years ahead of last years Cavs team (with Damonf'n Jones), let alone this years Cavs team, with the addition of the real Mo Williams (subtraction of Amon Ones) and a vastly improved LeBron.

Anyway, how does any of that bring you to the conclusion that Atl. makes it to 7 games in this series , which is my point of contention ?

Agree with the Rondo improvement comment.

[jlb1705]

Originally Posted by BigWoof31

Maurice Williams (known as Mo to Atlanta fans). To clarify - he'll be Mau Williams from this point forward.

I don't see a Maurice Williams on the Hawks' roster. I see Maurice Evans and I see Marvin Williams.

Regardless, I don't think there's any malice here toward Hawks or Hawks fans. The Pistons and their fans on the other hand - they all deserve whatever bad intentions we have and then some.

[BigWoof31]

Originally Posted by Napoleonbuck

I'd have no problem if you qualified this statement in any way, but you just saying it isn't good enough really, not on a pro-Cavs board.

I thought the part about the three hall of famers in the starting rotation would have sufficed. Next time I'll drag out the statistics.

[BigWoof31]

Originally Posted by Brutus1

Anyway, how does any of that bring you to the conclusion that Atl. makes it to 7 games in this series , which is my point of contention ?

The point I was trying to make was that a inferior Hawks team pushed a superior Celts team to 7 - why couldn't they do it against Cleveland?

Yes, the matchups are different and yes Cleveland has a far superior coach than Rivers, but I don't think its unimaginable even to the casual NBA fan like myself.


Anyway - I'm done in this thread. I don't want to get into a snipefest when I'm a visitor in this thread and on this site. I like BP's enthusiastic support of spirited discussions and I don't want it to escalate beyond that.

I look forward to the "game recap" threads where I hope to share quotes from Hawks blogs and ATL sports talking heads

[purplehaze1213]

Originally Posted by BigWoof31

I thought the part about the three hall of famers in the starting rotation would have sufficed. Next time I'll drag out the statistics.

Three hall of famers at the tail end of their careers...and none of whom, even at their peak, even come close to Lebron's skill level.

Besides, this years Cavs and last years Celtics had the exact same record, 66-16, and that was with the Cavs pretty much conceeding their final game. I don't see how that equates to the Celtics being "light years" ahead of this years Cavs...

[jlb1705]

Originally Posted by BigWoof31

The point I was trying to make was that a inferior Hawks team pushed a superior Celts team to 7 - why couldn't they do it against Cleveland?

Yes, the matchups are different and yes Cleveland has a far superior coach than Rivers, but I don't think its unimaginable even to the casual NBA fan like myself.

They certainly could do it. I think the Cavs play with a greater sense of urgency than the Celtics did in the first round last year and that will prevent this from going to seven games, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.

[gracelhink]

Originally Posted by BigWoof31

I thought the part about the three hall of famers in the starting rotation would have sufficed. Next time I'll drag out the statistics.

Not to be a stat nerd, but if you check the statistics, you will find that Springfield is close to Beantown, and the 3 amigos were on the all star team, but Garnett, Allen and Pierce are not enshrined in the Hall.

Also, people overlook a key addition to the Cavs team even though he came last year-- starter Delonte West.
Last year Celtics were the best in postseason. But regular season record is all square.
'07-'08 Celtics regular season record, 66-16.
'08-'09 Cavs regular season record, 66-16.

[Brutus1]

I'm not ready to call Ray Allen a Hall of Famer. Great player yes, HoF no.

No brainer on Pierce and KG.

[billmac91]

after watching LA-Houston, you have to be a little nervous about the long lay-off. 9 days isn't a walk in the park. They;re about to face a team that is in a rhythm and coming of of a 7 gae series.

Do fresh legs, or game rhythm mean more? I'm concerened the Cavs shoot poorly tomorrow night. I'm thinking a close game that comes down to the stretch only because Mo, Delonte, Boobie, and Wally will be slightly off.

I'm not calling a loss, but I think its a close game.

[purplehaze1213]

Originally Posted by billmac91

after watching LA-Houston, you have to be a little nervous about the long lay-off. 9 days isn't a walk in the park. They;re about to face a team that is in a rhythm and coming of of a 7 gae series.

Do fresh legs, or game rhythm mean more? I'm concerened the Cavs shoot poorly tomorrow night. I'm thinking a close game that comes down to the stretch only because Mo, Delonte, Boobie, and Wally will be slightly off.

I'm not calling a loss, but I think its a close game.

True, but let's not pretend that Atlanta is anywhere near as good as Houston is. Hopefully, the Cavs are able to shake off the rust quickly, but even if they drop the first game I won't be overly concerned about this series.

[billmac91]

Originally Posted by purplehaze1213

True, but let's not pretend that Atlanta is anywhere near as good as Houston is. Hopefully, the Cavs are able to shake off the rust quickly, but even if they drop the first game I won't be overly concerned about this series.

ATL played the Cavs tough all year. Bibby, Johnson, Smith, and Horford are nothing to sneeze at.

Then again, I hated playing Detroit in round 1 and it was a joke. I just hate a few match-ups we face against ATL. They have a way of scoring with our bigs away from the hoop, and Johnson/Bibby seem to play well aganst us down the stretch.