ECF: Cavs 4 - Hawks 0

[WorldBoFree]

It sure would be nice to have an upgrade at back up PG for a potential Atlanta series. You know, someone who can create his own shot if needed, and not get beat off the dribble 7 out of 10 times, and commit a foul the other 3 times....

I know it's wishful thinking, but Delly will get absolutely exploited in a playoff series against Atlanta and most of the teams in the west.

Now, I know some people will immediately say that Delly won't be playing much in the playoffs, but that's also a concern. Giving Irving a rest matters over the course of the playoffs, especially since he's never made that run before.

Secondly, the burden should not all fall on Lebron to run the offense when Irving sits. This is especially important if we want Lebron to get a good amount of run at the 4, which is definitely something we're going to want to do against certain teams.

 

[ajz20]

Atlanta has no shot at beating this team in a 7 game series. They are pretenders.

I dont see how you could say that being objective. They will have home court and have played great team ball on both sides of the ball all year. They can force you to rely on the outside jumper and if we dont shoot well on the road we could lose that series. I think we should be slight favorites, but I think you are too over confident.
I could see Atlanta coming out of the East if our role players dont come up big and we resort to some bad habits that have surfaced recently.

 

[mhi]

The Hawks' traps stifled the Cavaliers. Will this adjustment solve the problem?

The Hawks and Cavaliers put together a treat on Friday night. While the Hawks won this round, this story is far from finished because the two teams are likely to face each other in the Eastern Conference Finals given the failures of every other contender in the conference. If and when they do, file this Xs and Os thought away.

The Hawks raced ahead to a 17-point first quarter lead thanks to their swarming defense. They forced six turnovers in the quarter, five of which were by LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. Most notably, they sent hard traps at Cleveland's side pick and rolls, short-circuiting its offense before it could even start.

Nobody in the league is better at trapping a side pick and roll than the Hawks. Their timing is impeccable. Three key parts need to be working in unison on any good trap: the primary defender, the trapping big man and the third guy that must position himself between the rolling big and his own man on the opposite side of the floor. Without all three, a point guard can either turn the corner or find the big man and/or opposite-side shooter to alleviate the pressure. That'll make any trap look bad.

This sequence at the 2:41 mark of the first quarter shows all three pillars in action. There's Dennis Schroeder and Pero Antic giving Irving no space on the trap.

Notice too where Kent Bazemore is standing. If Tristan Thompson rolls, he's there to stop it. If Irving passes to Iman Shumpert, he can still recover. Bazmore is helping the trappers by cutting off an obvious pass and the trappers are helping Bazemore effectively cover two people by making any Irving pass difficult. That's how they're able to eventually recover when Irving throws the crosscourt pass to Shumpert.

CLICK HERE FOR MOOAAR

 

[SteelSmack]

The teams (like Chicago) that attack the trap so well give it to the roll guy (TT) immediately. He then forces Bazemore to either stop him from dribbling to the hoop or leave Shump wide open for 3.

This is a cute little gimmick you can use to surprise a team that's got no time to practice, but in a 7 game series, it'll end up giving up easy points at the hoop or wide open 3s.

 

[All4One1ForAll]

Hawks just beat Sacramento scoring a season high 130 points, making them the first team to 50 wins this season. Seeing that this is a Cavs forum, it's reasonable for us to believe that our Cavs can beat the Hawks and advance to the Finals, but I think that those of you who think this will be a cakewalk to the Finals are dead wrong. Atlanta will be tough and that series will go 7 games in my opinion. Hopefully, our guys are ready and clicking because if they are, we have a good chance against them and any team who comes out of the West.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

The Hawks' traps stifled the Cavaliers. Will this adjustment solve the problem?

The Hawks and Cavaliers put together a treat on Friday night. While the Hawks won this round, this story is far from finished because the two teams are likely to face each other in the Eastern Conference Finals given the failures of every other contender in the conference. If and when they do, file this Xs and Os thought away.

The Hawks raced ahead to a 17-point first quarter lead thanks to their swarming defense. They forced six turnovers in the quarter, five of which were by LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. Most notably, they sent hard traps at Cleveland's side pick and rolls, short-circuiting its offense before it could even start.

Nobody in the league is better at trapping a side pick and roll than the Hawks. Their timing is impeccable. Three key parts need to be working in unison on any good trap: the primary defender, the trapping big man and the third guy that must position himself between the rolling big and his own man on the opposite side of the floor. Without all three, a point guard can either turn the corner or find the big man and/or opposite-side shooter to alleviate the pressure. That'll make any trap look bad.

This sequence at the 2:41 mark of the first quarter shows all three pillars in action. There's Dennis Schroeder and Pero Antic giving Irving no space on the trap.

Notice too where Kent Bazemore is standing. If Tristan Thompson rolls, he's there to stop it. If Irving passes to Iman Shumpert, he can still recover. Bazmore is helping the trappers by cutting off an obvious pass and the trappers are helping Bazemore effectively cover two people by making any Irving pass difficult. That's how they're able to eventually recover when Irving throws the crosscourt pass to Shumpert.

CLICK HERE FOR MOOAAR

Play center pick and roll with Love instead. Have LBJ dive to the basket and Irving cut to either the close corner to him or the rim. Kyrie needs to make the pass quickly.They still want Love to take the three. I'd prefer he dribble to the elbow forcing their defensive point man to make a real choice. If he commits to Love were getting a wide open three or a layup. I trust love to make the right pass.

 

[godfather]

Too lazy.

They sat three of their starters, have beaten the best teams in the league multiple times over, and have handily beat us. I don't know what you're trying to say when you mention their players "crapping out." It makes no sense after LeBron literally crapped out last year against the Spurs after he suffered cramps. Kyrie Irving is completely untested and there is nothing to go by as far as performing in the playoffs. He had trouble fending off screens against this team as well as getting the shots he likes.

If anyone should be worried it's the Cavs. The reality is the Atlanta Hawks are a superior team this year so far and play unified style of ball that one would think actually helps cover any injury disasters (any team can suffer injury btw) if one were to occur. Who the hell cares about the "if"?

I'm just having a hard time understanding what your point actually is. "If player A or B gets injured then..."

I mean, what? The fact that they lost to the 6er's last night has fuck all to do with the Cavs beating them in a 7 game series.

Your reading comprehension isn't very good.

I was being sarcastic about their loss to the Sixers, since so many knee-jerk reaction fans were claiming them to be the the 96 Bulls after they beat us. I love how logic never seems to add up with that.

They are clearly the "superior" team after beating us in one game in the regular season, but, if they lose to one of the worst teams ever assembled, then, you know, even if they are resting half their roster, its just "one game". Gimme a break.

The Hawks haven't proved anything, beating good teams, even great teams in the regular season doesn't mean that much. We know they are good, but how good is impossible to know at this point. They've not been truly tested, that's fact. Neither have we to be fair.

We beat down the Celtics in the regular season, the year they kicked our asses, upset us, and went on to almost win the title. Playoffs are different than the regular season. Anyone that's been a fan of the game for longer than 5 years, understand that. Teams that have never gone deep in the playoffs, it's hard to really say how they'll fair.

Now in our case. It's just as fair, but you know, we do have a 2-time champion leading the charge, so there's a little more clarity there. But even still, I admit, you can't fully predict if we're ready for it either until we see it. Talent wise I think we have what it takes to win it all, but that doesn't mean we have it mentally.

I don't think there's any team truly better than us on paper, that can overwhelm us in a 7 game series to beat us. But that's different from me saying I don't think we're capable of losing, of course I do.

I was poking fun at them losing to the Sixers more than anything, I wasn't seriously making that game the all to-be. I mention shit happens.

But, I was pointing out the obvious, that they put all their energy into that game against us. Obviously it was a big deal to them, since they then rest 3 players the next night, and Teague and Horford played like crap.

I brought up an interesting point, exactly how well will they do if role-players, which they're a team heavily relied upon, crap out on them?

I don't think you grasp my point at all I was trying to make. It went right over your head, and you just completely try to take what I was saying out of context.

Roles players will come and go, you don't always know what you're going to get. Come playoff time, some guys will step up and play above themselves, others will crap out. It usually what always happens. And a team like them, heavily relied on roll players. Not that's not a knock, that is a fact, you wonder how it goes if one, two, or three they heavily rely on don't show up for a series. Can Hoford, or Teague make up for it? I don't know if they can.

If they're clicking, then obvious that's going to be a really tough team to beat.

And last, but not least, I wanted to bold out the most ridiculous and clueless thing for you to mention. Talk about an empty statement, with no merit behind it at all.

LeBron crapped out in the finals? Really? Are you just trolling with that? He put up 28, shot nearly 60%, 50% from 3, and you're telling me he crapped out?

What a dumb statement to make.

Maybe Kyrie or Love, will not be on par. It's possible, but LeBron James is still on this team. He is so good, he's capable of winning games all by himself. Not an entire series, but there can be a game, or two, where everyone flat out blows, and he can still win the game. Atlanta does not have that same luxury at all.

 

[Mdog1]

I dont see how you could say that being objective. They will have home court and have played great team ball on both sides of the ball all year. They can force you to rely on the outside jumper and if we dont shoot well on the road we could lose that series. I think we should be slight favorites, but I think you are too over confident.
I could see Atlanta coming out of the East if our role players dont come up big and we resort to some bad habits that have surfaced recently.

Did you just say if our team doesn't play well we won't win? File that under well no shit! You can literally say that about any team in any sport.

The difference between Atlanta and Cleveland, is that we have three stars, and some role players, while Atlanta is a team of role players. Role players are notorious for not being as good in the playoffs as in the regular season, and stars generally bring their A game in the playoffs. Mo Williams being a great example of what I mean.

In a series against Atlanta, you can net your ass that being at home will win us at least a couple of games, and our trio of stars will win us at least a game. Then we happen to have role players who have done it all that can hit some big shots, and a guy who can get insanely hot at any time. If a single role player steps up in a single game, we win the series.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

I think Atlanta is for real. They will be tough to beat in a 7-games series, but by no means impossible.

And they can still lick the chud on the underside of my nut-sac.

 

[Cavatt]

Calling every Hawk a role player is ridiculous. Horford is a multiple allstar and is one of the best in the biz. Milsap, while not a superstar is a star player who is very difficult to stop. Teague is still up and coming and regularly rips us a new one. Again, maybe not a superstar, but he is with a lot of these elite pg's. You can make the same not a superstar comments about Love as you can about these guys. The difference is that they play perfectly in their roleplayer roles.

They are deeper, better executing, and they play better as a team. Our players will have to step up and play better than they have this year to beat the Hawks in a series.

 

[Houston RZ34]

Role players are notorious for not being as good in the playoffs as in the regular season, and stars generally bring their A game in the playoffs. Mo Williams being a great example of what I mean.

Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes - I'll be the first to tell you it was Mo's help that got us over the 60 wins barrier but....damned if that motherfucker didn't catch ghost in a 7 game series.

 

[And1]

Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes - I'll be the first to tell you it was Mo's help that got us over the 60 wins barrier but....damned if that motherfucker didn't catch ghost in a 7 game series.

He sure as he'll did

 

[And1]

Your reading comprehension isn't very good.

I was being sarcastic about their loss to the Sixers, since so many knee-jerk reaction fans were claiming them to be the the 96 Bulls after they beat us. I love how logic never seems to add up with that.

They are clearly the "superior" team after beating us in one game in the regular season, but, if they lose to one of the worst teams ever assembled, then, you know, even if they are resting half their roster, its just "one game". Gimme a break.

The Hawks haven't proved anything, beating good teams, even great teams in the regular season doesn't mean that much. We know they are good, but how good is impossible to know at this point. They've not been truly tested, that's fact. Neither have we to be fair.

We beat down the Celtics in the regular season, the year they kicked our asses, upset us, and went on to almost win the title. Playoffs are different than the regular season. Anyone that's been a fan of the game for longer than 5 years, understand that. Teams that have never gone deep in the playoffs, it's hard to really say how they'll fair.

Now in our case. It's just as fair, but you know, we do have a 2-time champion leading the charge, so there's a little more clarity there. But even still, I admit, you can't fully predict if we're ready for it either until we see it. Talent wise I think we have what it takes to win it all, but that doesn't mean we have it mentally.

I don't think there's any team truly better than us on paper, that can overwhelm us in a 7 game series to beat us. But that's different from me saying I don't think we're capable of losing, of course I do.

I was poking fun at them losing to the Sixers more than anything, I wasn't seriously making that game the all to-be. I mention shit happens.

But, I was pointing out the obvious, that they put all their energy into that game against us. Obviously it was a big deal to them, since they then rest 3 players the next night, and Teague and Horford played like crap.

I brought up an interesting point, exactly how well will they do if role-players, which they're a team heavily relied upon, crap out on them?

I don't think you grasp my point at all I was trying to make. It went right over your head, and you just completely try to take what I was saying out of context.

Roles players will come and go, you don't always know what you're going to get. Come playoff time, some guys will step up and play above themselves, others will crap out. It usually what always happens. And a team like them, heavily relied on roll players. Not that's not a knock, that is a fact, you wonder how it goes if one, two, or three they heavily rely on don't show up for a series. Can Hoford, or Teague make up for it? I don't know if they can.

If they're clicking, then obvious that's going to be a really tough team to beat.

And last, but not least, I wanted to bold out the most ridiculous and clueless thing for you to mention. Talk about an empty statement, with no merit behind it at all.

LeBron crapped out in the finals? Really? Are you just trolling with that? He put up 28, shot nearly 60%, 50% from 3, and you're telling me he crapped out?

What a dumb statement to make.

Maybe Kyrie or Love, will not be on par. It's possible, but LeBron James is still on this team. He is so good, he's capable of winning games all by himself. Not an entire series, but there can be a game, or two, where everyone flat out blows, and he can still win the game. Atlanta does not have that same luxury at all.

Ya. What the F**** is with the Lebron crapped out statement?? He was great,,, only guy that did jackshit on the heat

 

[And1]

I think Atlanta is for real. They will be tough to beat in a 7-games series, but by no means impossible.

And they can still lick the chud on the underside of my nut-sac.

Awesome

 

[Taiter]

Assuming everyone is healthy I give the Cavs the advantage in a series with the Hawks due to better top-end talent. They weren't ready out of the gate and after getting surprised initially and beaten down by that trapping, (and this is key) they recovered from a huge disadvantage in a tough road environment and took the lead. Then I think they just ran out of gas in really tough scheduling stretch. The gimmicks that work in one game won't work in 4 and I think the Cavs will come out stronger from the get-go when it matters. I'm hoping they watch the tape too and realize that they have to get the ball moving against a team like that. Wear them out guarding us.