Game 64 3/6/15: Cleveland at Atlanta

[Mdog1]

LeBron is going want this one. It's winning the MVP time for him. We saw it in the GSW game, we saw it against Houston, and against the Raptors in the 4th q.

He needs to play great for every game for the rest of the year to get it.

 

[The Red Viper]

This is a statement game for not just LeBron but the team as well. Time to show everyone who the daddy is in the Eastern conference! Either way, it will be an absolute cracker!

 

[Binkster]

an absolute cracker!

 

[Deezus]

On a related note, Minnesota's Pythagorean win total last year was 48 (they won 40), a difference of 8 between the actual and the predicted, maybe the biggest difference on record. Minnesota was historically bad in close games, losing nearly all of them, but wound up blowing out many teams which gave them a rather hefty 3.10 SRS while playing in the West which is really good. They just choked just about every close game played.

This helps to explain why Love can't seem to hit a big shot in crunch time this year. Anyone else notice this? He's been playing great, but more often than not, it seems like when he gets an opportunity to hit a big shot late in the game, he can't seem to break through.

 

[BimboColesHair]

This helps to explain why Love can't seem to hit a big shot in crunch time this year. Anyone else notice this? He's been playing great, but more often than not, it seems like when he gets an opportunity to hit a big shot late in the game, he can't seem to break through.

I mean its not like he didn't hit big shots in Minnesota:

 

[Peachtree]

They're unveiling their Wilkins statue tonight. It's hard for them to cultivate a fan base for the Hawks when everyone down here is from somewhere else. (Present company included)

 

[SteelSmack]

Well, gents. Kyrie and Kevin are our worst defenders; and acquiring Timofey/Iman/J.R. as defensive pieces wasn't all it was cracked up to be and has done nothing for our team defense..

Boy, if Atlanta thinks like it's fans, they've got some surprises in store.

Someone obviously didn't pick up on your sarcastic first paragraph that was explained in the second paragraph.

 

[cavsfever]

On a related note, Minnesota's Pythagorean win total last year was 48 (they won 40), a difference of 8 between the actual and the predicted, maybe the biggest difference on record. Minnesota was historically bad in close games, losing nearly all of them, but wound up blowing out many teams which gave them a rather hefty 3.10 SRS while playing in the West which is really good. They just choked just about every close game played.

Watching KLove close up this season makes me think that this is no coincidence. I don't think it's that he chokes on a personal level -- missing open shots because of pressure or whatever -- but his skill set, in particular his lack of athleticism, just makes him too easy to shut down if he is your 4th quarter go-to guy.

 

[cavsfever]

This is going to be a great game, but I find it hard to work up any hatred for Atlanta. They don't play dirty like Houston, or physical / bullying like Indiana or Chicago, they don't even have one player who inexplicably and annoyingly plays all-world against us like Lou Williams for Toronto.

They are just going to lose because we are better than them and now is the time for us to start showing it. No hard feelings, guys.

 

[Cratylus]

An advance warning to everyone who will be watching the game tonight:

Prepare yourself to be inundated with shitty organ music during most of the game. The organist seems to think he's the reincarnation of Bach or Liberacé and the fans are there not to watch a basketball game but to attend one of his concerts. Trust me - by mid-way through the 3rd quarter you will want to rip your ears off.

 

[Helium filament]

An advance warning to everyone who will be watching the game tonight:

Prepare yourself to be inundated with shitty organ music during most of the game. The organist seems to think he's the reincarnation of Bach or Liberacé and the fans are there not to watch a basketball game but to attend one of his concerts. Trust me - by mid-way through the 3rd quarter you will want to rip your ears off.

YES. i've noticed this every Atlanta game! I really feel for the fans.

 

[TopGun]

As of 10 hours ago the Hawks official Twitter account was clammoring for fans to buy the remaining tickets as it hadn't yet sold out.

Pathetic.

It's the dynamic pricing system that's going to prevent this from being a sellout. $119 face value tickets in what is the equivalent of Loudville at the 'Q'? Those are New York prices. I would stay home and watch the game on TV if I lived in Atlanta.

 

[Anglefan]

Anyone surprised that just about every book has us as a 1 to a 1.5 favorite at Atlanta?

No. We are overwhelming favorites to win the East right now. We're at -140 and Atlanta is +280. Nobody else is better than +700. So we're rated significantly higher in the minds of sports bettors enough to have us favored even on the road against them.

 

[col63onel]

An advance warning to everyone who will be watching the game tonight:

Prepare yourself to be inundated with shitty organ music during most of the game. The organist seems to think he's the reincarnation of Bach or Liberacé and the fans are there not to watch a basketball game but to attend one of his concerts. Trust me - by mid-way through the 3rd quarter you will want to rip your ears off.

Also, the PA announcers call for an Atlanta 3 pointer sounds like the Goofy yodel

 

[Binkster]

An advance warning to everyone who will be watching the game tonight:

Prepare yourself to be inundated with shitty organ music during most of the game. The organist seems to think he's the reincarnation of Bach or Liberacé and the fans are there not to watch a basketball game but to attend one of his concerts. Trust me - by mid-way through the 3rd quarter you will want to rip your ears off.

Last time Cavs were in Atlanta, it sounded like a combination of a library with a funeral.

Awkward music, utter silence from the crowd.

A seemingly creepy atmosphere.