Game 69 Vs. Atlanta

[camakazee]

Time for Camakazee's neat-o stats of the night.

We're Going Streaking!

Coming into the game today, both teams were hot on a seven game winning streak. However, common sense suggests that only one of the two teams would be able to leave the contest still smoking. Luckily, for us at RCF, the Cavs were able to gain early momentum and never look back. Here is a closer look at the two streaks before the game today:

Cleveland Cavaliers:

- Record: 7-0.

- Cavaliers: 103.3 points per game on 266-578 (46.0%) shooting.

- Opponent: 97.7 points per game on 257-578 (44.5%) shooting

- Turnovers: Cavs - 11.4 turnovers per game, OPP - 13.1 turnovers per game.

- LeBron James (7 games): 31.3 points, 10.4 assists, and 9.7 rebounds.

- Mo Williams (7 games): 19.9 points and 3.1 assists, 24-51 (47.1%) from three.

Atlanta Hawks:

- Record: 7-0.

- Atlanta: 98.4 points per game on 268-560 (47.9%) shooting.

- Opponent: 86.6 points per game on 239-572 (41.8%) shooting.

- Turnovers: Hawks - 10.4 turnovers per game, OPP - 11.6 turnovers per game.

- Joe Johnson (7 games): 26.0 points, 5.4 assists, and 2.3 turnovers.

- Josh Smith (7 games): 17.0 points and 9.9 rebounds.

March 21st, Atlanta @ Cleveland:

- Result: Cleveland wins.

- Cavaliers: 102 points on 38-78 (48.7%) shooting.

- Atlanta: 96 points on 33-77 (42.9%) shooting.

- Turnovers: Cavs - 13 turnovers, Hawks - 15 turnovers.

- LeBron James: 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.

- Mo Williams: 24 points and 7 assists, 3-4 (75%) from three.

- Joe Johnson: 24 points, 4 assists, and 5 turnovers.

- Josh Smith: 9 points and 8 rebounds.

It should be noted that coming into the game the Hawks were playing much better defense over their seven game winning streak than the Cavaliers. They were holding their opponents to 11.1 fewer points on average. However, Cleveland quickly exposed Atlanta's defense, forcing them to give up more than 100 points for the first time since March 4th.

As it stands right now, the Cavaliers' eight game winning streak is currently best in the NBA. Amazingly, this marks the third time this season that the Cavaliers have won at least eight straight games (0 times last season; their longest winning streak was 5 games). Here is how the current streak matches up against the other two:

November 3rd-18th:

- Streak: 8 wins.

- Cavaliers: 105.5 points per game on 301-628 (47.9%) shooting.

- Opponent: 93.1 points per game on 276-628 (43.9%) shooting.

- Double-digit wins: Five.

- Largest margin of victory in a game: 24 points.

November 22nd-December 12th:

- Streak: 11 wins.

- Cavaliers: 106.1 points per game on 444-912 (48.7%) shooting.

- Opponent: 86.3 points per game on 344-849 (40.5%) shooting.

- Double-digit wins: Ten.

- Largest margin of victory in a game: 36 points.

March 7th-Present.

- Streak: 8 wins (ongoing).

- Cavaliers: 103.1 points per game on 304-656 (46.3%) shooting.

- Opponent: 97.5 points per game on 290-655 (44.3%) shooting.

- Double-digit wins: One.

- Largest margin of victory in a game: 10 points.

While this streak isn't quite as impressive as either of the first two (especially in regards to point differential and double-digit wins), it is nice to finally get a decent streak going in the 2009 portion of the season. Also, while those other two streaks occurred when the team had good health, this streak has taken place with without Ben Wallace and without contributions from bench players over a few games (Wally Szczerbiak, Daniel Gibson). Ultimately, with a somewhat simple schedule around the bend, the Cavaliers may be able to finally break that franchise record for longest winning streak (11), despite the inability to blow out their opponent.

Ball Hawks.

After a solid win today, the Cavaliers improve to 3-1 against Atlanta on the season, wrapping up their last meeting with a series win. Here is a closer look at how the Cavs managed to hold off the Hawks this season:

- Record: 3-1.

- Cavaliers: 98.0 points per game on 146-315 (46.3%) shooting.

- Atlanta: 94.0 points per game on 130-295 (44.1%) shooting.

- Ball-Handling: Cavs - 6.8 steals and 9.8 turnovers per game, Hawks - 4.5 steals and 12.3 turnovers per game.

- LeBron James (4 games): 26.3 points, 8.3 assists, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals.

- Mo Williams (4 games): 23.3 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds, 11-22 (50%) from three.

The two biggest stand-outs from the season series are LeBron James and Mo Williams, but for different reasons. First, while LeBron performed well, averaging more assists per game than he does on the season, he managed to shoot below 50% in all four games. On the other hand, Mo Williams shot above 50% all four games (36-67 shooting for 53.7%). Furthermore, he managed to score at least 20 points in all four match-ups against Atlanta.

After today, the Cavs have improved to 6-2 on the season against Atlanta and Miami, the current four and five seeds. Here is a glimpse into the future for the Cavaliers versus their possible second round match-ups:

- Record: 6-2.

- Cavaliers: 98.3 points per game on 282-609 (46.3%) shooting.

- ATL/MIA: 94.4 points per game on 274-617 (44.4%) shooting.

- LeBron James (8 games): 29.0 points, 8.1 assists, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals.

- Mo Williams (8 games): 22.8 points, 4.0 assists, and 4.0 rebounds, 23-45 (51.1%) from three.

- Quick Start (first quarter ppg): Cavs - 26.0 points, ATL/MIA - 20.9 points.

While the Cavs may not overwhelm you on paper against these southeastern teams, they have been solid against them to say the very least. Ultimate, the most important stat may be the fact that Cleveland is 4-0 at home against these two teams, locked in to home court advantage over both opponents.

Grand Finale.

The Cleveland Cavaliers wrapped up their four game home stand this week in grand fashion. Improving to 32-1 at home this season, it's no secret that the team sleeps in the Q the night before a game. Here is how home court advantage has treated the Cavs this season when wrapping up a home stand:

Last game of a home stand at least 3 games long:

- Record: 3-0.

- Cavaliers: 100.0 points per game on 105-233 (45.1%) shooting.

- Opponent: 91.7 points per game on 101-230 (43.9%) shooting.

- Rebounding: Cavs - 42.7 rebounds, OPP - 40.0 rebounds. Cleveland outrebounded their opponent in all three games.

- Quick Start (first quarter ppg): Cavs - 24.7 points, OPP - 18.7 points.

- Cavs Notables: LeBron James is averaging 31 points per game in these games and Mo Williams has scored at least 20 points in every game. Also, the team is averaging 8.0 steals per game in the final game of a 3+ game homestand.

The most important stat, however, isn't a stat at all. It lies in the fact that these three wins are over playoff bound teams with winning records--Utah, Miami, and Atlanta. It's nice to see the Cavaliers maintain focus against good opponents before preparing to go on the road.

Also, while many think Z's career is nearing the grand finale (a championship would be the best way to celebrate that, right?), he managed to join the 10,000 point club today. Ilgauskas managed to hit this milestone just one year and less than one month later than his teammate LeBron James (he also happened to be 11 years older :chuckles. While Zydrunas has never averaged more than 17.2 points per game in a season, he has never scored less than 11.1 points per game in his eleven NBA seasons. Congrats big Z!

View from the other side:

- The Cavaliers spoiled Josh Smith's ten game streak of double-digit scoring games. Smith scored only 9 points on 3-10 (30%) shooting, his worst field goal percentage in a game since February 6th.

- Flip Murray recorded his most points in over a month, 22, against his former team today. Over the last three games Murray is averaging 17.7 points per game on 18-36 (50%) shooting.

 

[-Akronite-]

I'm starting to get turned off by some of Zee's stats.

You do a really nice job Zee, and I'm sure this can come off as nitpicking, but...

It seems it has just become stats. You used to have almost nothing but "Neat-O" stats that you usually wouldn't here but now it's kinda like a post game review. While you throw in a lot of interesting tidbits, and the "view from the other side" hasn't really changed, it seems like it used to be almost only those tidbits. Now there is a lot of reading of regular stats in between each of your "Neat-O" stats.

I appreciate what you do to a wonderful degree. And I also don't want to be a bother either. This is obviously your thing and you can't do what you want. I'm just putting it out there because it seems like it's been extended a lot while it used to be short and sweet.

 

[Powerslave]

Isn't there a stat saying that we're 31-0 or something when we score 100 points or more?

 

[Karma]

I'm starting to get turned off by some of Zee's stats.

You do a really nice job Zee, and I'm sure this can come off as nitpicking, but...

It seems it has just become stats. You used to have almost nothing but "Neat-O" stats that you usually wouldn't here but now it's kinda like a post game review. While you throw in a lot of interesting tidbits, and the "view from the other side" hasn't really changed, it seems like it used to be almost only those tidbits. Now there is a lot of reading of regular stats in between each of your "Neat-O" stats.

I appreciate what you do to a wonderful degree. And I also don't want to be a bother either. This is obviously your thing and you can't do what you want. I'm just putting it out there because it seems like it's been extended a lot while it used to be short and sweet.

:thumbdown

His total post was about stats. No need whatsoever to bring down this guy who is bringing an excellent element to this site.

 

[camakazee]

:thumbdown

His total post was about stats. No need whatsoever to bring down this guy who is bringing an excellent element to this site.

:chuckles:

I appreciate the back-up, but I can see where he is coming from.

Recently I have expanded the stats a bit, but mainly I've looked more at trends, both comparing and contrasting them. Because of the extended stats, the write-up looks much longer, somewhat like a game wrap-up. For instance, in this one I looked at Cleveland's seven game winning streak, contrasted with Atlanta's, then compared those to the game today. It takes up several lines because each stat is double spaced, but you can see how the two trends compare with the game.

I do, however, appreciate the input. I like to know what people want more of and, obviously, what they want to see less of. Ultimately, I try to keep the stats as "neat-o" as possible, while keeping the post both relevant and interesting. For example, as the poster above was stating, the Cavaliers have now improved to 32-0 when scoring 100 or more points (44-0 when scoring 96 or more points). But this is a stat I've mentioned several times already and after a while it gets old. I do resurface stats like this every now and again but only when I feel it is completely relevant.

Thanks again for the input, though. It's something I both appreciate and need.

 

[3 Da Hard Way]

There's only so many "neat o" stats that you don't usually hear around.