Cleveland, Cleveland
Greetings, all-
What to make of Tuesday night?
Jamal Crawford’s take: “We had a rough stretch scoring the ball and that hasn’t been the case all year. We look at it as a fluke, laying an egg, and hopefully come out tomorrow and get a win.”
I don’t know if I entirely agree with him, but I don’t think he’s so far off. I don’t know what happened in the fourth quarter. Crawford said that pressure built with each failed possession. Al Horford said that Cleveland defended the transition differently and caught the Hawks by surprise. After a sizzling start, Joe Johnson might have been as ineffective as I’ve seen him. Obviously, Cleveland had something to do with it. The Cavs are one of the best defensive teams in the league – first in points in the paint allowed, second in defensive field goal percentage and fourth in points allowed per game. Earlier this season, they held Milwaukee scoreless for more than 11 minutes.
Mike Brown, before Tuesday’s game: “Guys are doing a nice job limiting teams to one shot. There were stretches (in the season) where we were getting hurt on the offensive glass, there were stretches where we got hurt in transition. There was a stretch where we were turning the ball over and our floor balance wasn’t great and we were getting hurt real bad with some easy baskets. We’ve kind of done a decent job of trying to clean that up. Our guys have been focusing on those areas and done a better job of not letting those easy buckets happen to us.”
But, it did seem fluky. I (and you, I imagine) have grown accustomed to the Hawks making good decisions with the ball – or at least not turning it over – and they were just haphazard, particularly in the fourth quarter. I guess the tougher part is teasing out how much pressure and defense had to do with it, and how much was the Hawks just imploding.
Some links:
Jeff Schultz’s column from the game.
“I think we put too much pressure on ourselves to go win a game instead of just playing the way we know how to play,” Josh Smith said. “We definitely thought about this game too hard.”
Hawks pre-game?
Cleveland Plain-Dealer’s game story.
(The Cavaliers) have never done what they enforced on the Hawks in this one, stuffing them for nearly nine minutes in the fourth quarter.
espn.com’s Daily Dime.
qualitatively it was shocking how little had changed from the playoff series nearly eight months ago.
Anyway, going forward.
Why the Hawks will win
1. Few gave them much of a chance in Boston and Dallas, and they won there. (The Dallas game, you’ll remember, followed the New York loss, one of the worst of the season. Josh Smith got tossed, the starters played extended minutes and it looked for all the world like Dallas would run the Hawks out of the gym. Interestingly, Crawford said pretty much the same thing following that New York game that he did Tuesday. This is a pretty confident group, and I didn’t sense any self-doubt in the locker room after the game.)
2. I think the Hawks think or know they can play with Cleveland, and I don’t think they’re scared. As poorly as the Hawks played offensively at times, they did a pretty solid job on Cleveland defensively, particularly in the second half. Marvin Williams defended admirably against LeBron James (and had a solid night overall), although I’m not sure where to draw the Marvin played well/LeBron played poorly line.
I think LeBron's the one on the left
3. I don’t think the Hawks will have a stretch like they did Tuesday night, at least not of their own doing.
4. The Hawks were a little miffed with the chirping that some of the Cavaliers were doing, which may make them all the more eager for payback (if they need any more reasons). Without naming him, they were particularly unimpressed with the woofing that Jamario Moon was doing.
5. Despite their many incompetence issues, the Hawks had 23 fast-break points against Cleveland, 10 more than the Cavs’ average. There’s no reason the Hawks can’t do better if they handle the ball better in transition than Tuesday.
Why they won’t
1. Again with James – even if Williams had a lot to do with his 6-for-20, there’s no way he plays like that two nights in a row.
2. When the Hawks won in Boston, they were helped by Boston shooting 1 for 15 from 3-point range. In Dallas, Josh Howard was out.
3. Besides James, I don’t think Cleveland played all that well. There were a number of turnovers that were just bad, bad plays that I wouldn’t expect that team to make. The Hawks will likely face a better team Wednesday.
4. One of the Hawks’ pillars is rebounding. Cleveland neutralized the Hawks Tuesday, outrebounding the Hawks 43-30 and holding them to five offensive boards, and there’s no reason to think the Cavaliers can’t do it again.
5. Bottom line, it’s hard not to say that the Cavaliers are a better team. The Hawks’ chance to take one was Tuesday.
Why do you think the Hawks will win/lose tonight? Feel free to use my reasons, as each of them rates a 10 for insight.*
This one goes to 11.
Also, I’m planning on figuring out who won the prediction contest in my hotel in Cleveland this afternoon. Looking forward to it.
* Sarcasm.
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632 comments Add your comment
Hetch Hetchy
December 30th, 2009
9:35 pm
TA-DA! Easy call.
JeJe
December 30th, 2009
9:35 pm
Wtf was Joe thinking on that last play? waited 10 seconds to pass for that?
kwooden1
December 30th, 2009
9:36 pm
Lebron shot 16 FTs the HAWKS shot 15 FTs????????????????????????????????
Time
December 30th, 2009
9:36 pm
For the love of god Woody, you better pick up a fine after this one. The refs did everything they could to ensure that win for Cleveland.
This officiating issue is never going to get better until coaches start speaking up en masse and taking fines until Stern (who is a disgrace of a commish) is forced to clean up the refs and end all this “star treatment” crap. A foul is a foul, no matter who committs it.
bigdave
December 30th, 2009
9:36 pm
punched back…
this is why i dont want the NBA in a 7 game series…
Twinbbest
December 30th, 2009
9:37 pm
i knew it to. up by 17 pts in the 3rd… i still said Bron-Bron was going to win this game. Refs wouldn’t allow the Hawks to win this game.
bigdave
December 30th, 2009
9:37 pm
Je Je
he got Bibby an open look…
niremetal
December 30th, 2009
9:37 pm
The Hawks should demand a replay of the final 1:30 from the lost possession. That was an absolutely, positively CRITICAL possession that was screwed up by the shot clock failing to reset. The refs should have stricken the possession that followed and replayed it from the time the Hawks rebounded the ball and the clock didn’t reset.
Mac-Town'z Finest 478
December 30th, 2009
9:37 pm
Hawks just proving they are not elite….all jump shots….no post presence……
no players with killer desire in the clutch to take it to the rim and make things happen…..well a couple players…like smooth…but he just isnt physically talented enough to get the job done in those spots.
terrell barron
December 30th, 2009
9:37 pm
We got robbed! Great game guys. You played your butts off.
J.J.M.
December 30th, 2009
9:37 pm
I hope lebron breaks an ankle
Eric Amous
December 30th, 2009
9:37 pm
NBA = Cheaters! That was crap, pure crap. I’m done. There is no way they will ever let a Hawks team win. Cheaters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JeJe
December 30th, 2009
9:38 pm
WTF is with every time Cleveland fouls or a goaltend, they are shocked? And why the hell are these refs such pieces of !@#$? Wtf is this garbage? Is David Stern on the line with them right now congratulating them?
bigdave
December 30th, 2009
9:38 pm
unbelievable officiating…
the offensive foul against Marvin… the blocking foul on james charge.
MAD-DONNA
December 30th, 2009
9:38 pm
The Hawks will never win da big game! The NBA just won’t have it!
dap01
December 30th, 2009
9:38 pm
Come on Ken, surely you will write about the shabby NBA refs in this game. I hope Woody gets fined for what he is about to say.
The NBA is a joke!
Dawgfan
December 30th, 2009
9:38 pm
unbelieveable. hawks dominate this game and it gets stole from them by sorry officiating. cleveland was never in this game without them.
JeJe
December 30th, 2009
9:38 pm
And why the hell do teams’ role players always dagger us? How the hell do Ilgauskas and Varejao make these shots?
bigdave
December 30th, 2009
9:39 pm
got to appeal this game.
Eric Amous
December 30th, 2009
9:39 pm
This game is a scam. Pure and simple.
JeJe
December 30th, 2009
9:39 pm
Refs did this same !@#$ @ Philips in March on that phantom call on Horford on LeBron at the end
vava74
December 30th, 2009
9:39 pm
JeJe, stop the nonsense. We were robbed like hell.
We played a good game while the refs let us. There were absolutely no calls going our way…
Marvin’s charge… please… JJ was fouled in 3 of his last 5 possessions. Varejão had several elbow to the chest or back fouls which were not called…
The table did not re-set the shot clock… do you want me to continue?? Get a grip.
Yes we made mistakes, but try and play the game against 8 like we did and see how do you fare.
Art Vandelay
December 30th, 2009
9:39 pm
Two things:
1. Shouldn’t the refs be required to wear Cavs jerseys if they’re clearly working for the team?
2. Woodson absoutely MUST protest the outcome of this game to the league office. It won’t do any good, but this can’t be forgotten. Easily the worst-called overall game I’ve ever seen in 30 years as an NBA fan.
Alien in ATL
December 30th, 2009
9:39 pm
HOW MUCH DID LBJ PAY THOSE REFS????!!!!!! DID OUR DEAR NBA COMMISSIONER ADDED THE SAME AMOUNT ???? THIS IS ROBBERY!!!!!
BONE
December 30th, 2009
9:39 pm
Woody better protest this game
bigdave
December 30th, 2009
9:39 pm
and they decided to reply .5 secs for the Cavs.
bigdave
December 30th, 2009
9:39 pm
we have a good team. you know what… i dont care i want to play this girls in a series…
J.J.M.
December 30th, 2009
9:40 pm
can the hawks appeal?
Clyde
December 30th, 2009
9:40 pm
I’m not gonna snap tonight. The refs cheated and the Hawks played good enough to win. Its a shame to see what the NBA has come to. Good to see a Jason Collins sighting.
And that pre-game picture thing by the Cavs was real disrespectful. Lebron wasn’t taking pictures when Orlando beat them and he ran off the court. The Cavs are arrogant when they win and they are sore losers when they lose.
cheshire
December 30th, 2009
9:40 pm
i have tried so hard to get behind this team, but i’m done with them. call me fair weather if you want, but i am beyond sick and tired of watching Atlanta teams trick me into thinking they’re gonna be good and then choke when it really matters. this is just becoming the NBA version of the Braves, and i really don’t feel like wasting 4 more months watching this team so they can inevitably get bounced in the 2nd round of the playoffs when our so called “superstar” decides to take the week off and play like a bench warmer. why is it asking too much to get one team in this city that doesn’t let you down???
MAD-DONNA
December 30th, 2009
9:40 pm
Mac-Town’z Finest 478, you said it!
bigdave
December 30th, 2009
9:41 pm
then Lebron fouled Josh on the same play…
Mac-Town'z Finest 478
December 30th, 2009
9:41 pm
Hey guys….we did get jobbed…..BUT….we wouldnt have been in that situation if we took it strong to the rim more…or had a real post presence…
settling for jump shots killed the hawks………………………………….again
FRESH
December 30th, 2009
9:42 pm
SMFH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I AM NOW COVINCED THAT THE NBA IS RIGGED. SMFH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eric Amous
December 30th, 2009
9:42 pm
NBA = Pro Wrestling! Pre-determined winner. Don’t spend another dime or waste or TV on this crap. The NBA is stealing from you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bigdave
December 30th, 2009
9:42 pm
cheshire you’re fair weather…
this team fought tonight. only a fair weather would think otherwise…
ignition
December 30th, 2009
9:42 pm
Games Like This Really Makes Me Question The Integrity Of The NBA are You Serious A 10 Second Descrepency in the Shot Clock !!!!!!!! The Horrible Calls All Game…This One We Need TO STRAIGHT UP PROTEST !!!!!!!!!
vava74
December 30th, 2009
9:42 pm
Art,
Unfortunately this was a standard ref performance. There were AT LEAST 20 calls or non calls going against us…
Alien in ATL
December 30th, 2009
9:42 pm
Art – 1000% agree. And they should all have #23 on their shirts. At least they would be honest to all of the fans of basketbal
Tony from Stone Mountain
December 30th, 2009
9:43 pm
Refs need to be suspended after the lack of calls in this game!
JeJe
December 30th, 2009
9:43 pm
vava74,
STFU. Our scorekeepers have robbed other teams too.
The refs sucked !@#$. We all know that. But that doesn’t detract from the fact that we ISO’ed Joe on like 6 straight plays and he executed once or twice
Old skool
December 30th, 2009
9:43 pm
I have never been compelled to post a blog until today. I am so angry and dissapointed. I watch the Hawks vs clevland tonight and what I witnessed was disgusting. The Hawks played a great game but you can’t beat your opponent and the referees. They cheated for Clevland the freethrow discrepency was atrocious. The game seemed to be rigged. How can they get away with that sh….t. They need to give the hawks some respect. I couldnt continue to watch because I knew the hawks were destined to lose. To all hawks fans please complain to whomever is over the officiating. The Hawks actually outplayed Clevland but the game was gift wrapped. In my heart any to anyone else that watched the game. I know you feel the same as I.To Mike Woodson great coaching job. I thank you for using your extra bigs. You were outstanding the team played great. It was amazing the team didnt give up and throw in the towel. It was obvious to me the refs were not about to let Clevland lose. How in the h..ll the referees did not keep up with the shot clock boggles my mind. They should be repremended for their incompetence. I am livd people.
JeJe
December 30th, 2009
9:44 pm
Well, time for LeBron to go party till 4 AM.
bigdave
December 30th, 2009
9:44 pm
ill never consider James great… he’ll never have to earn anything in this league.
Eric Amous
December 30th, 2009
9:44 pm
It was Lebron Shame’s birthday. Do you really think they were going to allow him to lose???? Get real.
JeJe
December 30th, 2009
9:45 pm
Can anyone recall a time that RandMo or Collins have been used OVER ZaZa? We should’ve used Collins all game
JAT
December 30th, 2009
9:45 pm
Sure the Hawks could have won this game but that was the worst officiating I’ve ever seen. LeBron got away with murder, Josh got hammered several times, Anderson clearly stepped on the line and let’s not mention the freakin shot clock not being reset. The Hawks is still a great team.
Alien in ATL
December 30th, 2009
9:45 pm
Calling all Hawks fans to sue the NBA! This is just outrageous!!
vava74
December 30th, 2009
9:46 pm
JeJe,
JJ was FOULED 3 out of his last 5 possessions and got 1 call, away from the basket.
JJ shot 2 FTs for the game!
Also, in case you did not notice, when we went inside, Varejao got away with everything he wanted. He had at least 4 or 5 fouls throughout the game which were not called.
Art Vandelay
December 30th, 2009
9:46 pm
Cavs: 38 free throws
Hawks: 15 free throws