We’re live from Hawks-Cavaliers: Will it be a new story?
The Hawks are hoping to control LeBron James and the Cavaliers better than in their playoff series. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
If you’re wondering whether tonight’s game between the Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers will play out any differently than last year’s playoff series, you’re not alone. LeBron James isn’t sure what to make of the Hawks yet, either.
“We controlled the playoff series the whole way through,” James said moments ago in the Cavaliers’ locker room. “They’re a talented a talented team, but we controlled them and did what we wanted to do.”
When asked if the Hawks seem like a significantly different team now, James said, “I’ll tell you tonight after we play them. … I’ve watched tape. But you can’t just watch tape . When you play them, that’s when you can really tell about a team.”
The Hawks view tonight’s game as a measuring stick. They’re 21-8 but for the first time face the team that bounced them from the playoffs last season in four straight games. The Hawks are more versatile, deeper and better defensively than they were a year ago. They’re probably also a little tougher mentally. But James is right: You never really know about a team until games like this.
Josh Smith echoed those sentiments a little while ago, saying, “Any time we play against a marquee team in the East, let alone the NBA, we’ve got to gauge ourselves. We’ll definitely face adversity throughout the game. So we’ll just see how we’ll deal with that, too.”
It should be interesting. These are the fun games to watch and I’m here to chat about it, so let me know what you think.
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296 comments Add your comment
Brett
December 29th, 2009
9:29 pm
prime games this season at home (ORL and CLV)- total collapse in 2nd half in both
Pete
December 29th, 2009
9:29 pm
Atlanta , see you tomorrow night! Dress warm it is cold up here, but not as cold as your shooting!! THIS is our year!!! Go Cavs!!
FIRE MIKE WOODSON EXPRESS
December 29th, 2009
9:30 pm
WILKINS JUST SAID THE SAME THING. TO MANY JUMP SHOTS THIS HALF. NOT ONE SET PLAY DRAWIN UP. HE WAS TO BUSY DROPING THE F BOMB.
jwill
December 29th, 2009
9:30 pm
lebrons a dick
The Boss
December 29th, 2009
9:30 pm
Giving JJ the BIG money would be as pitiful as 11 million over 10 year per for Kovy!
Forget them both!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
atmdawg
December 29th, 2009
9:30 pm
You better get it this year Pete. Because your best player will be headed to NY after this year. You guys will sux again.
MAD-DONNA
December 29th, 2009
9:31 pm
THIS TEAM IS A TOTAL FARCE! ABSOLUTELY NO HEART! 42-42 MAYBE!
jwill
December 29th, 2009
9:31 pm
Enter your comments here
FIRE MIKE WOODSON EXPRESS
December 29th, 2009
9:32 pm
Rick Sund will look back on this game and say Mike Woodson is a douch.
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 29th, 2009
9:32 pm
Hawks inabilty to score in the half court game is a coaching issue.
whitedawg
December 29th, 2009
9:32 pm
Wisconson beating up on Miami.
How about that ACC!
The Boss
December 29th, 2009
9:33 pm
Max contract for Sonny Clusters would be Spirits best move!
atmdawg
December 29th, 2009
9:33 pm
ACC is a joke. GT would be no better then 6th in the SEC
Damon Evans
December 29th, 2009
9:34 pm
Jeff, is Mike related to Henry?
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 29th, 2009
9:34 pm
Sund just drew a diagonal line through four vertical lines.
Pete
December 29th, 2009
9:34 pm
By the way, Atlanta we respect you but despise the Celtics. Please beat Boston! They are the team that deserves to be hated!
MAD-DONNA
December 29th, 2009
9:34 pm
IS THIS REALLY WHAT THEY PRACTICE????????
The Boss
December 29th, 2009
9:34 pm
Dogs suck..take that crap elsewhere.
Mike Hunt
December 29th, 2009
9:34 pm
Joe Johnson doesn’t show up for the big games. Period. Hawks MIGHT make it to the second round of the playoffs. I feel a bad January coming on for this team. No leader on the court. No inside game. Cleveland totally owned the boards tonight. Hawks fell into the half-court game and could not compete with a much more physical Cav team. Tomorrow night will be brutal.
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 29th, 2009
9:35 pm
“It’s just one game, yada…” January could be a very long month.
atmdawg
December 29th, 2009
9:35 pm
Pete, I hate Boston too. But LJ has no heart and will leave a great city for greed.
MAD-DONNA
December 29th, 2009
9:37 pm
…AND THEY WONDER WHY THE FANS DON’T COME OUT TO SEE THEM?
Pete
December 29th, 2009
9:38 pm
We’ll cross that bridge when the time comes! For now we are making our move to the top of the East. It was frustrating to have the best record last year , but not the best team.
whitedawg
December 29th, 2009
9:38 pm
If I were the Joke by Coke, I wouldn’t want to talk about it either.
Sonny Clusters
December 29th, 2009
9:38 pm
Clusters could probably coach a little if needed. We was always watching Coach and trying to learn from him. We was planning on being a nuclear scientist and Jeff was planning on being a coach but we both got sidetracked. We could coach enough to tell them they was only shooting jump shots that wasn’t dropping. They was some nice tattoos out there on the court and we couldn’t even see the sportswriters where they was sitting. Mama Clusters wouldn’t want us to get tattooed so we will probably need to stick with baseball. Pitchers and catchers report February 18.
atmdawg
December 29th, 2009
9:38 pm
This Hawks team was built to run…they are too small and do not match up with the Cavs. We match up better with the Celtics or Orlando.
FIRE MIKE WOODSON EXPRESS
December 29th, 2009
9:38 pm
Why no set plays?
The Boss
December 29th, 2009
9:39 pm
Whitedog, the fries are ready, the line in drive thru long, get back to work bud!
woodie
December 29th, 2009
9:40 pm
Wow- there is a of anger on here. Settle down people and don’t let a ballgame ruin your life.
MAD-DONNA
December 29th, 2009
9:41 pm
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR PLAYING THAT WAY…..ESPECIALLY AT HOME!
whitedawg
December 29th, 2009
9:42 pm
deflect, deflect, deflect from the issue at hand.
Psychology101
Mike Hunt
December 29th, 2009
9:43 pm
Pete – Guess it will be even more frustrating when it happens again this season. Nobody will beat the Lakers. Write it down.
whitedawg
December 29th, 2009
9:44 pm
Wisconson putting a beatdown on Miami.
Wisconson! Can you believe that?
Pete
December 29th, 2009
9:44 pm
Mike, guess you didn’t see the game on Christmas
FIRE MIKE WOODSON EXPRESS
December 29th, 2009
9:44 pm
WOODSON JUST SAID HE THOUGHT THEY PLAYED PRETTY WELL.
FIRE MIKE WOODSON EXPRESS
December 29th, 2009
9:47 pm
WOODSON THINKS IT VERY FUNNY IN POST GAME.
FIRE MIKE WOODSON EXPRESS
December 29th, 2009
9:48 pm
Woodson saids he couldn’t draw up a set play because he hasn’t had to draw one up all yeah. ARE YOU JOKING ME??
Atl Hawks
December 29th, 2009
9:50 pm
“Wisconsin putting a beatdown on Miami.”
when one touchdown can put them back in the game, it’s not a beatdown. Maybe by Wisconsin standards, a 10 point lead is a beatdown.
Ken
December 29th, 2009
9:52 pm
I truly beleive that JJ quit after the first quarter when he saw Crawford taking over the scoring load. There is a problem on this team. In that forth quarter they all started playing completely selfish basketball. Under pressure these problems surface because character is revealed under adversity. To go over eight minutes on your home floor in the biggest game of the season is totally insane. Coach Woodson again continued to play Bibby when he gave them nothing tonight. I don’t think Teague saw the floor at all even when it was clear that Bibby could not guard anyone all night. I hope they compete tommorow in Cleveland. Forth seed in the east at best unless problem areas are addressed.
Pete
December 29th, 2009
9:54 pm
remember- we will add Leon Powe for the stretch run this year-not Joe Smith!
JohnnyWalking
December 29th, 2009
9:57 pm
Yeah right Sund did a great job this off season. I hear that 1 more time im gonna puke. Crawford scores but no D whatso evvaaa. His +/- was -26, but they lose by 11. WTF??? You see why Cleveland let Head Smith go.
We are left with Morris and Dunkin doenutts eatin Collins for Bigs. We need a DAMN CENTER. MANNNN. They put TWO seven footers on the floor and our tallest player on the court is 6′8. Joe Johnson n Bibby….. No comment needed. 10 POINTS in a Quarter??? 2 in the first 8 mins of the 4th???? They wonder why this place has 9,000 on game nights? Whats the plan for this OFFSEASON?? Get some damn Bigs that can play and some guards that WANT to be here and WILL play D. Pleaseeee..
One of the best records my eye. Against who???
playmeortrademe
December 29th, 2009
10:04 pm
Meet the new Hawks, same as the old Hawks.
Woodson is no head coach. Dump him, get someone in here that can coach a young athletic team before it’s too late.
Meek
December 29th, 2009
10:05 pm
I knew that would happen…Jamal showed up to play, but what happened to Joe? Joe MUST reach at least 25+ points for the Hawks to keep their confidence.
To JohnnyWalking: Lol! Hey, give Collins a break, will ya?
willie martinez
December 29th, 2009
10:30 pm
some great defense in this game!
Jeff Schultz
December 29th, 2009
11:09 pm
Folks, the Hawks’ game column has been reposted and updated if you want to shift commenting over there. Thanks. What a disappointment, huh? And has anybody seen Joe Johnson?
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2009/12/29/hawks-saved-their-worst-for-rematch-with-cavaliers/
Mike Hunt
December 30th, 2009
8:08 am
Pete – actually, I didn’t. Game on Christmas or NBA Finals? We know the Lakers will be there. Not sure about the Cavs. Like someone said above, this is your last shot. Better make it happen this season. After that, it’s back to the middle of the pack for the Cavs.