Cleveland vs Atlanta

[WeMadeIt17]

If the Hawks can run and then control the ball in the half court then they can beat these guys but i just don't see it happening

[RAcker]

While I don't think that an upset is even a remote possibility, I do think that Atlanta causes the Cavs the most problems.  The Heat would have been a one man show.  However, the Hawks will have a more athletic team overall (except for whoever matches up with LeCrab) and can run the Cavs off the court at times if they play some defense.

[silverb]

I say Clevland in 6....
I hope they're close games though.

[csfansince60s]

CLE in 5 or 7....Cle should win both at home....this will not get the Hawks down though...they've been through it before: they were anihilated in Boston last year, I think in every playoff game...Game 3 becomes (as it usually is) pivotal....if the Hawks win, this could go 7....if they don't>>>>4 or 5 tops......our old friend, Joe Johnson could be the key to this series....force James into playing defense...keep him busy......Flip could also be big a la Eddie House...Go Hawks...this years Cavs are not better than the Cs last year...this years Hawks are better and more tested and just won a series...they will be a handful in Atlanta....and if they can ever steal one in Cle>>>>>watch out!!!!

[MMacOH]

James already plays intense defense on every posession.  You aren't going to 'force' him to do it, he already does.  Whoever said that Atlanta has better offensive options is crazy.  Maybe you have never seen Lebron play before?

Atlanta is young and athletic.  That is their strength.  They have also been playing every other night for a week and half while the Cavs have been resting. 

Cavs in 4 

[albas89]

I have no doubt the Cavs are gonna win this... however, I'm sure Atlanta can make it more difficult for them! I think the key point will be LeBron's matchup! Without Marvin Williams, I think the only guy able to guard him is Josh Smith... I know, he won't be able to follow him at the perimeter, he's a PF but... who else??

[RAcker]

James already plays intense defense on every posession.  You aren't going to 'force' him to do it, he already does.  Whoever said that Atlanta has better offensive options is crazy.  Maybe you have never seen Lebron play before?

Atlanta is young and athletic.  That is their strength.  They have also been playing every other night for a week and half while the Cavs have been resting. 

Cavs in 4 

And he'll still average around 1 foul per 48 minutes even though he hacks the living hell out of people and commits multiple 50/50 charge/block fouls.   

Just had to get you going.

[angryguy77]

James already plays intense defense on every posession.  You aren't going to 'force' him to do it, he already does.  Whoever said that Atlanta has better offensive options is crazy.  Maybe you have never seen Lebron play before?

Atlanta is young and athletic.  That is their strength.  They have also been playing every other night for a week and half while the Cavs have been resting. 

Cavs in 4 

And he'll still average around 1 foul per 48 minutes even though he hacks the living hell out of people and commits multiple 50/50 charge/block fouls.   

Just had to get you going.

Thanks Racker, I have an Idea for a poll

[Celtic]

Atlanta is gonna win a couple, they are a pretty good team, Cleveland may be the best team in the NBA, but the Hawks aren't going to lie down the way the Pistons did.

[youcanthandlethetruth113]

Sweep -- if Marvin isn't healthy enough to defend LeBron well, and do it for 35-40 minutes, I don't expect Atlanta to win a game.

Marvin Williams = very questionable (status update anyone?)

Al Horford = questionable as well? (status update anyone?)

Josh Childress = will be missed in Atlanta over the next week or so.

[D Dub]

I have no doubt the Cavs are gonna win this... however, I'm sure Atlanta can make it more difficult for them! I think the key point will be LeBron's matchup! Without Marvin Williams, I think the only guy able to guard him is Josh Smith... I know, he won't be able to follow him at the perimeter, he's a PF but... who else??

I expect to see Joe Johnson get a lot of reps on him.  They are roughly about the same height.

Atlanta will need to play perfect defense and get a huge performance out of Al Horford, who has looks to be the Cavs biggest matchup problem.

[Chief]

The Cavs won 3/4 but the games were very close. I think Atlanta might take Cleveland to 7 games, but will lose because of home court.

[the TRUTH]

I think a lot of you are making a mistake by underestimating Atlanta. They are young, athletic, have some pretty good outside shooters, and have some tough guys too (Zaza, Horford, etc). That combination is exactly what the Cavs don't want/like. Atlanta is long and athletic enough to keep LeCrabDribble from getting to the basket at will. Also, Z always looks very slow and plodding. In this series, I think the Hawks can really expose him more so than normal. Going back about 2-3 years, the Hawks have consistently been a tough match-up for the Cavs.

While the Hawks are just getting out of a 7 game series, you can argue that they're in rhythm. And with such a young team, they shouldn't be that worn out, especially since none of the games were that close. Whereas the Cavs could certainly be very rusty with such a long lay-off, and haven't really been in any playoff-atmosphere games this year (Detroit was garbage). Game 1 is huge in this series - I think Atlanta has a legit shot at taking it. The Cavs could have a cold-shooting night, and the Hawks could steal one. And as others have said, Atlanta will be a tough place for the Cavs to play. If Atlanta can bring it back home even at 1-1, I think they have a legit chance at winning the series.

It'll be interesting to see what the refs do if this series is close (1-1, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, etc). IF the Cavs get in trouble, I think the league will do everything possible to guarantee the Cavs advance. I'd love to see the Hawks win the series, but don't think they're good enough to steal 4 games when playing 5-on-8.

Cavs in 7

[bruinsandceltics]

This one is gonna be over quick.

[nickagneta]

Cleveland looks very much like LA did last year coming into the post season playing unbelievably great and then running through competition. Of course, LA didn't win it all. When they met a team that would hit back, they faltered.

That's not going to happen in this round as I say Cleveland in 4 or 5, but Cleveland will get a wake up when they face Boston and/or LA.