Running Thoughts - Cavs 102, Hawks 96 - Is this a Playoff Preview?
Posted March 21st, 2009 by Michael Curry
The Cavs are defending the home court against the 41-28 Atlanta Hawks this afternoon, and if things hold true, the Cavs and Hawks could face each other in the second round of the Playoffs. Here’s hoping the team is ready to play early today, because the Hawks are a tough team, and they can beat you if you let them hang around.
First Quarter:
- Don’t expect a quick start by either team given the start time. The Cavs are moving so slow that they actually didn’t get a shot off in their first possession.
- Just like LeBron James, Joe Smith would be a much more effective if he worked out of the low post more. As he proved with that nice little jump hook he just hit.
- Well at least Zydrunas Ilgauskas is an early-riser, as his two jump shots account for the first four Cavalier points of the ballgame. Unfortunately, as they did throughout the first half on Thursday, the Cavs are playing at a dreadful 1-point-per-minute pace.
- Z with a free throw (he still has all the Cavalier points) for his 10000th point of his career. Kudos to the big fella. And with that out of the way, he makes his push for 1000 assists (he has 870 in his career) with a pretty give-and-go with LeBron that ends with a James two-handed dunk. At the first break of the game, the Cavs lead by five, 14-9.
- Z continues his assault with another lay-up. He seems to be moving much better over the last week or so, the home cooking and sleeping in his own bed are paying dividends.
- Delonte West with a steal and going coast to coast before finishing with a contested lay-in. West has not been shooting well from the perimeter, but he is finishing well around the rim. Having a second penetration threat who can finish is vital for the Cavalier offense, especially in the Playoffs. Teams know that Mo Williams can’t finish at the rim, but Delonte West keeps teams honest with his ability to go strong to the basket and score. At another break, the Cavs lead has stretched out to 21-9.
- LeBron cuts through three defenders and lays it in, the second time he has looked like a running back breaking tackles on his way to the end zone. Good to see LeBron flexing his muscles early, letting his teammates know that he is giving high effort and he expects the same from them.
- The inconsistent Sasha Pavlovic is back. I was really getting to like the tough, consistent, dare-I-say clutch Sasha Pavlovic.
- Joe Smith with two pretty veteran moves, the first a high-arcing 15-footer that dropped straight through, and a pretty spin move around former Cavalier Flip Murray, who had to pick himself up off the floor as Smith layed it in. Then he negates a basket by Joe Johnson by drawing a charge. Maybe after the game Z and Joe can hit the early-bird special, because it’s definitely old-folks appreciation day here at the Q. At the end of the first quarter, the Cavaliers lead by fourteen, 27-13.
Second Quarter:
- Darnell Jackson is once again getting second quarter minutes, while fellow rookie J.J. Hickson is nailed to the bench. I’m not saying that I agree with Mike Brown’s refusal to use Hickson, but that’s his coaching philosophy, and he does have a team that is 55-13.
- Daniel Gibson - possibly off the schneid? He’s got five quick points after a nice 8-point effort on Thursday. And he does have a nose for loose balls and rebounds. He just couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn for about a month.
- Good Sasha Pavlovic is much better than good Tarence Kinsey. But today (and over the last three games or so) we’ve had Bad Sasha Pavlovic. I know Mike Brown doesn’t want to hurt the guy’s confidence, but right now all his extra opportunites have just been more chances for him to make mistakes. I’d say good job, Joe Johnson’s a tough cover today, we love the two rebounds and two assists, but we’re gonna try something else for a bit.
- The Cavalier scoring onslaught has slowed, and that as allowed the Hawks to climb all the way back to within… 17 points. We’re halfway through the second quarter, and the Cavs lead is 43-26. The Hawks are already over the foul limit for the second quarter, and Anderson Varejao is the beneficiary.
- Atlanta coach Mike Woodson picks up a technical foul. I know that he is frustrated with this game, but I’m not sure that the officials are really the problem.
- After a bad pass turnover by Mo Williams, the Hawks were running. LeBron sprinted down to steal a pass, ran out of room, jumped in the air, then threw the ball hard against Maurice Evans’ legs and out of bounds. The whole thing was almost in slow motion, and as LeBron hovered out of bounds, Evans actually rolled himself up into a ball, knowing that he was about to lose a very mean game of dodge ball.
- You have to like what the Cavs are doing this afternoon. The entire rotation has contributed, with Mo Williams and Zydrunas Ilgauskas dropping in 12 points apiece, while Joe Smith and Daniel Gibson each have 6 points. The defense has forced the Hawks into outside shots, and when Atlanta players have gotten into the lane, the Cavaliers are drawing offensive fouls. On the offensive side, they have been moving the ball very well, and have 12 assists on their 19 first half field goals. Just a very good all-around performance by the good guys, and it would be very nice if they could keep rolling into the second half so they are as fresh as possible for tomorrow night’s game in New Jersey. At the end of the first half, the lead is eighteen, 53-35.
Third Quarter:
- The Cavs started slowly in the third, letting the Hakws get back to within 13. The Cavs got away with allowing a lot of offensive rebounds in the first half (7), and second-chance points will be one of the few ways the Hawks can get back into this game.
- Though it would help if they stopped picking up technical fouls. Mike Bibby and Josh Smith each have one in the third quarter, matching Mike Woodson’s T in the first half.
- And speak of the devil, Woodson can’t settle for just one technical, and he gets his second and is headed to the locker room. After a Mo Williams free throw, the Cavalier lead is back out to 20, 67-47.
- The Cavs and Hawks exchange jumpers for the last few minutes of the third quarter, with the Cavs able to make enough to keep the lead at 17 points, 79-62. I’d like to see Mike Brown lean on the reserves to start the fourth and if LeBron doesn’t need to come back into the game, keep him on the bench.
- Happy Birthday Tarence Kinsey. You’ll get to celebrate a bit in New York tonight, but maybe Mike Brown will even let you play this afternoon.
- At the end of the third quarter, the Cavaliers lead 79-63. 12 Minutes away from a very nice home win.
Fourth Quarter:
- The Cavs are screwing around here, and all of a sudden the Hawks have cut the lead to eleven because of poor defensive effort. LeBron is coming back into the game with nine minutes left to restore some order, but the Cavs lead is just 85-74. I was getting ready to write really nice things about Mo Williams, how this was one of his best “Robin” performances because he was able to give the Cavs enough offense to keep LeBron on the bench despite the run by the Hawks. Unfortuantely, Mo had no help out there (and his defense wasn’t exactly stifling either), so I can’t say that.
- With LeBron James back in the game some order is restored, and while the Cavs have been unable to put the game completely away, they have keep the Hawks at bay as the clock starts to favor the good guys. LeBron is still in an energy conservation mode, settling for jump shots, but he and the rest of the team is doing just enough to finish this game off.
- J.J. Hickson is in the ballgame for the first time in a while. And he’ll end with an empty box score, except for 1 steal and a -7 +/- ratio. So much for the bench bunch letting the starters rest in the fourth quarter.
- Delonte West for three (been a long time coming), and the Cavs have 100 points and the fans go home with a chalupa. That’s just about going to do it.
- TK is in to celebrate his birthday with the last 1:43 of the game. Picked up two fouls and a seat back on the bench in less than a minute. Well, happy birthday anyway Tarence.
- And finally, mercifully this one is over. Cavs win 102-96, and they’ll head to New Jersey for tomorrow night. I don’t think there was too much stress and consternation despite the late surge by the Hawks, and hopefully the Cavs won’t stay out too late tonight before tomorrow night’s game. All in all, a nice NBA break on a weekend full of college basketball. Now we’re all set for a very cool Cleveland State-Cleveland Cavaliers double header tomorrow afternoon.
Go Cavs. And Go Vikings!
