Game 2: Atlanta @ Cleveland

[ATL DirtyBird]

83-47? Dear lord. Somebody give me a gun.

Can I stand behind you?

[evildallas]

We were whacked again. Cleveland is a far superior team and they are all business. Injuries and our bad play just make the final outcome even worse.

There will be no time in which I can make this observation without it sounding like sour grapes, so I'll just get it out: I find it hard to watch a player, even one as great as Lebron, officiated the way he is. He never seems to get called for a foul regardless of the amount of contact. He gets a free pass to play defense as aggressively as he wants without any fear. It wouldn't have affected who won this game, but it does make it hard to watch for anyone but a Cleveland fan. He's by far the best player on the court, but when you let him hack, reach, and crash without ever blowing a whistle it is too much. Then to see him complain because Pavlovic got called for fouling Bibby on a drive pushed me over the edge. My god, you're winning the game by 30, you never get called for a foul yourself, and you have the gall to complain because a backup on your team gets whistled when he was beaten on the baseline. All I ask is that referees occasionally call a foul on Lebron when he reaches in and slaps someone's arm or he swipes at the ball and hits face or grabs a wrist. Make him at least try to make a clean defensive play, he'll probably adjust to it just fine, he's that good. Then I could watch him play and just appreciate how good he is instead of being disturbed by his entitlement.

[evildallas]

Ok, I've been suffering in silence, with NOTHING good to say -- until now: it looks to me as if Acie can do that (penetration) any time he wants to.

Anyone else got anything good to say?

Othello Hunter has looked good in garbage time.

[ATL DirtyBird]

please tell me that Joe isnt out for the series too? This is pretty much the perfect storm for the Cavs, even though they would of won anyways.

[parson]

Othello Hunter has looked good in garbage time.

Yes, he has, hasn't he? He looks longer than his listed size. To me, he looks as long as Joe Smith, who is supposed to be 6'10".

[evildallas]

Othello Hunter has looked good in garbage time.

Yes, he has, hasn't he? He looks longer than his listed size. To me, he looks as long as Joe Smith, who is supposed to be 6'10".

I was noticing that as well. I wasn't sure of his height but he does seem taller than 6'8". Maybe he'll be able to move up into a role of providing consistent minutes on the front line off the bench next season since no one other than Zaza seems able to do that now.

[HoopsGuru25]

Like every playoff loss in the last two years...this was pretty embarrassing. We all knew the Hawks probably didn't have a shot to win in Cleveland but it still hurts to get humiliated on national TV again and again.

I turned the game off(like others)at halftime...but why was Joe still in the game if we were supposedly down 40?

[Retrovision]

WTF HAPPEND TO JOE??!!

[evildallas]

^^^^ It wasn't 40, it was 32. There were still 3:31 left in the 3rd quarter and we were on offense. Josh threw a baseline pass to Joe which was called for hitting the line as he went up for the layup. Lebron made heavy contact on the attempted block that would not have been called a foul even if the ball wasn't blown dead (I'm just saying). Joe rolled his ankle when he landed. It was a fluke injury. It wasn't like when Horford got injured, there wasn't unusual contact on the play preventing him from landing clean. He just landed wrong and it turned.

If you were going to pull the starters any time we are blown out in this series they won't get very much court time at all.

[HoopsGuru25]

^^^^ It wasn't 40, it was 32. There were still 3:31 left in the 3rd quarter and we were on offense. Josh threw a baseline pass to Joe which was called for hitting the line as he went up for the layup. Lebron made heavy contact on the attempted block that would not have been called a foul even if the ball wasn't blown dead (I'm just saying). Joe rolled his ankle when he landed. It was a fluke injury. It wasn't like when Horford got injured, there wasn't unusual contact on the play preventing him from landing clean. He just landed wrong and it turned.

If you were going to pull the starters any time we are blown out in this series they won't get very much court time at all.

Thanks.

[Harry10]

their really is not excuse for Joe to under perform in the playoffs, espeically when he got the PG that he wants, help in the post, and bench help. Joe wants to be the #1 and get paid like the #1, so he can't pass the buck to somebody else for a series lose

i can understand a lose, but i can't understand the lack of leadership and performance by Joe.

[LoveThemCavs]

Some of you guys are over-reacting. Now I won't sugarcoat it and act like these first two games weren't what they were. The Cavs had their way in them, but we were supposed to do that. The Cavs are 43-2 at home counting the playoffs. Only losses to the Lakers and a game against Philly where the starters didn't even play. Maybe you thought you would do better at our place and that's fine. Cavs fans will probably flip out if we lose a single time at home in the playoffs because of that record. The Cavs simply held serve, the ball is in your court now.

I wish your team well health wise as the Cavs come to Phillips. Believe in your team. We were in your shoes not long ago, learning the ropes against the Pistons. Anything can happen in the playoffs.

[HMFFL]

Some of you guys are over-reacting. Now I won't sugarcoat it and act like these first two games weren't what they were. The Cavs had their way in them, but we were supposed to do that. The Cavs are 43-2 at home counting the playoffs. Only losses to the Lakers and a game against Philly where the starters didn't even play. Maybe you thought you would do better at our place and that's fine. Cavs fans will probably flip out if we lose a single time at home in the playoffs because of that record. The Cavs simply held serve, the ball is in your court now.

I wish your team well health wise as the Cavs come to Phillips. Believe in your team. We were in your shoes not long ago, learning the ropes against the Pistons. Anything can happen in the playoffs.

Overreacting? I completely disagree. We faced Miami with one of our pure shooters injured and Al was injured during the series. Now we have Joe hurt who's most likely not going to be able to play Saturday. Even if all three players play it's not like will be 100% or be able to compete at the level we can. It's very frustrating due to how long the season is and how hard our players have worked to get to this point.

The team is trying to get the support of the city and it doesn't help having these types of issues. All the bad that happened during Cleveland's past changed once you drafted Lebron, well we don't have that luxury, and the organization is trying to prove it's self to the city.

[L&H_05]

Some of you guys are over-reacting. Now I won't sugarcoat it and act like these first two games weren't what they were. The Cavs had their way in them, but we were supposed to do that. The Cavs are 43-2 at home counting the playoffs. Only losses to the Lakers and a game against Philly where the starters didn't even play. Maybe you thought you would do better at our place and that's fine. Cavs fans will probably flip out if we lose a single time at home in the playoffs because of that record. The Cavs simply held serve, the ball is in your court now.

I wish your team well health wise as the Cavs come to Phillips. Believe in your team. We were in your shoes not long ago, learning the ropes against the Pistons. Anything can happen in the playoffs.

Overreacting? I completely disagree. We faced Miami with one of our pure shooters injured and Al was injured during the series. Now we have Joe hurt who's most likely not going to be able to play Saturday. Even if all three players play it's not like will be 100% or be able to compete at the level we can. It's very frustrating due to how long the season is and how hard our players have worked to get to this point.

The team is trying to get the support of the city and it doesn't help having these types of issues. All the bad that happened during Cleveland's past changed once you drafted Lebron, well we don't have that luxury, and the organization is trying to prove it's self to the city.

That's true, but it's not like LeBron's are available all the time.. Most teams don't count on having a player like LeBron and proceed accordingly to build their squads..

Obviously you build a solid team through the draft and via trade... Not trying to pour salt here, but the summer of 2005 could have been monumental for the Hawks with the drafting of one of those two PG's as opposed to Marvin to go along with getting Joe... Your backcourt would have obviously been set, and you would have your true floor leader right now..As Bibby is just not the PG to get the Hawks to that next level..

Essentially the Hawks had their chance to snag their superstar, and they simply passed it up for reasons I don't know ? (being an outside fan looking in on the situation)... Now, that still doesn't mean the team can't progress.. The Hawks are on the right path, the core guys are getting experience, but they need to solidify that PG spot with more of a pass first/ penetrator.. Whether it's via trade, or getting lucky in the draft and developing from within ?? that, along with adding a solid low post player that they can throw it down to on the block is key...Cause as of now, the Hawks are simply not getting any type of easy offense..

I hope the Hawks don't rest this offseason, and really look to be proactive and improve upon the roster..With a little tweaking of that roster they have a chance to be a top team in the conference..

[LL Cool Scott]

I'm not upset that we didn't win. I'm not upset that we got blown out. I expected that.

I'm upset that we didn't try. I'm upset that we have no heart.