The Cleveland Cavaliers have played eight playoff games this season, and they have won them all. They’ve played very well at times, and gutted games out at others. The bottom line is that they have advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the second time in the last three years, and will open that series against the winner of the Orlando-Boston series either Sunday or Tuesday (likely) at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Cavs won both games in Atlanta in different ways. In Game 3, they rode the brilliance of LeBron James, who scored 47 points, to victory, and Monday night, the defeated the Hawks in a defensive struggle getting a big game out of both James, as usual, and Delonte West, who scored 21 points. In both games, the wine and gold were tested, but they stuck to their game plan, winning at the defensive end, and picked up victories.
They earned the rest they will get, as they will have either five or seven days without a game before starting the conference finals, which they will be favored to win.
There was no real excitement over the series win by the players, because they understand what the goal is, and that is a title. This is just another step toward that goal.
Don’t think for a moment that this was as easy as the first round sweep of the Pistons. Detroit didn’t show much fight outside of the third game of the series. When the Hawks went home, they did turn up the intensity. Don’t forget that they were 31-10 at Philips Arena this season. It took a vintage performance from #23 in game three to win that one, and Monday night’s series finale was a tough defensive battle.
It’s funny how this team wins, too. Mo Williams didn’t play particularly well in Game 4, but there he was sticking two daggers into Atlanta with three pointers late in the fourth quarter. Williams has the prototypical shooters’ mentality: The next shot is going in. He has done this a number of times in the regular season, and did it again to vanquish Atlanta.
What is funny to me is the reaction of some people in Cleveland, who are discounting the eight game post-season winning streak because the competition is not of the highest caliber. Would they prefer the Cavs to lose to teams they shouldn’t lose to? What would happen here if the wine and gold had lost to a Yao Ming-less Houston team by 20 points?
The Cavaliers were the better team and they took care of business. Look around at the other series. Every other team, including the Lakers have had a poor game and lost in the playoffs. Cleveland didn’t play well in Game 3 against the Pistons, and didn’t play particularly well in Atlanta. But you know what? They won anyway, and remember how difficult it is to win on the road in the NBA.
Fans should be amazed and happy that the Cavs swept both series. Of course, this is Cleveland and we are always worried about something when it comes to our sports teams.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 