Cavs Lose again

[TheFuture]

Irving > Teague
Smith = korver
James>>> Carroll
Love = Millsap
Mozgov < Horford

Cavs bench > Atl bench

This atl team has much more time building chemistry. They are a one year revelation, this years fluke. The cavs by years end will look to be the much better team. Mark my words, the hawks won't make it out of the second round. If playing in the west all year I see them as a 6-8 seed.

Just to make it clear, I dislike all 3 of the big 3 in Cleveland. Though I dislike their egos, I cannot deny their extreme talent. What other team has 2 other guys who can easily put up 30+ points when the other has an off night? That mozgov trade was the best thing they could've done.

[kekgeek]

Irving > Teague
Smith = korver
James>>> Carroll
Love = Millsap
Mozgov < Horford

Cavs bench > Atl bench

This atl team has much more time building chemistry. They are a one year revelation, this years fluke. The cavs by years end will look to be the much better team. Mark my words, the hawks won't make it out of the second round. If playing in the west all year I see them as a 6-8 seed.

It is not all about individual players, and Korver is so much better than smith, and ATL bench is better than the Cavs bench. It is how the players mesh together, the Hawks play great team basketball

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I agree with your post except that I could see Atlanta getting to the ECF. They're legit. I just think Cleveland's got too much talent to not be the East's champion.

Also, Korver is far and away better than Smith. No contest there. And the benches are pretty close so I'd go even there. Schroeder, Sefalosha, Scott, Antic. They're productive.

[TheFuture]

Korver can shoot yes, but I see no defense from him. The same as smith.smith has always had great scoring talent, but was never on a team who had anything to really play for. I see a difference in him. I actually saw him try on defense agajnst the clippers! Shumpert can negate korver, I don't see the defender on the hawks to negate smith.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Korver can shoot yes, but I see no defense from him. The same as smith.smith has always had great scoring talent, but was never on a team who had anything to really play for. I see a difference in him. I actually saw him try on defense agajnst the clippers! Shumpert can negate korver, I don't see the defender on the hawks to negate smith.

What information do you have that backs up Korver not being a good defender? 82games has him giving up a 9.1 PER to opposing SG's which is absurdly good and they are a 14.7 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor. The Hawks have dominated this year because Teague, Horford, Millsap and Korver have all played like legitimate all stars. I could easily see the Cavs lose to the Hawks because of how great they are as a team. Korvers clutch time stats are a 130.3 offensive rating with an 83.5 defensive rating. That's a 46.8 points per 100 possession swing in the Hawks favor in the last 5 minutes of the game. I think you are way off on Korver. He's been their glue guy this year being great on both ends of the court which is why they are so good. Basketball reference also has him with a 127 offensive rating and a 106 defensive rating. He's shooting 50-50-90. He's been a bonified all-star this year. I don't think you have been following the Hawks very much this year if you think Smith is even in the same area code as Korver.

[TheFuture]

I see no player on the hawks that can will them to victory after victory in the playoffs.

Korver is great at finding space/playing off the ball. I expect shumpert to have one expectation in a playoff matchup, and that is to stick to korver like glue.

If they want, they can play James at the 2 and Marion at the 3. Cavs in my mind are a matchup nightmare for the hawks.

In my opinion, its the hawks great team ball that cover korvers deficiencies and allow him to play to all of his strengths. Korver has never been a good defender. Maybe its masked this year, but I expect it to be exploited. Especially against the cavs.

I'm sorry if 13 pts, 4rb, 3ast a game don't scream bonifide
all-star to me.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I don't see how the Cavs D up the Hawks with their ball movement. The whole point of playing the team concept over the star concept is you don't have to rely on 1-2 guys to carry you night in and night out and if Lebron or Love and Kyrie have an off night, it is a loss. The Hawks have 4 guys that can step up and win you any game. Everyone knows Korver is a gunner, but he still has a 50/50/90 line. Kyrie can't guard Teague, Love can't guard Millsap. Cleveland is going to have to outscore one of the most efficient offensive teams in the league. I don't think the Hawks will destroy them, but the Hawks are just the better team right now.

[TheFuture]

The Bulls are still the only east team I see having a legitimate shot at ousting the Cavs in the playoffs.

[kekgeek]

I think 4 teams can beat the Cavs (Raptors, Bulls, Wiz, ATL)

[TheFuture]

I don't see how the Cavs D up the Hawks with their ball movement. The whole point of playing the team concept over the star concept is you don't have to rely on 1-2 guys to carry you night in and night out and if Lebron or Love and Kyrie have an off night, it is a loss. The Hawks have 4 guys that can step up and win you any game. Everyone knows Korver is a gunner, but he still has a 50/50/90 line. Kyrie can't guard Teague, Love can't guard Millsap. Cleveland is going to have to outscore one of the most efficient offensive teams in the league. I don't think the Hawks will destroy them, but the Hawks are just the better team right now.

I agree Love cannot guard Millsap, that matchup is not good for Love. Love just needs to rebound and hit the lebron/kyrie drive dish open threes in that .matchup.

Irving can't guard teague, and teague won't stop Irving. Irving is the better player of the 2.

Look, almost the whole starting 5 of the hawks are having career years. I see it as a fluke that won't carry over to the playoffs. The cavs are just now hitting the stride of what they can/should be, and in no way have they topped out on their maximum potential...

The hawks are on what a 20 game win streak? The cavs aren't very far behind at 12, and they're beginning to blow people out. I don't even want to think about where they will be at with another 30 games of chemistry. Then add lebron going into killer instinct mode, adding to legacy mode, getting every call in the book mode. It is/will be truly unfair.

Everyone talks about the team concept being the way to win. That is not true. The most championships have been won with star talent. Spurs play the best team ball but they still had parker, Duncan, and Leonard. Not to mention the best coach in the NBA. This cavs team is better than those heat teams and the hawks are not better than the spurs were.

The Celtics played great team ball but had kg, pierce, Allen, and rondo.

The mavs are the closest thing to what you want the hawks to be. Yet they had the hall of famer dirk playing out of his mind, and chandler cleaning everything up. Yet the competition was not near what the hawks will face this year.