Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Kyrie Irving's return sparks rout of Hawks; Cavs earn 2nd-ever Finals spot

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CLEVELAND -- LeBron James knew what he left behind when he bolted to Miami five years ago.
He broke hearts at home, where generations of Cleveland fans only know championships through stories told by their fathers, yellowed newspaper clippings or grainy black-and-white film.
James had to go back.
"I'm a guy who believes in unfinished business," he said.
With four more wins, he can end a half-century of sports misery.
James scored 23 points, Kyrie Irving provided a boost after missing two games and Cleveland reserved a spot in the NBA Finals with a 118-88 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night to win the Eastern Conference title.
By sweeping the top-seeded Hawks, the Cavs, who overcame adversity from the season's start, earned their second trip to the finals, where they will face either Golden State or Houston starting June 4.
It will be the fifth straight visit to the league's showcase event for the inimitable James, who returned to Cleveland after four years in Miami to try and end this city's championship drought dating to 1964. If he can, James will have a title that would put him in a class by himself. Other players have won more championships, but none has ever done it for his ring-starved home region.
When he announced his return last summer, James talked about ending a championship dry spell that has linked generations. He has a chance to turn Cleveland, a city that has taken its fair share of knocks over the years, into a title town.
"I understood what these people were going through, the people here," he said. "Not only in Cleveland but Northeast Ohio and all over the world who love and bleed wine and gold. To be at this point tonight, it's very emotional."
Jeff Teague scored 17 and Paul Millsap 16 for Atlanta, which won a team-record 60 games during the regular season and made the conference finals for the first time since 1970. But the Hawks were no match for the Cavaliers and had no answer for James, who nearly averaged a triple-double in the four games.
J.R. Smith added 18 points and Tristan Thompson had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Cavs, who were handed new caps and T-shirts following the win and were joined by family members on the floor to celebrate.
Sitting at the podium with James, Smith, who had been vanquished to the Knicks bench before being traded in January, adjusted the brim on his "Finals" cap and took a selfie.
It was a tough way for the Hawks to end a remarkable season. They survived a tumultuous offseason, and their young roster jelled in January when they became the first franchise to go 17-0 in a calendar month. They went on to win 19 straight, improved their record by 22 wins over last season and beat Brooklyn and Washington in the first two rounds.
But an injury to starting forward Thabo Sefolosha in April was followed by DeMarre Carroll injuring his knee in the series opener, before Kyle Korver's season ended in Game 2 with an ankle injury.
Those all hurt, but it was James who inflicted the most pain.
James carried the Cavs to their first finals appearance eight years ago, when they were swept by San Antonio. It was assumed the Cavs would get back again, but James left in 2010 to join the Heat, a move that dropped the Cavaliers from relevance and into the draft lottery four straight years. But those days are over -- Cleveland and King James reign supreme in the East.
The Cavs got through the last two rounds without forward Kevin Love, who sustained a season-ending shoulder injury. His arrival last summer, joining James and Irving to form a big three, made Cleveland the team to beat in the East.
It didn't go exactly as planned under first-year coach David Blatt, who left his family in Israel to take the Cavs' job.
"We're in Cleveland," Blatt cracked. "Nothing is easy here."
The Cavs lost center Anderson Varejao to a season-ending Achilles injury in December and were 19-20 before trading for Smith, Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov, a trio that transformed Cleveland.
Irving, who missed Cleveland's previous two games with tendinitis in his left knee, scored 16 and the All-Star point guard looked better than he has in weeks.
Unlike Game 3, when he missed his first 10 shots, James started much better and scored 15 in the first half as the Cavs opened a 17-point halftime lead. They spent the fourth quarter playing their reserves and getting ready for a party and some time off before the finals.
This was Cleveland's night from the start.
Following pregame introductions, James slapped hands with members of Gilbert's family and then with his boss. The two mended their broken relationship last summer, paving the way for James to re-sign with the Cavs and try to deliver the title he couldn't during his first stint.
James had a bounce in his step and it wasn't long before he delivered one of his patented windmill dunks, prompting the Hawks to call a timeout while James ran the length of the baseline screaming at Cleveland fans to "Get up!"
Moments later, Irving showed he could get up after being knocked down.
He drove to the basket for a layup and was fouled hard. Irving, though, quickly popped to his feet and James, who was on the bench at the time, walked several feet onto the floor to salute his teammate.
The Cavs know they'll need a healthy Irving to take the next step -- the one to the top.
HARD TO WATCH
Like anyone who saw it on TV, James said watching the nasty fall taken by Golden State's Stephen Curry during Game 4 in Houston was difficult. "It was pretty horrific," he said. "I thought he lucked out by getting his hand out of there. Because if he would have landed with all his weight onto his arm, he could have broke his wrist or arm. And, I've been there before." James broke his wrist on a similar tumble in high school. "I know exactly what he was going through at that point and time," he said.
TIP-INS
Cavaliers: James is now 8-0 in the playoffs against Atlanta. ... James isn't the only Cleveland player heading to his fifth straight finals. So is swingman James Jones, who played four seasons with James in Miami. ... Cleveland is 26-2 at home since Jan. 19.


Final
Cleveland wins series 4-0 (Game 4 of 4)

Hawks 88

(60-22, 25-16 away)

Cavaliers 118

(53-29, 31-10 home)
Coverage: TNT
8:30 PM ET, May 26, 2015
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH

1 2 3 4 T
ATL 20 22 18 2888
CLE 32 27 26 33118
Top Performers
Atl: P. Millsap 16 Pts, 10 Reb, 5 Ast
Cle: L. James 23 Pts, 9 Reb, 7 Ast, 2 Stl, 1 Blk

Complete Play-By-Play

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | All

1st Quarter Summary

TIMEATLANTASCORECLEVELAND
12:00 0-0Al Horford vs. Timofey Mozgov (DeMarre Carroll gains possession)
11:41Jeff Teague makes driving layup2-0 
11:22 2-2Kyrie Irving makes 8-foot two point shot (LeBron James assists)
11:10DeMarre Carroll bad pass (Timofey Mozgov steals)2-2 
11:04 2-4Timofey Mozgov makes layup (LeBron James assists)
10:45Kent Bazemore makes 10-foot two point shot (Paul Millsap assists)4-4 
10:18 4-4Iman Shumpert misses 20-foot jumper
10:18Paul Millsap defensive rebound4-4 
10:07Al Horford misses 20-foot jumper4-4 
10:06 4-4Timofey Mozgov defensive rebound
9:48 4-7Kyrie Irving makes 25-foot three point jumper (Timofey Mozgov assists)
9:33Jeff Teague bad pass (LeBron James steals)4-7 
9:29 4-9LeBron James makes two point shot (Iman Shumpert assists)
9:29Hawks Full timeout
9:10DeMarre Carroll misses 16-foot jumper4-9 
9:08 4-9Tristan Thompson defensive rebound
8:55 4-12Iman Shumpert makes 24-foot three point jumper (LeBron James assists)
8:45Jeff Teague makes 6-foot two point shot (Al Horford assists)6-12 
8:27 6-12Jeff Teague blocks Kyrie Irving 's 11-foot jumper
8:26 6-12Kyrie Irving offensive rebound
8:22 6-14Tristan Thompson makes 9-foot jumper (Kyrie Irving assists)
8:07Kent Bazemore misses 25-foot three point jumper 6-14 
8:06 6-14Timofey Mozgov defensive rebound
7:56 6-14LeBron James misses 25-foot three point jumper
7:56Paul Millsap defensive rebound6-14 
7:48Jeff Teague misses 25-foot three point jumper 6-14 
7:48DeMarre Carroll offensive rebound6-14 
7:43Paul Millsap misses 25-foot three point jumper 6-14 
7:43DeMarre Carroll offensive rebound6-14 
7:37Kent Bazemore makes two point shot (DeMarre Carroll assists)8-14 
7:22 8-14Timofey Mozgov misses 17-foot jumper
7:22Jeff Teague defensive rebound8-14 
7:09 8-14Timofey Mozgov shooting foul (Paul Millsap draws the foul)
7:09Paul Millsap makes free throw 1 of 29-14 
7:09 9-14Matthew Dellavedova enters the game for Kyrie Irving
7:09Paul Millsap makes free throw 2 of 210-14 
6:58 10-14Timofey Mozgov bad pass (DeMarre Carroll steals)
6:54DeMarre Carroll lost ball turnover (LeBron James steals)10-14 
6:43 10-17Matthew Dellavedova makes 28-foot three point jumper (Iman Shumpert assists)
6:37Jeff Teague offensive foul (Matthew Dellavedova draws the foul)10-17 
6:37Jeff Teague turnover 10-17 
6:37Shelvin Mack enters the game for Kent Bazemore10-17 
6:37Mike Scott enters the game for Paul Millsap10-17 
6:20 10-17LeBron James misses 21-foot jumper
6:20Hawks defensive team rebound10-17 
6:09Jeff Teague misses finger roll layup10-17 
6:09 10-17Iman Shumpert defensive rebound
6:05 10-17Al Horford blocks LeBron James's layup
6:05 10-17Cavaliers offensive team rebound
6:05DeMarre Carroll in bound foul (LeBron James draws the foul)10-17 
6:05 10-17LeBron James misses free throw 1 of 2
6:05 10-17Cavaliers offensive team rebound
6:05 10-17LeBron James misses free throw 2 of 2
6:05Mike Scott defensive rebound10-17 
5:43Shelvin Mack misses 8-foot 10-17 
5:39 10-17LeBron James defensive rebound
5:30 10-17Tristan Thompson out of bounds lost ball turnover
5:13Mike Scott misses 26-foot three point jumper 10-17 
5:11 10-17LeBron James defensive rebound
4:58 10-17LeBron James misses 16-foot jumper
4:58Shelvin Mack defensive rebound10-17 
4:41Shelvin Mack makes driving layup12-17 
4:26 12-19Matthew Dellavedova makes 10-foot two point shot
4:09Jeff Teague makes 7-foot jumper14-19 
3:57 14-22LeBron James makes 26-foot three point jumper
3:47Shelvin Mack misses 25-foot three point jumper 14-22 
3:47 14-22Cavaliers defensive team rebound
3:47Cavaliers Full timeout
3:47 14-22Kyrie Irving enters the game for LeBron James
3:47 14-22J.R. Smith enters the game for Timofey Mozgov
3:47 14-22James Jones enters the game for Matthew Dellavedova
3:47Paul Millsap enters the game for DeMarre Carroll14-22 
3:47Dennis Schroder enters the game for Al Horford14-22 
3:47Kent Bazemore enters the game for Jeff Teague14-22 
3:21 14-22Iman Shumpert possession lost ball turnoverShelvin Mack
3:16Kent Bazemore misses driving layup14-22 
3:15 14-22J.R. Smith defensive rebound
3:00 14-24Kyrie Irving makes driving layup
3:00Dennis Schroder shooting foul (Kyrie Irving draws the foul)14-24 
3:00Al Horford enters the game for Mike Scott14-24 
3:00 14-24Kyrie Irving misses free throw 1 of 1
3:00Kent Bazemore defensive rebound14-24 
2:39Kent Bazemore makes layup (Paul Millsap assists)16-24 
2:21 16-24James Jones misses 25-foot three point jumper
2:19 16-24Iman Shumpert offensive rebound
2:15 16-26Kyrie Irving makes 10-foot jumper (Iman Shumpert assists)
1:54Paul Millsap makes 6-foot jumper (Al Horford assists)18-26 
1:35 18-26Kyrie Irving misses 24-foot three point jumper
1:34Paul Millsap defensive rebound18-26 
1:16 18-26James Jones shooting foul (Paul Millsap draws the foul)
1:16Paul Millsap makes free throw 1 of 219-26 
1:16 19-26Timofey Mozgov enters the game for James Jones
1:16Mike Scott enters the game for Al Horford19-26 
1:16Paul Millsap makes free throw 2 of 220-26 
1:00 20-28Tristan Thompson makes two point shot
0:45Paul Millsap misses 5-foot jumper20-28 
0:43 20-28Kyrie Irving defensive rebound
0:36 20-30J.R. Smith makes driving layup
0:26Mike Scott misses 27-foot three point jumper 20-30 
0:25 20-30J.R. Smith defensive rebound
0:03 20-30Iman Shumpert misses 19-foot jumper
0:02 20-30Tristan Thompson offensive rebound
0:00 20-32Tristan Thompson makes jumper
0:00End of the 1st Quarter

2nd Quarter Summary

TIMEATLANTASCORECLEVELAND
11:40 20-34LeBron James makes 18-foot jumper
11:22Shelvin Mack makes 26-foot three point jumper 23-34 
10:52 23-36LeBron James makes 22-foot jumper
10:45Paul Millsap makes 14-foot jumper (Al Horford assists)26-36 
10:45 25-36LeBron James shooting foul (Paul Millsap draws the foul)
10:45Paul Millsap makes free throw 1 of 126-36 
10:32 26-36Matthew Dellavedova misses 25-foot three point jumper
10:30Paul Millsap defensive rebound26-36 
10:25Jeff Teague makes two point shot28-36 
10:07 28-39J.R. Smith makes 25-foot three point jumper (LeBron James assists)
9:51Al Horford misses 16-foot step back jumpshot28-39 
9:48 28-39LeBron James defensive rebound
9:30 28-41LeBron James makes driving layup
9:10Shelvin Mack misses 27-foot three point jumper 28-41 
9:08Al Horford offensive rebound28-41 
9:03Paul Millsap misses 24-foot three point jumper 28-41 
9:03 28-41J.R. Smith defensive rebound
8:40 28-41J.R. Smith misses 24-foot three point jumper
8:38Paul Millsap defensive rebound28-41 
8:30Iman Shumpert blocks Shelvin Mack 's 10-foot jumper28-41 
8:29 28-41Iman Shumpert defensive rebound
8:23 28-43LeBron James makes layup (J.R. Smith assists)
8:23Hawks Full timeout
8:23 28-43James Jones enters the game for Iman Shumpert
8:23DeMarre Carroll enters the game for Shelvin Mack28-43 
8:08Al Horford misses 17-foot jumper28-43 
8:07 28-43James Jones defensive rebound
8:00 28-43LeBron James lost ball turnover (Jeff Teague steals)
7:56 28-43Matthew Dellavedova personal block (Jeff Teague draws the foul)
7:37Paul Millsap makes 14-foot two point shot (Jeff Teague assists)30-43 
7:37 30-43LeBron James shooting foul (Paul Millsap draws the foul)
7:37Mike Scott enters the game for Al Horford30-43 
7:37 30-43Iman Shumpert enters the game for Matthew Dellavedova
7:37 30-43Tristan Thompson enters the game for James Jones
7:37Paul Millsap misses free throw 1 of 130-43 
7:37 30-43J.R. Smith defensive rebound
7:18 30-43LeBron James misses driving layup
7:16Paul Millsap defensive rebound30-43 
7:09Kent Bazemore misses 25-foot three point jumper 30-43 
7:09 30-43Iman Shumpert defensive rebound
7:01 30-45Timofey Mozgov makes two point shot (LeBron James assists)
7:01DeMarre Carroll shooting foul (Timofey Mozgov draws the foul)30-45 
7:01 30-46Timofey Mozgov makes free throw 1 of 1
6:52Jeff Teague makes 26-foot three point jumper 33-46 
6:24 33-49J.R. Smith makes 25-foot
6:15 33-49Iman Shumpert personal foul (Jeff Teague draws the foul)
6:01Jeff Teague misses 25-foot three point jumper 33-49 
6:01 33-49Iman Shumpert defensive rebound
5:54 Official timeout
5:54Shelvin Mack enters the game for Paul Millsap33-49 
5:54Al Horford enters the game for Kent Bazemore33-49 
5:48Mike Scott shooting foul (Timofey Mozgov draws the foul)33-49 
5:48 33-50Timofey Mozgov makes free throw 1 of 2
5:48 33-51Timofey Mozgov makes free throw 2 of 2
5:33LeBron James blocks DeMarre Carroll 's 2-foot layup33-51 
5:31 33-51Timofey Mozgov defensive rebound
5:24 33-53LeBron James makes layup
5:09Al Horford misses two point shot33-53 
5:07 33-53Tristan Thompson defensive rebound
5:01 33-53LeBron James misses 26-foot three point jumper
5:01Al Horford defensive rebound33-53 
4:56DeMarre Carroll makes layup (Mike Scott assists)35-53 
4:39Mike Scott personal foul (Timofey Mozgov draws the foul)35-53 
4:39Paul Millsap enters the game for Mike Scott35-53 
4:33 35-53J.R. Smith misses 25-foot three point jumper
4:33 35-53Tristan Thompson offensive rebound
4:20 35-55J.R. Smith makes layup (LeBron James assists)
3:59DeMarre Carroll misses 25-foot three point jumper 35-55 
3:58 35-55LeBron James defensive rebound
3:53 35-55Timofey Mozgov misses 3-foot jumper
3:48DeMarre Carroll defensive rebound35-55 
3:41Paul Millsap misses 25-foot three point jumper 35-55 
3:39 35-55Tristan Thompson defensive rebound
3:39Cavaliers Full timeout
3:39Kent Bazemore enters the game for Jeff Teague35-55 
3:39 35-55Kyrie Irving enters the game for LeBron James
3:15 35-55Timofey Mozgov misses jumper
3:13Shelvin Mack defensive rebound35-55 
2:58DeMarre Carroll makes 5-foot two point shot (Al Horford assists)37-55 
2:43 37-55J.R. Smith misses 25-foot three point jumper
2:42 37-55Cavaliers offensive team rebound
2:29 37-55Iman Shumpert misses three point jumper
2:28 37-55Timofey Mozgov offensive rebound
2:19Shelvin Mack shooting foul (Kyrie Irving draws the foul)37-55 
2:19 37-56Kyrie Irving makes free throw 1 of 2
2:19Jeff Teague enters the game for Shelvin Mack37-56 
2:19 37-56Matthew Dellavedova enters the game for Iman Shumpert
2:19 37-57Kyrie Irving makes free throw 2 of 2
2:06Jeff Teague makes driving layup39-57 
1:45 39-59Timofey Mozgov makes two point shot (Kyrie Irving assists)
1:32 39-59Timofey Mozgov shooting foul (Paul Millsap draws the foul)
1:32Paul Millsap misses free throw 1 of 239-59 
1:32Hawks offensive team rebound39-59 
1:32 39-59LeBron James enters the game for Timofey Mozgov
1:32Paul Millsap makes free throw 2 of 240-59 
1:10 40-59LeBron James misses three point jumper
1:09DeMarre Carroll defensive rebound40-59 
1:00Kent Bazemore misses layup40-59 
1:00 40-59J.R. Smith defensive rebound
0:56 40-59Tristan Thompson offensive foul (Jeff Teague draws the foul)
0:56 40-59Tristan Thompson turnover
0:34Kent Bazemore misses driving layup40-59 
0:32Paul Millsap offensive rebound40-59 
0:32Paul Millsap makes layup42-59 
0:12 42-59DeMarre Carroll blocks Kyrie Irving 's 7-foot jumper
0:10 42-59Matthew Dellavedova offensive rebound
0:06 42-59Kyrie Irving misses jumper
0:04 42-59Tristan Thompson offensive rebound
0:00 42-59J.R. Smith misses 31-foot three point jumper
0:00 42-59Cavaliers offensive team rebound
0:00Double technical foul: Kent Bazemore and Tristan Thompson42-59 
0:00End of the 2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter Summary

TIMEATLANTASCORECLEVELAND
11:48 42-59Timofey Mozgov bad pass
11:30Kent Bazemore misses 26-foot three point jumper 42-59 
11:29 42-59LeBron James defensive rebound
11:18 42-62Kyrie Irving makes 25-foot three point jumper (LeBron James assists)
11:02DeMarre Carroll misses 26-foot three point jumper 42-62 
11:00 42-62Tristan Thompson defensive rebound
10:52Paul Millsap shooting foul (Tristan Thompson draws the foul)42-62 
10:52 42-63Tristan Thompson makes free throw 1 of 2
10:52 42-63Tristan Thompson misses free throw 2 of 2
10:52DeMarre Carroll defensive rebound42-63 
10:41Jeff Teague misses 25-foot three point jumper 42-63 
10:41 42-63Tristan Thompson defensive rebound
10:26 42-63Tristan Thompson misses 5-foot jumper
10:25 42-63Timofey Mozgov offensive rebound
10:21 42-63Iman Shumpert misses 24-foot three point jumper
10:19DeMarre Carroll defensive rebound42-63 
10:11Paul Millsap misses 9-foot Running Jumper42-63 
10:08 42-63LeBron James defensive rebound
10:00DeMarre Carroll personal foul (LeBron James draws the foul)42-63 
9:48 42-63Timofey Mozgov misses 8-foot two point shot
9:45Kent Bazemore defensive rebound42-63 
9:33Jeff Teague makes driving layup (Paul Millsap assists)44-63 
9:15 44-66LeBron James makes three point jumper (Kyrie Irving assists)
9:03Jeff Teague makes driving layup46-66 
8:48Al Horford shooting foul (Timofey Mozgov draws the foul)46-66 
8:48 46-67Timofey Mozgov makes free throw 1 of 2
8:48 46-67Timofey Mozgov misses free throw 2 of 2
8:48Kent Bazemore defensive rebound46-67 
8:37Paul Millsap misses 25-foot three point jumper 46-67 
8:36 46-67Iman Shumpert defensive rebound
8:19 46-67Tristan Thompson misses 13-foot jumper
8:19Kent Bazemore defensive rebound46-67 
8:15 46-67Kyrie Irving shooting foul (Kent Bazemore draws the foul)
8:15Kent Bazemore makes free throw 1 of 247-67 
8:15Kent Bazemore makes free throw 2 of 248-67 
8:00Paul Millsap shooting foul (LeBron James draws the foul)48-67 
8:00 48-67LeBron James misses free throw 1 of 2
8:00 48-67Cavaliers offensive team rebound
8:00 48-68LeBron James makes free throw 2 of 2
7:50 48-68Timofey Mozgov personal foul (Al Horford draws the foul)
7:37DeMarre Carroll makes 25-foot three point jumper (Paul Millsap assists)51-68 
7:11 51-68LeBron James misses 17-foot jumper
7:11DeMarre Carroll defensive rebound51-68 
7:03Paul Millsap makes two point shot (Al Horford assists)53-68 
6:50 53-70Kyrie Irving makes driving layup
6:43Jeff Teague bad pass (Kyrie Irving steals)53-70 
6:37 53-70Kyrie Irving bad pass
6:37 53-70J.R. Smith enters the game for Timofey Mozgov
6:37Hawks Full timeout
6:37 53-70Timofey Mozgov enters the game for Kyrie Irving
6:24DeMarre Carroll misses 25-foot three point jumper 53-70 
6:22Paul Millsap offensive rebound53-70 
6:16Kent Bazemore makes two point shot (Paul Millsap assists)55-70 
5:54 55-70LeBron James misses 26-foot three point jumper
5:52Kent Bazemore defensive rebound55-70 
5:45DeMarre Carroll misses 25-foot three point jumper 55-70 
5:43 55-70LeBron James defensive rebound
5:28 55-70Iman Shumpert misses 12-foot jump bank shot
5:26Paul Millsap defensive rebound55-70 
5:20Jeff Teague misses 25-foot three point jumper 55-70 
5:20 55-70LeBron James defensive rebound
5:16Jeff Teague shooting foul (Tristan Thompson draws the foul)55-70 
5:16 55-71Tristan Thompson makes free throw 1 of 2
5:16Shelvin Mack enters the game for DeMarre Carroll55-71 
5:16 55-71Tristan Thompson misses free throw 2 of 2
5:15Kent Bazemore defensive rebound55-71 
5:01Timofey Mozgov blocks Al Horford 's 18-foot jumper55-71 
4:58 55-71J.R. Smith defensive rebound
4:52 55-71J.R. Smith misses 26-foot three point jumper
4:48 55-71Iman Shumpert misses
4:48 55-71Iman Shumpert offensive rebound
4:48 55-71Tristan Thompson offensive rebound
4:47 55-73Tristan Thompson makes 3-foot jumper
4:35Al Horford makes 6-foot two point shot57-73 
4:20Shelvin Mack personal foul (Tristan Thompson draws the foul)57-73 
4:20 57-73Tristan Thompson misses free throw 1 of 2
4:20 57-73Cavaliers offensive team rebound
4:20Mike Scott enters the game for Al Horford57-73 
4:20 57-73James Jones enters the game for Timofey Mozgov
4:20 57-73Kyrie Irving enters the game for Iman Shumpert
4:20 57-73Tristan Thompson misses free throw 2 of 2
4:18Hawks defensive team rebound57-73 
4:18 57-73J.R. Smith loose ball foul (Mike Scott draws the foul)
4:01Paul Millsap misses 11-foot jumper57-73 
3:59 57-73Kyrie Irving defensive rebound
3:48 57-73LeBron James misses driving layup
3:45 57-73Tristan Thompson offensive rebound
3:45 57-75Tristan Thompson makes two point shot
3:28Kent Bazemore misses 24-foot three point jumper 57-75 
3:26 57-75LeBron James defensive rebound
3:16 57-77Tristan Thompson makes two point shot (J.R. Smith assists)
3:15Hawks Full timeout
3:15DeMarre Carroll enters the game for Kent Bazemore57-77 
3:15Dennis Schroder enters the game for Jeff Teague57-77 
2:56 57-77J.R. Smith shooting foul (Shelvin Mack draws the foul)
2:56Shelvin Mack misses free throw 1 of 257-77 
2:56Hawks offensive team rebound57-77 
2:56Shelvin Mack makes free throw 2 of 258-77 
2:54Mike Scott personal foul (Tristan Thompson draws the foul)58-79 
2:54 58-78Tristan Thompson makes free throw 1 of 2
2:54 58-79Tristan Thompson makes free throw 2 of 2
2:43Kyrie Irving blocks Dennis Schroder 's 2-foot layup58-79 
2:41 58-79Tristan Thompson defensive rebound
2:35 58-81LeBron James makes layup (James Jones assists)
2:10Shelvin Mack misses step back jumpshot58-81 
2:10Hawks offensive team rebound58-81 
2:10shot clock turnover 58-81 
1:54 58-81Kyrie Irving misses 20-foot jumper
1:53Paul Millsap defensive rebound58-81 
1:47Tristan Thompson blocks Paul Millsap 's 2-foot layup58-81 
1:46 58-81Kyrie Irving defensive rebound
1:43 58-83LeBron James makes layup (Kyrie Irving assists)
1:28Shelvin Mack misses 26-foot three point jumper 58-83 
1:25 58-83J.R. Smith defensive rebound
1:09 58-83J.R. Smith lost ball turnover (Shelvin Mack steals)
1:05Shelvin Mack makes layup60-83 
0:56Cavaliers Full timeout
0:56 60-83Iman Shumpert enters the game for LeBron James
0:56Al Horford enters the game for Paul Millsap60-83 
0:56 60-83Timofey Mozgov enters the game for Tristan Thompson
0:46 60-83James Jones misses 23-foot jumper
0:45DeMarre Carroll defensive rebound60-83 
0:34 60-83Timofey Mozgov shooting foul (DeMarre Carroll draws the foul)
0:34DeMarre Carroll misses free throw 1 of 260-83 
0:34Hawks offensive team rebound60-83 
0:34DeMarre Carroll misses free throw 2 of 260-83 
0:32 60-83J.R. Smith defensive rebound
0:21 60-85Timofey Mozgov makes two point shot (Kyrie Irving assists)
0:00Timofey Mozgov blocks Dennis Schroder 's 5-foot jumper60-85 
0:00 60-85Iman Shumpert defensive rebound
0:00 60-85Iman Shumpert misses 77-foot three point jumper
0:00 60-85Cavaliers offensive team rebound
0:00End of the 3rd Quarter

4th Quarter Summary

TIMEATLANTASCORECLEVELAND
11:47Mike Scott misses 24-foot three point jumper 60-85 
11:45 60-85J.R. Smith defensive rebound
11:26Dennis Schroder shooting foul (Matthew Dellavedova draws the foul)60-85 
11:26 60-86Matthew Dellavedova makes free throw 1 of 2
11:26 60-87Matthew Dellavedova makes free throw 2 of 2
11:14Mike Muscala makes driving layup (Dennis Schroder assists)62-87 
10:52 62-87James Jones misses 25-foot three point jumper
10:51Kent Bazemore defensive rebound62-87 
10:47 62-87James Jones shooting foul (Kent Bazemore draws the foul)
10:47Kent Bazemore misses free throw 1 of 262-87 
10:47Hawks offensive team rebound62-87 
10:47Kent Bazemore misses free throw 2 of 262-87 
10:47 62-87Timofey Mozgov defensive rebound
10:27 62-87Matthew Dellavedova misses 5-foot layup
10:26 62-87Timofey Mozgov offensive rebound
10:26 62-89Timofey Mozgov makes two point shot
10:11Mike Muscala makes 20-foot two point shot64-89 
9:52 64-92J.R. Smith makes 24-foot three point jumper
9:42Dennis Schroder misses 25-foot three point jumper 64-92 
9:41John Jenkins offensive rebound64-92 
9:32Dennis Schroder makes driving layup66-92 
9:10 66-92J.R. Smith misses 23-foot three point jumper
9:08Mike Muscala defensive rebound66-92 
8:59John Jenkins makes 7-foot two point shot (Kent Bazemore assists)68-92 
8:29 68-92J.R. Smith bad pass
8:29 Official timeout
8:19John Jenkins makes two point shot (Kent Bazemore assists)70-92 
8:02 70-95James Jones makes three point jumper (J.R. Smith assists)
7:50Timofey Mozgov blocks Dennis Schroder's jumper70-95 
7:48 70-95J.R. Smith defensive rebound
7:35 70-98J.R. Smith makes 25-foot three point jumper (Iman Shumpert assists)
7:22 70-98Timofey Mozgov shooting foul (Kent Bazemore draws the foul)
7:22Kent Bazemore makes free throw 1 of 271-98 
7:22Shelvin Mack enters the game for Mike Scott71-98 
7:22Kent Bazemore makes free throw 2 of 272-98 
7:01 72-98J.R. Smith misses jumper
7:01 72-98Matthew Dellavedova offensive rebound
7:01 72-100Matthew Dellavedova makes two point shot
7:01Dennis Schroder shooting foul (Matthew Dellavedova draws the foul)72-100 
7:01Mike Scott enters the game for Kent Bazemore72-100 
7:01 72-101Matthew Dellavedova makes free throw 1 of 1
6:43Dennis Schroder makes driving layup74-101 
6:16 74-103J.R. Smith makes layup (Matthew Dellavedova assists)
6:00Mike Scott back court turnover 74-103 
6:00Cavaliers Full timeout
6:00 74-103Joe Harris enters the game for Iman Shumpert
5:48 74-103Matthew Dellavedova misses 11-foot jumper
5:47Mike Scott defensive rebound74-103 
5:35John Jenkins makes 26-foot three point jumper (Dennis Schroder assists)77-103 
5:26Dennis Schroder personal foul (James Jones draws the foul)77-103 
5:26 77-103Mike Miller enters the game for Timofey Mozgov
5:26 77-103Kendrick Perkins enters the game for Matthew Dellavedova
5:26 77-103Shawn Marion enters the game for J.R. Smith
5:09 77-103Kendrick Perkins misses two point shot
5:07Mike Scott defensive rebound77-103 
5:05 77-103Joe Harris personal foul (Mike Muscala draws the foul)
5:03 77-103Mike Miller personal foul (Mike Muscala draws the foul)
4:52Mike Muscala misses three point jumper 77-103 
4:50Mike Scott offensive rebound77-103 
4:43Shelvin Mack makes driving layup (Mike Scott assists)79-103 
4:26 79-106Joe Harris makes 24-foot three point jumper
4:01Mike Scott makes two point shot (Shelvin Mack assists)81-106 
3:34 81-108Kendrick Perkins makes 7-foot two point shot
3:27Shelvin Mack misses 27-foot three point jumper 81-108 
3:26 81-108Joe Harris defensive rebound
3:09Dennis Schroder shooting foul (Joe Harris draws the foul)81-108 
3:09 81-109Joe Harris makes free throw 1 of 2
3:09 81-110Joe Harris makes free throw 2 of 2
3:00Dennis Schroder misses 14-foot jumper81-110 
2:59 81-110Kendrick Perkins defensive rebound
2:42 81-112Joe Harris makes two point shot
2:30Dennis Schroder bad pass (James Jones steals)81-112 
2:12 81-112James Jones misses 23-foot three point jumper
2:11Dennis Schroder defensive rebound81-112 
2:05Mike Muscala makes layup (Dennis Schroder assists)83-112 
2:00John Jenkins personal foul (Kendrick Perkins draws the foul)83-112 
2:00Hawks Full timeout
2:00 83-112Brendan Haywood enters the game for Shawn Marion
2:00Kent Bazemore enters the game for Shelvin Mack83-112 
2:00 83-113Kendrick Perkins makes free throw 1 of 2
2:00 83-113Kendrick Perkins misses free throw 2 of 2
2:00Kent Bazemore defensive rebound83-113 
1:49Mike Muscala makes dunk (Kent Bazemore assists)85-113 
1:32 85-116Mike Miller makes 23-foot three point jumper (Joe Harris assists)
1:25Mike Scott misses 26-foot three point jumper 85-116 
1:23 85-116Kendrick Perkins defensive rebound
1:04 85-116Brendan Haywood misses 15-foot
1:02John Jenkins defensive rebound85-116 
0:57John Jenkins makes 25-foot three point jumper (Dennis Schroder assists)88-116 
0:47Kent Bazemore shooting foul (James Jones draws the foul)88-116 
0:47 88-117James Jones makes free throw 1 of 3
0:47 88-117James Jones misses free throw 2 of 3
0:47 88-117Cavaliers offensive team rebound
0:47 88-118James Jones makes free throw 3 of 3
0:26John Jenkins misses 26-foot three point jumper 88-118 
0:25 88-118James Jones defensive rebound
0:13 88-118Kendrick Perkins offensive foul (Mike Muscala draws the foul)
0:13 88-118Kendrick Perkins turnover
0:00End of the 4th Quarter
0:00End of Game



Atlanta Hawks
STARTERS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF +/- PTS
Paul Millsap, PF315-130-46-8281050002-2016
DeMarre Carroll, SF273-91-50-226811123-147
Al Horford, C291-60-00-011250101-72
Jeff Teague, PG288-131-50-001111132-1617
Kent Bazemore, SG354-110-44-608830001-1912
BENCH MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF +/- PTS
Mike Muscala, PF124-50-10-001100000-58
Mike Scott, PF241-50-40-013420013-252
Dennis Schroder, PG192-70-10-001140015-144
Shelvin Mack, PG244-111-51-202212002-2510
John Jenkins, SG124-52-30-011200001-510
Pero Antic, PFDNP COACH'S DECISION
Elton Brand, PFDNP COACH'S DECISION
Austin Daye, SFDNP COACH'S DECISION
TOTALS
FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF   PTS

36-855-3211-18732392243720 88

42.4%15.6%61.1%
Fast break points:   10
Points in the paint:   52
Total Team Turnovers (Points off turnovers):   8 (7)
+/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court.
Cleveland Cavaliers
STARTERS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF +/- PTS
LeBron James, SF2910-202-61-409972112+2023
Timofey Mozgov, C355-90-04-534711325+2314
Tristan Thompson, C316-80-04-8561100121+2216
Kyrie Irving, PG226-112-32-313451111+1416
Iman Shumpert, SG361-81-40-026840111+273
BENCH MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF +/- PTS
James Jones, SF201-51-42-302211002+105
Kendrick Perkins, C51-20-01-202200011+43
Brendan Haywood, C20-10-00-00000000000
Matthew Dellavedova, SG173-61-23-320210001+310
Joe Harris, SG62-21-12-201110001+17
J.R. Smith, SG297-144-100-00101030022+1818
Shawn Marion, SG30-00-00-000000000+40
Mike Miller, SG51-11-10-000000001+43
TOTALS
FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF   PTS

43-8713-3119-3013435623571018 118

49.4%41.9%63.3%
Fast break points:   11
Points in the paint:   48
Total Team Turnovers (Points off turnovers):   10 (10)
+/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court.
 Flagrant Fouls: None
 Technical Fouls: PLAYERS: 1 ATLANTA ( Bazemore 1 ), 1 CLEVELAND ( Thompson 1 ) - TEAMS: None - COACHES: None
 Officials: Eric Lewis, Dan Crawford, Marc Davis
 Attendance: 20,562
 Time of Game: 2:19
  • Devon Stokes · Top Commenter
    I am no Lebron fan boy, but 5 straight years? This is epic. He is def top 3 greatest of all time. Maybe top 2. When its all said and done he could possibly pass Michael Jordan if he stays healthy and continue winning.
    • Joseph Polisena Jr. · Top Commenter
      Love how people compare Lebron to Jordan. You can't compare stars from different generations. Different rules, different styles, more/fewer teams. Lebron is the best of this generation, Jordan was the best of his, Wilt was the best of his.
    • Shaan Negandhi · Top Commenter · Allentown, Pennsylvania
      Shawn Chawla We get it man. But Jordan had issues making the finals in the first place. I think Lebron messed up, but give it a break. He has been very clutch since that series vs the Mavs.
    • Joshua Parham · Some type of Title at Arrow Electronics
      Got my respect; these LeBron haters are nostalgia lunatics and that's coming from a 80s baby.
  • Brandon Hord · Top Commenter · Bowling Green State University
    Please take a moment to admire the great LeBron’s Accomplishments:

    On the Court:
    1.) 2× NBA champion: 2012, 2013
    2.) 2× NBA Finals MVP: 2012, 2013
    3.) 4x NBA Most Valuable Player: 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013
    4.) NBA Rookie of the Year: 2004
    5.) 10x NBA All Star (2 time MVP)
    6.) 6× NBA All-Defensive: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
    7.) 3× Olympic medalist:
    8.) One of two players in NBA history to win four NBA Most Valuable Player Awards in a span of five years. (Bill Russell is the other)
    9.) 1st place all-time for scoring average in elimination games with 31.7 points per game.
    10.) 1st place all-time for playoff games with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists with 23.
    11.) 2nd place in average points scored in 4th quarters since 2003-2004
    12.) All-time leader in assists among forwards.... See More
  • Vegas Joe · Top Commenter
    Lebron is the only player in the NBA right now that could go from leading one team to the finals the year prior and then repeat with a different team the next. The fact that he did it with love out and kyrie hurt and haters still gon' hate.
    • Drew N Liz · Top Commenter · Works at National Nursing and Rehab
      It says alot about his leadership out on the court and how he can bring the best out of his teammates. Look at JR Smith in this series, what a turn around.
    • Kevin Dondrea · · Top Commenter
      That is the 2nd time he did that. He went from the Cavs as the top team to Miami and back again to Cleveland. It just goes to show he should have been the MVP.
    • Kevin Dondrea · · Top Commenter
      Drew N Liz I think JR Smith took this as a rebirth. People were saying about how he is selfish. I remember when they made the trade people were doubting him. Now look he's a relevant important part of the Cavs team.
  • Brad Smith · Top Commenter · The University of Akron
    With that no show by the Hawks tonight I think we can all be sure that the Bulls were the second best team in the east this year.
  • Raheem Rhamass · Top Commenter · Firestone High School
    Mean while in Miami.....*cricket* *cricket* *cricket*
  • Michael Ward
    I'm reading all of these comments about Lebron facing only mediocre teams and that Jordan would have done or Lebron would have done that...this is what I call a COME ON MAN!!!!

    The 90s, are over, Space Jam is now a stoner classic. Jordan is 50+, the 90s are over. There will never be another Michael Jordan who won a bunch of titles. Why? Because there is only ONE Michael Jordan who won a bunch of titles in the 90s.

    Lebron is who he is, he can only face who he faces and can't face anyone else. He can't control that. Step off Lebron, and get off Jordan. Jordan "ain't" coming back. Lebron is here to stay, for a few more years. Just sit back and enjoy the show. You're witnessing history. Enjoy it!!
  • Chi Ezike · Top Commenter · Paint at The Home Depot Pittsburg California
    Doing very well City of Cleveland☺
    • Gabriel Mihdawi · Top Commenter
      Another thread (Devon Stokes) claiming LeBron is the second best player of all time. I don't need to rehash my point again how LeBron is not even close to being the second best player of all time. Instead, I'll just wait for the Warriors to smoke Cleveland in 5 so you fanboys can be reminded how mortal LeBron really is.
    • Gabriel Mihdawi · Top Commenter
      And yes, Jordan lost in the first round 3 times. But Jordan never missed the playoffs during his first 13 years in Chicago. LeBron has missed the playoffs TWICE. Has already lost in the finals THREE times (about to be FOUR). How can anyone with a straight face say LeBron has had more playoff success than MJ?
    • Michael Viggiano · Top Commenter · Davie, Florida
      Gabriel Mihdawi Lebron also came into the league out of HS and made it to the Finals at the age of 22!! The best player on a finals team that beat a very good Pistons team was the same age a lot of players come into the league as. I don't compare Jordan and Lebron because the rules are completely different. The removal of the illegal defense rule changes the NBA so drastically that it is hard to compare players that came before and after. Jordan knew that the only two options teams had with him was a hard double or to let him go 1 on 1. Help defenders did not exist as they were against the rules. Conversely, players today clearly benefit from more foul calls. Defense is so much more complicated today and the strong side flood defense, switching on pick and rolls due to more athletic big men, and various other developments had not occured in Jordan's era. I honestly do not know how to compare them. The game is just different for better or worse depending on your opinion. I just enjoy the players and the game I see as they are because I love basketball. But to each his own.
  • Mark Cloutier · Top Commenter · University of Wisconsin–Whitewater
    Don't start with MJ comparisons... MJ was magical and 6-0 in finals!! LBJ's finals record is 2-5 and about to be 2-6... It would be 1-6 if not for a lucky 3pt by Ray Allen. Sweeping Celtics, beating my pathetic bulls in 6 games, and sweeping the injury riddled hawks is really no great feat... Nothing against Cavs but they're about to get lit up by spurs 2.0 and I just love watching lebron fail. Sad thing for cavs fans is your team is about to have major cap issues in the future and there is no way of knowing when LBJ will decide to abandon them again for sandier beaches...
  • Giovanni Taylor · Top Commenter · Los Angeles, California
    I have mixed feelings about this. I love LeBron and I am rooting for Cleveland to finally win something, just because it's been so long.

    However, I still remember how the city burned his jersey, cursed his name and how Dan Gilbert eviscerated him in the media. It's remarkable how he was able to go back and play for the same guy and city.
    • Zac Said · Top Commenter · Works at GameStop
      He and Gilbert patched up years ago when he was still with Miami.
    • Musika Vanhu
      King James is playing FOR HIS HOME!
      All of his dumb, divisive and devilish detractors are not really relevant.
      LeBron is PERSONALLY trying to do a NBA Championship for HIS home.
    • Richard Whitney · Top Commenter · Case Western Reserve University
      The "city" didn't burn his jersey. A group of drunks burned his jersey in the parking lot of a bar that ran a promotion. With a tv camera filming the event.
  • Dewayne Dixon · Top Commenter · Works at Housekeeper at your local crack house
    Congratulations to Cleveland and good luck in the finals! Totally outplayed Atlanta all series and by far the better and balanced teams! Still love my Hawks, but they are missing a few pieces to be a Championship team! Go Hawks!
  • Robert Schwartzback · · Top Commenter · Being at Consciousness
    Congrats Cleveland, and congrats LeBron. Good luck with Golden State when they get past Houston. Best player in the league vs best team in the league.
    • Drew N Liz · Top Commenter · Works at National Nursing and Rehab
      IF they get past Houston. No guarantees in basketball, just ask the Clippers.
    • Leo Nelly
      There is a such thing called a 3-0 guarantee 0-117 says soon it will be 0-118
    • Logan Monks · Top Commenter · Tempe, Arizona
      Leo Nelly And at one point it was a similar stat in MLB, but we all know how that went. Still don't think the rox will pull it off tho
  • Joseph Ruiloba · · Top Commenter
    That's 5 straight years of team stacking to get him there. Jordan did it with BJ Armstrong and Bill Carthwright.
  • Braden Williams · Top Commenter · Accountant/Auditor at Pattison Koskey Howe Bucci CPA's
    If one person comes on here and says Lebron is not one of the greatest players of all-time, says he isn't the best player in the world right now, says he can't get it done in the playoffs, or isn't in the class of the Jordans, Russells, Chamberlains, etc. of the annuls of NBA history, they need to immediately have a lobotomy and be sterilized, because their kind should not be allowed to contribute to society nor reproduce to create future morons.

    Lebron has carried this Cavs team to the NBA Finals for his FIFTH--I repeat--FIFTH straight trip to the Championship round. No Love, Kyrie at about 50%, and the next best player on the rest of the squad is either Thompson or Mozgov. And that with David Blatt at the helm, a guy who doesn't even have timeout-calling privileges. Lebron is the MVP, Coach of the Year and GM of the Year. Cavs go from bottom of the league to Championship round with the addition of the King. Crown him already and deal with it people...
    • Oscar Mejia · Top Commenter
      It is more probable than not that you meant to say that LeBron made it to the final 5 straight years with the "cavs" right?
    • Braden Williams · Top Commenter · Accountant/Auditor at Pattison Koskey Howe Bucci CPA's
      Oscar Mejia - Not really following what you're saying. My sentence reads he has carried this Cavs team to HIS fifth straight final, not the Cavs fifth straight final if that's what you're implying?
  • Drew N Liz · Top Commenter · Works at National Nursing and Rehab
    Lebron is on a mission to rebound from the total annihilation that my Spurs did to him last season. I ddon't think he will allow 2 Finals losses in a row, that would put a huge blemish on his legacy. Cavs gonna win this thing no matter if they play the Dubs or Rockets.
    • Shane Walton · · Top Commenter · Assembly Line at Nissan
      GS gonna make that 2-4 after this series ends and James Finals career will officially be in the shitter....
    • Oscar Mejia · Top Commenter
      Shane Walton please do not let Houston win another game. That would be really bad for GS
    • Logan Monks · Top Commenter · Tempe, Arizona
      Shane Walton Right lets hold it against James that the spurs were clearly the better team for 2 of his finals losses (one of which was a foregone conclusion that it would be a sweep) and possibly for one of his final wins. In fact I would say that OKC may have had a better team as well. I give anyone the meltdown against Dallas. That was an absolutely terrible display. But before you put forward his finals record as an example of his failure you must remember that the only series in which his team was the clear cut favorite was against Dallas. I remember about half of the pundits picking OKC in 2012, Spurs in 2013, Spurs in 2014, and 100% of pundits picking spurs in 2007. When two of his teams were absolutely steam rolled that has to tell you that the team was just inferior not that it was his fault. He could have averaged 40 ppg in each of those series and still lost.
  • Clay Lessley · Top Commenter · Christ for the Nations Institute
    How did they get swept with no Love and no Kyrie??
    • Josh Reed · Raleigh, North Carolina
      Milsaps is 60% at best, horford about 65%, Korver gone, sefalosha gone and Schroeder completely went awol. Too many cogs out of joint. They need all those guys healthy because they dont have star power to fill in the gaps. The downside to team ball
    • Patrick Seay · Top Commenter
      Put them in the west and I am sure they don't sweep anyone.
    • Alex Robochuck Ethofer · Top Commenter · Las Vegas, Nevada
      Patrick Seay That's an opinion... What are you basing that off of? Cavs were 12-1 against west playoff teams...
  • Long Long · · Top Commenter · RMIT University
    5 straight trips to the NBA finals, for some people they will argrue that LBJ play in the weaker eastern conference, and some will said he have a strong team back in Miami, but i would said he live up to his nickname "King James". He is the best player right now and one of the best all around player in NBA history, please give credit to this man and his achievements.
  • Israel Gerena · Top Commenter · Patient Access Secretary at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital
    I hate Lebron. Don't care what you think. Wish him good health and a bright future. Still hate him.
  • Kostas Pnevmatikatos · Top Commenter · Alexandria, Virginia
    I don't pull one way or the other but lebron is 2-3 in the finals if he goes 2-4 in the finals, I'm done with this greatness crap
    • James P. Menath · Top Commenter · Teacher at Wall Street English
      It's not tennis.
    • Jonathan Hakim · Top Commenter · Lucknow, India
      So if Lebron lost earlier and stayed 2-3 in the Finals that's be better, because losing in the 1st round is somehow superior to carrying a lesser team all the way to the final series?

      No one EVER says, "Duncan is better than Magic, because Duncan was 5-1 in the Finals but Magic was only 5-4". No one EVER said, "Kareem sucks because he lost 4 times in the Finals". No one said, "Jerry West is a loser for being 1-8 in the Finals" - they made him the NBA logo!!! Lebron is the only guy who gets trashed on for making it to the championship series rather than just losing early.
    • George GroupMan
      People like you will never give Lebron the credit he earned. Just admit it, you are holding a grudge and have made up your mind forever. Tip for life: don't let your hatred blind you're judgement
    • Kostas Pnevmatikatos · Top Commenter · Alexandria, Virginia
      Is jerry west ever put on the level, of bird, magic, Jordan, wilt etc no, he prob would if had won some, how many even know west is the logo, I don't hate lebron don't care one way or the other, but ur record comes to play at some point, let's translate that to Jim Kelly for the bills, great? Nope no one remembers 0-4 in the Super Bowl, same can be said for Marino, it's not blind hatred for someone, history tells us all the time who is forgotten and who carries on, it's why Montana, Bradshaw, Jordan, Gretzky live forever, it's u that defend him to the high heavens, no thanks
    • Kostas Pnevmatikatos · Top Commenter · Alexandria, Virginia
      And to take it even further what u want a cookie for the cakewalk that is the East, be realistic, never said dude wasn't good, but I'm done with this top 5 garbage, specially if he goes to 2-4 period
    • Kostas Pnevmatikatos · Top Commenter · Alexandria, Virginia
      And u all realize, ESPN literally was saying Duncan was better than some of these dudes right, man gets forgotten
    • Reymar Isip · Works at Young Money Cash Money (YMCM) Records
      Hey kostas...go suck someone while we are busy celebrating... U havent played basketball in ur entire life and u act like u know everything
    • Kostas Pnevmatikatos · Top Commenter · Alexandria, Virginia
      Actually buddy I played at vcu in 02, so I have more knowledge in my pinky finger than u do in that skull of urs, go suck it when u can't have a convo with someone resort to saying suck something, later brah
    • Paul Lacher · Top Commenter · Great Bridge High
      yep just 02 because you didn't know how to play and vcu was terrible before shaka
    • Anthony Peterson · Freelance Journalist at Fashion Times
      LeBron's stats and playoff success and his ability to turn a franchise around and dominate a game put him in top objectively. After that, its a matter of opinion. I'm not taking anyone besides MJ before LeBron on my all time list
    • Kostas Pnevmatikatos · Top Commenter · Alexandria, Virginia
      Lol maybe so, not a pro, but I've played, and it's all good I'm fine with that, and now they will suck again without Shaka
    • Chris Campbell · Massillon, Ohio
      Did you just say Marino isn't a great and no one remembers him? Did your parents drop you on your head?
    • Kostas Pnevmatikatos · Top Commenter · Alexandria, Virginia
      See now this is what I'm talking about Anthony I respect that argument, I won't deny he doesn't turn a team around, or that he gets to the finals, hell this year he averaged a triple double this series, that's great, I'm just saying records gotta play a part sometime
    • Kostas Pnevmatikatos · Top Commenter · Alexandria, Virginia
      But for me I'm still taking Mj, bird, magic, and Kobe to a lesser extent, actually I'd still put lebron over Kobe, but I'm only 32 I can't speak for the other greats
    • Kostas Pnevmatikatos · Top Commenter · Alexandria, Virginia
      Marino is great, is he all timer, can u honestly say he's best ever with no super bowl wins? Who gets named first, he's not top 5 and that's what I'm relating this to, lebron is great but not top 5, and yea they dropped me so hard I was able to crap out a phd, smh
    • Jorge Bouza · Top Commenter
      Kostas, Bird couldn't carry the Kings jockstrap bro lmao.
    • Kostas Pnevmatikatos · Top Commenter · Alexandria, Virginia
      Lmao, bird couldn't carry his jockstrap? But the "king" idolized what garbage? Bird will always be better than lebron, but cool story
    • John-Brandon Palmer · Top Commenter
      Jordan never took a bad team to the Finals. LeBron has. Seriously, go look at that 2007 Cavs roster and when you discover that Larry Hughes was the second best player on that team...

      And this year's Cavs team... without LeBron, they were below average. People talk about Love and Irving as great players, but they aren't winners. LeBron takes 2 weeks off, Irving and Love lead Cleveland to a 1-9 record.

      Michael didn't have to worry about that. He always had Phil Jackson as his coach, he always had a healthy Scottie Pippen as his running mate. He had another Hall of Famer (Dennis Rodman) for 3 years. He had the greatest 3-point shooter by percentage ever (Steve Kerr - hit a Finals clinching shot) for 3 years. Every year Michael had bad teammates, he got slaughtered in the playoffs and never even sniffed the Finals.

      Plus, LeBron has played Duncan's Spurs 3 teams in the Finals... and he's about to play the Warriors, who won 67 games this year and are being discussed as one of the great teams of all time. Michael never played a team that good. Those Jazz teams were old. That Lakers team was old. That Blazers team was weak. The Suns and Sonics were okay, but nowhere near Duncan's Spurs.

      Have some perspective. Michael was awesome and played on great teams with a great coach. LeBron is awesome and was really only on 2 good teams (the 2 years Wade wasn't injured). The only real knock on LeBron is the 2011 Finals.
    • Kostas Pnevmatikatos · Top Commenter · Alexandria, Virginia
      I don't disagree that the one cabs team was garbage, he teamed with two stars in Miami, and the biggest deal that no one talks about is the trade for jr, mozgov and shumpert, let alone Thompson, that's not exactly Busch league specially in the east, and he played good teams in the west I'll give u that, but as I said and it's how I feel, he's obviously great, but with a 2-4 record, I won't put him in the top 5, having perception doesn't change the fact, he's the best player of this generation, got it, won't deny it, but on the Mount Rushmore of legends, he is not, and that is subjective
    • Kostas Pnevmatikatos · Top Commenter · Alexandria, Virginia
      And yes I know Thompson wasn't traded there btw
    • Oscar Mejia · Top Commenter
      Ummm what? team sport right? this is not golf, boxing, tennis etc.
    • Kostas Pnevmatikatos · Top Commenter · Alexandria, Virginia
      Make sure you say that when it comes to every team sport then, and I'll still say it again and again, he's great, go 2-4 in the finals, and he's not on the Mount Rushmore of players, is what it is, go with it or don't, all subjective
  • Malik Weaver · Top Commenter
    Where is the Hawks fans who was screaming Hawks in 6 or 7??? Dont worry ill wait....
  • Chad Harrod · Top Commenter · Central Hardin High School
    I people really just stop at some point and appreciate greatness. To sweep a team to get to the finals does not happen very often. Who would have thought after love went down, the cavs would just roll the hawks in 4 straight. Thompson has been out of his mind crazy good for the cavs.
  • James Wade II
    the King, in his 5th straight NBA Finals appearance and 6th overall, is an epic feat for one of the greatest players to ever play the game.
    Good luck. Le Bron. I hope you can win your 3rd ring this time
  • Gerald Riggins · Top Commenter · Dallas, Texas
    The cavs are in because the east is weak as hell... If lebron was in the west it would be more competition for him..... So that's why he stays in the east because it's a easy trip to the finals
  • Xavier Iturralde
    Rest up Cavs, the long layoff before game 1 vs the Warriors is much needed, with Lebron and Kyrie at 100% (or at least close to it) this is going to be a crazy finals! Cavs in 6!
  • David DePue · Top Commenter · Cactus High School
    i hope lebron plays so great in the finals that the cavs win. I want to see something ive never seen before. I just want to see him reach a different level.
    • Oscar Mejia · Top Commenter
      MOre probably that not that he will not live up to unrealistic expectations. Superman is not real. But I agree with You in terms of choosing Cleveland wins as a Celtics fan (east first). Go Pats!
    • Tyriek Burton ·
      I hope he average 40ppg , 15rpg , 10apg and wins it all that's something no one ever seen before.
  • Syed Shazeb · · Top Commenter
    fist off all i would like to congrat the cavs and the city on making the finals. good game lebron (yes i can praise other players) and that boy tristan thompson was one of the biggest x factors in the playoffs espeically after k love went out. great heart and a hell of a game. had what like 20 and 11 i think. Warriros vs cavs gonna be great. and lastly nooo the season is coming to and end :( although the lakers ended way back. we will be back
  • Julian Hairston · Top Commenter · Elyria, Ohio
    I wish I was sitting next to the reporter that asked coach bud did he have a good season so I could slap the crap out of him.I'm a cavs fan and know that was a stupid question.60 wins,eastern conference finals"no,our season was terrible,you idiot "
  • Michael Nana Saahene · · Assistant Head Boxing Coach at San Antonio Eastside Boys & Girls Club Boxing Team
    I've never been much of a Lebron fan, but after this, I have to give him mad props! I hope the Cavs win it all! And I'm a Knicks fan!
  • Rip VL · Top Commenter · Bowling Green State University
    So, Bazemore, still think you're the better team?

    I didn't think so.
  • Tim Jay · Top Commenter
    I hate LeBron.
  • Guy de Chalus · Top Commenter · Oakland, California
    Some wonderful comments here. Sorry that I missed the game but from the game cast I gathered that the coffin was closing on Atlanta. I'd like to offer just a few perspectives:

    1. Jordan was something really special to behold. He was a pretty big shooting guard with good footwork, a range of skills, and (over time) he also became a great shooter of the ball. Unlike Kobe, who might have matched Jordan's "selfishness," Jordan knew when to pass (Kerr, Paxton, etc.) and he trusted in the science of his coach's system. Heck! He was the centerpiece of that system.

    Malone and Stockton; Barkley; Mourning; Payton; Miller; and even Ewing and my beloved Knicks; he stopped them all. Really, he crushed their spirits with his will to win.

    Even if his records are surpassed, there will be no one ever "like" him. He was indeed... special. T... See More
    • Logan Monks · Top Commenter · Tempe, Arizona
      nice post, pretty much agree with everything you said. I think part of the difference in mentality between a kobe/mj and Lebron, is that LeBron sees the bigger picture in the world outside of basketball. He actually speaks out against/ up for many controversial and social issues, whereas Kobe and MJ never really liked to use their fame to address these kind of things. As you say James is much more in his head, metaphysical, and because of that is probably not the assassin that Kobe and MJ were. Its hard to care so deeply about winning when Lebron sees basketball as a sport, while Kobe and MJ viewed it as life itself.
  • Michael Vincent Heise · Top Commenter
    willed the cavs to the finals for a 5th straight time, after leading another team there ..the man is a legend brotha I gotta give it up...this time the wests best have no chance...I just don't see it happening not at the level Lebron is playing at...He just ate up a great Atlanta team...made the Knick rejects play like parish and Mchale, making a rookie look like shaq lol
  • Peter Ree · Top Commenter
    Been a bulls fan for nearly 30 years and counting... so it really pains me to say, that Lebron is a beast. Since the Jordan era, I have never ever liked the Knicks, Pistons and Cleveland. So I will be rooting for GS. But 6 finals appearance since 2007. wow. His miami years have really evolved him to a great player. He has the killer instinct now. Man it hurts to watch. Can't hate though.
  • Tyler Tomaszewski · Top Commenter · Intern at MRI Software
    Thanks for coming back home LeBron. This city deserves a sports team that can compete for a championship. I am so glad I don't have to hear the "Oh this is a rebuilding year" anymore. I was getting sick of that. Enjoy it fellow Cleveland Fans.
    • Giovanni Taylor · Top Commenter · Los Angeles, California
      Your city doesn't deserve jack. Look at how you treated your native son. I'm rooting for you guys, but you don't "deserve" anything!
    • Tyler Tomaszewski · Top Commenter · Intern at MRI Software
      Giovanni Taylor I don't know how you can say that because you are not from cleveland. Don't go through all the times we were so close and we lost. Or how many losing seasons we had to endure. I still have my old LeBron jersey. If you are referring to drunks who burned lebrons jersey then they were fairweather fans to begin with. I do disagree, if any city deserves it right now. It's Cleveland.
    • Giovanni Taylor · Top Commenter · Los Angeles, California
      Tyler Tomaszewski I have familial ties to Cleveland and have been there several times. Everybody hated him when he left. They:

      1. burned his jersey.
      2. took down his mural.
      3. wrote many letters in support of Dan Gilbert's childish tirade.
      4. Booed him mercilessly upon his return with the Heat. Yes, they should have cheered him. He made the city relevant.

      Anyhow, I don't think you deserve anything. Speaking of Cleveland, LeBron might be dead if he couldn't play basketball.
  • Jeremy Miles · South Gwinnett High School
    I hate the new website format. It's like what foxsports used to be, all jumbled together
  • Norah Frei · Top Commenter
    Hawks had no answer for Shumpert's 'do.
  • Christopher Lowe · Top Commenter · Western High School
    Jordan had to go thru Magic, James Worthy, Clyde Drexler, Isiah, Shaq, Gary Payton, Stockton, Malone, Ewing, Starks, Reggie, Barkley, Wilkins and more in his day.

    Bron is 1-4 in the finals if Ray doesn't make a legendary corner 3.

    He's great, but he isn't in the conversation for GOAT.

    Jordan
    Magic
    Kareem
    Duncan
    Shaq
    Kobe
    Larry Bird

    All have to be ranked higher than him as far as the modern era is concerned.... See More
    • Dustin Markward · Top Commenter
      Honestly I don't know if I could even say Lebron is the GOAT if he wins 7 rings. Jordan never lost in the finals, yet Lebron has. Jordan never went to a game 7, Lebron has. But here's the thing, the game has changed so much that its really unfair to even say who is the GOAT. I don't think there is really any solution other than just opinions. I think its fair to say though that Jordan was GOAT during his era and Lebron during his.
    • Vaughn O Jackson · Top Commenter · Works at VHB
      Winning means you were on a great team, Robert Horry has 7 rings. Going by your Logic, he is the GOAT of this Era..lol..If you are going to say GOAT.How can you have Centers on the list? If you are going to have centers, Hakeem Olajuwon could out play all these dudes,
      he is by far the best basketball player to play center(ball handling, passing, shooting) hell Patrick Ewing was a better basketball player than Shaq(Shaq was just big as hell) Larry Bird, Really? dude had a 7 year career..lol..Just Going on the Ability to play basketball I have it..1.Magic..2 Lebron..3 Jordan/Kobe(they are almost the same player). Magic could play all five Positions at an all-star level and is the Best court leader I have ever seen.LeBron to me is a more athletic Magic..
    • Dustin Markward · Top Commenter
      Vaughn O Jackson Magic over Jordan? Sorry. Your putting Lebron over Jordan just because you think he reminds you more of Magic. I don't think you realize Jordans ability to play basketball.
  • Dre Jones
    People say east is terrible, but do we remember east when Jordan won. Detroit was tough, but the others years his rivals were people named John Starks and that Craig dude from Cleveland.. yeah really tough competition there. Then there was the ever so tough west, when you had a Clyde from Portland or what about ringless Karl and John from Utah. Lets not go overboard people, Jordan was the man, but he literally didn't have any competition. Don't feel like Goggling it, but a broken Magic was probably the only opponent that he faired against that had a ring. That's why you don't compare.
    • Ronald Grandmasterjedi Johnson · Top Commenter · Norfolk, Virginia
      Conference domination always goes in cycles. I remember when the West had terrible teams and the East had the strongest teams. The reason why it tends to shift every generation or so is because of the process. West teams go good after a while because they were constantly getting the best new talent out of college because they were always the lottery teams (save for the Lakers who just had mad $$$ to attract the best players). Eventually, the West got good after accumulating so much talent and a lot of those players stayed in the West. Meanwhile in the East, those teams went on the decline because they just got old and the new talent was mediocre compared to what the West was able to pick up. And even now, the brand of player has changed because most of them leave school so early that they aren't as developed as they used to be. Live long enough, and you will see the power shift again...
  • Kristen Margulis · Top Commenter · San Francisco, California
    My sincerest Congratulations to the Cavs for winning the Worst Conference in NBA History. Savor it. The reality of your inferiority will hit on June 4th.

    Lebron's mentally weak game (1-4 in the Finals, Ray Allen traveled) leads his merry band of NY Knick Cast Offs and a gimpy Irving, like a sheep being led to Slaughter.

    I'll be there in Oakland at Game 1 to enjoy it.

    Because I am a nice person, I am going to leave some reading material for the Cavs fans who can actually read, it's a ranking of the Top Team's in NBA History, you're about to face one of the Top 5. Cav's are gonna get massacred.

    http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-best-nba-teams-of-all-time-according-to-elo/
    • Giovanni Taylor · Top Commenter · Los Angeles, California
      Maybe you want to wait until your team takes care of business first?
    • George GroupMan
      People like you will never give Lebron the credit he earned. Just admit it, you are holding a grudge and have made up your mind forever. Tip for life: don't let your hatred blind you're judgement
    • Jon Espinosa · Top Commenter
      I remember a cocky Hawks fan (April something or other) that was telling everyone the Hawks were gonna sweep....If Irving is somewhat healthy, which I think he will be, it should be an interesting finals. Of course, if the Cavs did win, you would be nowhere to be found afterwards.
    • Andy Church · Top Commenter · CBRN Specialist at West Virginia National Guard
      You don't know much about basketball do you? Your giving a lot of credit to a team who hasn't even finished their series yet nor has ever been this far into into the playoffs... The finals is a different ballgame and there is no experience on that gs team. But don't worry curry is going to get his chance to choke. You will be enlightened on June 4
    • Jac Mihoffe · Top Commenter · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
      First of all Ray Allen DID NOT travel so LeBron is 2-3 in the finals. Also I've seen you say that he only won that game b/c Allen hit a "lucky" shot which is also not true because LeBron scored 16 points in the 4th quarter to keep them in it. He also hit a 3 to cut the lead down to 2 before Kawhi split his FTs allowing Allen to have a chance to tie. THEN they still played a game 7 where LeBron scored 37 of the team's 95! I understand you love your team but to downplay LeBron's accomplishments is just silly ESPECIALLY coming from a fan of a team that hasn't sniffed the Finals in 40 years and a team that JUST became relevant like 2 years ago and a team that STILL hasn't even officially made the finals GTFOH
    • Shane Walton · · Top Commenter · Assembly Line at Nissan
      Will it be another repeat of last year where the winning team won all games by 20+ avg?? Last year was the biggest Finals beat down probably since the 80's Lakers...
    • Oscar Mejia · Top Commenter
      Yikes, troll alert!
    • Jimmy LaConti · Top Commenter · Clemson University
      Kirsten. It's been 40 years since the Garbage State Warriors won a championship and it's gonna be another 40 before they even get another chance. By then you'll be a lonely old woman living with her cats.
    • Ryan Gutch · Co-founder at Real Estate Cash Buyers
      You might want to wait till your team is in the finals before you let your egotistical drivel take over Kristen.
    • Tommy Laudon · Top Commenter · Work Study at Creighton University
      Pretty sure Dave Wight was banned and is now using this profile for his incompetent ramblings
    • Michael Woodard · Austin, Texas
      You know that LeBron scored 40pts or more in the last two games he played against GS...The Cavs were 14-1 vs West since All Star Break.
    • Chris Howard · Anaheim, California
      Kristen your stupidity is astonishing, but I would expect nothing less from an arrogant Warriors fan. However, if you take that Warriors shirt off, I would definitely paint yo face
    • Bill Anderson · University of Akron
      "Sorry, there was a problem with this link: http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-best-nba-teams-of-all-time-according-to-elo/
      You can now continue to this website, or go back to the page you were on before.
      Remember, only follow links from sources you trust."

      Seriously, STFU and choke. I love how someone thinks they're funny and posts a dead link. Go back to grade school and learn to read. GO CAVS!!!!
  • Stephen Gabriel · Top Commenter · Valley Baptist Academy, Harlingen Tx
    Nobody is HATING Lebron but he is NO KING yet. Dude won 2 NBA titles & 2 Golds & he is a king? Jordan won 6 NBA titles, 1 NCAA Championship & 2 Olympic Golds.

    That title is NOT given, you have to EARN it. That being said I respect Both Players in their own right but Jordan is still King until he is dethroned. When Lebron earns that title then NO ONE can talk smack, he will by then have the hardware to back up his claims, until then just enjoy Prince Lebron continuing on the road Jordan & Kobe paved him & others.. Also you cannot leave Kobe out of the conversation either..
    • Dustin Markward · Top Commenter
      Well i think that was the typical media over hyping something. Lebron arguably was one of the best talents we have seen come straight from high school so in a way I could see why they call him that but you are right.
    • Zac Dawkins · Top Commenter · Windsor, Virginia
      Bill Russell is a 11x champion .. According to you he is far superior to MJ. MJ never won 11 championships. Whats the excuse? Why should MJ get priority over Lebron because he won 6 championships when Michael never passed Russell ... how quickly we fix things to be in our favor
    • Dustin Markward · Top Commenter
      Zac Dawkins Russell also won championships when there were only like 10 teams in the league lol.





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