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.
Cle: L. James 23 Pts, 9 Reb, 7 Ast, 2 Stl, 1 Blk
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
CLEVELAND -- 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.
Coverage: TNT
8:30 PM ET, May 26, 2015
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
Top Performers
Atl: P. Millsap 16 Pts, 10 Reb, 5 AstCle: L. James 23 Pts, 9 Reb, 7 Ast, 2 Stl, 1 Blk
Complete Play-By-Play
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | All1st Quarter Summary | |||
TIME | ATLANTA | SCORE | CLEVELAND |
---|---|---|---|
12:00 | 0-0 | Al Horford vs. Timofey Mozgov (DeMarre Carroll gains possession) | |
11:41 | Jeff Teague makes driving layup | 2-0 | |
11:22 | 2-2 | Kyrie Irving makes 8-foot two point shot (LeBron James assists) | |
11:10 | DeMarre Carroll bad pass (Timofey Mozgov steals) | 2-2 | |
11:04 | 2-4 | Timofey Mozgov makes layup (LeBron James assists) | |
10:45 | Kent Bazemore makes 10-foot two point shot (Paul Millsap assists) | 4-4 | |
10:18 | 4-4 | Iman Shumpert misses 20-foot jumper | |
10:18 | Paul Millsap defensive rebound | 4-4 | |
10:07 | Al Horford misses 20-foot jumper | 4-4 | |
10:06 | 4-4 | Timofey Mozgov defensive rebound | |
9:48 | 4-7 | Kyrie Irving makes 25-foot three point jumper (Timofey Mozgov assists) | |
9:33 | Jeff Teague bad pass (LeBron James steals) | 4-7 | |
9:29 | 4-9 | LeBron James makes two point shot (Iman Shumpert assists) | |
9:29 | Hawks Full timeout | ||
9:10 | DeMarre Carroll misses 16-foot jumper | 4-9 | |
9:08 | 4-9 | Tristan Thompson defensive rebound | |
8:55 | 4-12 | Iman Shumpert makes 24-foot three point jumper (LeBron James assists) | |
8:45 | Jeff Teague makes 6-foot two point shot (Al Horford assists) | 6-12 | |
8:27 | 6-12 | Jeff Teague blocks Kyrie Irving 's 11-foot jumper | |
8:26 | 6-12 | Kyrie Irving offensive rebound | |
8:22 | 6-14 | Tristan Thompson makes 9-foot jumper (Kyrie Irving assists) | |
8:07 | Kent Bazemore misses 25-foot three point jumper | 6-14 | |
8:06 | 6-14 | Timofey Mozgov defensive rebound | |
7:56 | 6-14 | LeBron James misses 25-foot three point jumper | |
7:56 | Paul Millsap defensive rebound | 6-14 | |
7:48 | Jeff Teague misses 25-foot three point jumper | 6-14 | |
7:48 | DeMarre Carroll offensive rebound | 6-14 | |
7:43 | Paul Millsap misses 25-foot three point jumper | 6-14 | |
7:43 | DeMarre Carroll offensive rebound | 6-14 | |
7:37 | Kent Bazemore makes two point shot (DeMarre Carroll assists) | 8-14 | |
7:22 | 8-14 | Timofey Mozgov misses 17-foot jumper | |
7:22 | Jeff Teague defensive rebound | 8-14 | |
7:09 | 8-14 | Timofey Mozgov shooting foul (Paul Millsap draws the foul) | |
7:09 | Paul Millsap makes free throw 1 of 2 | 9-14 | |
7:09 | 9-14 | Matthew Dellavedova enters the game for Kyrie Irving | |
7:09 | Paul Millsap makes free throw 2 of 2 | 10-14 | |
6:58 | 10-14 | Timofey Mozgov bad pass (DeMarre Carroll steals) | |
6:54 | DeMarre Carroll lost ball turnover (LeBron James steals) | 10-14 | |
6:43 | 10-17 | Matthew Dellavedova makes 28-foot three point jumper (Iman Shumpert assists) | |
6:37 | Jeff Teague offensive foul (Matthew Dellavedova draws the foul) | 10-17 | |
6:37 | Jeff Teague turnover | 10-17 | |
6:37 | Shelvin Mack enters the game for Kent Bazemore | 10-17 | |
6:37 | Mike Scott enters the game for Paul Millsap | 10-17 | |
6:20 | 10-17 | LeBron James misses 21-foot jumper | |
6:20 | Hawks defensive team rebound | 10-17 | |
6:09 | Jeff Teague misses finger roll layup | 10-17 | |
6:09 | 10-17 | Iman Shumpert defensive rebound | |
6:05 | 10-17 | Al Horford blocks LeBron James's layup | |
6:05 | 10-17 | Cavaliers offensive team rebound | |
6:05 | DeMarre Carroll in bound foul (LeBron James draws the foul) | 10-17 | |
6:05 | 10-17 | LeBron James misses free throw 1 of 2 | |
6:05 | 10-17 | Cavaliers offensive team rebound | |
6:05 | 10-17 | LeBron James misses free throw 2 of 2 | |
6:05 | Mike Scott defensive rebound | 10-17 | |
5:43 | Shelvin Mack misses 8-foot | 10-17 | |
5:39 | 10-17 | LeBron James defensive rebound | |
5:30 | 10-17 | Tristan Thompson out of bounds lost ball turnover | |
5:13 | Mike Scott misses 26-foot three point jumper | 10-17 | |
5:11 | 10-17 | LeBron James defensive rebound | |
4:58 | 10-17 | LeBron James misses 16-foot jumper | |
4:58 | Shelvin Mack defensive rebound | 10-17 | |
4:41 | Shelvin Mack makes driving layup | 12-17 | |
4:26 | 12-19 | Matthew Dellavedova makes 10-foot two point shot | |
4:09 | Jeff Teague makes 7-foot jumper | 14-19 | |
3:57 | 14-22 | LeBron James makes 26-foot three point jumper | |
3:47 | Shelvin Mack misses 25-foot three point jumper | 14-22 | |
3:47 | 14-22 | Cavaliers defensive team rebound | |
3:47 | Cavaliers Full timeout | ||
3:47 | 14-22 | Kyrie Irving enters the game for LeBron James | |
3:47 | 14-22 | J.R. Smith enters the game for Timofey Mozgov | |
3:47 | 14-22 | James Jones enters the game for Matthew Dellavedova | |
3:47 | Paul Millsap enters the game for DeMarre Carroll | 14-22 | |
3:47 | Dennis Schroder enters the game for Al Horford | 14-22 | |
3:47 | Kent Bazemore enters the game for Jeff Teague | 14-22 | |
3:21 | 14-22 | Iman Shumpert possession lost ball turnoverShelvin Mack | |
3:16 | Kent Bazemore misses driving layup | 14-22 | |
3:15 | 14-22 | J.R. Smith defensive rebound | |
3:00 | 14-24 | Kyrie Irving makes driving layup | |
3:00 | Dennis Schroder shooting foul (Kyrie Irving draws the foul) | 14-24 | |
3:00 | Al Horford enters the game for Mike Scott | 14-24 | |
3:00 | 14-24 | Kyrie Irving misses free throw 1 of 1 | |
3:00 | Kent Bazemore defensive rebound | 14-24 | |
2:39 | Kent Bazemore makes layup (Paul Millsap assists) | 16-24 | |
2:21 | 16-24 | James Jones misses 25-foot three point jumper | |
2:19 | 16-24 | Iman Shumpert offensive rebound | |
2:15 | 16-26 | Kyrie Irving makes 10-foot jumper (Iman Shumpert assists) | |
1:54 | Paul Millsap makes 6-foot jumper (Al Horford assists) | 18-26 | |
1:35 | 18-26 | Kyrie Irving misses 24-foot three point jumper | |
1:34 | Paul Millsap defensive rebound | 18-26 | |
1:16 | 18-26 | James Jones shooting foul (Paul Millsap draws the foul) | |
1:16 | Paul Millsap makes free throw 1 of 2 | 19-26 | |
1:16 | 19-26 | Timofey Mozgov enters the game for James Jones | |
1:16 | Mike Scott enters the game for Al Horford | 19-26 | |
1:16 | Paul Millsap makes free throw 2 of 2 | 20-26 | |
1:00 | 20-28 | Tristan Thompson makes two point shot | |
0:45 | Paul Millsap misses 5-foot jumper | 20-28 | |
0:43 | 20-28 | Kyrie Irving defensive rebound | |
0:36 | 20-30 | J.R. Smith makes driving layup | |
0:26 | Mike Scott misses 27-foot three point jumper | 20-30 | |
0:25 | 20-30 | J.R. Smith defensive rebound | |
0:03 | 20-30 | Iman Shumpert misses 19-foot jumper | |
0:02 | 20-30 | Tristan Thompson offensive rebound | |
0:00 | 20-32 | Tristan Thompson makes jumper | |
0:00 | End of the 1st Quarter | ||
2nd Quarter Summary | |||
TIME | ATLANTA | SCORE | CLEVELAND |
11:40 | 20-34 | LeBron James makes 18-foot jumper | |
11:22 | Shelvin Mack makes 26-foot three point jumper | 23-34 | |
10:52 | 23-36 | LeBron James makes 22-foot jumper | |
10:45 | Paul Millsap makes 14-foot jumper (Al Horford assists) | 26-36 | |
10:45 | 25-36 | LeBron James shooting foul (Paul Millsap draws the foul) | |
10:45 | Paul Millsap makes free throw 1 of 1 | 26-36 | |
10:32 | 26-36 | Matthew Dellavedova misses 25-foot three point jumper | |
10:30 | Paul Millsap defensive rebound | 26-36 | |
10:25 | Jeff Teague makes two point shot | 28-36 | |
10:07 | 28-39 | J.R. Smith makes 25-foot three point jumper (LeBron James assists) | |
9:51 | Al Horford misses 16-foot step back jumpshot | 28-39 | |
9:48 | 28-39 | LeBron James defensive rebound | |
9:30 | 28-41 | LeBron James makes driving layup | |
9:10 | Shelvin Mack misses 27-foot three point jumper | 28-41 | |
9:08 | Al Horford offensive rebound | 28-41 | |
9:03 | Paul Millsap misses 24-foot three point jumper | 28-41 | |
9:03 | 28-41 | J.R. Smith defensive rebound | |
8:40 | 28-41 | J.R. Smith misses 24-foot three point jumper | |
8:38 | Paul Millsap defensive rebound | 28-41 | |
8:30 | Iman Shumpert blocks Shelvin Mack 's 10-foot jumper | 28-41 | |
8:29 | 28-41 | Iman Shumpert defensive rebound | |
8:23 | 28-43 | LeBron James makes layup (J.R. Smith assists) | |
8:23 | Hawks Full timeout | ||
8:23 | 28-43 | James Jones enters the game for Iman Shumpert | |
8:23 | DeMarre Carroll enters the game for Shelvin Mack | 28-43 | |
8:08 | Al Horford misses 17-foot jumper | 28-43 | |
8:07 | 28-43 | James Jones defensive rebound | |
8:00 | 28-43 | LeBron James lost ball turnover (Jeff Teague steals) | |
7:56 | 28-43 | Matthew Dellavedova personal block (Jeff Teague draws the foul) | |
7:37 | Paul Millsap makes 14-foot two point shot (Jeff Teague assists) | 30-43 | |
7:37 | 30-43 | LeBron James shooting foul (Paul Millsap draws the foul) | |
7:37 | Mike Scott enters the game for Al Horford | 30-43 | |
7:37 | 30-43 | Iman Shumpert enters the game for Matthew Dellavedova | |
7:37 | 30-43 | Tristan Thompson enters the game for James Jones | |
7:37 | Paul Millsap misses free throw 1 of 1 | 30-43 | |
7:37 | 30-43 | J.R. Smith defensive rebound | |
7:18 | 30-43 | LeBron James misses driving layup | |
7:16 | Paul Millsap defensive rebound | 30-43 | |
7:09 | Kent Bazemore misses 25-foot three point jumper | 30-43 | |
7:09 | 30-43 | Iman Shumpert defensive rebound | |
7:01 | 30-45 | Timofey Mozgov makes two point shot (LeBron James assists) | |
7:01 | DeMarre Carroll shooting foul (Timofey Mozgov draws the foul) | 30-45 | |
7:01 | 30-46 | Timofey Mozgov makes free throw 1 of 1 | |
6:52 | Jeff Teague makes 26-foot three point jumper | 33-46 | |
6:24 | 33-49 | J.R. Smith makes 25-foot | |
6:15 | 33-49 | Iman Shumpert personal foul (Jeff Teague draws the foul) | |
6:01 | Jeff Teague misses 25-foot three point jumper | 33-49 | |
6:01 | 33-49 | Iman Shumpert defensive rebound | |
5:54 | Official timeout | ||
5:54 | Shelvin Mack enters the game for Paul Millsap | 33-49 | |
5:54 | Al Horford enters the game for Kent Bazemore | 33-49 | |
5:48 | Mike Scott shooting foul (Timofey Mozgov draws the foul) | 33-49 | |
5:48 | 33-50 | Timofey Mozgov makes free throw 1 of 2 | |
5:48 | 33-51 | Timofey Mozgov makes free throw 2 of 2 | |
5:33 | LeBron James blocks DeMarre Carroll 's 2-foot layup | 33-51 | |
5:31 | 33-51 | Timofey Mozgov defensive rebound | |
5:24 | 33-53 | LeBron James makes layup | |
5:09 | Al Horford misses two point shot | 33-53 | |
5:07 | 33-53 | Tristan Thompson defensive rebound | |
5:01 | 33-53 | LeBron James misses 26-foot three point jumper | |
5:01 | Al Horford defensive rebound | 33-53 | |
4:56 | DeMarre Carroll makes layup (Mike Scott assists) | 35-53 | |
4:39 | Mike Scott personal foul (Timofey Mozgov draws the foul) | 35-53 | |
4:39 | Paul Millsap enters the game for Mike Scott | 35-53 | |
4:33 | 35-53 | J.R. Smith misses 25-foot three point jumper | |
4:33 | 35-53 | Tristan Thompson offensive rebound | |
4:20 | 35-55 | J.R. Smith makes layup (LeBron James assists) | |
3:59 | DeMarre Carroll misses 25-foot three point jumper | 35-55 | |
3:58 | 35-55 | LeBron James defensive rebound | |
3:53 | 35-55 | Timofey Mozgov misses 3-foot jumper | |
3:48 | DeMarre Carroll defensive rebound | 35-55 | |
3:41 | Paul Millsap misses 25-foot three point jumper | 35-55 | |
3:39 | 35-55 | Tristan Thompson defensive rebound | |
3:39 | Cavaliers Full timeout | ||
3:39 | Kent Bazemore enters the game for Jeff Teague | 35-55 | |
3:39 | 35-55 | Kyrie Irving enters the game for LeBron James | |
3:15 | 35-55 | Timofey Mozgov misses jumper | |
3:13 | Shelvin Mack defensive rebound | 35-55 | |
2:58 | DeMarre Carroll makes 5-foot two point shot (Al Horford assists) | 37-55 | |
2:43 | 37-55 | J.R. Smith misses 25-foot three point jumper | |
2:42 | 37-55 | Cavaliers offensive team rebound | |
2:29 | 37-55 | Iman Shumpert misses three point jumper | |
2:28 | 37-55 | Timofey Mozgov offensive rebound | |
2:19 | Shelvin Mack shooting foul (Kyrie Irving draws the foul) | 37-55 | |
2:19 | 37-56 | Kyrie Irving makes free throw 1 of 2 | |
2:19 | Jeff Teague enters the game for Shelvin Mack | 37-56 | |
2:19 | 37-56 | Matthew Dellavedova enters the game for Iman Shumpert | |
2:19 | 37-57 | Kyrie Irving makes free throw 2 of 2 | |
2:06 | Jeff Teague makes driving layup | 39-57 | |
1:45 | 39-59 | Timofey Mozgov makes two point shot (Kyrie Irving assists) | |
1:32 | 39-59 | Timofey Mozgov shooting foul (Paul Millsap draws the foul) | |
1:32 | Paul Millsap misses free throw 1 of 2 | 39-59 | |
1:32 | Hawks offensive team rebound | 39-59 | |
1:32 | 39-59 | LeBron James enters the game for Timofey Mozgov | |
1:32 | Paul Millsap makes free throw 2 of 2 | 40-59 | |
1:10 | 40-59 | LeBron James misses three point jumper | |
1:09 | DeMarre Carroll defensive rebound | 40-59 | |
1:00 | Kent Bazemore misses layup | 40-59 | |
1:00 | 40-59 | J.R. Smith defensive rebound | |
0:56 | 40-59 | Tristan Thompson offensive foul (Jeff Teague draws the foul) | |
0:56 | 40-59 | Tristan Thompson turnover | |
0:34 | Kent Bazemore misses driving layup | 40-59 | |
0:32 | Paul Millsap offensive rebound | 40-59 | |
0:32 | Paul Millsap makes layup | 42-59 | |
0:12 | 42-59 | DeMarre Carroll blocks Kyrie Irving 's 7-foot jumper | |
0:10 | 42-59 | Matthew Dellavedova offensive rebound | |
0:06 | 42-59 | Kyrie Irving misses jumper | |
0:04 | 42-59 | Tristan Thompson offensive rebound | |
0:00 | 42-59 | J.R. Smith misses 31-foot three point jumper | |
0:00 | 42-59 | Cavaliers offensive team rebound | |
0:00 | Double technical foul: Kent Bazemore and Tristan Thompson | 42-59 | |
0:00 | End of the 2nd Quarter | ||
3rd Quarter Summary | |||
TIME | ATLANTA | SCORE | CLEVELAND |
11:48 | 42-59 | Timofey Mozgov bad pass | |
11:30 | Kent Bazemore misses 26-foot three point jumper | 42-59 | |
11:29 | 42-59 | LeBron James defensive rebound | |
11:18 | 42-62 | Kyrie Irving makes 25-foot three point jumper (LeBron James assists) | |
11:02 | DeMarre Carroll misses 26-foot three point jumper | 42-62 | |
11:00 | 42-62 | Tristan Thompson defensive rebound | |
10:52 | Paul Millsap shooting foul (Tristan Thompson draws the foul) | 42-62 | |
10:52 | 42-63 | Tristan Thompson makes free throw 1 of 2 | |
10:52 | 42-63 | Tristan Thompson misses free throw 2 of 2 | |
10:52 | DeMarre Carroll defensive rebound | 42-63 | |
10:41 | Jeff Teague misses 25-foot three point jumper | 42-63 | |
10:41 | 42-63 | Tristan Thompson defensive rebound | |
10:26 | 42-63 | Tristan Thompson misses 5-foot jumper | |
10:25 | 42-63 | Timofey Mozgov offensive rebound | |
10:21 | 42-63 | Iman Shumpert misses 24-foot three point jumper | |
10:19 | DeMarre Carroll defensive rebound | 42-63 | |
10:11 | Paul Millsap misses 9-foot Running Jumper | 42-63 | |
10:08 | 42-63 | LeBron James defensive rebound | |
10:00 | DeMarre Carroll personal foul (LeBron James draws the foul) | 42-63 | |
9:48 | 42-63 | Timofey Mozgov misses 8-foot two point shot | |
9:45 | Kent Bazemore defensive rebound | 42-63 | |
9:33 | Jeff Teague makes driving layup (Paul Millsap assists) | 44-63 | |
9:15 | 44-66 | LeBron James makes three point jumper (Kyrie Irving assists) | |
9:03 | Jeff Teague makes driving layup | 46-66 | |
8:48 | Al Horford shooting foul (Timofey Mozgov draws the foul) | 46-66 | |
8:48 | 46-67 | Timofey Mozgov makes free throw 1 of 2 | |
8:48 | 46-67 | Timofey Mozgov misses free throw 2 of 2 | |
8:48 | Kent Bazemore defensive rebound | 46-67 | |
8:37 | Paul Millsap misses 25-foot three point jumper | 46-67 | |
8:36 | 46-67 | Iman Shumpert defensive rebound | |
8:19 | 46-67 | Tristan Thompson misses 13-foot jumper | |
8:19 | Kent Bazemore defensive rebound | 46-67 | |
8:15 | 46-67 | Kyrie Irving shooting foul (Kent Bazemore draws the foul) | |
8:15 | Kent Bazemore makes free throw 1 of 2 | 47-67 | |
8:15 | Kent Bazemore makes free throw 2 of 2 | 48-67 | |
8:00 | Paul Millsap shooting foul (LeBron James draws the foul) | 48-67 | |
8:00 | 48-67 | LeBron James misses free throw 1 of 2 | |
8:00 | 48-67 | Cavaliers offensive team rebound | |
8:00 | 48-68 | LeBron James makes free throw 2 of 2 | |
7:50 | 48-68 | Timofey Mozgov personal foul (Al Horford draws the foul) | |
7:37 | DeMarre Carroll makes 25-foot three point jumper (Paul Millsap assists) | 51-68 | |
7:11 | 51-68 | LeBron James misses 17-foot jumper | |
7:11 | DeMarre Carroll defensive rebound | 51-68 | |
7:03 | Paul Millsap makes two point shot (Al Horford assists) | 53-68 | |
6:50 | 53-70 | Kyrie Irving makes driving layup | |
6:43 | Jeff Teague bad pass (Kyrie Irving steals) | 53-70 | |
6:37 | 53-70 | Kyrie Irving bad pass | |
6:37 | 53-70 | J.R. Smith enters the game for Timofey Mozgov | |
6:37 | Hawks Full timeout | ||
6:37 | 53-70 | Timofey Mozgov enters the game for Kyrie Irving | |
6:24 | DeMarre Carroll misses 25-foot three point jumper | 53-70 | |
6:22 | Paul Millsap offensive rebound | 53-70 | |
6:16 | Kent Bazemore makes two point shot (Paul Millsap assists) | 55-70 | |
5:54 | 55-70 | LeBron James misses 26-foot three point jumper | |
5:52 | Kent Bazemore defensive rebound | 55-70 | |
5:45 | DeMarre Carroll misses 25-foot three point jumper | 55-70 | |
5:43 | 55-70 | LeBron James defensive rebound | |
5:28 | 55-70 | Iman Shumpert misses 12-foot jump bank shot | |
5:26 | Paul Millsap defensive rebound | 55-70 | |
5:20 | Jeff Teague misses 25-foot three point jumper | 55-70 | |
5:20 | 55-70 | LeBron James defensive rebound | |
5:16 | Jeff Teague shooting foul (Tristan Thompson draws the foul) | 55-70 | |
5:16 | 55-71 | Tristan Thompson makes free throw 1 of 2 | |
5:16 | Shelvin Mack enters the game for DeMarre Carroll | 55-71 | |
5:16 | 55-71 | Tristan Thompson misses free throw 2 of 2 | |
5:15 | Kent Bazemore defensive rebound | 55-71 | |
5:01 | Timofey Mozgov blocks Al Horford 's 18-foot jumper | 55-71 | |
4:58 | 55-71 | J.R. Smith defensive rebound | |
4:52 | 55-71 | J.R. Smith misses 26-foot three point jumper | |
4:48 | 55-71 | Iman Shumpert misses | |
4:48 | 55-71 | Iman Shumpert offensive rebound | |
4:48 | 55-71 | Tristan Thompson offensive rebound | |
4:47 | 55-73 | Tristan Thompson makes 3-foot jumper | |
4:35 | Al Horford makes 6-foot two point shot | 57-73 | |
4:20 | Shelvin Mack personal foul (Tristan Thompson draws the foul) | 57-73 | |
4:20 | 57-73 | Tristan Thompson misses free throw 1 of 2 | |
4:20 | 57-73 | Cavaliers offensive team rebound | |
4:20 | Mike Scott enters the game for Al Horford | 57-73 | |
4:20 | 57-73 | James Jones enters the game for Timofey Mozgov | |
4:20 | 57-73 | Kyrie Irving enters the game for Iman Shumpert | |
4:20 | 57-73 | Tristan Thompson misses free throw 2 of 2 | |
4:18 | Hawks defensive team rebound | 57-73 | |
4:18 | 57-73 | J.R. Smith loose ball foul (Mike Scott draws the foul) | |
4:01 | Paul Millsap misses 11-foot jumper | 57-73 | |
3:59 | 57-73 | Kyrie Irving defensive rebound | |
3:48 | 57-73 | LeBron James misses driving layup | |
3:45 | 57-73 | Tristan Thompson offensive rebound | |
3:45 | 57-75 | Tristan Thompson makes two point shot | |
3:28 | Kent Bazemore misses 24-foot three point jumper | 57-75 | |
3:26 | 57-75 | LeBron James defensive rebound | |
3:16 | 57-77 | Tristan Thompson makes two point shot (J.R. Smith assists) | |
3:15 | Hawks Full timeout | ||
3:15 | DeMarre Carroll enters the game for Kent Bazemore | 57-77 | |
3:15 | Dennis Schroder enters the game for Jeff Teague | 57-77 | |
2:56 | 57-77 | J.R. Smith shooting foul (Shelvin Mack draws the foul) | |
2:56 | Shelvin Mack misses free throw 1 of 2 | 57-77 | |
2:56 | Hawks offensive team rebound | 57-77 | |
2:56 | Shelvin Mack makes free throw 2 of 2 | 58-77 | |
2:54 | Mike Scott personal foul (Tristan Thompson draws the foul) | 58-79 | |
2:54 | 58-78 | Tristan Thompson makes free throw 1 of 2 | |
2:54 | 58-79 | Tristan Thompson makes free throw 2 of 2 | |
2:43 | Kyrie Irving blocks Dennis Schroder 's 2-foot layup | 58-79 | |
2:41 | 58-79 | Tristan Thompson defensive rebound | |
2:35 | 58-81 | LeBron James makes layup (James Jones assists) | |
2:10 | Shelvin Mack misses step back jumpshot | 58-81 | |
2:10 | Hawks offensive team rebound | 58-81 | |
2:10 | shot clock turnover | 58-81 | |
1:54 | 58-81 | Kyrie Irving misses 20-foot jumper | |
1:53 | Paul Millsap defensive rebound | 58-81 | |
1:47 | Tristan Thompson blocks Paul Millsap 's 2-foot layup | 58-81 | |
1:46 | 58-81 | Kyrie Irving defensive rebound | |
1:43 | 58-83 | LeBron James makes layup (Kyrie Irving assists) | |
1:28 | Shelvin Mack misses 26-foot three point jumper | 58-83 | |
1:25 | 58-83 | J.R. Smith defensive rebound | |
1:09 | 58-83 | J.R. Smith lost ball turnover (Shelvin Mack steals) | |
1:05 | Shelvin Mack makes layup | 60-83 | |
0:56 | Cavaliers Full timeout | ||
0:56 | 60-83 | Iman Shumpert enters the game for LeBron James | |
0:56 | Al Horford enters the game for Paul Millsap | 60-83 | |
0:56 | 60-83 | Timofey Mozgov enters the game for Tristan Thompson | |
0:46 | 60-83 | James Jones misses 23-foot jumper | |
0:45 | DeMarre Carroll defensive rebound | 60-83 | |
0:34 | 60-83 | Timofey Mozgov shooting foul (DeMarre Carroll draws the foul) | |
0:34 | DeMarre Carroll misses free throw 1 of 2 | 60-83 | |
0:34 | Hawks offensive team rebound | 60-83 | |
0:34 | DeMarre Carroll misses free throw 2 of 2 | 60-83 | |
0:32 | 60-83 | J.R. Smith defensive rebound | |
0:21 | 60-85 | Timofey Mozgov makes two point shot (Kyrie Irving assists) | |
0:00 | Timofey Mozgov blocks Dennis Schroder 's 5-foot jumper | 60-85 | |
0:00 | 60-85 | Iman Shumpert defensive rebound | |
0:00 | 60-85 | Iman Shumpert misses 77-foot three point jumper | |
0:00 | 60-85 | Cavaliers offensive team rebound | |
0:00 | End of the 3rd Quarter | ||
4th Quarter Summary | |||
TIME | ATLANTA | SCORE | CLEVELAND |
11:47 | Mike Scott misses 24-foot three point jumper | 60-85 | |
11:45 | 60-85 | J.R. Smith defensive rebound | |
11:26 | Dennis Schroder shooting foul (Matthew Dellavedova draws the foul) | 60-85 | |
11:26 | 60-86 | Matthew Dellavedova makes free throw 1 of 2 | |
11:26 | 60-87 | Matthew Dellavedova makes free throw 2 of 2 | |
11:14 | Mike Muscala makes driving layup (Dennis Schroder assists) | 62-87 | |
10:52 | 62-87 | James Jones misses 25-foot three point jumper | |
10:51 | Kent Bazemore defensive rebound | 62-87 | |
10:47 | 62-87 | James Jones shooting foul (Kent Bazemore draws the foul) | |
10:47 | Kent Bazemore misses free throw 1 of 2 | 62-87 | |
10:47 | Hawks offensive team rebound | 62-87 | |
10:47 | Kent Bazemore misses free throw 2 of 2 | 62-87 | |
10:47 | 62-87 | Timofey Mozgov defensive rebound | |
10:27 | 62-87 | Matthew Dellavedova misses 5-foot layup | |
10:26 | 62-87 | Timofey Mozgov offensive rebound | |
10:26 | 62-89 | Timofey Mozgov makes two point shot | |
10:11 | Mike Muscala makes 20-foot two point shot | 64-89 | |
9:52 | 64-92 | J.R. Smith makes 24-foot three point jumper | |
9:42 | Dennis Schroder misses 25-foot three point jumper | 64-92 | |
9:41 | John Jenkins offensive rebound | 64-92 | |
9:32 | Dennis Schroder makes driving layup | 66-92 | |
9:10 | 66-92 | J.R. Smith misses 23-foot three point jumper | |
9:08 | Mike Muscala defensive rebound | 66-92 | |
8:59 | John Jenkins makes 7-foot two point shot (Kent Bazemore assists) | 68-92 | |
8:29 | 68-92 | J.R. Smith bad pass | |
8:29 | Official timeout | ||
8:19 | John Jenkins makes two point shot (Kent Bazemore assists) | 70-92 | |
8:02 | 70-95 | James Jones makes three point jumper (J.R. Smith assists) | |
7:50 | Timofey Mozgov blocks Dennis Schroder's jumper | 70-95 | |
7:48 | 70-95 | J.R. Smith defensive rebound | |
7:35 | 70-98 | J.R. Smith makes 25-foot three point jumper (Iman Shumpert assists) | |
7:22 | 70-98 | Timofey Mozgov shooting foul (Kent Bazemore draws the foul) | |
7:22 | Kent Bazemore makes free throw 1 of 2 | 71-98 | |
7:22 | Shelvin Mack enters the game for Mike Scott | 71-98 | |
7:22 | Kent Bazemore makes free throw 2 of 2 | 72-98 | |
7:01 | 72-98 | J.R. Smith misses jumper | |
7:01 | 72-98 | Matthew Dellavedova offensive rebound | |
7:01 | 72-100 | Matthew Dellavedova makes two point shot | |
7:01 | Dennis Schroder shooting foul (Matthew Dellavedova draws the foul) | 72-100 | |
7:01 | Mike Scott enters the game for Kent Bazemore | 72-100 | |
7:01 | 72-101 | Matthew Dellavedova makes free throw 1 of 1 | |
6:43 | Dennis Schroder makes driving layup | 74-101 | |
6:16 | 74-103 | J.R. Smith makes layup (Matthew Dellavedova assists) | |
6:00 | Mike Scott back court turnover | 74-103 | |
6:00 | Cavaliers Full timeout | ||
6:00 | 74-103 | Joe Harris enters the game for Iman Shumpert | |
5:48 | 74-103 | Matthew Dellavedova misses 11-foot jumper | |
5:47 | Mike Scott defensive rebound | 74-103 | |
5:35 | John Jenkins makes 26-foot three point jumper (Dennis Schroder assists) | 77-103 | |
5:26 | Dennis Schroder personal foul (James Jones draws the foul) | 77-103 | |
5:26 | 77-103 | Mike Miller enters the game for Timofey Mozgov | |
5:26 | 77-103 | Kendrick Perkins enters the game for Matthew Dellavedova | |
5:26 | 77-103 | Shawn Marion enters the game for J.R. Smith | |
5:09 | 77-103 | Kendrick Perkins misses two point shot | |
5:07 | Mike Scott defensive rebound | 77-103 | |
5:05 | 77-103 | Joe Harris personal foul (Mike Muscala draws the foul) | |
5:03 | 77-103 | Mike Miller personal foul (Mike Muscala draws the foul) | |
4:52 | Mike Muscala misses three point jumper | 77-103 | |
4:50 | Mike Scott offensive rebound | 77-103 | |
4:43 | Shelvin Mack makes driving layup (Mike Scott assists) | 79-103 | |
4:26 | 79-106 | Joe Harris makes 24-foot three point jumper | |
4:01 | Mike Scott makes two point shot (Shelvin Mack assists) | 81-106 | |
3:34 | 81-108 | Kendrick Perkins makes 7-foot two point shot | |
3:27 | Shelvin Mack misses 27-foot three point jumper | 81-108 | |
3:26 | 81-108 | Joe Harris defensive rebound | |
3:09 | Dennis Schroder shooting foul (Joe Harris draws the foul) | 81-108 | |
3:09 | 81-109 | Joe Harris makes free throw 1 of 2 | |
3:09 | 81-110 | Joe Harris makes free throw 2 of 2 | |
3:00 | Dennis Schroder misses 14-foot jumper | 81-110 | |
2:59 | 81-110 | Kendrick Perkins defensive rebound | |
2:42 | 81-112 | Joe Harris makes two point shot | |
2:30 | Dennis Schroder bad pass (James Jones steals) | 81-112 | |
2:12 | 81-112 | James Jones misses 23-foot three point jumper | |
2:11 | Dennis Schroder defensive rebound | 81-112 | |
2:05 | Mike Muscala makes layup (Dennis Schroder assists) | 83-112 | |
2:00 | John Jenkins personal foul (Kendrick Perkins draws the foul) | 83-112 | |
2:00 | Hawks Full timeout | ||
2:00 | 83-112 | Brendan Haywood enters the game for Shawn Marion | |
2:00 | Kent Bazemore enters the game for Shelvin Mack | 83-112 | |
2:00 | 83-113 | Kendrick Perkins makes free throw 1 of 2 | |
2:00 | 83-113 | Kendrick Perkins misses free throw 2 of 2 | |
2:00 | Kent Bazemore defensive rebound | 83-113 | |
1:49 | Mike Muscala makes dunk (Kent Bazemore assists) | 85-113 | |
1:32 | 85-116 | Mike Miller makes 23-foot three point jumper (Joe Harris assists) | |
1:25 | Mike Scott misses 26-foot three point jumper | 85-116 | |
1:23 | 85-116 | Kendrick Perkins defensive rebound | |
1:04 | 85-116 | Brendan Haywood misses 15-foot | |
1:02 | John Jenkins defensive rebound | 85-116 | |
0:57 | John Jenkins makes 25-foot three point jumper (Dennis Schroder assists) | 88-116 | |
0:47 | Kent Bazemore shooting foul (James Jones draws the foul) | 88-116 | |
0:47 | 88-117 | James Jones makes free throw 1 of 3 | |
0:47 | 88-117 | James Jones misses free throw 2 of 3 | |
0:47 | 88-117 | Cavaliers offensive team rebound | |
0:47 | 88-118 | James Jones makes free throw 3 of 3 | |
0:26 | John Jenkins misses 26-foot three point jumper | 88-118 | |
0:25 | 88-118 | James Jones defensive rebound | |
0:13 | 88-118 | Kendrick Perkins offensive foul (Mike Muscala draws the foul) | |
0:13 | 88-118 | Kendrick Perkins turnover | |
0:00 | End of the 4th Quarter | ||
0:00 | End of Game |
Atlanta Hawks | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS | |||
Paul Millsap, PF | 31 | 5-13 | 0-4 | 6-8 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -20 | 16 | |||
DeMarre Carroll, SF | 27 | 3-9 | 1-5 | 0-2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -14 | 7 | |||
Al Horford, C | 29 | 1-6 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -7 | 2 | |||
Jeff Teague, PG | 28 | 8-13 | 1-5 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -16 | 17 | |||
Kent Bazemore, SG | 35 | 4-11 | 0-4 | 4-6 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -19 | 12 | |||
BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS | |||
Mike Muscala, PF | 12 | 4-5 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -5 | 8 | |||
Mike Scott, PF | 24 | 1-5 | 0-4 | 0-0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -25 | 2 | |||
Dennis Schroder, PG | 19 | 2-7 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -14 | 4 | |||
Shelvin Mack, PG | 24 | 4-11 | 1-5 | 1-2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -25 | 10 | |||
John Jenkins, SG | 12 | 4-5 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -5 | 10 | |||
Pero Antic, PF | DNP COACH'S DECISION | ||||||||||||||||
Elton Brand, PF | DNP COACH'S DECISION | ||||||||||||||||
Austin Daye, SF | DNP COACH'S DECISION | ||||||||||||||||
TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | |||||
36-85 | 5-32 | 11-18 | 7 | 32 | 39 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 20 | 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, SF | 29 | 10-20 | 2-6 | 1-4 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +20 | 23 | |||
Timofey Mozgov, C | 35 | 5-9 | 0-0 | 4-5 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | +23 | 14 | |||
Tristan Thompson, C | 31 | 6-8 | 0-0 | 4-8 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +22 | 16 | |||
Kyrie Irving, PG | 22 | 6-11 | 2-3 | 2-3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +14 | 16 | |||
Iman Shumpert, SG | 36 | 1-8 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +27 | 3 | |||
BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS | |||
James Jones, SF | 20 | 1-5 | 1-4 | 2-3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +10 | 5 | |||
Kendrick Perkins, C | 5 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +4 | 3 | |||
Brendan Haywood, C | 2 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
Matthew Dellavedova, SG | 17 | 3-6 | 1-2 | 3-3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +3 | 10 | |||
Joe Harris, SG | 6 | 2-2 | 1-1 | 2-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +1 | 7 | |||
J.R. Smith, SG | 29 | 7-14 | 4-10 | 0-0 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +18 | 18 | |||
Shawn Marion, SG | 3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +4 | 0 | |||
Mike Miller, SG | 5 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +4 | 3 | |||
TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | |||||
43-87 | 13-31 | 19-30 | 13 | 43 | 56 | 23 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 18 | 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.
|
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 CommenterI 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
- Shaan Negandhi · Top Commenter · Allentown, Pennsylvania
- Brandon Hord · Top Commenter · Bowling Green State UniversityPlease 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- Brandon Hord · Top Commenter · Bowling Green State University
- George Gountanis · Top Commenter · Crew at Firehouse Subs
- Vegas Joe · Top CommenterLebron 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
- Brad Smith · Top Commenter · The University of AkronWith 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.
- Jason Dearbeck · Top Commenter
- Richard Dent Shillinglaw · Top Commenter · University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Raheem Rhamass · Top Commenter · Firestone High SchoolMean while in Miami.....*cricket* *cricket* *cricket*
- Hossain Gholamipour · Top Commenter · Owner at D & M Manufacturing
- Paul Lacher · Top Commenter · Great Bridge High
- Michael WardI'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!!- Andre Strokeman Wells · Top Commenter · Doggystyle at U.S. Army
- Chi Ezike · Top Commenter · Paint at The Home Depot Pittsburg CaliforniaDoing very well City of Cleveland☺
- Gabriel Mihdawi · Top CommenterAnother 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 CommenterAnd 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, FloridaGabriel 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–WhitewaterDon'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...
- Jose A. Rodriguez · Top Commenter · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Giovanni Taylor · Top Commenter · Los Angeles, CaliforniaI 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.- Richard Whitney · Top Commenter · Case Western Reserve University
- Dewayne Dixon · Top Commenter · Works at Housekeeper at your local crack houseCongratulations 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!
- Dewayne Dixon · Top Commenter · Works at Housekeeper at your local crack house
- Ryan Merriman · Top Commenter · Baldwin–Wallace CollegeThank you Dewayne, from a Cleveland fan. I had a feeling Cleveland was going to win, not because Atlanta stinks, but because they're just inexperienced in a conference finals match-up, especially against a guy like Lebron. Still an awesome year for your team. Looking forward to more classic games against the Hawks.
- Jamal Ferdinand · Top Commenter · Network Engineer at Harrah's New Orleans
- Robert Schwartzback · Follow · Top Commenter · Being at ConsciousnessCongrats 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
- Logan Monks · Top Commenter · Tempe, Arizona
- Joseph Ruiloba · Follow · Top CommenterThat's 5 straight years of team stacking to get him there. Jordan did it with BJ Armstrong and Bill Carthwright.
- Jose A. Rodriguez · Top Commenter · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Braden Williams · Top Commenter · Accountant/Auditor at Pattison Koskey Howe Bucci CPA'sIf 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
- Braden Williams · Top Commenter · Accountant/Auditor at Pattison Koskey Howe Bucci CPA's
- Drew N Liz · Top Commenter · Works at National Nursing and RehabLebron 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.
- Oscar Mejia · Top Commenter
- Logan Monks · Top Commenter · Tempe, ArizonaShane 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 InstituteHow did they get swept with no Love and no Kyrie??
- Patrick Seay · Top Commenter
- Alex Robochuck Ethofer · Top Commenter · Las Vegas, Nevada
- Long Long · Follow · Top Commenter · RMIT University5 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 HospitalI hate Lebron. Don't care what you think. Wish him good health and a bright future. Still hate him.
- Michael Viggiano · Top Commenter · Davie, Florida
- Israel Gerena · Top Commenter · Patient Access Secretary at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital
- Nico Smith · Top Commenter · Delta College
- Kostas Pnevmatikatos · Top Commenter · Alexandria, VirginiaI 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
- Jonathan Hakim · Top Commenter · Lucknow, IndiaSo 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. - Kostas Pnevmatikatos · Top Commenter · Alexandria, VirginiaIs 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, VirginiaAnd 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, VirginiaAnd 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) RecordsHey 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, VirginiaActually 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 Highyep just 02 because you didn't know how to play and vcu was terrible before shaka
- Anthony Peterson · Freelance Journalist at Fashion TimesLeBron'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, VirginiaLol 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, OhioDid 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, VirginiaSee 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, VirginiaBut 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, VirginiaMarino 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
- Kostas Pnevmatikatos · Top Commenter · Alexandria, VirginiaLmao, 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 CommenterJordan 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, VirginiaI 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, VirginiaAnd yes I know Thompson wasn't traded there btw
- Kostas Pnevmatikatos · Top Commenter · Alexandria, VirginiaMake 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 CommenterWhere is the Hawks fans who was screaming Hawks in 6 or 7??? Dont worry ill wait....
- John Hitchcock · Top Commenter · Mount Vernon High School
- Chad Harrod · Top Commenter · Central Hardin High SchoolI 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 IIthe 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, TexasThe 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
- John Simms · Top Commenter · Master at Arms at United States Navy
- Malik Weaver · Top Commenter
- Mark L Scott · Top Commenter · Stevens–Henager CollegeLets quit the lame, "if he was in the West" stuff. He's in the East, he's winning and thats that.
- Rip VL · Top Commenter · Bowling Green State UniversityThe Cavs are in, Gerald, because they're far and away the best team in the Conference. They were the best team in the league from Mid-January til the end of the season. Keep talking like that, though. Everyone things Golden State is invincible. They're far from it.
- Jonathan Hakim · Top Commenter · Lucknow, IndiaAtlanta was 13-3 against Western playoff teams this year and was a 60-win team. Chicago was a 53-win team without their best player Derrick Rose, and had Derrick Rose healthy and playing for the entire Cav series. The Cavs went something like 17-4 against the West this year in the games Lebron played.
But the East is weak. Right. The West had ONE good team this year, and they'll be in the Finals. When the second best team in your conference is made up of James Harden, an old and injured Howard, and....who exactly? - Richard Whitney · Top Commenter · Case Western Reserve UniversityAfter trading for Mosgov, Smith and Shumpert, the Cavs were 15-1 against the West, losing only to Houston. There. In overtime. They beat San Antonio there, Dallas there, Memphis there, Clippers there, Golden State at home, etc. The notion that they would be some also-ran team in the West is just internet nonsense.
- Giovanni Taylor · Top Commenter · Los Angeles, CaliforniaThe guy has no coach and, now, no power forward. And he beat the Bulls. What else would you have of him?
While the West is far better, the Warriors (barring a miracle) will have gotten to the Finals on just as easy a path. The only real team they beat was the Grizzlies. One could argue that the Clippers gift-wrapped this Finals for GS by first taking out the Spurs and then choking against the Rockets.
That also knocked out the two best coaches in the conference (Pop and Doc). - Paul Lacher · Top Commenter · Great Bridge Highlol take any team in the west and take out their best player and insert Lebron. Lebrons team would still win. Chris Paul insert LeBron. Harden insert LeBron. Parker insert Lebron. Curry insert Lebron. conley insert LeBron. Point made thank you
- Brant GrahamIf Lebron went to the West, that would be more competition for him to annihilate!!!!
- Jordan-Robert Te-Wakatoto Kukutai · Follow · Top Commenter · Perth, Western AustraliaLet's see how many west teams would be willing to move their teams East after telling them they'll have to go through Lebron james year after year
- Steve Merlino III · Big Sky, MontanaIF..... why were on the subject what ***IF***, during his time in Cleveland his second best player was somebody better than Mo Williams ...?? IF
- Morell Ill Threat Green · Fort valleyBRO SO YOU TELLING ME IF LEBRON WAS TO GO TO ANY TEAM N THE WEST HE WONT LEAD THEM INTO THE FINALS HAHAHA YOU TRIPPIN
- Alex Robochuck Ethofer · Top Commenter · Las Vegas, NevadaHave you asked yourself why no superstar has left a west team and come to the east? It's because said superstar would KNOW he and his new team would get SPANKED by LBJ and the Cavs... LBJ Has that conference locked down. Took a lottery team (Cavs) from a year ago to the FINALS!!! Are you kidding me?? That's incredible.
- Matt Boettger · Top Commenter · Ashland Community and Technical CollegeYeah, keep thinking you want lebron on a decent team out west...domination.
- Michael Woodard · Austin, TexasSo if LeBron went to the West...he wouldnt take those teams to the Finals?
- Xavier IturraldeRest 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 Schooli 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
- Syed Shazeb · Follow · Top Commenterfist 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, OhioI 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 · Follow · Assistant Head Boxing Coach at San Antonio Eastside Boys & Girls Club Boxing TeamI'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 UniversitySo, Bazemore, still think you're the better team?
I didn't think so.- Brad Smith · Top Commenter · The University of Akron
- Reymar Isip · Works at Young Money Cash Money (YMCM) Records
- Matt Boettger · Top Commenter · Ashland Community and Technical College
- Guy de Chalus · Top Commenter · Oakland, CaliforniaSome 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, Arizonanice 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 Commenterwilled 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 CommenterBeen 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 SoftwareThanks 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
- Tyler Tomaszewski · Top Commenter · Intern at MRI SoftwareGiovanni 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, CaliforniaTyler 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 SchoolI hate the new website format. It's like what foxsports used to be, all jumbled together
- Christopher Lowe · Top Commenter · Western High SchoolJordan 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 CommenterHonestly 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 VHBWinning 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
- Dre JonesPeople 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, VirginiaConference 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, CaliforniaMy 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-t ime-according-to-elo/ - Giovanni Taylor · Top Commenter · Los Angeles, California
- Jon Espinosa · Top CommenterI 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 GuardYou 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, PennsylvaniaFirst 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 · Follow · Top Commenter · Assembly Line at NissanWill 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...
- Jimmy LaConti · Top Commenter · Clemson UniversityKirsten. 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 BuyersYou 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 UniversityPretty sure Dave Wight was banned and is now using this profile for his incompetent ramblings
- Michael Woodard · Austin, TexasYou 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, CaliforniaKristen 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-t ime-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 TxNobody 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
- Zac Dawkins · Top Commenter · Windsor, VirginiaBill 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
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