CLEVELAND Ohio Scribbles in my notebook the day after the Cavs took a 2 0 lead in the best of seven Eastern Conference Finals over Atlanta
1. Once upon a time the Cavs had this slogan Hard working town hard working team. That's a nice way of saying this team has no stars no real chance to contend for a title. But isn't this a hard working team That's what we've learned in this post season. They rebound. They defend. They hustle. They throw their bodies on the floor for loose balls and they pick up each other off the court when someone falls down.
2. Yes they have LeBron James. No LeBron no possibility of a title. Maybe even no playoffs. But when the playoffs opened what chance would you have given the Cavs if you knew Kevin Love would not survive to the second round because of a shoulder injury. And that Kyrie Irving would battle a sore right foot an inflamed left knee and rarely look like an All Star guard.
3. LeBron or No LeBron what chance would you have given the Cavs with Matthew Dellavedova and Tristan Thompson in the starting lineup rather than Love and Irving The Cavs took the court with James Iman Shumpert Timofey Mozgov Dellavedova and Thompson and that starting lineup dominated the Hawks in Atlanta. Yes dominated. The final score was 94 82 and the game was over late in the third quarter.
4. I kept thinking about that when coach David Blatt said LeBron's greatness is evident but the other guys are completing him.
5. Thompson had 16 rebounds in Friday's victory. The ENTIRE Hawks starting lineup had 18. Thompson had 17 rebounds in the Game 6 close out in Chicago one more than the Bulls' starting front court.
6. Some of Thompson's offensive rebounds are just as important to the Cavs as the long range 3 pointers from J.R. Smith Shumpert Company. Thompson is breaking the will of the opposition.
7. When the Bulls and Hawks face the Cavs they know Thompson has one main job rebound. That's it rebound. So stop the guy. Block him out. They can't do it. Thompson's will is greater than theirs.
8. In the Hawks series Thompson has been the primary defender on Paul Millsap. The Atlanta forward is a very good player a 15 point scorer a solid outside shooter and rebounder. He has been destroyed by Thompson. In the first two games Millsap is 5 of 19 shooting. He has 17 ugly points 12 rebounds.
9. In those same two games Thompson has scored 21 points. The Cavs don't run a single play for him to shoot. At times he sprints to the perimeter and sets a pick for James or Dellavedova and then rolls to the basket to catch a lob pass for a dunk. But that's the closest thing to a play the Cavs have for Thompson to shoot. Yet he's outscored Millsap 21 17. And Millsap is a key part of Atlanta's offense.
10. Then there's Dellavedova. As James said I love defense and having a guy like Delly he takes the challenge.
11. In Game 2 the Hawks thought they could spark their offense with quick point guards Jeff Teague and Dennis Schroder. No way Dellavedova should be able to stay with those two athletes right Wrong According to ESPN the two Atlanta guards shot 3 of 14 for seven points when defended by Dellavedova. They were 8 of 12 for 18 points when covered by someone else.
12. Delly and Thompson playing big time in the biggest games of the season Who knew
13. Remember it all starts with James. A reporter asked Blatt How does it help to have LeBron on your team The coach stared silently at the person then said Do I really have to answer that Blatt meant the answer was so obvious.
14. That question came a few minutes after Blatt gushed about James finally saying he's running out of superlatives to describe No. 23. Blatt and James are not only on the same page but in the same sentence as they are developing what Blatt calls The Big One ... One Team.
15. James keeps bringing different players to the podium. Since Love's injury the following have made their press conference appearances with James Thompson Shumpert Smith Dellavedova and Irving. James said that soon it may be James Jones' turn. Why not Jones had nine big points Friday.
16. After Friday's game Shumpert was with James. Shumpert had scored 16 points and was 4 of 6 on 3 pointers. James praised Shumpert's shooting but then hit on his favorite subject ... defense We are the best defensive team in the playoffs ... it all starts with Shump ... he'll be on the (NBA) All Defensive team real soon.
17. As Blatt said Defensively we are playing at a very high level.
18. I've not said much about Mozgov but the 7 foot 1 Russian was left wide open for medium range jumpers early in the game. He made three. He's averaging 10 points and 9.0 rebounds against the Hawks. He has out rebounded Hawks center Al Horford 20 13 in the two games.
19. The Cavs have out scored the Hawks 53 33 in the third quarter. The coaches must be doing something right when it comes to adjustments. Just wonder when the national media will notice.
20. One last thought on Delly and Thompson They never seem to get tired. They sweat buckets but don't slow down. This whole team is playing like that right now.
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