They've got LeBron James, forget about the 2010 free agency, 'cause right now is all that matters to him and it was evident in the way he played against the Bulls tonight. LeBron who has throughout, his short but spectacular career, played with a mediocre group of surrounding players comes in this year with a team with depth. They've got more size and a bevy of wing players that can provide solid 2-way games, and of course they've got Shaq in the middle. Overall this is a Cavs team that has the swagger of a championship team and even LeBron can feel it this year with this group as they finished with the best regular-season record in the NBA.
Completely healthy and well rested, the Cavaliers took their first step toward an NBA title on Saturday as LeBron led the Cavs with 24 points, 6 boards, 5 assists, and 4 blocks and Shaq played like he was 10 years younger in a 96-83 victory over the Chicago Bulls in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference series. Shaq, playing for the first time since tearing a thumb ligament on Feb. 25, had 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 24 minutes as the top-seeded Cavs won a testy opener between two teams that obviously don't care for each other. The teams, which split their two regular-season meetings, traded words and shoves on more than one occasion. Noah, who said the Bulls would "try to shock the world" in the series, got into it with Anderson Varejao. LeBron and Brad Miller were assessed technicals in the first half following a collision, and LeBron and Luol Deng had a few verbal jabs after the halftime horn.
The Cavs' performance spoiled Derrick Rose's spectacular individual one (28 pts, 10 ast, 7 rbs). Leading 68-46, the Cavs were coasting to an easy win when the Bulls, who have virtually been playing playoff basketball for the past two weeks as they fought for the No. 8 seed, stormed back. The Bulls scored 12 straight and were within striking distance, down 73-60 entering the fourth. Chicago then cut it to 82-75 on Brad Miller's basket, but LeBron converted a three-point play with 2:29 left and Mo Williams (19 pts, 10 ast) followed with a 3-pointer to put Cleveland up 94-81 to seal the game. The comeback may have fallen short, but it gave the Bulls confidence for Game 2 on Monday night in Cleveland.
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For the first half, the Atlanta Hawks did nearly everything right. They made shots. They blocked shots. They dunked and defended and did their best to run Milwaukee out of the building early on. And one half was all they needed Saturday to get off to a good start in the playoffs against a gritty and embattled Bucks squad.
Led by Joe Johnson (22 pts, 7 rbs, 5 ast, 3 stl) and getting production from all their key players, the Hawks blitzed the Bucks before halftime, then survived a lackluster showing over the final two quarters and held off Milwaukee 102-92 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference series. The Hawks had mismatches at every position but the point, and took advantage of the gruesome injury that took out Bucks center Andrew Bogut two weeks ago. The home team never trailed, building a 20-point lead in the first quarter and going to halftime with a 62-40 edge.
Milwaukee made a game of it led by Brandon "Young Money" Jennings, who scored 34 points in his playoff debut. But the rookie didn't have nearly enough help against the No. 3-seeded Hawks, making their third straight playoff appearance and hoping to break up the expected Cleveland-Orlando duel in the Eastern Conference. The short-handed Bucks meanwhile were making their first playoff appearance since 2006, and that inexperience showed even though Jennings tried to take matters into his own hands. He went 14/25 from the field and accounted for 37% of his team's points, the highest for a rookie in his playoff debut. But, it's going to be tough for one man to beat the Hawks, who have a balanced lineup and perhaps the best sixth man in the league, Jamal Crawford (17 pts, 5rbs),who played in his first ever playoff game of his 10 year career. Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is Tuesday night in Atlanta.
Peace and Much Love to Ya :)
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