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Cleveland Cavaliers: Eastern Conference Finals Preview

By Joshua Howe

Mar 6, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles the ball as Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll (5) defends during the first half at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles the ball as Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll (5) defends during the first half at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 6, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles the ball as Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll (5) defends during the first half at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles the ball as Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll (5) defends during the first half at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

Final Thoughts And Series Prediction

AM:

Right now, this matchup is shaping up as being the team versus the individual, and in that case I’ll take the team every time. The NBA has always been the league where superstar power seemed to pay off above all else, but that tide could be shifting.

If the Cavs had a healthy Irving and Love to back up LeBron this series would have a very different outlook, but right now we’re working off the assumption that the best case scenario is that they’ll have only one of the two.

People have spent the season talking about Atlanta’s need for this, or that. Or saying how it wouldn’t work for them in the Playoffs. People are still reluctant to believe in these Hawks, but they’re still here, and against all of those questions they’ve got this far.

Most importantly, I think the Hawks believe in themselves now.

Final Prediction: Hawks in 6

JH:

I know Adam says that this is a team versus the individual, and for the most part I agree with that; although, I don’t think the Cavs’ role players get as much credit as they deserve.

Still, it is going to take a monumental effort from LeBron to win this series. It sounds insane to pick him, but he’s done it before. More than once!

Remember 2014? Remember 2007?

It is so, so hard to beat the team that has the best player four times out of seven. It just is.

LeBron wants to prove he can win with this group, even with what they’ve become. More than that, the rest of the squad does too. They’re leaving it all on the floor, every night.

The Hawks? They haven’t done that. They’ve dropped games at times in a manner similar to that of Chicago; not because their offense faltered, but because they looked disinterested and out of it.

If that happens at all this series, the Cavs are going to take advantage. That’s what they do. If they smell blood in the water, they’re charging right at you.

These Hawks are unproven. This team has never made it this far before. They’re Eastern Conference Finals newbies.

LeBron? He’s been here a couple times. He’s won a few. He knows what it takes to get it done and the Hawks don’t scare him.

The Hawks look like the better pick on paper, but when you make up your mind that you’ve chosen Atlanta in “x” number of games, I just want you to remember that you chose against LeBron James. And in today’s NBA, that may as well be a basketball sin.

Final Prediction: Cavaliers in 6

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