NBA

• NBA Playoff Preview - Cleveland vs. Atlanta

  
  

  From The Sports NetworkBy John McMullen, NBA EditorCleveland Cavaliers:1st Seed, East (66-16) Atlanta Hawks:4th Seed, East (47-35)(Sports Network) - If LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers weren't the center of the basketball universe, you might have forgotten they were even in the postseason.

  After all, We haven't seen the new MVP and his team in over a week since they vanquished division rival Detroit in four games during the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

  Next up to be sacrificed at the altar of LeBron and Company is the fourth- seeded Atlanta Hawks, who outlasted Miami in Game 7 of shall we say an unconventional set on Sunday.

  Joe Johnson drained six of his eight attempts from three-point range in that one as Atlanta finished off a series filled with blowout wins with a 91-78 drubbing of the Heat.

  Johnson finished with 27 points and five steals overall for the Hawks, who won a playoff series for the first time since 1999 and won a best-of-seven playoff series for the first time since 1970.

  "When I made my first shot, it was a little bit of a relief," Johnson said after the game. "And I just relaxed and took what the defense gave me. I think it's going to bring more fans out to the next round knowing that we're playing the best team in the NBA right now. We're going to need their support, but we know we still have a lot of work to do." The Hawks had lost their previous six Game 7s, dating back to 1961, when the franchise was located in St. Louis. This was the first Game 7 at home since the team moved to Atlanta, and the hosts made sure the fans enjoyed the experience.

  Josh Smith contributed 21 points and nine rebounds, and the Hawks ensured that none of the seven games in this series would be decided by a single-digit margin. This was only the second time that feat was ever accomplished in a series, as the Lakers defeated the Suns in seven games in 1970 while the average margin of victory was 16.6 points.

  The series featured just 15 lead changes altogether, including zero after the first quarter in each of the final three contests.

  Cleveland, meanwhile, finished its set with the Pistons way back on April 26 when James' near triple-double helped the Cavs complete the sweep with an easy 99-78 triumph in Game 4 of their quarterfinal set.

  Cleveland captured homecourt advantage throughout the entire postseason with an NBA-best 66-16 record. The Cavaliers were also a remarkable 39-2 at Quicken Loans Arena in the regular season.

  The Cavs defeated Washington in six games in the first round of the playoffs last year before bowing out to Boston in seven games during the Eastern Conference semifinals. Cleveland carried that momentum and experience into the 2008-09 campaign and won on a consistent basis behind the great play of James and new point guard Mo Williams.

  Coach Mike Brown was fortunate enough not to have any serious injuries to his players this season, but also had the luxury of coaching one of the top scorers in the league. James, the NBA's darling and top commodity, averaged 28.4 points per game this season and led his team to their first Central Division title since the 1975-76 season.

  Williams had a career season, averaging 17.8 points and 4.1 assists per contest and made general manager Danny Ferry look like a genius. Williams was acquired in a three-team deal last August and gelled with his new teammates immediately. The former Alabama star could be the deciding ingredient to Cleveland's championship formula.

  The Cavs took the season series between the two clubs, winning three out of four games with the Hawks lone win coming in Atlanta, a 97-92 triumph in December.

  The two teams have never met in the playoffs before.

  POINT GUARD Williams, not James, could be the final piece Cleveland needs to make a run for their first title. While James led the team in most offensive categories, Williams got everyone involved with his unselfish play and earned an All-Star nod in February. The 6-foot-1 guard can stretch a defense with his three-point shot and carry the offensive load if James is not firing on all cylinders. Williams netted 14.8 ppg and 5.5 apg against the Pistons but did turn it over 11 times.

  Mike Bibby is one of the most experienced and underrated point guards in the East and is very familiar with the postseason. A vital piece of Sacramento's tough teams a few years back, Bibby has been arguably the best floor general in Atlanta since Mookie Blalock ran the point for the Hawks. Bibby can also stick the three in a big spot and close a game with some of the best. Bibby had similar numbers to WIlliams in his first round series (14.9 ppg and 4.4 apg).

  EDGE: EVENSHOOTING GUARD Cleveland's Delonte West battled back from injury and depression to enjoy a strong 2008-09 campaign. The Saint Joseph's product isn't a top-tier scorer but handles the ball well and gives you an honest day's effort at both ends of the floor. With James, Williams and West on the floor, it gives Brown three capable ball-handlers and it's virtually impossible to trap or pressure Cleveland.

  Johnson is one of the NBA's best talents and led the Hawks in every major offensive category this season. He's the team's go-to-guy down the stretch of close games and, when hot, can fill it up like few others. Like most of his team, Johnson was up-and-down against the Heat but he came up big when it mattered most in Game 7. Overall, Johnson scored 17.1 ppg in the first round and will have to pick it up if Atlanta has any chance in this series.

  EDGE: HAWKSCENTER Zydrunas Ilgauskas is a quiet player but his contributions to the Cavs speak volumes. The 7-foot-3, 260-pound Lithuanian has been a model of consistency over the previous eight years and will give Atlanta problems in the paint with his size and passing ability. His inside game is much better than Al Horford and he can score facing the hoop or with his back to the basket.

  Horford is really an athletic power forward playing center. An excellent rebounder and shot-blocker, the Florida product, like a lot of young players, doesn't have many low-post moves. He's also hampered by a sprained ankle suffered against the Heat. That said, Horford has been one of the vital pieces to Atlanta's turnaround the past few years.

  EDGE: CAVSSMALL FORWARD Talk about mismatches. James has been the games' best player this season and was rewarded with the NBA's MVP award on Monday. James finished second in the NBA in scoring with 28.4 points per game, led the Cavaliers in every major offensive category and even finished tops in blocks and steals. The only weakness in his game is a consistent jumper. When that's falling, forget about it. James averaged a stunning 32.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game in the first round and is playing at the highest level of his superlative career.

  Atlanta counters with Maurice Evans, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound veteran, who averaged 7.2 points and 3.0 rebounds in 80 games this season. Evans has some size and strength but is no match for the sculpted James.

  EDGE: CAVSPOWER FORWARD Cavs power forward Anderson Varejao was able to stay healthy for the second time in three years and adds another inside defensive presence with Ilgauskas. Varejao is not a very good shooter, but his energy and strength give Cleveland the advantage down low. He shook off an ankle problem this year to put up modest offensive numbers but his strength is at the defensive end, where his length helps change shots.

  The dynamic Smith will be a tough matchup for Cleveland. Incredibly athletic, Smith will look to run the floor at every opportunity. His energy and ability to finish really ignite the crowd when the Hawks are at home. Smith was second to Johnson in scoring at 16.3 ppg against Miami. He also led Atlanta in rebounding with 8.9 per game and blocked shots (13).

  EDGE: HAWKSBENCH Both benches feature plenty of firepower. Veteran forward Joe Smith has been a godsend for Brown after signing late in the season. A capable scorer, Smith really makes a difference with his rebounding and interior defense. Swingman Wally Szczerbiak and guard Boobie Gibson can both fill it up when hot and big men Ben Wallace can always come in you need rebounding, defense and an energy boost.

  Atlanta counters with forward Marvin Williams, center Zaza Pachulia and guard Flip Murray. Murray is the instant offense off the bench, averaging 12.3 ppg in the first round while Pachulia was brilliant at times against Miami. A legitimate center, Pachulia could be very important in matching up with the size of Ilgauskas. Williams, meanwhile, is normally a key cog for Woodson but a sprained wrist has left useless on the offensive end.

  EDGE: CAVSPREDICTION: The Hawks are a young, up-and-coming team with a steady, battle- tested point guard in Bibby. That sounds like a recipe for success in the postseason but they are running into a buzz-saw. James is playing in a different league than anyone else and Mo Williams looks like he was the missing ingredient, playing "Robin" to James' "Batman." CAVS in 5

  05/04 12:20:57 ET