CavsFan128

They called a few moving screens that they shouldn't have, and a few that they should have. LeBron got fouled a few times and it wasn't called. Kyrie got fouled once and it wasn't called. LeBron had a bad carry at the beginning of the game that wasn't called. The Hawks played VERY physical defense in the 4th quarter and didn't get whistled much (saying this as a blanket statement because there were probably three fouls or so that could have been called but weren't). The Hawks shot more free throws. Fouls were called on LeBron early enough that he actually had to leave the game. A potentially missed offensive foul on LeBron. That was definitely a clean block by Thompson before the half. This was an evenly officiated game. Missed calls on both sides, and it did not determine the outcome.

Thanks for being kind to an outsider! I don't see the Hawks as being better than the Cavs, but we'll see starting tonight! I know we had issues with the Hawks in the regular season so this will definitely be a challenge.

I disagree that the Hawks have the better team, but that will be proven out in this series. For what it's worth, here's why I like the Cavs in 6: Our offense is more than just superstars - it's also predicated on ball movement. LeBron is one of the best passers in the NBA, and I like our chances of getting open looks. The Bulls are better than the Wizards. Obviously matchups differentiate and what one team struggles with another may not, but the Cavs have played stronger competition to this point. The Cavs offense and defensive ratings are better in the playoffs, after playing against a better team. Too much pressure on the Hawks. 1. the home team always has pressure to win the first two in a series; 2. as a Cavs fan I didn't expect them to win it all this year. They set the expectation with the fanbase when they said it's a process. I don't expect the Cavs to win tonight, but if we do...yikes. That's what I mean by pressure.

I realize LeBron gets calls, I just don't think it's as bad as people think. For background, I've been a Cavs fan since the 90s. When LeBron went to Miami, I went all Dan Gilbert on him and rooted for him to lose, every single game. In all the finals against the Mavs, Thunder, Spurs and Spurs - I was PASSIONATELY rooting for the West. In each of those, I never once came away thinking that LeBron getting some superstar or bs calls had an impact on the games. When the Heat won, they deserved it. When the Heat lost, they deserved it. I've forgiven LeBron obviously, and hope for a title. But I'm not a blatant homer when it comes to LeBron....not even close. In reading opposing fans viewpoints, it seems to me that if the Cavs do win this series, it's predetermined that it would be because of the officials. I think what the Hawks did this year was great. I'm not a believer that the NBA fixes anything...if the Cavs win this series, it will be because they earned it.

Hey guys. I have a few questions for you... 1. I'm assuming that fans don't often watch regular season games of other teams, since most of the time the teams are playing at the same time. Having said that, why do so many Bulls and Hawks fans (and I'm sure others) seem to think refs favored or will favor the Cavs? In the Bulls series for example, there were a ton of no calls and bad calls but it seemed to me that it was going both ways. I don't really get this perception that LeBron gets a ton of calls - I watched almost every Cavs game this year and I don't remember coming away from a game thinking "wow we only won that one because of the refs". The entire Cavs team complains too much, but now that I watch other teams in the playoffs it seems like every team does this. I think that both James and Irving get some questionable foul calls, but I've also seen them called for a lot of offensive fouls this year. The way some Bulls fans were talking you would think that there wasn't a single call that went against LeBron in that series.....in reality there were a lot. 2. When the ECF matchup was set, the general feeling I got was that the Hawks were the underdog. This made sense to me as over the 2nd half of the season the Cavs had a better record. Then looking at "expert picks", it seems like at least half are picking the Hawks. So why do you guys feel so slighted over this? Just curious as more people in the media are picking the Hawks than I would have thought.