Cavs Complete Sweep of the Hawks

Facing an 0-3 series deficit, the Hawks knew they had to come out swinging against the Cavaliers on Monday night, and to their credit, they actually did ... for a quarter or so.

Eventually the Cavs caught up, and even though this was by far the most competitive game of the series, the Cavs still cruised to an 84-74 victory, the eighth time in eight playoff games the Cavs won by double digits.

Cavaliers 84, Hawks 74: Recap | Box Score

For the fans watching at home, the series couldn't end fast enough. It was by far the least compelling of the playoffs, especially as Atlanta's starters took turns failing to show up -- either literally due to injury (Al Horford and Marvin Williams) or figuratively due to lack of performance (Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby). The Cavs, meanwhile, were able to rely on the consistent greatness of LeBron James, who hears M-V-P chants nearly as often on the road as at home.

To say the Hawks were overmatched is an understatement: the Cavs didn't just win four straight games to complete the sweep, they also won 13 of 16 individual quarters.

The first three games of this series were essentially decided at halftime, but the Hawks at least kept it close on Monday, trailing by just two at the break. Cleveland's defense stifled any chance that Atlanta might live to see a Game 5, though, holding the Hawks to just 31.5 percent from the field.

Josh Smith (26 points on 8-16 shooting) and Joe Johnson (18 points on 7-18 shooting) were the only reasons the Hawks were in the game; the rest of the starting lineup combined for just seven points on 2-16 shooting. The bench? Just 23 points on 6-23 shooting.

Mike Bibby's disappearance (three points on 1-6 shooting with just a single assist) was perhaps the most disappointing, and it's certainly not the impression Bibby hoped to leave on Atlanta's front office on the eve of his free agency.

Should the Hawks pay big money to bring him back? His arrival was the catalyst for Atlanta's surge last year, but unless the front office feels Atlanta's current core is just a role player or two away from catching up with the Cavs, this team should probably continue to tinker with the starting lineup.

In any case, the Hawks have all summer to sort out their future. The Cavs, meanwhile, have at least three days (and possibly as many as six) before they learn whether they'll be facing the Magic or the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Latest NBA Playoff Photos

DALLAS - MAY 11: Jason Kidd #2 of the Dallas Mavericks goes in for the lay up against the Denver Nuggets in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the American Airlines Center on May 11, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jason Kidd

NBAE/Getty Images

DALLAS - MAY 11: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks draws the double team from Kenyon Martin #4 and Anthony Carter #25 of the Denver Nuggets in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the American Airlines Center on May 11, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dirk Nowitzki;Kenyon Martin;Anthony Carter

NBAE/Getty Images

DALLAS - MAY 11: Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Denver Nuggets goes in for the lay up against Erick Dampier #25 and Jason Kidd #2 of the Dallas Mavericks in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the American Airlines Center on May 11, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Carmelo Anthony;Erick Dampier;Jason Kidd

NBAE/Getty Images

Dallas Mavericks Antione Wright, left, tangles with Denver Nuggets Carmelo Anthony during first half action in Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference playoffs at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on Monday, May 11, 2009. (Vernon Bryant/Dallas Morning News/MCT)

MCT

Dallas Mavericks Brandon Bass (left) takes a hard foul by Denver Nuggets Kenyon Martin during first half action in Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference playoffs at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on Monday, May 11, 2009. (Louis DeLuca/Dallas Morning News/MCT)

MCT

Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard (5) loses the ball as he tries to work around Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony (15) in the first half of Game 4 of the NBA basketball Western Conference semifinal, Monday, May 11, 2009, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Denver Nuggets coach George Karl reacts in the first half of Game 4 of the NBA basketball Western Conference semifinal against the Dallas Mavericks Monday, May 11, 2009, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Denver Nuggets Carmelo Anthony shoots a basket against Dallas Mavericks Jose Juan Barea during first half action in Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference playoffs at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on Monday, May 11, 2009. (Louis DeLuca/Dallas Morning News/MCT)

MCT

Josh Howard of the Dallas Mavericks goes to the basket during the first half of Game 4 of their NBA Western Conference semi-final playoff basketball game against the Denver Nuggets in Dallas, Texas May 11, 2009. REUTERS/Mike Stone (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

Reuters

DALLAS - MAY 11: Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Denver Nuggets goes up for a dunk against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the American Airlines Center on May 11, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Carmelo Anthony

NBAE/Getty Images