INDEPENDENCE - From the Cavaliers` perspective, there wasn`t much to fret about following a 99-72 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
One area of concern, however, was the offensive production of Cleveland`s big men, who combined for 13 points on 5-of-23 shooting.
Starting center Zydrunas Ilgauskas was 2-of-9 from the field and power forward Anderson Varejao was 2-of-8, while reserve Joe Smith was 0-of-4. Combined, they had 11 points on 4-of-21 shooting in 74 minutes.
“It was just one of those nights where I couldn`t get it going offensively,” Ilgauskas said.

Sasha sighting

Forgotten man Sasha Pavlovic entered the game for what was supposed to be a 7.2-second defensive stint at the end of the third period, but wound up staying on the floor in the fourth quarter when Atlanta shifted shooting guard Joe Johnson to small forward.
Pavlovic ended up playing the entire quarter and finished with seven points on 3-of-5 shooting and three rebounds, but he also took an elbow from Atlanta backup center Zaza Pachulia that resulted in a broken nose.
Pavlovic was fitted for a mask following practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts and is expected to be available for Game 2 tonight at Quicken Loans Arena.

Wrap-arounds

In Game 1, Cleveland`s LeBron James threw a behind-the-back bounce pass to the 7-foot-3 Ilgauskas, who responded with a wrap-around, behind-the-back bounce pass of his own to a cutting James, who missed a left-handed layup in heavy traffic.
“I miss a lot (of shots) off his passes,” Ilgauskas said. “If he doesn`t take it personal, I won`t take it personal.”

Playing passively

In part because of excellent defense by Delonte West but also partly because he wasn`t very aggressive, Atlanta`s Johnson scored just 11 points in Game 1, when he attempted 10 shots and no free throws.
“I was just trying to let the game come to me,” the 6-7, 240-pounder said. “I wasn`t trying to force anything. They did a great job defensively as far as double-teaming me and trying to keep the ball out of my hands.”
Johnson, who ranked third in the league in minutes played (39.5) during the regular season and went through a seven-game series with Miami in the first round, admitted being fatigued, but wouldn`t pin his Game 1 struggles on that.
“I`m tired, but I never use that as an excuse,” he said. “We play the regular season to make it to the playoffs and try to have some fun. Now that we`ve gotten out of the first round and into the second round, we`ve got to act like we really want to be here.”

Double digits

The Cavaliers are 5-0 in the playoffs and have won every game by double figures, making them the fifth team in NBA history to record five straight victories by at least 10 points. The last team to do so was Detroit in 2004.
“We aren`t dancing on the sideline,” Cleveland point guard Mo Williams said. “This is serious. We have one goal in mind and that`s winning a championship. We are out there having fun because we are giving 110 percent. Guys are diving for balls, helping on defense and we get mad when our man scores. That`s the heart of a champion.”

Tip-ins

The last team to win a playoff series after losing Game 1 by 25 points or more was the Los Angeles Lakers, who came back to beat Boston after absorbing a 148-114 pasting in the 1985 NBA Finals.
Atlanta`s 28 second-half points were the fewest given up by the Cavaliers in a playoff game.
James lost the perimeter players` high-arcing, 3-point “Rain Man Game” following practice, but proceeded to make the shot on his sixth extra attempt, meaning he only had to do six pushups instead of the maximum 10.

Quote of the day

“That`s cool. Robin`s cool.” - Williams, when asked how he liked being referred to as James` sidekick.
Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4061 or rickn@ohio.net.

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