Fansided

NBA Playoffs 2015, Cavaliers vs. Hawks Game 4: Recap and highlights (Video)

By Josh Hill

May 26, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts on the bench during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Hawks in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
May 26, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts on the bench during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Hawks in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

118. 156. Final. 88. 125

The Cleveland Cavaliers wrapped up their best season since LeBron James left, and they’re headed back to the NBA Finals. 

LeBron James deactivated ‘chill mode’ on Tuesday night and went all out to end the Conference Finals series against the Atlanta Hawks as soon as he could. Rather than rest or extend the series for stupid reasons that pundit tried to argue on Tuesday afternoon, the Cavaliers put the Hawks out of the misery and advanced the the NBA Finals.

It’s the fifth straight year that LeBron James has played in the NBA Finals, but it’s just the second time he’s taken the Cleveland Cavaliers there. But this isn’t the same LeBron James that left the team in 2010, as he’s matured in more ways than one and is seemingly unstoppable.

That doesn’t mean the Cavaliers will win the NBA Finals, but it means LeBron James is in a gear that will be hard to break him out of.

Just ask the Atlanta Hawks how well that worked for them.

LeBron James came out flying right away, avoiding the 0-for-10 start he had in Game 3 and throwing down a massive dunk in Game 4.

Chill mode was officially deactivated for LeBron and the Cavaliers after that as they turned what was a simple close out game into a bloodbath that featured highlight after highlight.

Much like how they closed out the Bulls in blowout fashion, the Cavaliers smothered the Hawks early, who looked like they just wanted to give up and go home at halftime. It was a pathetic showing from Atlanta and it was the convincing argument that they were not worthy of the NBA Finals this year.

Meanwhile, Tristan Thompson would just not stop going off on the Hawks. A restricted free agent at the end of the season, Thompson played his way into a great position entering the NBA Finals as far as his next contract is concerned.

Even Timofey Mozgov got in on the action as well, throwing down big whenever Tristan Thompson would give him a bit of the limelight.

It was an utter and complete destruction of the Atlanta Hawks in more than just Game 4 but the entire series. There was one game that the Hawks maybe could have won and they blew it. That’s just how things go though, as the lesser team is taken behind the woodshed and the better team comes back around the corner.

That was Cleveland on Tuesday night, and things were electric inside of Quicken Loans Arena. The crowd was in it, they knew it was over and the pulse inside of the building let us know that the NBA Finals are going to be fun this year with the Cavaliers going for the title.

More from Cleveland Cavaliers

Home/Cleveland Cavaliers