Hidy-ho ya caffeine nuts!

Back in the late 1800s a man by the name of Dr. John S. Pemberton invented Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia.  About nine servings of the soft drink were sold every day and the first year profit was $-20.  Until 1905, it was marketed as a tonic and contained extracts of cocaine as well as the kola nut.  Today, the drink is arguably the most recognized consumer product on the face of the earth.

The Cavaliers will be marchin’ on historical grounds on Tuesday night as they take on the Atlanta Hawks.

And here’s how it breaks down:

With a 21-8 record, the young and talented Atlanta Hawks hold the fourth best record in the Eastern Conference.  Joe Johnson leads the team in both points and assists with 21.4 and 5.1 respectively.  Al Horford and Marvin Williams man the paint and combine for close to 25 points and 15 rebounds per game.  High-flying forward Josh Smith pours in better than 15 points a night while snagging 8 boards.  Jamal Crawford leads the thin attack off the bench and ranks second on the team with 16.8 points per game.

What to Look For:

Cleveland has posted an unbeaten record in games that Mo Williams pours in 20 or more points.  Look for Mo to continue his hot shooting spree and keep that perfect streak intact.

Both Shaquille O’Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas will be handled by smaller defenders on Tuesday night.  Look for both guys to get a lot of touches and, in turn, pour in a lot of points in the paint against the Hawks.

Prediction:

Well, LeBron proved once again last week that he is the best player in the National Basketball Association.  After a week in which he averaged 29 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, Bron claimed his second Eastern Conference Player of the Week recognition of the season.  He and Mo Williams led the team to four straight victories (all over Western Conference opponents).  So why should Tuesday night be any different?

Mo begins the game with a vengeance and scores each of the Cavs first 7 points.  He adds a deuce midway through the quarter and then passes the crown to the King.  James ends the period on an 11-2 run of his own and has his team ahead a pair.

With LeBron taking a breather to start the second, the Hawks run into some Mo problems.  A pair of Mo-flos and a three-bomb later, Atlanta finds themselves down 9 with his highness checking back into the game.  LeBron tosses up an alley-oop to Jamario Moon to push the lead to 11 and then throws down a mean right handed slam over Al Horford before Mike Woodson says, “Ohh hogwash” and calls his team over for a time out.

Out of the break, Josh Smith cans a deuce and Jamal Crawford’s three sends Atlanta into the locker room down 8.

Joe Johnson nets a tre to open the second half and Josh Smith follows suit just moments later.  Atlanta caps a 14-3 run with a monster slam over Anderson Varejao and Cleveland trails by three midway through the third quarter.  But Bron’s hoop and harm opens the flood gates.

Cleveland goes on a 32-14 tear over the next 15 minutes with LeBron James and Mo Williams accounting for each of those 32 points.  LeBron pours in a season-high 51 points in the match while Mo adds a steady 33.  The league’s most dynamic duo strikes again and Cleveland heads back to the Q for round two with an impressive 111-97.

You can’t beat the feeling, Cleveland.

CAVS WIN +14