Atlanta Hawks Seem Annoyed The Cavaliers Shot So Many 3-Pointers

The Cleveland Cavaliers broke the NBA record for most made 3-pointers in a game during their game 2 win over the Atlanta Hawks. The Cavs made 25 of 45 attempts. In the 4th quarter, Cleveland reserves Dahntay Jones (1/2 3ptFG) Iman Shumpert (1/1), James Jones (0/2), Mo Williams (1/4), and Channing Frye (0/1) combined to make 3 of 10 three-pointers. This apparently rubbed the Hawks the wrong way. Via Cleveland.com:

"“It’s a certain way of being a professional,” Paul Millsap said to Cleveland.com. “I’m not mad about it, but just being professionals man. If that’s how you want to approach it, that’s how you approach it. I think our team and our organization has class and I don’t think we would have continued to do that, but other organizations do other things so what can you do about it?”"

Keep in mind that in Game 5 of their first round matchup against the Boston Celtics, Hawks reserves Kirk Hinrich, Kris Humphries, Tim Hardaway Jr., Mike Muscala and Lamar Patterson combined to make 2-of-7 three-point attempts in the 4th quarter of a game Atlanta won by 27 points. Of course, all of those attempts were in the flow of the offense. Here’s Al Horford:

"“We probably wouldn’t do anything like that [if we were in that position],” he told cleveland.com. “…It’s hard to say, but I would say no.”"

Nope. Not the Hawks. There were different circumstances when they beat the 76ers, 126-98 on January 7th. Atlanta only had a 19 point lead at the end of the 3rd quarter when they shot 8 three-pointers in 4th.

Here’s Kent Bazemore:

"“I’m a firm believer in karma,” the small forward relayed to cleveland.com. “Maybe we’ll be the team to break that record soon. Everyone knows how they play. They get out in front and they’re a totally different team. It is what it is. We’ll see them again. That wasn’t Game 4. That was only Game 2. They still have to beat us two more times before they can really celebrate anything.”"

On March 4th, the Hawks beat the Lakers, 106-77. They took a 25-point lead into the 4th quarter where they made 5 of 10 three-point attempts. Bazemore – a starter – only attempted 4 of those threes.

Finally, on February 10th, the Hawks beat the Bulls, 113-90. The Hawks took an 18-point lead into the 4th quarter and proceeded to attempt 11 three-point shots.

That is how an organization with class does things.