LeBron James apologizes to teammates for technical foul

After getting swept 4-0 in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals, the Atlanta Hawks hoped to come into Saturday’s game with more energy and a modified gameplan against Cleveland.

Injuries to the supporting cast are not slowing down LeBron James, Kevin Love and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who improved to 7-0 at home with a win over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. The Cavs were leading 72-46 at the time, in the process of putting distance between themselves and Atlanta atop the Eastern Conference in a big win.

LeBron James had 19 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and two blocks against Jeff Teague and the Hawks, plus one unusual technical foul.

“Well, he was frustrated”.

“I think our guys just understand and know that it’s important for us to develop the habits and the attitude and the approach, make that part of us – like it was past year from midseason on”, Blatt said. “Hockey sub”, Blatt joked of James’ tantrum.

Without naming names, James chastised teammates after both losses.

Lebron James spoke about the team’s struggles and their current mentality as the team lost their second straight game.

“I didn’t get a lot, really”, Budenholzer said when asked if he was given an explanation for being tossed. Irving had knee surgery this summer and according to ESPN.com, Blatt said that Irving is making “good progress”, but that he still does not have a set return date for Cleveland. We all want to each other to do well to help the team. But then again how many times have we seen teams try to play with only four players?

Love and James are Cleveland’s only healthy starters but the Cavaliers are 10-3 with depth they didn’t have last season.

In a pregame video that played off “Soul Train”, current Cavs players donned 1970s garb and danced through their own Cavs Train line to Kool & the Gang’s “Jungle Boogie”. James made comments last week about the Golden State Warriors being “hungrier” than the Cavs despite winning the championship last season and on Saturday some of that frustration boiled over in the victory over the Hawks.

Cleveland was without point guard Mo Williams, who showed up to the team’s morning shootaround complaining of soreness in his lower right leg. Matthew Dellavedova, who had nine assists in his first 14 minutes of action and finished with a career-high 13, started in Williams’ place.

F Jabari Parker (sprained right foot) was not with the team for the start of a three-game road trip.