A year after failing to capture the top seed in the Eastern Conference as the Atlanta Hawks experienced an epiphanic regular season, the Cleveland Cavaliers locked up home-court advantage throughout the first three rounds of the postseason with a 109-94 win over the Hawks on Monday.
Now locked into the No. 1 seed, the Cavaliers can focus their attention on capturing back-to-back Eastern Conference titles.
The road ahead won't be easy since the East boasts more depth than it did a year ago, with squads such as the Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets all emanating positive vibes, but Cleveland is the most talented team among that crop.