The Cleveland Cavaliers Have Simply Coasted to the Eastern Conference Finals

Another series, another sweep for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cavs remain the NBA's only undefeated team this postseason, disposing of the Atlanta Hawks 4-0 on Sunday to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Cleveland will now get a lengthy rest before facing either the Toronto Raptors or Miami Heat, not long after a week-long layoff following a first-round sweep of the Detroit Pistons.

And it may be strange to say, but it seems as if the Cavaliers got here on cruise control.

"Our second time around there’s a sense of calmness within our locker room," said Kyrie Irving after the Cavs beat Atlanta 100-99 in Game 4, via NBA TV's postgame broadcast.

Cleveland has enjoyed both blowouts and occasional challenges so far. They've also given up considerable opening-quarter and first-half leads, never showing any sense of urgency, only to unleash a barrage of three-pointers to take over games.

This kind of complacency could spell trouble in future rounds, or it could be viewed as an efficient playing style that reduces risk of injury to the Cavaliers' Big Three.

Whatever the case, it appears to be working as Cleveland is a perfect 8-0 heading into the conference finals.

Flipping the Switch

Game 4 against Atlanta was a perfect microcosm of the Cavaliers' postseason.

The Hawks poured in 36 first-quarter points, getting wherever they wanted simply by capitalizing on the Cavs' pick-and-roll coverages. Cleveland was either late, half asleep or simply didn't look worried that Atlanta was on pace to score 144 points.

A little more urgency was expected, especially in a closeout game, but no one on the Cavaliers seemed worried. To their credit, their defensive effort was far more prevalent in the final three quarters, when Atlanta managed just 63 total points.

This sort of tranquility appears to trickle from the top down, starting with coach Tyronn Lue.

"We have an even-keel mentality, starting with our head coach," LeBron James said following Game 1.

"He's the same way, no matter the point in the game. He gets on us, but he's always saying, 'OK, let's move on to the next possession. Let's figure out a way we can be better next possession.' And no matter the point in the game or the score, he's always the same way. It's a calm feeling when you come to the sideline no matter if you've given up a lead or not.

"Hands don't shake when it's time coming down the stretch to draw something up. That's big. He's very calm in the huddles, he knows what he's doing, he looks everybody in the eye and tells them what we need to do and we respond to him."

These are all positive qualities, but they have led to some curious numbers.

Opponents are shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from three in the first half against Cleveland this postseason. During the second half, the Cavs allow just 43.1 percent from the field and 33.9 percent from deep.

The Cavs' defensive rating in first halves is a sky-high 112.1, according to NBA.com media stats. By the second, they trim it to 101.0. During the fourth quarter alone, Cleveland tightens its rating to just 98.7, perhaps finally realizing the importance of the situation.

The Perfect Start

After two rounds, the Cavaliers couldn't have asked for a better beginning to their postseason. They've navigated their way to the conference finals in the lowest number of games necessary, the Big Three is clicking and three-point records are falling.

"I think we hit our stride at the right time," said Lue, via NBA TV.

"The last three or four weeks of the regular season, we started playing really good basketball on both ends and it’s carried over. Guys are trusting the offense, trusting the defense. I just think we hit our stride at the right time, and the team’s playing well right now."

That includes a massive three-point explosion.

Cleveland's 77 made three-pointers against Atlanta are the most in a four-game series and just two away from the most in any series, ever. Its 25 threes in Game 2 set the record for most long balls in a game, regular or postseason.

"At the end of the day, our shooting is coming from our ball movement," James said on NBA TV following the second series sweep.

"Myself and Kyrie getting downhill, we’re attracting a second guy or a third guy at times. Our shooters are just locked in and ready and it’s up to us to get the ball in their shooting pocket. We had another 20-plus assist game. Any time we do that, we put ourselves in a position to succeed."

Cleveland now waits on the winner of the Miami Heat and the Toronto Raptors. The latter currently holds a 2-1 series lead and, should it go seven games, the next round wouldn't even begin until May 17, giving the Cavaliers nine full days off.

Rest is nice, but none of the Big Three really need it. James averaged just 36.5 minutes per game in disposing the Hawks. Irving (34.8) and Love (32.5) received even more time off.

While there's been some nail-biting moments along the way, ultimately the Cavs have yet to display any real urgency in their first two sweeps.

Now set for another layoff, Cleveland can coast a little longer.

Greg Swartz is the Cleveland Cavaliers Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @CavsGregBR.

Quotes obtained firsthand unless cited. Stats via Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com.