As far as "Inside the NBA" analyst Charles Barkley is concerned, everyone at Philips Arena should pack it in for the year, because the Atlanta Hawks - who trail 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers - aren't going to play another home game.
Barkley reportedly came into the media room following Cleveland's 94-82 Game 2 victory on Friday, telling those within earshot that the last person working has to "turn the lights out."
Charles Barkley just came into the media room. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the last one here has to turn the lights out."
— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) May 23, 2015
Barkley was implying that the Cavaliers will close out the series at Quicken Loans Arena in Games 3 and 4, thus ending the Hawks' championship dreams.
LeBron James's near triple-double of 30 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds must have been enough to convince the Round Mound of Rebound that Atlanta no longer stands a chance in the series.
Or maybe it's the Hawks' putrid 20.4 3-point percentage over the last two games that sealed their fate in Barkley's mind.
Only six percent of teams trailing 2-0 in a best-of-seven series have gone on to win, with just four teams pulling off such a feat in the conference finals.
