Wizards whimper home after Game 2
Posted April 21st, 2008 by bwindhorst
Cavs 116, Wizards 86
–This was the most complete game the Cavs have played since the trade, which was two months ago today by the way. It may have been the most complete game they have played all season. While the Wizards talk very confidently, I think they are actually playing very tentative while the Cavs have executed their game plan with sharp focus. Gilbert Arenas is limited by his knee, Caron Butler does not look 100 percent, DeShawn Stevenson is not dealing with the extra pressure, and Brendan Haywood has not been the same player since the confrontation with LeBron in Game 1. Eddie Jordan said he did a “horrible job trying to keep our guys in an organized fashion.” Antawn Jamison said as a captain he has done a bad job of “controlling this team.”
–I am not around the Wizards everyday, though I have covered like 26 preseason, regular season and postseason games of theirs over the last three years. But I can’t help to notice that they are not as focused as the Cavs are. At the end of there practices, before the game in the locker room, in pregame warmups, etc. Maybe that is just their style and staying loose is best for them. But the Cavs are a happy-go-lucky team, too but you can tell when it is the playoffs. Then you see how the Wizards play in the playoffs and it is hard not to equate one attitude to another. For example, Stevenson makes a 3-pointer down 19 points and does his face wave thing or whatever. Style above substance, you know? But I could be wrong.
–LeBron was at level 9 tonight in his control of the game. Jordan called him a “monster” after the game not just for the way he played on offense but how he dealt with Arenas on defense and how he was talking out on the court. His 12 assists shows the offense was working well and that the Cavs made shots. That will not happen every game, but running the offense and not dribbling, is important.
–Before the game, another reporter overheard Brendan Haywood saying he wasn’t going to do anything in this series to get suspended because last time that happened (in 2006 when he fought Etan Thomas and was benched by the team) it cost him $60,000. Then he goes out and gets ejected for a flagrant-2 on LeBron. That said, I don’t think he’ll get suspended by the league for that hit because he didn’t LeBron in the head. It was a non-basketball play and that is the definition of a flagrant-2 and the officials made the correct call. But I could be wrong. Anderson Varejao was hit with a flagrant-1 and he hit Andray Blatche in the head but he was going for the ball, not that the Wizards saw it that way. LeBron was surely campaigning for a suspension when he said it was “scary” and it reminded him of when he got undercut as a junior in high school and broke his wrist. Except he was not undercut on this one, though if you watch the replay he was in danger as he fell. My guess is Haywood will be writing a $5,000 check (in addition to the $1,000 for the technical in Game 1) and moving on to Game 3. Then again, the NBA may want to send a message.
–LeBron did do a nice job of keeping himself under control after all the hard fouls. He has been able to not be fazed physically or emotionally. Considering how intense this series has been he deserves credit for that.
–Daniel Gibson has now had two good games in a row. Him getting going would be a huge plus for the Cavs because you know how well he and LeBron feed off each other. Tonight he made a stepback 3 that was a highly athletic move, showing his ankle is feeling good.
–Damon Jones’ “you can’t see me” ode to Stevenson late in the game was his private payback for that game last month. Before he called LeBron “overrated” that night, Stevenson was mocking Damon’s antics after 3-pointers during that game. So that is what that was all about.
–LeBron said he never got personal with comments about Stevenson to Drew Gooden. Who knows? But the fans at Quicken Loans Arena did, tonight there was one sign that read: “DeShawn’s mom is overrated.”
–I know some of you would prefer faster updates, but please remember I write for the Beacon Journal first. My game story from tonight is here and my notes about the new Hack-a-Bron strategy is here.
Recap:
Pregame
Starting lineups
Wizards: Antonio Daniels, DeShawn Stevenson, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood
Cavs: Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, LeBron James, Ben Wallace, Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Officials
Dan Crawford, Rodney Mott, Mark Wunderlich
–The Wizards have not made it a secret that they intend to pound the ball to Butler, especially whenever Szczerbiak is guarding him. The Cavs will be bringing double teams with Butler in the post, so expect Stevenson and Jamison to be free on the outside on the backside. They didn’t make any last game, you know about the law of averages.
–Stevenson’s latest comment about LeBron, before this game: “He’s going to cry about calls, that’s what he do.” From the Wizards’ perspective, I can see why he feels this way. Nonetheless, more fodder.
–Get ready for this stat longtime Cavs fans…LeBron has more missed free throws this season including Game 1 (228) than Mark Price had in his entire career (227). Now, my point is not to compare them, my point is LeBron misses a lot of free throws. If the Wizards can’t defend him and they can’t force him to give it up, fouling is the smart way to go. Also, because LeBron had 87 “and-1s” this season, which was second in the NBA, fouling him hard so he can’t finish is also prudent.
–The Cavs say they will be more ready for Gilbert Arenas tonight when he comes in the game. I don’t know how you can ever be ready for that guy with his talent, but Game 1 showed that he is just not as strong or confident driving as he is shooting. Probably because his knee is not right and stopping and pulling up hurts. Look for the Cavs to make him put it on the floor.
Halftime — Cavs 53, Wizards 40
–As of this exact moment, Mike Brown in my opinion is vastly outcoaching Eddie Jordan. Especially with the matchups. The move to put LeBron on Arenas has made it impossible for Gilbert to get anything off from the outside and he cannot move well enough to get past him. Also, at the other end, Mike has constantly found the favorable one-on-one match and sent the ball there be it with LeBron, Ilgauskas or Szczerbiak. He also seems to be figuring out that Joe Smith is the best guy to cover Jamison, although Jamison is playing great and tough for anyone on the Cavs to deal with.
–LeBron’s play in the first half has been exemplary. He has 12 points, five rebounds and six assists and is making almost nothing but smart decisions at both ends. It is very clear that he can get to the basket whenever he wants to but he is mixing it up. He has been looking for Z, who is again executing well, and Wally, who is so far having a good night.
–Caron Butler does not look right to me, he does not have the same athleticism as usual. The Cavs have realized this and are gambling a little bit more. He’s been more active on rebounds but he’s 1-of-8 and his shot from the outside looks flat.
–The Wizards are shooting just 37 percent, which is a reflection of how well the Cavs are playing defense. They are not just missing shots like in Game 1, most are contested. That said, this is a team that can get hot and very hot from the outside. It appears as if Jordan is looking deeper into the bench for offense as he put rookie Nick Young out there at the end of the half. The Cavs, as everybody knows, are not great in the third quarter and the first five minutes of this second half could be huge in the outcome of this game.
Postgame
Stars
LeBron, 30 points, nine rebounds, 12 assists
Ilgauskas, 16 points, nine rebounds
Szczerbiak, 15 points
Quotes
LeBron: “Just the magnitude of the game and the way we approached the game tonight was amazing. Coach Brown put us in a comfortable position and gave us a game plan. We went out and executed.”
Eddie Jordan: “We are playing the (Eastern Conference) champions. I know they changed their team but they still have the same coaching staff and a monster player and he’s taking over the series.”
Jamison: “We didn’t underestimate anybody. I don’t want what was said a month ago to have the effect of how we feel about this team. We know this is a very special team. They didn’t play well in the last month of the regular season but just like any veteran team when the playoffs get started you’re gong to elevate your game and you’re gong to find a way to start playing inspired ball. Let’s be honest. Some guys talked. It’s over with. I’m the captain of this team and we’re going to go out there and play ball. We have alot of respect for this team. We know this team is capable of not only going past the first round but going past that. Once the playoffs started, we didn’t say this is going to be an easy win or an easy series whatsoever. Let’s get that down pat because this is a team that in my eyes can create a lot of problems for a lot of teams.”
April 21st, 2008 at 5:54 pm
I git busy with teenagers… that what i do….
April 21st, 2008 at 7:06 pm
The Wiz have like a Bi-Polar franchise.
Their coach and some of their players - mainly Jamison are old school and don’t make excuses.
Then you got Gilbert and Stevenson and their entire fan base - who say the most ridiculous delusional nonsense.
You go to their beat-writer’s blog and it’s 95% Wiz fans whining all the time.
April 21st, 2008 at 7:29 pm
That’s the best first half I’ve seen out of the Cavs in good long while.
They are very, very active on defense. Lots of deflections. Joe Smith and Lebron each a nice block helping out from the weakside. The help defense has been excellent so far. Everybody’s pitching in.
Cavs got 16 pts combined on 5 of 9 shooting from Szczerbiak and Gibson. If those two can start shooting like they’re capable Cleveland could make things very, very interesting in the East.
April 21st, 2008 at 7:39 pm
[...] Deadspin, Sports News without Access, Favor, or Discretion wrote an interesting post today on Cavs-Wizards, Game 2Here’s a quick excerptCavs-Wizards, Game 2 April 21st, 2008 Pregame Starting lineups Wizards: Antonio Daniels, DeShawn Stevenson, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood Cavs: Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, LeBron James, Ben Wallace, Zydrunas Ilgauskas Officials Dan Crawford, Rodney Mott, Mark Wunderlich –The Wizards have not made it a secret that they intend to pound the ball to Butler, especially whenever Szczerbiak is guarding him. The Cavs will be bringing double teams with Butler in the post, so [...]
April 21st, 2008 at 7:53 pm
The officials need to get control of this game and this series. The flagarant 2 on Haywood is a good start.
April 21st, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Gilbert Arenas is a punk.
That was a cheap tripping foul he just committed on West.
April 21st, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Wow… I am truly shocked that the Cavs actually kept on pushing the lead in the third quarter instead of easing off (as we usually do). We need this kind of statement win to send a message that the Cavs are still the defending champions of the East. I just hope that we can keep this up in the fourth quarter. Go Wally
April 21st, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Great adjustments by Brown, not just at halftime but throughout the entire game. He got the most out of all his players today.
Gilbert looks demoralized as do most of his teammates.
April 21st, 2008 at 8:32 pm
not to take anything away from mike brown, i think he has done a good coaching job in these games, but eddie jordan isn’t being outcoached as much as he is being undermined by the chump players on his roster. as tom said above, there are two types of players on the wizards, the old school (jamison, butler) and the losers (arenas, stevenson, haywood). butler is too injured to help much and jamison can’t do it alone. not much eddie jordan can do in this situation. he is a good coach that deserves a lot better than what he is getting.
April 21st, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Did you all see me pump my fist when I made that garbage time lay up when we were down 25? Gonna get me some Miley Cyrus tonight!
April 21st, 2008 at 8:37 pm
I have been waiting 84 games for the Cavs to play the way they are tonight. Good contributions from everyone and stomping on a teams throat when they have them down. A rarely seen killer instinct. Maybe this team is finally coming together, better late than never.
April 21st, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Fix the blog man….. updates every three hours for the goddam playoffs?
April 21st, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Best game I’ve seen the Cavs play all year. Congratulations.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Mike Brown seems to outcoach everybody he goes up against in the playoffs, except Popovich.
If Gibson and Wally S. keep shooting well the Cavs will be tough for anyone.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Dear Cleveland,
We’re sorry about the assault we committed on your rims the last two games.
Love,
The Washington Wizards
April 21st, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Great game. However lets not get ahead of ourselves just yet. We all know how the Cavs have been wildly inconsistent since the big trade. Also the Wizards are an explosive offensive team. The series is far from over.
That being said, if Boobie and Wally can make shots then this team is REALLY dangerous. With the way they play D and rebound they can be very hard to beat. That is a big “if” right now though.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Thoughts on tonight’s game, old school Biff style:
1. The Cavs are a C- NBA franchise. The Wizards are the red-headed stepchild of said C- NBA franchise. Seriously, what a disgrace as a team and as individuals. If I were a Wizards fan, this would be just about the time that I swore them off forever. They drew a gift first round matchup against a team that was completely dead in the water and proceeded to do everything in their power to awaken that sleeping…..team that is slightly better than they are. As a friend of mine said tonight, “it wasn’t enough for the Wizards just to win a playoff series. They had to run their mouths and try to show them up.” Well Wizards, you deserve what you’re getting right now. Seriously, you are all a bunch of no-talent hacks.
2. Washington is a perfect example of what happens to a team when its fan base and media are a bunch of apologists. Honestly guys, maybe you should’ve stopped making excuses for Eddie Jordan all these years. The guy has won 25, 45, 42, 41, 43 games respectively in DC and has never ever for a second fielded a team that was a threat to win anything. Yet, every year, the Wiz fans and media make up a new excuse for him. Newsflash guys: Eddie Jordan is a 3rd rate NBA coach which is why every year he gets outcoached by a second rate NBA head coach in Mike Brown. Don’t get pissed because your team never gets any better Washington. Its your own fault (note: this is why I am always demanding accountability on Mike Brown. You can’t win titles with no offense, much like Washington will never win anything with no defense. Can you hear me Cavs fans? Is anyone paying attention?)
Second, why hasn’t the Washington media crucified Deshawn Stevenson? Could a useless ass-clown role player do any more damage to a team’s playoff chances than he has this year? Yet, of course, everyone in DC has his back. Great job guys. And how about the treatment of Arenas. Here’s a guy who gets the kid gloves treatment from everyone because 1) he’s SO eccentric, and 2) he’s a second-tier star that masquerades as a top flight star. Has anyone in DC ever drawn attention to this? Have they ever pointed out the fact that he’s an injury prone choker who is always running his mouth? No, of course not because Washington is a garbage basketball town with a garbage fan base and garbage beat writers.
3. This series is a long way from over and its about to get VERY ugly. The faux Wizards fans are going to be out for blood the second the Cavs take the floor in game 3. Seriously, I would expect more flagrant fouls and chippy play….I wouldn’t even rule out the possibility of some good scuffles. Honestly, at this point, I think it can only help the Cavs. This team was so dead for so long that I think being challenged like this has woken them up. They need to get the blood boiling to put Washington away and get ready to throw a haymaker at Boston. (Sidenote: If anyone cheapshots Lebron from here on out, Mike Brown MUST go John Chaney and send in the goon (Dwayne Jones) to retaliate. A message must be sent loud and clear that Lebron is not to be trifled with.
4. I love the move to start Szczerbiak in the playoffs. If we’re going to threaten a good team, it will have to be with guys hitting from the outside playing off Lebron. I think its a good roll of the dice to try to get the shooters hot early in the series.
5. This Cavs team has caused me nothing but heartache this year but they are starting to bring me back. Really, I should credit the Wiz for making this such a street brawl because it has made it a heck of a lot more interesting….and maybe, just maybe, it will make the Cavs care enough to blow them out in 4 or 5 and remember how dangerous they can be. A confident Cavs team firing on all cylinders could at least give Boston a series. If they did that, I would have no hard feelings toward this Cavs team when it’s all said and done. All I really want is to see them throw one big punch at the Celtics to see if they have the jaw to take it.
6. Congratulations to the Pistons for embarassing themselves by blowing a 15 point lead at home in the playoffs to Philly. Unfortunately, according to the Detroit media, another group of legendary apologists, this is actually good for the Pistons as it will wake them up and make them focus.
Lets go Cavs on thursday. It’s time to add insult to injury.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:41 pm
DeShawn, you know it’s my turn to get Miley Cyrus. Last week you got Jamie Lynn Spears, so now its my turn. Let’s just hope I don’t get caught like our idiot teammate Andray.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:02 pm
well cavs won, you know what this means guys…let’s get to the task of berating dan gilbert for his vote on the sonics!
April 21st, 2008 at 10:24 pm
[...] Cavs-Wizards, Game 2Cavs: Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, LeBron James, Ben Wallace, Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Officials Dan Crawford, Rodney Mott, Mark Wunderlich. –The Wizards have not made it a secret that they intend to pound the ball to Butler, …Brian Windhorst on the Cleveland Cavaliers - http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs [...]
April 21st, 2008 at 10:37 pm
First time the Cavs have imposed their will on a team.
Boobie playing like Boobie. Wally hitting open shots. Z being Z. LeBron being LeBron. Cavs getting all the loose balls and rebounds. Good ball movement, LeBron being aggressive.
CAVS WIN BY 30.
It’s that simple.
Impose your will by playing YOUR game, and when you have the best player on planet, you will win every series.
Hopefully after tonight, they are a little closer to figuring that out.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:38 pm
I’m gonna be ready for your overrated team on Thursday night.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Great game in all phases tonight. I liked the composure that we had when we started off slow. Mike Brown’s ‘horrible” offensive system didn’t look too bad. As I have thought all along this year - the problems on offense have been execution, not the system. When the team was in a groove before the big trade and the injuries preceding the big trade, the offense looked very good at times. Then, the injuries mounted and the big trade happened and everything got out of sync. When we go on the road, we just need to keep the ball moving and stick with the system instead of standing around chucking up deep jumpers. If we can play like we did tonight for the rest of the playoffs, we are capable of beating anyone - even Boston.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Great performance in every facet of the game. We completely outclassed them. I can’t wait to hear what Tom Knott of the Washington Times says tomorrow about the Haywood flagrant foul. The guy is more delusional than most of the Wizards fan base, which is really saying something.
http://clevelandchamps.blogspot.com
April 21st, 2008 at 11:03 pm
I have always had faith in the Cavaliers to beat the Wizards. LeBron would never let us lose to a second tier team. However, this display tonight gave me hope than we can possibly upend Boston and advance to the Eastern Conference finals again. I guess I can’t get too ahead of myself. The Wizards are still dangerous, and this victory will be all for naught if we drop game 3.
April 22nd, 2008 at 12:50 am
Thanks, Rick, I appreciate your kind words. The stalking goes on. And I still think Gilbert’s Sonics vote sucks.
I’m still trying to figure out what the Wizards need. They have three very good players, but there is a big missing piece on that team, and I can’t figure out what it is. I think they’ll win both games in Washington, but Cleveland will win the series.
If the Celtics don’t lose anybody to injury between now and then, no way the Cavs have a prayer to win the series against the Celtics, no matter how great James plays. No matter what the spread is on the first game, I’m betting my entire April 30 paycheck on the Celtics to beat the spread.
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:09 am
These blog entries are more actually far more interesting to read than the main paper articles if you watched the game. That is why we’re so eager.
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:13 am
I’ve been saying it for weeks now…
In the NBA, the playoffs are a completely different animal. Like night and day compared to the regular season. If Gibson and Wallyworld get their shots falling, we’re unguardable. We’re EASILY better off after the trade. Glad all of you are coming around… well, except the world’s most artificial Cavs fan.
I’ll tell you what the Wizards need, Alan. They need a 3 point shooter who loves to show up the other team on his way back down the court with corny hand motions. I say we dangle Damon Jones for Antawn Jamison and see where it gets us. Jamison would be the last piece to the Cavs’ championship puzzle, so why not go for it? In all seriousness, the Cavs should throw the bank at Jamison this offseason. No brainer…
Assuming Doc Rivers isnt dumb enough to put Garnett on LeBron, I’d like to know who guards him in that matchup, assuming we get that far? Boston is good, but I would argue that Orlando is a tougher matchup for the Cavs. We play Boston tough every time.
I was at the game tonight, and the crowd was electrifying. Cleveland really does provide a nice home court advantage, and that only helps in a tough series. It’s starting to come together, guys. Really coming together.
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:14 am
hey, tucker, you’re the same guy who said the cavs couldn’t beat the pistons last year, either. do you have *any* kind of shame?
i’m guessing you’re unemployed, so your “bet” is even more meaningless than most of your posts. and *that’s* saying something!
anyway, remember, kiddies, the cavs can beat ANY eastern conference team in ANY series, for reasons i have laid out time and again on this blog.
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:30 am
It’s over.
The Wizards have shown their true colors, and they’re more concerned with seeming tough than being mentally tough.\
http://www.lecavs.com/2008/04/series-over.html
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:44 am
Anyone else notice Joe Smith played way tougher than he usually does? The dude was all over the court, getting after loose balls, and just played physical!
April 22nd, 2008 at 2:21 am
What bank could we throw at Jamison? A midlevel exception? It would have to be a sign and trade and we are the last team Washington would ever take part in a trade with
Having Gibson back to his old self is huge. Brings back memories of game 6 of the conference finals
The Wizards need to pray that Arenas opts out of his contract and then not make any attempt to resign him. They are just simply better w/o him. They have a good core but no consistent inside presence. Jamison is a really good 4 but his game is more driving and shooting then posting up. Haywood would be a decent #2 inside option but nothing more. So they need to somehow get a good post player (like 90% of this years lottery teams). They also need a new coach, Jordan just isn’t getting it done
Boston vs. Cleveland would be a great series because of how intense each team plays against one another; winner probably goes to the finals. Cavs would need a superhuman performance from Lebron though…
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:52 am
This is a great series to watch. The Wiz are truly an embarassing joke. Just a bunch of gutless, classless, child molesting frauds who deserve everything they get. Lebron is their Daddy. Big poppa. He needs to put Agent Nothing and Deshawn on his lap and tell them bedtime stories about what real stars do when the stakes are high.
Wallace actually appeared to have a pulse tonight. And Boobie looked smooth, step back threes and catch and release J’s from the elbow.
This series is going to be over right quick. That’s a beaten-looking squad going back to DC with tails between legs….
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:08 am
Alan, it’s pretty simple. The Wizards are missing a heart.
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:21 am
Brian - i don’t think people are complaining about you not posting in a timely manner. There is a serious delay posting in general. I posted my comments at around 9 something and the post did not come thru till almost 11:00.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:20 am
Yeah, the blog doesn’t update fast enough. Every other sports blog in the country updates instantaneously when people post. I realize the ABJ runs on a shoestring budget, but for god’s sake even google’s blogspot is free. Besides, when Douglar posts, I want to know about it right away.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:26 am
This is a simple game. We have arguably the best player on the planet (BPOP). Good start. We have a good big man that compliments the aforementioned BPOP by being able to knock down 16 to 18 footers. Nice. If our shooters just make their wide open shots, like they did tonight, this team is championship material. It’s that simple. Let’s hope that Wally and Boobie keep it up.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:28 am
Doc, douglar will be coming any time now to bitch about James’ FT shooting. It’s what trolls do.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:50 am
Arenas looked like he was going to cry at the end of the game when they showed him on the bench. So sad. Put the Wiz out of their misery in 4 or 5 games.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:24 am
good to see you back biff , great post
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:59 am
Thoughts on last night’s blowout win over the Wizards:
- Quite a night for everyone in a Cavaliers uniform. It was the culimination of everything the team could be when everything clicks. No NBA team is 30 points better than any other NBA team, but the Cavs reminded everyone that they can be very good, and are not an afterthought in this year’s Playoffs.
- Trying to guard LeBron is exhausting, and we’ve seen teams start strong against him, only to let down in the late stages. Call him the anti-Tracy McGrady. There’s not a single player in the league, and there’s not a single defense in the league, that can keep LeBron from getting his over multiple games. There are only a handful of players in the history of the game who could do that. And he’s only 23.
- Haywood’s foul was a flagrant 2, it was a good call. But please, can we get the Reggie Millers and the Tim Leglers to shut up about how tough the game was when they played? First, show me the tape of a game where a guy got tossed out of bounds and the perpetrator wasn’t thrown out. Then, show me the tape of a game where Miller or Legler came *anywhere near* the hoop! Pansy jump shooters are spouting off about toughness? If Charles wants to talk about hard fouls, that’s fine, he was adminstering a lot of them. But Reggie Miller? Please.
- I have no problem with Damon and LeBron mocking Stevenson’s little hand wave. Though Stevenson’s use of it in this series has been just as embarassing as anything the Cavs could do to him.
- Somebody said that Antawn Jamison wouldn’t go 10-24 again. Well, I guess they were right, Jamison went 4-13.
- Arenas can’t go left at all right now. No way he plays a factor in the rest of this series.
- Caron “Tough Juice” Butler might be hurt, but so far it seems to be a special kind of hurt that allows Wally Szczerbiak to defend you. All in all, that’s three “all-stars” who haven’t done anything so far.
- Any team can have a letdown after a big win, but I don’t think that’s going to happen to the Cavaliers. This is the first time they’ve shown that they can be a good team with this group of guys. I think they’re going to embrace this new-found good basketball, and that they’ll keep their foot on the pedal through the rest of the series.
Go Cavs. Gonna be a long two days.
Mike C.
April 22nd, 2008 at 12:36 pm
An example from their era? Well, Mike C., Kevin McHale nearly decapitated Kurt Rambis in the 1984 Finals, and he wasn’t thrown out. I suppose technically Rambis wasn’t thrown out of bounds, since his head was almost literally detached from the rest of his body before he could actually make it out of bounds. I tried to find a tape as you’d requested, there used to be one on YouTube, but it looks like the NBA told somebody to take it off. I’m not saying James being swatted didn’t warrant a flagrant, but those Millers and Leglers of the world are right.
April 22nd, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Save the Sonics! Save the Sonics. I don’t like the lack of coverage either.
You think this series is fun, watch out for Boston. Those jokers will try to beat us up too. Kevin Garnett has some sort of Lebron-envy, probably due to LBJ’s early playoff success, and if you saw the games this season then you see it’s plain that Lebron doesn’t like them either. KG must’ve said something to LBJ that he took exception to, there might be several actual fights during this one. Fun.
Washington is doing the only thing they can do. They are overmatched and they know it. I’m just glad Arenas’ Bruce Bowen impression sucks or several of our guys would be gone already.
I like the way West and Gibson are coming along. If Brown wants Damona to play 5 minutes in garbage time that’s fine. I’d rather see Billy Thomas and Dwayne Jones get those minutes tho.
April 22nd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Hey where are all the b’s who were complaining about Z early in the season? Ya, he’s not very important, and Lebron doesn’t like him.
And what happened to ‘heylarryhughesstolemyhalloweencandy.com boy? I miss having my comments edited out by a nine-year old.
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:06 pm
KG got named defensive player of the year over Camby? 13 boards and 3-4 blocks a night can’t counter the leagues best record? These voters with the man-crush on the records make me sick. It like a popularity contest made by the jackasses who couldn’t get a date until their 30’s
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Wow, one whole example of something that happened 24 years ago. Way to make your point comaguy. You win again! Haha, no one can one-up you on these blogs.
Didn’t you just say the other day the only way the Cavs would win is by cheating? By pulling Tim Bowen acts on the opposition, playing dirty, etc? You were quite proud of that comment too. Now, since the Wizards are playing the exact same way you wanted the Cavs to play, you have to do a complete 180 and make it something negative against the Cavs. If you are a fan, what is so wrong in your life that this is the only way you can express it? The Cavs could win the championship and you’d still be spouting off on Wallace’s fro, Sasha’s Dracula resemblance, Lebron leaving in 2010, Delonte’s tattoos, Demona’s 12th man status, the injustice of Gilberts vote against Seattle, etc. Like clockwork comaguy, you are so pathetically predicatable.
Over/under on a coma emergency this year – 4 days. Bet my paycheck from 2014 on it!
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Yes, Rick. The only way the Cavs will beat the Celtics is by cheating. And by being physical, the way they’re being a little more physical with the Wizards as opposed to just letting guys walk all over them, as they’ve been so prone to do. I also said that James can win a series or two or three pretty much by himself. And he just might. That’s stalker post #4,542 from you, and counting.
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Oh, one other thing, you disruptive twit. The reference was made to Miller and Legler talking about the officials allowing the game to be tougher back when they played. So yeah, an example from 1984. Or did Reggie Miller come out of retirement to play for the Bobcats? I hadn’t heard.
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Oh, my early season Miami-Chicago ECF prediction didn’t work out. I’m still an expert though. I’ll give individual awards only to the best teams, and I don’t mean any playoff teams, just the best records… Making the playoffs is just not good enough in my bug-addled mind. I just can’t think thoughts of my own. Well I guess I’ll go write a horrible article notable only for it’s impartiality, then go vote a to give an individual award to a player who didn’t have the best individual performance this season, but is on a good team… Cuz I just don’t understand basketball or the notion of individual accomplishments. All awards should go to Boston by my own logic, but I just love Kobe. I love him. And Manu is so hot, I had to vote for him.
Players should vote on individual awards, sports-writers should vote on absolutely nothing. Not even NCAA’s.
I think I’ll vote all Florida teams into my college football top-5 cuz that’ll be a change from every other year in history. Of course I’ll throw Michigan in there too, it’s tradition.
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Disillusioned Wiz fan here…bored as hell at work and surfing the net…coming in peace with some thoughts…so please don’t rip me:
1. Hell of a game by the Cavs, but there is no way that you are 30 points better than the Wiz. It’s getting to the point that I just think it’s a mental thing when we play against ya’ll…and then it’s like watching a train wreck. I’ve never seen this team crumble like that in game before. Horrible performance.
2. I don’t mind all of the trash talk by my squad, even if it has completely backfired. I think it adds to the series. Too bad the Cavs have seemed to be the squad that have actually taken it to heart.
3. Gilbert is no where close to 100%, and Caron is not 100% either. He should be eating Wally World alive. Gilbert was a detriment to the team last night.
4. Haywood should have been ejected for that flagrant foul, but not suspended. I just read on the Wizards blog that he won’t be, so I’m happy about that.
5. I’m getting tired of our teams thuggish tactics that they’ve been using thus far in this series. I understand playing tough and laying some good hard “playoff” fouls, but it’s getting to the point that it’s out of control. This team is not a tough and imposing team!!! We never have been!!!! And we’re not going to become one over the course of one series!!!! I say stick to what we’ve been for the past four seasons…put up the points and quit this hacking everytime down the floor. I think it’s getting into our heads. All I’m saying is that when Haywood is the one laying most of our hard fouls, something is wrong. That boys been soft since he arrived in DC.
6. Props to the fans at the Q for their crowd noise. I can’t afford tix to the VC but I hope our crowd matches that. THe VS’s been a tomb all season.
7. No doubt about it we will play better at home, but we HAVE to take both games to have any kind of chance to win this series. Winning both is a possibility, but definitely a long shot.
8. I can understand everyone hating on DeShawn, but ya’ll don’t understand that he was only trying to get into LeBron’s head (which obviously didn’t work). DeShawn is not a scorer, so it’s pointless to make fun of him after he goes 1-9. That’s what he always does. A good scoring game for him is definitely not the norm. He’s actually playing on the same level that he always plays on. But I love the guys heart.
9. If we don’t win this series…time to blow this squad up.
Peace.
April 22nd, 2008 at 2:28 pm
You can’t see us
Game three is the most pivotal of the series. If the Cavs pull off game three on the road, this series is as good as over. You never want to give a team hope by letting them win their first game at home. Like LBJ said last season in the playoffs, “a series never starts until you lose on your home floor.”
We also need to win in four or 5 so we can preserve our legs a little bit more for Boston because who knows, Boston could very well be our Eastern Conference Finals. Philly is young, tough, and energetic while playing with a chip on their shoulder. They are a team with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
For more on the Cavs, music, and some fun other stuff please check out http://www.keithjaranovic.com
April 22nd, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Typical sports reporter…you nailed it. Absolutely nailed it. Great job.
Mike from DC…good post. Welcome aboard.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:32 pm
I could definitely see Gilbert Arenas holding up a Knicks jersey after signing a max contract in the near future…
Pretty sad when a disillusioned Wizards fan sounds more coherent, thoughtful, and basketball savvy than most of our own posters. All good thoughts, Mike, and the question I keep asking myself is in reference to Eddie Jordan. The guy seems like a great person, a stand-up dude who doesnt make excuses or throw other people under the bus when his team loses… but his team LOSES… a lot. Could it be that they need a coaching change?
I agree, Arenas and Butler look sluggish, but I didnt hear a word about injuries before the series started, so I dont think injuries can be blamed for these 2 losses. Everybody has aches and pains this time of year. Comes with the territory and playing 82 professional basketball games.
You werent trying to make excuses at all, but I think many in the media and especially in Washington, are making excuses all over again, and it has to be embarrassing. You’re right, something isnt right with that franchise down there, from the players on up and it might be time to blow it up and start over.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:01 am
[...] Brian Windhorst, Akron Beacon-Journal: "This was the most complete game the Cavs have played since the trade, which was two months ago today by the way. It may have been the most complete game they have played all season. While the Wizards talk very confidently, I think they are actually playing very tentative while the Cavs have executed their game plan with sharp focus. Gilbert Arenas is limited by his knee, Caron Butler does not look 100 percent, DeShawn Stevenson is not dealing with the extra pressure, and Brendan Haywood has not been the same player since the confrontation with LeBron in Game 1. Eddie Jordan said he did a "horrible job trying to keep our guys in an organized fashion." Antawn Jamison said as a captain he has done a bad job of "controlling this team." [...]
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:45 am
Mike (Wizards fan):
I hate to break it to you, but when healthy at home, the Cavs ARE 30 points better than the Wizards. It wasn’t the first time the Cavs beat Washington by more than 30 this year, remember?
As far as DeShawn getting in Lebron’s head, mission accomplished. It was a stupid tactic by a mediocre player, and Eddie Jordan should have told him to keep his mouth shut.
What you should be worried about isn’t the playoffs - even if the Wiz come back against the Cavs, they aren’t going any where with this team, and Arenas may never be the same player again - but the Wiz will likely have to pay a lot of money to find that out. The Wizards may very well be a team that gets blown up in the off season, along with the Bucks and Knicks, and have probably exhausted their limited opportunity with this bunch. I bet Jamison, Arenas, Stevenson, Daniels, Haywood, and Eddie Jordan are all gone within a year.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:00 am
I don’t agree at all, Chuck. When the doctor says you have to limit a guy’s minutes, it changes all game strategy. Jordan has to selectively pick and choose when to play Arenas and when to take him out. The last year he was healthy, he averaged over 42 minutes a game. The guy is a machine. And Butler obviously isn’t healthy, either. How would Cleveland perform if Brown had to selectively pick and choose James’ spots? They would probably lose. I think James is too much for Washington, but there is no way James is 30 points better than Washington.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Disruptive Twit!!!!! hahahahahaha!
I liked Wizard Mike’s post. According to ESPN, the Cavs are the worst team in the playoffs and so can’t be 30 points better than anyone. They are experts and so they absolutely must be right.
I get the distinct feeling that some of these assclowns picked Washington to win, and rank the Cavs so low (16th) and try to purposely pick on them only to bolster their argument that Lebron is not the MVP. They just don’t want to grasp the concept of individual awards and so change the conversation like some neo-con Republican.
I also get the feeling that the Cavs were on cruise control for most of the season on purpose, emulating the Spurs as best they could. This allows them to fly under the radar and somehow makes the defending Conference Champs ‘underdogs’. This works well for the Spurs every year, but they always finish very strong, whereas with our trade we didn’t get things together as quickly as hoped. And so they suffer and are deprived of well-deserved individual awards, but it’s not a bad plan.
I see Cleveland beating Boston to everyone’s ’surprise’ - 6 games.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Boston wanted that Washington upset more than anyone. You’ll never get even a hint of admission from anyone involved with the Celtics, but they want no part of King James in a 7 game series. They were all watching the ECF last year, just like you and I.
A Duty/Alan… dead on the stick. The Cavs looked like they were coasting in the regular season at times, and all they wanted to talk about was the postseason. This team has that look, and we can partially thank the Wizards for fueling the fire.
April 27th, 2008 at 6:08 am
[...] Brian Windhorst, Akron Beacon-Journal: "This was the most complete game the Cavs have played since the trade, which was two months ago today by the way. It may have been the most complete game they have played all season. While the Wizards talk very confidently, I think they are actually playing very tentative while the Cavs have executed their game plan with sharp focus. Gilbert Arenas is limited by his knee, Caron Butler does not look 100 percent, DeShawn Stevenson is not dealing with the extra pressure, and Brendan Haywood has not been the same player since the confrontation with LeBron in Game 1. Eddie Jordan said he did a "horrible job trying to keep our guys in an organized fashion." Antawn Jamison said as a captain he has done a bad job of "controlling this team." [...]