LeBron goes West, Cavs go home up 3-1
Posted April 27th, 2008 by bwindhorst
Cavs 100, Wizards 97
–By my count, this game was the sixth time LeBron James has beaten the Wizards with a pass or a shot in the final minute of a playoff game. His short jumper in Game 3 in 2006, his baseline layup past Antawn Jamison in Game 5 the same year, his pass out of the double team to Larry Hughes, who passed to Damon Jones for the winner in Game 6 (hockey assist). Last year in Game 3 he hit Sasha Pavlovic out of a trap for a 3-point to clinch Game 3 here at the Verizon Center. Then this year his two shots in Game 1 and the pass to Delonte West today. Wizards are sick of this stuff.
–In Game 3, Cavs were 2-of-16 from 3-point range, which made their handling of the double teams on LeBron seem weak. Today they were 13-of-28 (though that is a lot of 3s, man) with Delonte West and Daniel Gibson going 9-of-15. Major, major difference.
–After the game, LeBron said DeShawn Stevenson hit him with a closed fist on the flagrant foul in the first half. I have since seen some photos that support that but it was not clear. Also, he seemed to go for the ball. I suspect the Cavs will push hard to have him to have the foul upgraded but it probably won’t happen. Here is the thing, people who know DeShawn have told me they think he’s crazy enough to attempt to go head hunting for LeBron in Game 5 if he thinks it is over just because of how personal this has all gotten. We’ll see.
–Seemed to be three emotions coming from folks at Verizon Center. One, they were frustrated they’d just lost another close game to the Cavs, who they are still sure they are better than. Two, they think LeBron is a cry baby for complaining about the fouls. Three, this series is over.
–I am not sure Gilbert Arenas taking the final shot was the best move for the Wiz and Eddie Jordan said as much after the game. He thought he should’ve maybe used him as a decoy considering he has not made a 3-pointer since Game 1. Plus Caron Butler was hot at the moment. But I guess you’ve got to give the ball to the superstar in that spot and ask to make a play. That’s what the Cavs did with LeBron and he passed.
–A factor down the stretch was that LeBron had five fouls. That is why he pulled up for a 15-footer on the second to last possession because he was concerned about an offensive foul. The officials had already called him for two in the game. He was more prone to shoot jumpers, which is why he was not as effective in scoring in the fourth. Especially in the last three minutes after he got the fifth.
–Earlier this season Daniel Gibson told me he’d never had a technical foul called on him in his life. Now, he’s got two including one today after he shoved Brendan Haywood in the, ahem, man area. Boobie said that Haywood was hanging on the rim and sort of in his face if you know what I mean so he pushed them away. I’ve seen the replay and he’s right. Haywood has had some good games in this series, but he’s also been, um, staying over people in a disrespectful manner to quote LeBron.
–A huge factor in this game was Joe Smith, who had more rebounds himself (8) than the entire Wizards bench. Plus he threw a great pick on Antawn Jamison to make sure Delonte West had shooting room on the final shot.
Pregame
Starting lineups
Cavs: Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, LeBron James, Ben Wallace, Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Wizards: Gilbert Arenas, DeShawn Stevenson, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood
Officials
Joey Crawford, Bill Spooner, Michael Smith. Joey Crawford, enough said.
–Arenas will start because he said he felt better in practice yesterday. That left knee of his is messed up but he’s rested it a lot over the last five or six days. So he may be able to play just 10 minutes or he may be able to shoot well like he did in Game 1. Nobody knows, not even him. The Cavs said they are preparing themselves like he’s going to play his 25 minutes.
–The Cavs have vowed to be more ready for the Wizards’ pressure today. Some of it just comes down to decision-making and some of it is aggressiveness. Frankly, they Cavs were not ready mentally to come in and play here in Game 3. Most playoff games here have not featured such an intense crowd or the vigor from the Wizards. So they’ll probably have their difficulties at times, but there they promise a better mindset.
–A key in this game will be the benches, I think. In Game 2, the Cavs was excellent and in Game 3 the Wizards were great. Antonio Daniels and Andray Blatche played their best games of the series while Daniel Gibson was a turnover machine, Joe Smith was a foul machine and Anderson Varejao didn’t do much. The contribution from those guys is something to watch.
–Before the game, LeBron seemed to be pretty focused to me. I think he’s tired of hearing about Game 3, and he is surely tired about DeShawn Stevenson. He said everything has become way too commercial. Pat McManamon wrote about it in his blog if you want it. Frankly, I am just tired of the junk. It was fun, we in the media had fun with it, but this series is entering is guts and it is time to focus on basketball and not trash talk and rappers. LeBron sounded as if he was and I am sure DeShawn and the Wizards feel the same way.
–The Cavs have decided to put away their blue uniforms, which have been a playoff standard for three years, and go with the wine. For whatever that is worth. LeBron said they hadn’t played well in the blues all year. I guess he keeps track of that stuff.
Halftime — Cavs 54, Wizards 44
–This is the reason the Cavs got themselves Ben Wallace, he had a large hand in changing the game in the second quarter. He has proven he can’t do it every night anymore, but he can do it at times. When the Wizards were up by eight, both Wallace and Delonte West got very aggressive defensively and it flopped the momentum. The Cavs had eight fastbreak points in their 23-4 run and Wallace had seven rebounds. Also, the Wizards starting missing some shots. They were just 4-of-21 in the second quarter after shooting 80 percent in the first quarter…and only leading by four.
–LeBron James’ got fired up after Stevenson hit him with a flagrant foul. His energy level increased and the Cavs came with him. It is at these times when he takes over games that he becomes the transcendent player. In the Washington Post today, Stevenson said LeBron isn’t the kind of player who keeps you up at night like Kobe. If LeBron has another second half like the first, I predict DeShawn won’t sleep well tonight. He spent a lot on the outside in the early going but started driving in transition after the foul.
–The Wizards were playing zone and keeping the ball from Zydrunas Ilgauskas early in the second quarter. They were doing an excellent job and the offense was stalling out. Mike Brown then went with a small lineup with Wallace at center and James at power forward and it started the turnaround. Brendan Haywood was unable to take advantage of Wallace and the Cavs defense picked up. Joe Smith later came in to balance it out more.
–I refresh my idea about fining Anderson Varejao for each dribble. But I suspect he’ll have an impactful play or two at the defensive end in this game.
–The Cavs have 12 second-chance points, a huge factor in the game. They scored 54 points and only shot 43 percent in the first half.
–The Cavs had 11 turnovers in the first half, which is still a lot. But it only cost them eight points, they were lucky it was not worse. On of the reasons is because the Cavs have stolen the ball right back about three times, at least twice by West.
–Expect the Wizards to get hot from the floor again, but we’ll see if the Cavs’ defense keeps up. That is where the Cavs are winning the game right now.
Postgame
Stars
LeBron, 34 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists
West, 21 points, five assists
Jamison, 23 points, 11 rebounds
Butler, 19 points
Quotes
Mike Brown: “Not only can he score, not only can he rebound, but he’s got the ultimate trust in his teammates. That’s why he’s going to go down as the best player in this game.”
LeBron: If we were in the park where I grew up, something definitely would’ve happened (on the flagrant). I guess they want to hurt LeBron James this series. It isn’t working…. Do I think they can (make a comeback)? No.”
Jamison: ” “That’s why he is LeBron James. It’s just unfortunate for us.”
April 27th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Well so much for being tired of all the drama. Clearly Lebron doesn’t know how to handle it.
Jay-Z Joins The LeBron-DeShawn Feud>/a>
April 27th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
I really, really wish Anderson Varejao would stop trying to drive with the basketball. He either loses the ball or has it stripped every time he does that. And I wish his teammates would stop giving him the ball 12-15 feet away from the basket with the shot clock running down.
April 27th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I love the Cavs defensive instensity in the second quarter. They are doing a great job of disrupting the Wizards halfcourt offense by denying, getting in the passing lanes, contesting every shot. Wallace, Smith and Ilguakas own the boards.
Oh, and thank you DeShawn Stevenson!!!
Keep it up Cavs!!!
April 27th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
- andy needs to stop trying to create (the funny thing is , aside from lebron , he is the only one who looks to create)
- lebron needs to stay away from the 3 point line (i don’t care how made they make you)
-devon needs never to dribble unless there is a straight, unobstructed path to the basket
-daniel needs to stay in that attack mode and not just running across the court and finding a spot to nestle in
April 27th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
It was almost completely overlooked by the broadcasters (probably because Mike Tirico was blathering on and on about something completely periferal to the game), but it really hurt to have Lebron pick up his 4th foul at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Lebron hasn’t be able to attack the basket the entire quarter because of that.
April 27th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Huge shots by Gibson and West during the game, hard-earned win.
April 27th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Boo-hoo. I won’t be seeing in Washington for Game 6. Good luck with Boston.
April 27th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
game over
April 27th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Play Defense, rebound, knock down the open three…while Lebron puts up his typical numbers.
Cleveland will make some serious noise in the post-season following that formula.
Nice win!
April 27th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
What was the deal with that post-game interview with West? It lasted like one and a half seconds, maybe two. I don’t know what her name is, but she was like the second coming of Jesse Owens and Carl Lewis, she whipped that microphone away from his mouth and moved it to James at the speed of sound. She would have pointed it at Billy Thomas or at a ballboy if James wasn’t standing there to salvage her career, she couldn’t have possibly gotten it away from West any faster. It would have made some super TV if she blurted out, “Delonte, I’ve been black my entire life, and even *I* don’t know what the f*ck you just said!”
April 27th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I think we can live with a few mistakes from Delonte West as long as he stays aggressive on the offensive end. The idiots out there will focus on the turnovers, but the big shots, the hustle plays, and his ability to push the ball up the floor in transition are HUGE for this team. Unfortunately, there arent many Chris Pauls in the league. He and Gibson were a fantastic one-two punch today.
Close these guys out in game 5 and let’s get rested up for the Celtics. I cant wait for that series…
April 27th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Good to finally get a solid win on the road with the new guys.
Good to see they have a short memory too with that embarrassment the other day.
April 27th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Delonte gets the GAME BALL today, he came up huge after a bad game on Friday. Winners must do that. He’s the hidden gem of the trade; he finally gives us a for-real PG who can beat teams off the dribble and shoot when need be — that he has some 3-pt range is GRAVY. And, b/c of his young age, he is growing and can grow more along w/ the best player in the game. I thought Windhorst’s article was a bit harsh on our point guards after 1 clunker in Game 3…
I also wish Windhorst would give Ben some more love — he’s been huge at huge times for us and everything he does, like altering shots and forcing TO’s, don’t always show up in the Stats column. I also wish Windhorst and others would be more critical of Andy. He’s hurt us much more than Ben — w/ Andy’s horrible/stupid dribbling and trying to create, and contributed much less. Why Mike continues to feature Andy more than Joe Smith — a MUCH better overall player than Andy, particularly in these huge games, is beyond me.
April 27th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I’m starting to wonder if the Cavs might have been doing a little coasting near the end of the season just to make sure they got Washington in the playoffs. They appeared to be playing like crap the last 15-20 games of the season, and now they are like a different team.
Hmmmmmm. A little coasting to ensure you get the weakest team in Round 1?
April 27th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
They put forth a team effort today and it was good to see someone besides LeBron step up. By the way that punk Stvenson shoould have been thrown out. And ABC needs to find some better commentators soon.
April 27th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Cavs were lucky to get this win. A lot of those 3s weren’t exactly open but they knocked them down, which they deserve credit for but they can’t expect to shoot 46% from 3 again. They didn’t use Lebron off the ball at all in the 2nd half and the offense really suffered, hopefully they look at that in the game film. They need to go back to establishing Z early, he becomes lost in the game if he doesn’t get worked into the offense from the beginning. I’ll take the win though, the crowd should propel this team to a game 5 victory provided they don’t lay an egg like they did in game 5 of the Nets series last year, anyone remember that game? I hope people don’t, I hate to remind people of that game
April 27th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Ricky - I agree that they lucked out with the threes - but come on, how many times have they been UNLUCKY with threes. At some point shots drop.
The Cavs won this game because of 1.) LeBron and 2.) Rebounding.
Plain and simple.
Total domination on the boards made up for almost losing because of turnovers.
April 27th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Here’s a clip from my new song dissing DeShawn….enjoy!
http://eighty81.com/v2/?p=1765
April 27th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
It’s kinda sad that we consider delonte and gibson making their open threes as lucky. About every other team in the league would kill to have their guards shooting so many unguarded, unmolested threes every game.
Gutty win by the Cavs. I hope we have what it takes to close it out at home.
April 27th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
joe smith needs to get more minutes.
April 27th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Yeah, somebody needs to Youtube that post-game Delonte West interview with Pam Oliver or whoever the hell it was. There was that awkward 2 second pause after he said his thing (”they was late”) where she just sort of stared at him increduously and whipped it over to Lebron. Just classic.
Anyway, nice win. Rebounding was the difference. Lebron falls in love with those threes when he makes a couple and it seems to get him out of synch. Take it to the whole, Lebron. Good to get a win with him a non-factor in the fourth.
April 27th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
What did Delonte say that was so confusing? He basically said that the defenders were late … LeBron drew the defenders, found the open shooter … and that’s what makes LBJ such a great player. As for why the interview was so short, we all know why … they had only planned on interviewing LeBron, but when someone else played the hero they “had” to interview him too … but of course you can’t keep the King waiting.
Great win though, especially considering LBJ only had about 6 points the last 20 or so minutes. Very demoralizing for the Wiz, but an all too familiar ending for them. Energy will be the key for the Cavs in Game 5 … the home crowd will be fired up, and the Cavs should have all the motivation in the world to shut the Wizards up once and for all.
April 27th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
7:15 pm and no update?
April 27th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Thanks for posting that link. Hopefully all the reporters get their hands on it.
April 27th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Yeah seriously what is the delay with the updates? BW is slippin
April 27th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
bw has to write the abj article right after the game, he said it a few games back.
delonte said something about the wizards being “mans down with their hands down.”
i also can understand what snoop says in the wire if anyone would like some balmore translation…
April 27th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
There’s over 400 posts on the Wizards blog. Constantly, instantaneously updated. That’s what NBA blogs do. Come on BW, upgrade the software package. We Clevelanders have enough to justify an inferiority complex…now we have the the slowest, most primitive sports blog in the country.
April 27th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Tucker - I laughed out loud when I read your comment about Delonte’s post-game interview. The clip, by the way, is on espn… unintentional comedy at its best.
As for the Cavs… they gotta close it out at home and rest up for the bloodbath that will be Cavs v. Celtics. I can’t wait.
April 27th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I saw the postgame interview with West and didn’t think anything of it. The reporter had both West and LeBron there, so she figured she’d split her time between them. She asked each of them just one question.
As far as this blog goes, I’ve been clamoring for weeks to have it posted on Topix. That’s the message board website that the ABJ links their stories to. Even though we’d still have to wait three hours for Windy’s final comments, at least we’d be able to see each other’s posts in (near) real-time, rather than waiting an hour and then having a bunch of them show up at once.
If the league wants to protect LeBron (and its ratings), they better do the right thing and suspend the scumbag (aka DeShawn Stevenson) for Game 5. The series is over anyway…..they might as well save themselves from some bloodshed.
April 27th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I’m sure many of you have seen the infamous “sock” video. If not, here’s the url
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6nmHflqcAo
Great insight into the mind of Delonte
April 27th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I’ve said 4 or 5 games all along. It’s going just as planned. Although, I wish Z would stop playing like a coked-up Herman Munster.
April 27th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Hey, no fair at all, Charlie. You had the “Ebonics - English Dictionary, 2008 Extremely Revised Edition” in front of you and your TV set. Neither that black chick speaking regular English, myself, nor doc had that kind of outrageous advantage. The last time I saw that sudden “oh-oh” combination look of fear and stoned disbelief on a television sports interviewer’s face was that millisecond when Jim Rome suddenly realized that Jim Everett wasn’t kidding.
April 27th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
“Notes: Above Stevenson’s locker, there was a sheet of blue construction paper Jordan gave his players before the series began. Drawn by a member of team’s basketball operations department at Jordan’s behest, it’s labeled ”Wizards Climb” and includes drawings and phrases meant to inspire. There are stick-figure men swimming to ”.500” shore, others are climbing a rock labeled ”Cleveland.” There are boxes around words such as ”Disciplined Aggression” and ”Will and Determination.”
this is too funny–this is going to motivate the team? This is the coach that the announcers are saying has “energized the Washington franchise”? I’ve always felt the reason most NBA teams lose is not using enough construction paper with idiotic drawings and phrases.
April 27th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Let’s hope Mike Brown has a plan of action for if Deshawna tries to fight Lebron. Like: send Dwayne Jones out there to bust up his grill.
I too can tell what Snoop from The Wire is saying. I love that show.
April 27th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
It’s time the league suspends Stevenson or fines the Wizards coach or something. How many times has LeBron been clocked in the skull this series? It’s ridiculous.
April 27th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
You all have me laughing tonight… or maybe it’s the Cavs’ win that’s got me juiced. I think we’re all on the same page, so to summarize for Mike Brown and co.:
1. get Joe Smith more minutes
2. keep cleaning the glass
3. keep Boobie healthy
4. get Delonte more looks
5. end this thing in five, for the love of Sasha.
April 27th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Wow! Some win today! BUT,Very disturbed with the blatent flagrant fowls against Lebron. Not hard…just plain dirty.Whether you like him or not Lebron has been a class act and is part or the NBA future. I see this classless Cap group possibly putting him out for the remaining playoffs or worse if these fouls are not more closely called.
Throw out some suspensions… at least for the remainder of the game!!
April 27th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
alan - I’m not sure why “LeBron did a great job of drawing the defense and he kicked it to a wide open shooter … that’s what makes him such a great player” requires a dictionary.
I don’t know what Delonte meant by “hands down mans down” either but for goodness sakes, why bring race into it? Why can’t the man just be a bit crazy?
April 27th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
good job cavs.
and i agree with brittle fingers about the blog. hey brian, you can take your time posting your comments. it is the reader’s comments that would good to have updated regularly.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Hans down, mans down? Come on, Charlie, what’s that, a reference to a guy passed out on the deck of a submarine? I don’t care if West can’t speak the Queen’s English, let alone speak halfway coherently, but that broad interviewing him sure as hell did, and that’s what made it such unexpectedly funny TV. No way she was going to ask a follow-up. I can imagine what the panicked director was screaming in her ear. “Sweetheart, help is on the way, look to your right!!!” She did a lightning 180 from West so fast, she nearly broke LeBron’s jaw.
April 27th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Where is Biff? I count on his treatises to make sense of the world…
April 27th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
So what’s the consensus on “Hands down, mans down”? Boxing term? Gibberish?
http://www.lecavs.com/2008/04/hands-down-mans-down.html
April 28th, 2008 at 2:01 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxGz6_23tUo&feature=related
much better incite into delonte…i just realized that the cavs have a knack for picking up players lebron dunks over. he dunked over delonte last year, and damon’s last season in miami lebron straight jumped over him and dunked on him too…
great win though, effort was solid and we won with z having an off night, cant complain about that
April 28th, 2008 at 2:33 am
“I was going to say somethin’, but I’m gonna get myself in troubles.” West isn’t much of a basketball player, but he is a poet. But it’s real lates, time for me to go to beds.
April 28th, 2008 at 2:56 am
It’s a boxing phrase. Your opponent put’s his hands down he leaves himself open for the knockout punch, hence “man’s down.” He was referring to the fact that the Wiz left him open (hands down) to hit the game winner, or the knockout punch if you will (man’s down). It’s really not that complicated.
April 28th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Whatever. The important thing is the black chick didn’t know what in the world he was talking about, she felt like the world was sinking at her feet, and she couldn’t have gotten out of that interview any faster. High comedy. If not for James, I think she would have intentionally induced some morning sickness on the air just for an excuse to get out of there. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m20TSyaEEHc
April 28th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Anyone have the link to a video of the flagrant from yesterday?
April 28th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Where is David Stern? Any idiot TV viewer saw Stevenson clinch his fist, wind up, and take a full swing at LeBron’s head. Not the ball. LeBron’s head. And this gets simply a Flagrant 1 and no ejection?
We all saw it. LeBron’s posse saw it. Jay-Z and his dangerous rapper thugs saw it. And I sure wouldn’t want to be DeShawn Stevenson in a dark alley. Nope, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if Wednesday night is the *last* NBA game that jerk ever plays in. Boy, you’re dealing with a high-profile star, whose Soprano-like friends want him in NYC. I’d say that was a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig mistake taking that swing. Sweat much?
April 28th, 2008 at 11:33 am
I too am a little worried about what type of tactics this team may resort to when they realize it’s all over late in Game 5. Hopefully we can build a big lead and get LeBron out of there before they go Tonya Harding vs. Nancy Kerrigan on him.
http://clevelandchamps.blogspot.com
April 28th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
alan , i still don’t understand the comment about the interviewer not being to understand delonte with her being black and all
April 28th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
i didnt watch all of the game but i seen deshawn stevenson clearly punch lebron james in the head and all he got was a flagrent i think he should have been ejected from the game
April 28th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
yeah the game it was amazing i missed some of the fourth Q
but i thought it was really good go cleveland and go LBJ
April 28th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
everything will be fine as long as delonte gets a post-game interview after every game.
here are some actual quotes from his days on the celtics…
-”My game is not speed. My game is finesse…and sexy…and chocolate…and all that good stuff.”
-”Bugs Bunny is the smoothest dude I ever met. You know, he be chillin’, like it just be a normal day and he– it be cold just like how it is in Boston and he just want to dive in the ground, pop up, and he be like, ‘oh man, this ain’t Albuquerque.’ That’s got to be the tightest life, you just hop underneath the ground and go! No traffic, no Mass Pike, no tolls, no lights, no taking Yankees hats off– just underneath the ground…BAM…carrots…Albuquerque. It might seem crazy to you, but it’s just a different way of expressing myself. I think it’s kind of freaky.”
April 28th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Dear WorldBfor3:
I am still here and I am still watching. I promise to post a Cavs-Wizards series recap and Celtics preview post just as soon as we put the finishing moves on the Wiz on Wednesday.
-Biff
April 28th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
you dog he did not try to punch the king in the face he was clearly truing to go for the ball
hollA HOLLA HOLLA PLAYER
April 28th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
They need to put DJ in there to take a swipe at Deshawns head. If DJ gets ejected, no big deal since Coach Brown doesn’t play him anyways.
April 28th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
i hate the cavs the wizards were good the cavs got lucky
April 28th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Link to the Jay-Z song they played in the club that started all the trouble before Game 4. It’s not that bad really.
http://www.prefixmag.com/media/jay-z/deshawn-stevenson-diss-mp3/18370/
April 28th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
hey cleveland. win a championship.
April 28th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Stevenson- Childish unknown man - you have stepped over the edge. A fist thrown at the head means only one thing and you had better be ready. Personally, I can’t wait for this series to be over. The Wizards have to be the most immature adults and that goes for your fans too!! Go Cavs and finish this so we can - “MOVE ON”!
April 28th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Hey Washington….win a first-round series.
April 28th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
“well, umm they was late.” “hands down, mans down, home”
-delonte west on his final shot on national TV
anyone know what this means? what a terrible interview, why didnt she follow up on that?
April 28th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Stevenson didn’t use his fist. His hand was open. He made a play on the ball and actually got a piece of the ball. It was a lot like Anderson Varejao’s flagrant on Andre Blache except from behind instead of a direct slap to the face. Flagrant 1 was appropriate.
April 28th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
1) Flat out, Cavs have taken it to the Wizards this series. 3-1 series lead. Playing very well, and ‘Bron plays with the heart of a lion.
2) Quick question though, does no one see that LeBron says some pretty damn asinine (albeit subtle) things? Just one quick example is after game 4, LeBron is asked about “How huge was that shot for Delonte West?”
James response: “…The biggest thing wasn’t Delonte making the shot, but in him knowing I have confidence in him when I passed it off to him…”
Typical King-James-centric speak.
3) Anyhow, Cav’s got a squad that goes pretty deep. Sippin some hater-ade, but hat’s off and congrats.
April 28th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Here’s a photo of the alleged closed fist. Funny his fist looks like an open hand to me.
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20080427/i/r2942651612.jpg
April 28th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Here’s a photo of the alleged closed fist. Funny his fist looks like an open hand to me.
April 28th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Here’s a photo of the alleged closed fist. Funny his fist looks like an open hand to me.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Go Wiz:
I agree with you on some of LeBron’s comments. He exudes what I would call a “subtle arrogance” at times. I attribute it to the fact that he was being called “King” ever since he was a young teenager. It’s been ingrained into his mind. I actually give him kudos for being as classy as he has been. He’s a lot more mature and level-headed than many other stars in the league.
On the comment you mentioned though, I think he meant it in a good way…..I think he was trying to say that it’s good that Delonte knows that LeBron trusts him and can count on him in the clutch.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Yeah, that proves it bowie. One instantaneous photo. Take your Zapruder film, shove it up your anus, and crawl back to the DC where you can start studying for the NBA draft because your season is over. Maybe you can grow a chin tickler like Deshawn and hang out at Hannah Montana concerts all summer.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
So where’s a photo of a closed fist? Um, there isn’t one cuz it didn’t happen. So Lebron should quit saying it did.
Yeah, you guys are winning. I feel pretty bad about that. Makes it so I can’t say much. But your team and fans are just as much jerks as my team and fans. Thats all I’m saying.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
the plain dealer had a before and after pic of the swat at lebron. it was not a closed fist. who cares anyways? the wiz are getting the butt kicking they deserve.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
All I know is Stevenson wound up and swung with all the force he could muster. Seriously look at his face when he does it. It is a “I’m gonna knock your frigign head” off type face. BTW that postgame interview with West almost killed me. He’s a baller and so far has been the most important player of that trade. LeBron is arrogant but then again every NBA player is. He trusts his teammates and that is what counts.
April 28th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Is what Stevenson did that big a deal? Seriously. Yeah, pretty dirty, but all part of playoff basketball. Ferry himself used to fake like he was trying to block the ball, and instead went for a guy’s melon every time. I haven’t looked nor cared to look around for any Ferry quotes about the issue, but I sure hope he hasn’t commented negatively about Stevenson, because that would be a major dose of the pot calling the kettle black. If it wasn’t James getting his scalp swatted, would anybody really care?
April 29th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Delonte West is a fantastic interview, and a gutsy young point guard. Hell, he’s already hit more clutch shots than Damon Jones has hit since he got here. Lay off West, Alan. Just because he’s prettier than you?
Seriously tho, Alan, first a bunch of closet racist remarks about West and Pam Oliver, and now pot shots calling DANNY FERRY (possibly the softest player in NBA history) a dirty player? Weak, as always.
Just do yourself a favor and go bet your double-wide on Boston next series. After dropping two straight to Atlanta, suddenly your only hope of looking credible (”no way the Cavs beat Boston next round, no way” - Alan T) now looks to be very vulnerable. Must suck to be you.
Attn LeBron and co:
Stick that fork in em tomorrow night, and twist it a little bit!
April 29th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Josh, seriously dude. Get a grip. Racist comments? Please.
And Ferry indeed was a dirty player. Soft, a stiff, and dirty. If you don’t know that, then you really don’t know NBA basketball.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:01 pm
I’m sorry Al, I didnt realize you were making a lame attempt at humor. I just find a different type of humor in you ripping West’s lingo, yet I’m not allowed to call out the illiterate buffoons on this site for flunking 9th grade English. At least Delonte West is entertaining and harmless.
So are you a hypocrite, a racist, or do I intimidate you? Combination of the 3 perhaps?
Furthermore, your obsession with Ferry really needs to stop. It’s getting creepy…
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
[...] Windhorst, Akron Beacon Journal: "After the game, LeBron said DeShawn Stevenson hit him with a closed fist on the flagrant foul in the first half. … I suspect the Cavs will push hard to have him to have the foul upgraded but it probably won’t happen. Here is the thing, people who know DeShawn have told me they think he’s crazy enough to attempt to go head hunting for LeBron in Game 5 if he thinks it is over just because of how personal this has all gotten." [...]
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
[...] Windhorst, Akron Beacon Journal: "After the game, LeBron said DeShawn Stevenson hit him with a closed fist on the flagrant foul in the first half. … I suspect the Cavs will push hard to have him to have the foul upgraded but it probably won’t happen. Here is the thing, people who know DeShawn have told me they think he’s crazy enough to attempt to go head hunting for LeBron in Game 5 if he thinks it is over just because of how personal this has all gotten." [...]
May 3rd, 2008 at 3:01 am
[...] Windhorst, Akron Beacon Journal: "After the game, LeBron said DeShawn Stevenson hit him with a closed fist on the flagrant foul in the first half. … I suspect the Cavs will push hard to have him to have the foul upgraded but it probably won’t happen. Here is the thing, people who know DeShawn have told me they think he’s crazy enough to attempt to go head hunting for LeBron in Game 5 if he thinks it is over just because of how personal this has all gotten." [...]
May 5th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
[...] antics became so extreme that Brian Windhorst worried about possible headhunting. He became so distracting that his team captains essentially told him to shut the hell up. He got [...]