Halftime of Cavs-Wizards
Posted April 19th, 2008 by Pat McManamon
All the talk that the words of the Washington Wizards didn't matter … forget that. This is going to be a heated, intense series. The first half was near violent, with LeBron James twice getting clubbed on the way to the basket and then responding with an elbow to the jaw of Andray Blatche, the guy who clubbed him. Late in the half, things got very heated when Brendan Haywood gave James a cheap foul at midcourt, and then stood over James without moving while James was on the ground. LeBron didn't like that.
In a halftime interview on ESPN, James said: "Both sides need to calm down. Including myself."
Mature viewpoint from James, who clearly is the object of the Wizards' attention. Washington has decided to play thug-ball with James, with Blatche the guy who did the first muggings. James' elbow was a response — though it would be nice to think a teammate might also respond. Haywood's late foul got things ratcheted up more, and even got Zdrunas Ilgauskas — who does not like Haywood — involved. Z was quite pointed as the two sides pushed and shoved at midcourt.
Clearly there are bad feelings between these teams. Prior to the game, James shook hands with no one. James always, always shakes hands and greets opponents. This time, he walked to his position next to DeShawn Stevenson and did not even acknowledge the Wizards.
The officials did not help — they totally missed Blatche clubbing James in the mouth at the end of a drive. That led to a second hard foul by Blatche, a foul the Wizards seemed to appreciate. Which led to James throwing an elbow at Blatche's jaw. It was evident early this game could get out of hand. And it almost did.
The animosity between these teams is palpable (like a buzz). It will be intense. Look for the officiating to tighten up considerably as it progresses. The feelings in this first game are as intense as many longtime courtside observers could remember.
By the way … James' slam on the break, one-handed, fullspeed, on a pass from Gibson … amazing. And were it not for Z, the Cavs would not be in this game.
