"We played selfish basketball and we tried to pad the stats and not play to win the game.  You're going to get blown out, and that's exactly what happened tonight.  It's just disappointing.  We talked about how we knew they (Cavs) were going to be ready to play.  I thought we did a decent job defensively.  Offensively, we played like crap.  And, this team (Cavs) is too good of a team to have a team not moving the ball and not doing the things you need to do in order to win."

Then there's Gilbert Arenas, who had said he wanted to play in Cleveland against the Cavs. When he returned, Arenas said he would play home games and certain road games, including Cleveland – because of the rivalry.

 "Before the game, Arenas sat in front of his locker-room stall, looking at a calendar on his computer and plotting his workout plans for after the season ends," wrote Michael Lee in the Washington Post.

"When asked why he didn't want to stick it to the Cavaliers, who were hoping to extend their impressive home record, Arenas said, 'I already did.' He then went on to mention how he helped end the Cavaliers' 13-game win streak last week in Washington."

Michael Wilbon wrote an excellent (and highly recommended) column in the Washington Post detailing the divergent paths the two teams have taken since that playoff series three years ago. Remember that one? That featured LeBron and Arenas taking turns making incredible shots, LeBron's tip-toe act in overtime for a winning layup and LeBron talking Arenas into somehow missing two free throws.

Washington's Antawn Jamison (yes, one of my favorite players), summed things up this way: "The way it's looking, the Cavs are going to be the favorites. And we've got to create a new identity."

Jamison said much more, though, and it was highly complimentary of the Cavs.

"That's a franchise and a team that gets it," he said. "LeBron has put himself in that elite category. Then, they know who runs the show on the floor, and nobody on that team does anything outside of what he should be doing. Even when we're healthy, are we going to do that? Are we going to sacrifice? They don't care who's the second-leading scorer or who gets the minutes. We have to find out if I'll be able to sacrifice two or three points a game. Can Caron go down to 19, even 18 points a game? Does Gilbert need to go from 30 down to 25, maybe to 20? That's the biggest challenge for us in the future, I presume. I like our pieces. But what are we willing to do, in-house? …

"Every year we talk defense. But they went and got better defensively . . . committed to it. And LeBron's their only guy you'd really call a lock-down defender. Otherwise, it's team defense. They figured out how to get better defensively."

It does not sound, incidentally, like we will see Arenas tonight.  Michael Lee of the Washington Post wrote that Arenas will be a game-time decision.

"Arenas said he is motivated to make sure that the Wizards do not finish with the worst record in franchise history. 'We cannot finish with 18 wins,' Arenas said. 'We get one more win, I'm done.' … When I told him that the Wizards actually need two more wins because the 82-game record for fewest wins is 19, Arenas said, 'You sure?' I told him I was pretty sure and he said, 'I might have to change my plans.'"

Jayson Stark of ESPN.com says the Indians are about to trade Casey Blake to the Dodgers for a hard-hitting catcher and hard-throwing pitcher. It would be a shame to see a good guy like Blake go, especially because he’s hitting and having a decent year. This is a trade I scratch my head about a little bit. Winning teams have guys like Blake on the roster, and if the Indians plan to win next year it might be a good idea to have him on the roster.

The optimism at Browns camp really is bubbling over. Part of me says that’s great, that the fans deserve optimism and the Browns are coming off a 10-win season. But another part of me says that I’ve seen a lot of “optimistic” openings to training camp since 1999, and that optimism went south in a hurry. So let’s be optimistic, but let’s also give it some time – like until a game is played – before putting the bubbly on ice.

Hear that the Packers made it clear to Brett Favre soon after the season that they did not welcome him back. So Favre has been operating under the impression since February that Green Bay wanted to “move on” (as if he has rabies or something). This notion baffles a lot of inside-football folks, who think it’s poppycock to think that the Packers will be as good with Aaron Rodgers as they were with Favre. As was mentioned, Mike McCarthy brought in a brand new offense and new terminology when he was hired three years ago. Favre struggled the first year, got better the second and showed he understood things last year. He should be able to pick right up this year, yet the Packers tell Favre they do not want him back? Makes no sense. Zero. Zip. Nada. There’s one concept in professional sports: Win. Teams try to win, fans cheer to win. I don’t know anyone who buys a ticket to see a team try. They buy to see the team win. Period. Somehow in five months Aaron Rodgers became a better quarterback than Brett Favre. I repeat: Makes no sense.

Anyone see what Washington’s Gilbert Arenas had to say about losing to the Cavs two of the past three years in the playoffs? Here is is, according to the Washington Post sports blog: "It's kind of when you think about it. Everybody says we can't get past Cleveland. Cleveland beat us one year, that was three years ago. The other years they've just been beating up on some hurt dogs. We just want to get our fair shot when we're healthy at the right time, because two years we showed what kind of team we are….We were rolling, we were top five in the league, and that's what kind of team we are when we're healthy. When we're healthy that's the kind of team we are, we're a top five team in the league." Arenas was asked what he told his teammates after the playoffs: “You guys played the whole season without me and you guys made it to the playoffs. Tell Cleveland to play without LeBron. I don't think they won a game last year."

Of course, the Metro ought to be good. We all paid for it with our tax dollars.

At any rate, the Verizon Center folks are handing out white T-shirts. They want a "white-out" in the arena. With all respect, these folks really haven't lived a white-out until they've been in our parts in January or February.

Hot rumor making the rounds — and it's posted on the Washington Post site — is that Gilbert Arenas will start and not be the sixth man. This will push Antonio Daniels to a substitute role, but it raises questions. Will Arenas have his minutes extended? He has been limited as he comes back from a knee injury. What is the thinking? Instant offense? A fast start? Get the crowd excited right away? Is he uncomfortable coming off the bench?

To me, it sounds a bit desperate. But then again, we're not even totally sure it's true. The answer will come when starting lineups are announced.