First Round Playoff Preview: Washington v. Cleveland
Things I thought in early October, and things I think right now.
By Ryan Jones
Last fall, in the insightful and entertaining style that has long been my hallmark, I previewed the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2007-08 season.
I did a great job. No surprise there.
As I summed up at the time:
“The Cavs will win 48 regular-season games, beat someone like Orlando or Toronto in the first round, and lose to Boston or Detroit or Miami in the second round. It’s not abject failure, but it’s not progress, either. Questions will be asked. Futures will be debated. LeBron won’t pull a Kobe next summer, but he won’t be happy, either.”
Ok, so I shortchanged Orlando slightly and gave Miami a wee bit too much credit, but I’m pretty damn close on the Cavs’ record, and despite the team’s midseason overhaul, I’m guessing the rest of it will be proven pretty on-point as well.
I’ll be blunt: I sure as sh*t don’t see the Cavs playing in June. Granted, I didn’t see them playing in June last year, either — nobody did — but this year’s different. Last year, all their primary competitors for the Eastern Conference crown had serious flaws. This year, there’s team MVP Paul Pierce and his terrific supporting cast on the Celtics, whose flaws are awfully hard to locate. I cannot imagine a non-injury scenario in which these Celtics can be beaten by these Cavs in a seven-game series.
I’m also not convinced these Cavs will even get that far. Maybe I’m selling LeBron short (not something I’m often accused of), but no matter how well he’s playing, I could absolutely see them losing in the first round this year, and as stated, there’s no way they get past the second.
Now I guess I should talk about the Wizards, who are, I’m told, facing the Cavs in the first round of the playoffs for the 18th time in the last four days. The Wizards are, in their own way, a nice little story. They benefited from overcame the loss of GilZero to win 43 games, which is not exactly great, but at least good enough to get them back into the playoffs. If we’d known that Roger Mason, Andre Blatche and Nick Young would all score more points than Gilbert this season, I imagine most of us would’ve predicted the Wizards’ season to end with a high Lottery pick, or perhaps a D-League invite, not a playoff berth. So good for them.
They’ve got motivation on their side, too. Apparently — and I did not know this — Gilbert Arenas has a “blog.” I find this interesting. Here’s what he recently wrote in this “blog”:
Three years straight of the same two teams facing each other is hard to do. Like I said the last time I blogged, this is a team that we feel comfortable playing in the first round. One of the reasons is because they made roster changes midway through the year and they really haven’t gelled together yet. And, it’s a hype game…
Something else Gilbert said in his blog:
Now that we’re playing those guys again, I think everybody is going to have their eyes on it. Especially since the media is hyping it up.
“Did you see what Gilbert said in his blog????”
I put that in my blog a week ago. I said we wanted to play Cleveland so we needed to win some games. Then the four and the five seeds were locked in yesterday and it was set for us to play the Cavs and everybody was like, “Oh, Washington is playing Cleveland, Gilbert must have just blogged!”
NOW I’m blogging. This is the updated blog.
Blogging! That’s a fun word.
Anyway, the Wizards. This season, Antawn and Caron reminded us that they’re both really good players, and DeShawn reminded us that he’s a loon not bad either. The rest of the roster does have sort of a D-League ring to it, but then, so does much of the Eastern Conference. Party.
But I think all that any of us need to know about these Wizards is that we (fans, media, that blogger guy with the hat who’s not Gilbert) have spent a lot more time this season talking about the guy who barely played, and what he “blogged” about, and how we all sort of got tired of him, and also about how DeShawn Stevenson is a loon, than we have about what these guys do when they’re wearing their matching tank tops and running around with on the court. Which tells me they’re not a serious contender for much of anything this year…
…which sort of makes them like the Cavs, only less compelling in an actual basketball sense, because you can’t really see these Wizards contending ever, at least not as presently constructed.
One man’s opinion, of course.
The point I’m stumbling toward is that the outcome of this series doesn’t matter. Not cosmically, of course, but not really in the scope of this NBA season, either. My guess is that, when we look back on LeBron’s career in 10 years, we’ll talk about how this was the season his Cavs took a half-step backward, because he simply couldn’t put an entire roster on his back two years running. It might even be the year before the year he decided he’d have to leave Cleveland if he ever wanted to win anything. Or not. Just a guess. (Don’t quote me on that, especially if you used to work for the Cavs and you have a website urging LeBron to leave Cleveland. If that applies to anyone. Thanks.)
That said, I’ll go with… Wizards in 6. LeBron’s back’s gonna lock up on him in Game 2 or 3, I’m guessing, and try as he might, Devin Brown simply won’t be able to make up the loss. Ben Wallace doesn’t care, Damon Jones sucks, etc and so forth. The Wizards will be inspired to finally shake the Cavalier-shaped monkey from their collective back, and the chance to lay down for slaughter at the Celtics’ feet would mean a lot (or at least a little) more to folks in D.C. than it would in Cleveland.
Or maybe LeBron will stay healthy enough, and inspired enough by DeShawn (who I understand is a loon), and they’ll finish this thing off in five or six. I don’t mean to hedge. I just don’t really care. Bron proved me wrong last year, and I’d love it if he did it again, both because the playoffs are more interesting when the League’s best players stick around a few rounds, and because, if the Cavs somehow do miraculously get back to the Finals, recent history tells us they’re guaranteed to beat the best team from the West.
Right?
Right. Now: Here, if you’re curious, is a recap of the teams’ head-to-head matchups this season, which should almost but not quite give the impression that I did some research on this:
Game 1 (CLE@WAS, 12/05/07) Wizards 105, Cavaliers 86 — Gilbert and LeBron missed the game with injuries. Caron Butler scored 27 to lead the Wizards, who outscored Cleveland 31-13 in the second quarter, which essentially decided the game.
Game 2: (WAS@CLE, 1/23/08) Cavaliers 121, Wizards 85 — Big Z went for 24 and Bron added 23, 8 and 8 for the Cavs, who put this one away with a 43-17 third-quarter run. Brendan Haywood led all Washington scorers with (wait for it…) 11 points. That’s hard to do. Gil, obviously, DNP.
Game 3: (WAS@CLE, 2/22/08) Cavaliers 90, Wizards 89 — Roster-wise, one of the least telling games any two teams played all season. Gil and Caron missed with injuries for Washington, while the Cavs — fresh off their big mid-season trade and with Boobie, Sideshow and Sasha all injured — had only eight players suited up. Three of them were Billy Thomas, Dwyane Jones, and Kaniel Dickens, which explains why Damon Jones started and played 44 minutes. Nothing in mankind’s capacity for knowledge can explain how he scored 27 points. LeBron? 33, 15, and 8, because he’s f*ckin’ valuable. Darius Songaila (!) led the Wizards with 19.
Game 4: (CLE@WAS, 3/13/08) Wizards 101, Cleveland 99 — LeBron (a poor-shooting 25, 7 and 7) and the new-look Cavs (minus Boobie and Big Z, both injured) fall to DeShawn the Bronny Stopper and the still-Gil-less Wiz, seven of whom scored in double figures.
And what does the season series tell us? Nada, nada, nada, not a damn thing. Both teams won on their home floor. Two close games, two blowouts. Gilbert missed every game, and the Cavs started drastically different lineups in three out of four. You can talk all you want about their familiarity, but as currently constructed, these two teams (the Cavs, in particular) have almost no common history. There is no precedent to tell us how these Wizards, with a healthy Gil back on the floor, will match up with the post-trade Cavs.
Which has made the reading and writing of this preview an utter waste of all our time.
But, yeah, Wizards in six. Why not.
58 Responses to “First Round Playoff Preview: Washington v. Cleveland”
Apr.18 at 11:02 am
Hursty says:
i agree Jones, maybe 7. well see
good to be first on one of your posts.
Apr.18 at 11:02 am
Hursty says:
i agree Jones, maybe 7. well see
good to be first on one of your posts.
Apr.18 at 11:04 am
Hursty says:
oops. sorry.
Apr.18 at 11:06 am
Hursty says:
sarcasm from Jones? NO! this is so… unusual…!
Apr.18 at 11:08 am
Bryant Reeves says:
Reverse psychology from Lebron’s #1 nut-hugger?
Apr.18 at 11:11 am
Winslowalrob says:
Ryan Jones = Gawd. Except for the fact that the Wiz will totally take the Celts in the next round, and that Lebron is, in fact, overrated.
Apr.18 at 11:11 am
Myles Brown says:
“The point I’m stumbling toward is that the outcome of this series doesn’t matter. Not cosmically, of course, but not really in the scope of this NBA season, either.” It may not matter in the story of LeBron, but tell that sh*t to the C’s who dropped 3 of 4 to the Wiz. Ryan is a loon.
Apr.18 at 11:13 am
Ryan Jones says:
You got me, Big Country. LeBron reads my columns for motivation. Nothing else seems to work for him. Without me, he’s no better than Kobe.
Also, I thought I was a d*ck-rider. It’s hard to keep these things straight.
Apr.18 at 11:19 am
Mike says:
Google Deshawn Stevenson’s NBADraft.net profile from a couple years back and look at his NBA comparison. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! No wonder why he has such a big head!
Apr.18 at 11:20 am
Eboy says:
I can’t believe Ryan actually wrote a basketball piece that pretty much stayed on topic.
Apr.18 at 11:22 am
Ryan Jones says:
Wait — are 1/4 of the commenters on here so far really stating (or strongly implying) that the Celtics will lose to f*cking Washington? Really? REALLY?
That’s awesome.
A promise: If the Washington Wizards beat the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2008 Eastern Conference Playoffs (without aid of major injuries to prominent Celtic players, obviously) I will never ever post on Slamonline ever again.
Apr.18 at 11:22 am
Hursty says:
that is pretty unusual E.
Apr.18 at 11:23 am
Bryant Reeves says:
I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt on that final pun. As long as Gil doesn’t have to hit free throws, the Wiz might take it.
Apr.18 at 11:24 am
Hursty says:
wow Ryan. Can we hold it to you? or get JONES tattood onto your back for punishment instead? we would (maybe? defintely) miss you and your smart @ss posts
Apr.18 at 11:26 am
H to the izzo says:
Interesting argument,Jones but you’re wrong.If Cavs fail to beat these Wizards,I will buy you some form of mantle ornament.
Apr.18 at 11:29 am
Hursty says:
i will not be Izzo.
Apr.18 at 11:31 am
Ryan Jones says:
Also, by the “logic” of his argument, Myles implies that if the Cavs manage to get back to the Finals this year, they would be favorites to sweep the Lakers.
Apr.18 at 11:34 am
Hursty says:
ok…. not happening but ok. i would prefer to see Boston and Washington in the finals instead of the semis but Detroit and Boston is how it should be (and will be) i feel that if the wiz win round one then they will take boston to 6-possibly 7 games.
Apr.18 at 11:34 am
Myles Brown says:
Let it go.
Apr.18 at 11:37 am
TADOne says:
This was….interesting. Can I please have my 5 minutes back?
Apr.18 at 11:37 am
Ryan Jones says:
“Let it go,” he says. Good one. Still haven’t picked your MVP, I assume?
Apr.18 at 11:41 am
Myles Brown says:
No, I’m just not finished with my rousing and informative Wheel of Fortune analogy that encapsulates it all. Christ. My initial comment was not implying that the Wiz will definitely win that series with the C’s should it happen, but that the C’s would certainly be remiss in overlooking them. Now let it go.
Apr.18 at 11:43 am
Ryan Jones says:
I look forward to your second-round preview, then, in which more big words like “encapsulates” and “remiss” and “C’s” will no doubt feature prominently. Honestly, Myles, I’m just sick of your hypocrisy, and I’m trying really hard to get you fired. Rumor is, it’s working. Sorry.
Apr.18 at 11:45 am
H to the izzo says:
The sexual tension here is unbelievable.
Apr.18 at 11:52 am
Hursty says:
ryan truly outg!yed himself this time
Apr.18 at 11:54 am
Hursty says:
im in the sh!t now. oops.
Apr.18 at 11:56 am
DP says:
If I were LeBron I would go to management and beg for Larry Hughes back. I’m just sayin……………..Wally World? Kid hasn’t been good since his run with Sam I am, KG, and choke-a-coach Sprewell. They better hope somebody comes in the draft this year for them. Russel Westbrook? Donte Greene? Kenny “The Great Whooper” George? only time will tell. play wit it.
Apr.18 at 11:56 am
Mike says:
Ryan! Ryan! Ryan!….
Apr.18 at 11:57 am
Ryan Jones says:
Yes, Myles and I are engaged. Yes, the wedding planning’s been really frustrating, and yes, it’s boiling over here. Hand in hand, we apologize. I think both of us are going to go back to work now, and we’ll try not to go to bed angry tonight.
Apr.18 at 12:02 pm
Myles Brown says:
Just dont hog the covers this time.
Apr.18 at 12:10 pm
riggs says:
sometimes i wish there really was a time traveling DeLorean, and now is one of those times.
Apr.18 at 12:23 pm
lol says:
Cmon washington. You’re helping the greater good.
Contradictive report
Apr.18 at 12:27 pm
Hursty says:
Jones i suggest you make a pre-emptive strike on the new Devin Ebanks post.
Apr.18 at 12:31 pm
DP says:
Devin the dude is going to Memphis. I talk to this guy on the regular on facebook. ask about me.
Apr.18 at 12:42 pm
Lz - Cphfinest3 says:
LeBron will devour the Wizards with the Beard being his favorite dish on the menu. I’m predicting 40+ ppg. and/or near trebledouble averages.
Apr.18 at 12:51 pm
ikemob22 says:
I hate LeBorn. Wizards in six sounds fun
Apr.18 at 12:58 pm
backboard says:
come on, how are you gonna have jones write this preview?
I haven´t read it yet, but….
Apr.18 at 1:07 pm
backboard says:
……. now i have to eat my words. Thats why i like this ryan guy! Wiz in 7
Apr.18 at 1:23 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Never assume.
Apr.18 at 1:39 pm
FLUXLAND says:
Ironically, this is like LeBron and DeShawn going in at it.
Farmer.. nice work, as usual. You and Russ are the best. Although, Russ remains my role model.
Apr.18 at 1:42 pm
FLUXLAND says:
“And what does the season series tell us? Nada, nada, nada, not a damn thing.” Are you implying stats and “facts” are meaningless? WOW! Brown must be having a conniption fit.
Apr.18 at 1:58 pm
BK says:
charlie murphy!!!
Apr.18 at 3:58 pm
sab says:
just 2 yrs ago this was the match-up of the first round, a series of great games and great finishes. LeBron against the Wiz triple threat. i don’t understand your apathy - i’m really excited about this series. i hope the Wiz do it, for a number of reasons. they were unlucky with Caron and Gil’s injuries last yr; Caron has really developed since that 2006 series; and a Cleveland 1st round exit may force them to build something decent around LeBron. And if you don’t think those regular-season wins for Washington vs Boston will play a little in the C’s minds, you’re crazy… Boston may ultimately come through, but it’d sure be an interesting series. c’mon man, you’re a basketball fan, so spread the love and get excited, it’s the playoffs!!
Apr.18 at 6:44 pm
albie1kenobi says:
Ryan doesn’t do the “spread the love and get excited” stuff. that sh!t pisses him off.
Apr.18 at 7:25 pm
sab says:
yeah i’d noticed… but for one of the most hype matchups in one of the most hype playoffs in years, couldn’t you have got someone else to do the writing? i mean if ryan’s so pissed off by all that annoying watching-basketball stuff, i’d gladly trade places?
Apr.18 at 7:47 pm
albie1kenobi says:
i dunno why i’m talking about Ryan like i know him, but i don’t think he’d be pissed off about watching ball, just his attitude in general. he’s the anti-Holly, if you will.
Apr.18 at 9:30 pm
Ryan Jones says:
I’m undoubtedly more jaded than Holly, but I think you guys are giving me too much credit for my capacity to get “pissed off” about a playoff series. I think it’ll be a decent series — hence my prediction of six games and acknowledgement that both teams have a decent shot of winning. All that said, you’re DEFINITELY giving this series too much credit. “One of the most hype matchups”? Really? Most of the “hype” about this one comes from the 70 percent absurd/30 percent entertaining LeBron-DeShawn pseudo beef. As an actual matchup of playoff basketball teams, I can’t imagine anyone honestly finds this more compelling than any of the West series — all of which feature at least one team that could theoretically win it all. If it’s the most compelling first-round series in the East, that’s mostly because the East only has two teams worth a sh*t this year. So that’s my take.
NOW I’m pissed.
Apr.18 at 9:31 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Kidding.
Apr.19 at 4:39 am
lol says:
jus dn’t diss washington. injuries are part of playoffs. players beat up from regular season trying to get playoff spot.
Apr.19 at 4:40 am
sab says:
i thought aggrey’s piece on NO-Dallas was good, and he basically came to the same conclusion as you - that whoever wins will get beaten in the next round. i’m not bothered about how relevant either team is in the long run - here and now, trash-talking, revenge, and the chance to see LeBron do his playoff thing have me excited.
Apr.19 at 4:43 am
sab says:
“If it’s the most compelling first-round series in the East, that’s mostly because the East only has two teams worth a sh*t this year.” - i hear you. the flipside is, in theory the East shouldn’t be interesting until Conf Finals (orlando-toronto? er, no thanks). so i’m glad we’ve been given something interesting for the first round stage.
Apr.19 at 1:52 pm
scott says:
Washington in six. LeBron can’t do it all himself. Who will guard Tough Juice?
Apr.19 at 3:52 pm
J.B says:
no way, lebron is gonna find a way..
trust me.
Apr.19 at 6:15 pm
SebP says:
The Wizards are winning this series without a doubt. They went on a couple cold streaks and were outshot by 20 at the line and still kept it close. Oh and I hate Lebron James, but mocking DeShawn Stevenson was awesome… http://halfcourtheave.com/2008/04/19/lebron-james-cant-feel-his-face/
Apr.19 at 8:17 pm
Joel O's says:
He did it all right.
Apr.20 at 3:10 am
Hursty says:
That alley oop was SICK
Apr.20 at 11:28 am
scott says:
Washington will still win this series.
Apr.25 at 9:37 am
SLAM ONLINE | » Cavs-Wizards Game 3 Recap says:
[…] Beyond that, I’ll reiterate what I so adroitly pointed out in my series preview: This series doesn’t matter. It’s been relatively entertaining, for reasons both good and bad (and to all of you, especially my homie Mr. Bankston, who weren’t really bothered by the Haywood foul: Doesn’t the fact that you’re agreeing with Reggie Miller drive you insane? Because it should). But it doesn’t matter, because both of these teams are far too flawed to give the Boston Celtics the slightest bit of trouble — sure as hell not the Wizards, no matter what any of you have previously committed to internet posterity. […]