Sucky Wizards

What to say about last night's disastrous Wizards game? I suppose the point to make is that LeBron James' 30/12/9 night, though impressive, wasn't really all that awesome. The nature of the Cleveland squad is that you ought to be able to give up that kind of ground to the King and still win the game. The problem is when you let the non-LBJ Cavs shoot 53 percent from the field.

That and, um, you've got to score. People kind of forget that last years' Cavaliers squad's success was really driven by their defense. LeBron is probably the best offensive player in the game, but his teammates were sufficiently woeful last year that the overall Cleveland offense was pretty middling. But the defense was top-notch and credit for that goes well beyond James. Last night, though, the Wizards offense was pathetic. Hopefully my boys can turn things around back in DC.

Comments

I was joyfully and menacingly wringing my hands last night after the Cavs' victory, hoping you would write up a post about how my Cavs dominated your Wiz (your wiz... lol) through and through.

Witness.

Posted by Matthew Struhar (Witness) | April 22, 2008 4:30 PM

I really didn't understand what I was watching--I didn't realize other members besides LBJ were allowed to actually make baskets for the Cavs--all season it seemed like 35% shooting was in their contracts or something.

Posted by Goldberg | April 22, 2008 4:33 PM

These teams are pretty evently matched, but somebody's gotta get smoked every once in a while. The Wiz will bounce back and at least go out honorably.

Calling LBJ overrated may have been a bit foolish. Or asinine. The wiz could have maybe crept up on the Cavs...but come on.

On another note, I hope nobody ever compares me to to Soulja Boy. That has got to sting.

Posted by MP | April 22, 2008 4:36 PM

These teams are pretty evently matched, but somebody's gotta get smoked every once in a while. The Wiz will bounce back and at least go out honorably.

Calling LBJ overrated may have been a bit foolish. Or asinine. The wiz could have maybe crept up on the Cavs...but come on.

On another note, I hope nobody ever compares me to to Soulja Boy. That has got to sting.

Posted by MP | April 22, 2008 4:37 PM

Your Wizards are hopeless. Get over your hatred of Boston and cheer on the Celtics, a glorious team led by this year's Defensive Player of the Year.

YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO. EMBRACE THE DARK SIDE. IT IS YOUR DESTINY!

Posted by tinisoli | April 22, 2008 4:43 PM

2008 NBA All-Star game:

"The fourth quarter was crazy," said Chris Paul. "We were down 13. We picked up the intensity. We took the lead a few times but Ray Allen was unbelievable the way he shot the ball. And that last dunk by LeBron, we had two people on him but that still wasn't enough."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two people is not enough. I saw that last night. Tough to play three on the The King and leave two for the other four. Not Awesome? Pshaw!

Posted by steve duncan | April 22, 2008 4:43 PM

We...drank...your...MILKSHAKE!

Series isn't over - but it's over. Unless Arenas' wrist and knee magically heal, Stevenson and company will get a nice going-away gift of STFU.

Posted by Scientific (Witness) | April 22, 2008 4:46 PM

It could have been even worse for the Wiz. LBJ settled for long jumpers and 3-point attempts throughout the second half, especially when he was defended by Arenas. LBJ should have attacked the rim relentlessly when Arenas was on him. Arenas can't stop LeBron's drive when he is 100%, let alone when hobbled.

Posted by Omar | April 22, 2008 4:46 PM

It could have been even worse for the Wiz. LBJ settled for long jumpers and 3-point attempts throughout the second half, especially when he was defended by Arenas. LBJ should have attacked the rim relentlessly when Arenas was on him. Arenas can't stop LeBron's drive when he is 100%, let alone when hobbled.

Posted by Omar | April 22, 2008 4:48 PM

Start rooting for the Sixers now.

Posted by Sean Carroll | April 22, 2008 4:51 PM

The Saga of LeBron, DeShawn, Gilbert, Jay Z and Soulja Boy has gobbled up all the attention, but the real story on the court in games 1 and 2 was this: Caron Butler needed to dominate the matchup with Wally Sczerbiak, and he failed to do so.

In fact, Wally has actually OUTPLAYED Caron thus far. And I'm sorry, but that just can't happen if this Wizards team expects to win any games. Caron on Wally needs to be the go-to play that kills the Cavs and forces them to adjust throughout the series. We've seen glimmers of it, but neither Caron nor Eddie Jordan have forced the issue like they should. Hopefully that will change, but it really needed to happen before going down 0-2.

Posted by Jake H. | April 22, 2008 4:56 PM

"LeBron James' 30/12/9 night, though impressive, wasn't really all that awesome. The nature of the Cleveland squad is that you ought to be able to give up that kind of ground to the King and still win the game."

Spoken like someone who's never touched a basketball in his life.

Posted by sherifffruitfly | April 22, 2008 5:00 PM

Matt,
LBJ's night wasn't impressive because it was 30/12/9. It was impressive because he was at half speed for most of the last two quarters. It was impressive because it was executed while the Wiz were clotheslining him two at a time.

Posted by C | April 22, 2008 5:08 PM

""LeBron James' 30/12/9 night, though impressive, wasn't really all that awesome. The nature of the Cleveland squad is that you ought to be able to give up that kind of ground to the King and still win the game."

Spoken like someone who's never touched a basketball in his life."

I usually don't believe in that type of oneup, but I have to make an exception here. Are you kidding?

Posted by drinkof | April 22, 2008 5:09 PM

Matt,
LBJ's night wasn't impressive because it was 30/12/9. It was impressive because he was at half speed for most of the last two quarters. It was impressive because it was executed while the Wiz were clotheslining him two at a time.

Posted by C | April 22, 2008 5:09 PM

The nature of the Cleveland squad is that you ought to be able to give up that kind of ground to the King and still win the game.

The nature of the series is that you've got two fairly mediocre teams on the court. In such contests the team with the best player has a huge advantage.

Posted by Jasper | April 22, 2008 5:12 PM

yeah, man. whither tuff juice? been my wizard bete noire since post-chicago in 05 -- offense breaks down in the clutch, in deference to arenas. ovechkin is reminding us what zero aint.

(also wondered last night where wed be today if thibodeau had not changed his mind about joining the wiz before the season...i do dig the hard fouls, tho. and i do hope the dc crowd chants 'overrated.' becuase lebron has plenty more focrced airballs in him -- dude is no kobe.)

Posted by ope | April 22, 2008 5:20 PM

Matt-

Here's what I wrote last night about it. Couldn't sleep.

http://ibreakforbuckets.blogspot.com/2008/04/you-bunch-of-pussies.html

Posted by Sam Jacobs | April 22, 2008 5:27 PM

Matt has been unusually responsive to his commenters lately:

http://matthewyglesias.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/04/the_scumbag_line.php#comment-1968483

Lebron's game was indeed incredible. He's showing glimpses of his full potential -- size and strength like Shaq, quick like Kobe, passing like Magic. He used to show some indecision when facing double and triple teams, but now his basketball IQ is such that he just shreds them. All he needs is some post moves, better judgement/technique with his jump shot, and consistent effort on D and he'll be challenging Jordan at the top of the mountain.

Hey Scientific -- are you the same guy who used to post on the Cleveland.com forums? You were one of the few people who posted good stuff there. Drop by Sane Cavs Talk sometime:

http://fujikuro.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=SaneCavsTalk

Posted by mq (witness) | April 22, 2008 5:42 PM

That was a Message Game. The message came from Commissioner David "Mr." Stern. The message: Don't [mess] with one of The Association's three most marketable players. Ever.

Posted by ed | April 22, 2008 5:49 PM

If the Cavs get by the Wizards--despite paying only $14 mil. more in payroll--they'll lose the Celts. There are, at most, three teams from the East that can get to the Finals, and the Cavs aren't one of them.

Posted by SomeCallMeTim | April 22, 2008 5:54 PM

The Cavs are a very tough team when players other than James shoot well from the outside, and when they stay focused on defense. Which they haven't been doing very often. All the parts were clicking last night, and the Wizards were completely disorganized.

I will take an average game of 30/9/12 from James any night of the week. The big number for him in terms of the playoffs is that 12. Way above average, and because of folks like Wally S____ last night.

Posted by Outside Shooting | April 22, 2008 6:24 PM

As a Cavs fan I feel for you Wizards fans, really I do. Jordan did this to us every year in the playoffs. Every year. The worst of it is the diminishing returns every time you get beat by the same team. The first series was competitive with some great close games. The second was a sweep but injuries played a factor. By now though the Wizards know the Cavs can beat them and this one is probably over in four, maybe five,if they win one for pride at home. If Washington draws Cleveland again next year I just don't think things are going to improve. Play somebody else for mercy's sakes. Throw games and take a lower seed if they must. Detroit, Boston, Hell switch to the West and play the Lakers because anything would be better for the Wizard's psyche than seeing Lebron again in April. The rate of PSTD in Wizards players will rival that of Iraq war vets.(though the Wizards probably don't get screwed on their healthcare so they have that going for them.) Or just have Deshawn Stevenson keep trashtalking James. Maybe that will somehow work out for them in the end.

Posted by tom c | April 22, 2008 7:11 PM

Watching this game I was reminded of the boxing scene in "She's the One". Little brother Mike McGlone is dancing around, slapping his gloves together, running his mouth, talking about how this time he's going to take big brother Ed Burns down. Finally, Burns gets tired of it, sort of shrugs, then drops his little brother with a single straight right hand to the face.

The fact that "She's the One" is a thoroughly mediocre movie and that scene is completely predictable to anybody who has ever seen a movie before only makes the analogy stronger.

Posted by gogiggs | April 23, 2008 9:32 AM

Matt:
With the Wizards down 2 games to nothing, don't you really think they should just step down...you know...for the good of the game

Posted by Truthbeatsfiction | April 23, 2008 10:04 AM

Matt:
With the Wizards down 2 games to nothing, don't you really think they should just step down...you know...for the good of the game

Posted by Truthbeatsfiction | April 23, 2008 10:07 AM

The Cavs have that late-'80s Bulls look to them: carried by one superstar, but dangerous enough to get deep into the playoffs if the other guys step up. Eventually they'll run out of gas because better teams, especially Boston, will contain LeBron through hard fouling and constant double- and triple-teams while totally clamping down on his supporting cast. LeBron will get 35-40 a game, but he won't have anyone else to lean on. Consider it Chuck Daly's Jordan Rules updated for the 21st century.

Posted by AB | April 23, 2008 10:52 AM

The Cavs have that late-'80s Bulls look to them: carried by one superstar, but dangerous enough to get deep into the playoffs if the other guys step up. Eventually they'll run out of gas because better teams, especially Boston, will contain LeBron through hard fouling and constant double- and triple-teams while totally clamping down on his supporting cast. LeBron will get 35-40 a game, but he won't have anyone else to lean on. Consider it Chuck Daly's Jordan Rules updated for the 21st century.

Posted by AB | April 23, 2008 10:55 AM