Cleveland Cavs v. Washington Wizards 2007 NBA Playoff Predictions


June 6, 2008 | Posted By Larry Cook

Lebron James now has the playoff experience he needs to get his team further in the playoffs. He recorded a triple double in his first game of the postseason last year and scored 41 points in his first ever road playoff game. After last year’s first round win over Washington, the Cavs get to see the Wizards again this season. That series was one of the best match-ups of 2006 with three games being decided by 1 point with Game 5 and Game 6 going into overtime. The Cavs came out on top in both extra-session games.

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This series shouldn’t be nearly as dramatic, but if the Cavaliers overlook the Wizards then they are asking for trouble. The #2 seed Cavaliers are expected to win this series in a sweep due to the loss of Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler. It will be a big letdown for the NBA fan without the Arenas vs. James showdown in 2007. In Game 5 last year, James put up 45 points while Arenas stayed right with him and put up 44 points himself.

Gilbert Arenas has supposedly been involved despite the fact that he will be wearing street clothes. He called Larry Hughes, the points guard for Cleveland, and said that this series will not be as easy as they expect it to be. His trash talking is adding a little more juice to this series, but it’s too bad we won’t be able to back it up starting Sunday. Lebron responded by saying that his trash talking doesn’t make sends because he’s not even playing.

For the Wizards to have any chance, they are going to have to slow down Lebron James. “He’s a beast,” said Washington’s Jarvis Hayes. “Their whole team is fueled by what LeBron does. We have to slow him down a little bit. He is going to make plays to some degree, because he touches the ball so much and takes so many attempts. We cannot make it easy for him to get his teammates easy shots or for him to get easy shots for himself.” Hayes and Etan Thomas will have to force Lebron to take jump shots and foul him when he decides to go to the hole. The Wizards are fully aware of Lebron’s woes at the free throw stripe and will take full advantage of it.

James said he hasn’t felt this well in months. “I feel good,” he said. “I’m ready for the postseason.” Cavs coach Mike Brown will be anxious to see what James can do in this series. “I never doubt or question the great ones, I just sit back and watch,” Brown said. “I’ve seen guys of his stature or nature rise to the occasion come playoff time.” James won’t have to be on his “A” game to win this series, but he better show up to play.

Antawn Jamison has proven that he can do some damage himself. This Wizards’ star put up 48 points against Orlando on the 17 th of April and has all the tools to put up nearly 50 on any given night. Deshawn Stevenson is underrated and can shoot lights out with any player that Cleveland has to offer. These two guys will have to carry the scoring load. Antonio Daniels is also and underrated point guard and should be able to create many open opportunities for Jamison and Stevenson with his ability to penetrate. Don’t count the Wizards out just yet, though it doesn’t look very promising for Washington in this series.

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