Wizards » Turn back the clock
By: Kevin Dunleavy
Examiner Staff Writer
April 2, 2009
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| LeBron James and the Cavaliers swing into Verizon Center Thursday night for a prime-time matchup against the Wizards. (Getty Images) |
Wizards host LeBron, Cavs tonight at Verizon
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Cavaliers at Wizards
» LeBron James leads Cleveland in scoring (28.3 points per game), rebounding (7.7 pg), assists (7.3 pg), and steals (1.8).
For three years they were mortal enemies in the Eastern Conference, their annual playoff clash, filled with drama on and off the court.
But this year, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards, quite literally, couldn’t be further apart. While, Cleveland (61-13) is in first place in the Eastern Conference, Washington (17-58) is last.
So what happened? While the Cavaliers gained an All-Star guard, Mo Williams, and some other key pieces, the Wizards lost an All-Star guard, Gilbert Arenas, and some other key pieces. Cleveland is thinking NBA championship. Washington is thinking lottery. What a difference a year makes.
Remember the White Out? Remember “over-rated”? Remember Soulja Boy face-waving at Verizon Center? Was it really just 11 months ago?
Tonight when the Cavaliers face the Wizards on national TV (TNT), there will be little at stake. That doesn’t mean, however, that the rivals won’t put on an entertaining show. The last time they met, on Jan. 4 at Verizon Center, the Wizards rose up for an 80-77 victory.
The Cavaliers LeBron James was called for traveling on the final possession and adopted the term, “crab dribble” to explain how referees are unable to detect his stealth moves in the lane. With that, another chapter was added to Cavs-Wizards lore.
Washington, which played last night at Memphis, has a chance to end Cleveland’s franchise-record 13-game winning streak. The run has virtually assured the Cavaliers of home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
