When Charles Barkley calls you stupid for taunting opponents, it’s time to take a deep breath.
The Wizards have flat out challenged Cleveland superstar LeBron James’ manhood entering the playoffs on Saturday. Guard DeShawn Stevenson — who last time I checked was the fifth wheel on the Wiz — called King James “overrated.” Guard Gilbert Arenas followed by saying everyone in the NBA wants Cleveland, which has floundered over the last two months.
Add that Cleveland has beaten Washington in the playoffs the past two years and many just wish the Wizards would be quiet and play the games. But then, that’s old school. Coaches are ego managers nowadays so even Eddie Jordan can’t scold players into silence.
I’ll do it for him — shut up until you win something.
Will the Wizards’ bragging cost them the series? Probably not. James may be pumped for one game or two over the statements, but that won’t carry over a best-of-seven series. Still, it’s never smart to talk smack until things are over, and even then it should be limited. Otherwise, karma will pay you back.
“I think for them to rile up LeBron, who’s the second-best player we’ve got in the NBA … I think that’s just stupid,” said Barkley on a TNT conference call. “I thought [the Wizards] had a chance to win that series. I don’t think that any more …
“I think the Washington Wizards have got to be the dumbest team in the history of civilization.”
When Joe Namath predicted a Super Bowl win, he didn’t call out the Colts’ best player. It’s OK for the Wiz to believe they’re going to win. Finally healthy for the first time in two years, they could advance two rounds. But you don’t rag on James, who took the Cavs to the NBA Finals last year after personally knocking out the Wiz in the first round.
Certainly, you don’t act showy when the team has done very little in the last, oh, 29 years. Since before most of the players were born. This group has won one playoff series over three years. Sure, just reaching the playoffs was better than the decade before, but it has been three years since reaching the second round. Maybe the Wiz should work on victory speeches rather than trash talk.
Arenas is just coming into form after missing nearly the entire season following knee surgery. He claims to be the No. 1 buzzer beater in the game. Certainly, Agent Zero hits big shots, but if you could choose James or Arenas for your team, it’s James without pausing.
If Washington loses this series — and you never know with three starters barely healthy — they won’t say mea culpa. They’ll just collect their checks and enjoy the offseason. It will be fans who’ll agonize over idiotic player statements. Players should leave dumb statements to fans because at least the latter will suffer for their stupidity.
Let’s hope the Wiz play a smarter game than they are off the court.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
