4* - Washington Wizards (+5?)
The Wizards have dominated the Cavaliers winning the last three of their four games this season with the average score in those match-ups falling at 101.5 ? 97.0. A big factor in their success against the Cavs is the manner in which they have played LeBron. While James averaged 31.4 points during the regular season, in the games against the Wiz he has only averaged 24.3 points per game and was held to 17 points last Sunday in a 104-92 loss in Washington. The Cavaliers are glad to have Larry Hughes back but he has averaged only 13 points in eight games since his return from a 45 game absence.
While LeBron gets all the pub, the Wizards have their own star in Gilbert Arenas who averaged 29.3 points per game. He has surpassed 30 points, 42 times this season and has gone for at least 40 points in 11 games. In Washington?s last five games, Arenas has averaged 34.4 points including the 35 points he dropped on the Cavs last Sunday followed by a 43 point performance over the Bucks two days later. Arenas is complimented by Caron Butler who had 33 points and 12 rebounds in Cleveland?s season finale while Antawn Jamison added 21 points and nine rebounds as the Wizards completed a regular season sweep over Detroit.
That?s right, while Detroit lost only 18 games this season, three of those losses came at the hands of Washington. I like the sound of that and wouldn?t be surprised to see an upset this afternoon in the first playoff game of Lebron?s career.
The Wizards have dominated the Cavaliers winning the last three of their four games this season with the average score in those match-ups falling at 101.5 ? 97.0. A big factor in their success against the Cavs is the manner in which they have played LeBron. While James averaged 31.4 points during the regular season, in the games against the Wiz he has only averaged 24.3 points per game and was held to 17 points last Sunday in a 104-92 loss in Washington. The Cavaliers are glad to have Larry Hughes back but he has averaged only 13 points in eight games since his return from a 45 game absence.
While LeBron gets all the pub, the Wizards have their own star in Gilbert Arenas who averaged 29.3 points per game. He has surpassed 30 points, 42 times this season and has gone for at least 40 points in 11 games. In Washington?s last five games, Arenas has averaged 34.4 points including the 35 points he dropped on the Cavs last Sunday followed by a 43 point performance over the Bucks two days later. Arenas is complimented by Caron Butler who had 33 points and 12 rebounds in Cleveland?s season finale while Antawn Jamison added 21 points and nine rebounds as the Wizards completed a regular season sweep over Detroit.
That?s right, while Detroit lost only 18 games this season, three of those losses came at the hands of Washington. I like the sound of that and wouldn?t be surprised to see an upset this afternoon in the first playoff game of Lebron?s career.
