Can the Wizards beat the Cavs in the playoffs?

[cfan79]

I think they can if they are at full strength. Of course Cleveland has one of the best players in the league, but they have little else. It won't be a cakewalk this year for them.

Washington has there own big 3. Antawn is having maybe his best season ever leading the way to a decent record. Plus they aren't even playing with their franchise guy Arenas. Whose Cleveland going to put on those guys? Big Ben who has been playing like an old man and Boobie Gibson who doesn't show up every game?

The Chicago trade looks like it has really hurt the Cavs. Gooden is an underrated player who provided offense for them. Offensively challenged Ben Wallace his replacement couldn't get a shot in by himself.

Good Luck the rest of the year guys

[doclinkin]

Playoffs! PLAYOFFS! We're just trying to win a GAME. PLAYOFFS?!

[MJG]

I don't see why not. It's not like Cleveland is anything special. Just another random decent team.

Of course, they could easily beat us too. After all, we're just another random decent team as well.

[Donkey McDonkerton]

Can they? MOST DEFINITELY! Will they? That's a different story. Lebron is good enough to carry a team, as we found out when we played him and the d leaguers right after the trade. With that being said, I def think they took a step back after that trade, and I could see him getting tired trying to carry the new group in a series. That, along with getting Arenas back could definitely put us in a great position to win.


edit to add:

It's funny because D.Gooden and Larry Hughes were two reasons why they always beat us. Gooden has some amazing games against us, and Larry brought his game against us (his old team).

[Soup's Uncle]

Agreed. I think we match up great against them.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

It's tough to play 5 on 6.

[DallasShalDune]

We might have won the past two years if not for bad luck, and a tidbit of choking by us. The refs, and the lack of healthy allstars, are the only big reasons that we lost. The refs will not favor LeTravel and his Traveling Circus every game, just 9/10. lol

They could beat us if we're both at full stregnth, and have, but we can most definately beat them as well.

[cfan79]

I agree, Washington might have beaten them last year. Now what would the Cavs do with what could be a better Wizards team? I think Arenas absence has actually helped your team. Because once Gilbert gets back there will be guys that are coming off the bench with confidence.

[RickRoll_inDC]

Playoffs! PLAYOFFS! We're just trying to win a GAME. PLAYOFFS?!

being a long time (if you can call my young life long) colts fan, this was great for me

and yes, with Gil back and running full speed, we can beat the Cavs 4 out of 7.

[BigA]

Yes. Would like our chances much more with home court--gained a half game tonight. But those 4-7 slots in the east are up for grabs. Maybe the Sixers pass both the Wizards and the Cavs, for example.

[omarvelous]

we've shown we can beat the cavs in the regular season, we just never seem to get it done in the playoffs. but I'm really liking the way our team has been playing this year, and if we get everyone (Arenas) back, it is a HUGE possibility.

[cfan79]

After yesterdays game against Detroit I'm feeling more and more confident in the Wizards chances. All the Pistons had to do against Cleveland is crowd the lane and prevent Lebron from going in.

[miller31time]

I love that Haywood isn't afraid to give The Queen a hard foul when he attacks the basket, and it's clear that, once that foul occurs, James tends to stray away from taking it to the hoop.

[TheKingOfVa360]

I like our chances but it won't be easy. Between the refs, Lebron exploded, and the Cavs rebounding it will be tough. I do think we would beat them in 7 games and probably 6 if we have home court. I like the way we match up with them if Arenas plays because no one on their team can guard him or Butler. Also Jamison will pull Ben Wallace out the paint with his jump shooting style of play. Haywood will have to contain Big Z like he usually always does. Should be a great series if we match up.

[hands11]

Yes


There are so many stories to unfold before we have to worry about this though.

Talk about jumping the gun with a thread.

Where are all our band the poster guards?

[fifthstop]

Of course!

Just based on the regular season, you have to say it's at least 40/60 or 50/50. If the wiz get HCA, then it goes to 60-40.

Plus the wiz are peaking at the right time. Clv is spinning in circles like a ship with a broken rudder right now. Plus if GA comes back, even (or especially) as a 6th man, the wiz will probably have to be considered the healthier team of the two. And they match up very well with the new-look squad.

My bet is if Gil gets back and integrates well (a very big IF), they go to (and lose) the ECF. There's no team in the EC they need to be afraid of right now. And if they do, say, knock off Clv and then Bos, it shouldn't be a huge surprise. Look how they've been playing the top teams all season. And, freakishly, they're getting better. It's like the exact opposite of last season's arc.

If they beat LA tonight, the Cavs will have very real reason to be concerned.

My $.02

[Wiz99]

We ought to be concentrating on maintaining the 4th seed. We're tied with Toronto in the standings, and Philly is one game back. All of us have schedules that would look a little tough if this were the regular season, but now have to be considered reasonably friendly since teams with seeds locked in (Detroit, Boston) or no chance of making the playoffs (Chicago) will probably be mailing it in.

We need to go AT LEAST 5-3 over this last stretch to keep the 4 seed, and we better aim for higher.

I think this could all be decided by a few games: who wins when Les Wiz and Philly meet on the 3rd to last game of the season on the 12th? All three of us play Detroit in the last week: Detroit won't lose all three of those, pride won't allow it - who falls behind with an untimely loss?

[RMJ]

It's tough to play 5 on 6.

100% CORRECT