Game Thread: GAME 4: Washington vs. Cleveland 4/27/08

[RickRoll_inDC]

vs.
WHERE:The Verizon Center- Washington, D.C
WHEN: Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 1:00p.m ET


STARTERS
WIZARDS

Antonio Daniels****DeShawn Stevenson****Caron Butler****AntawnJamison****Haywood

Cavaliers

Delonte West****Wally Szczerbiak****LeBron James****Ben Wallace****Ilgauskas

KEYS TO THE GAME
MATCHUP: Roger Mason Jr. vs. Daniel GibsonStreaky scoring 6th men will dramatically help the cause. They could cancel each other out by both being bad or good, or they could change the game completely with one being on and one being off.


OFFENSE:Will Gilbert Play?The main reason for starting off well in Game 3 was that fact that Gilbert started. If he doesn't start in game 4, or play for that matter, the offensive key to the game is to move the ball like we did for the entire regular season without Gilbert. Mostly, Daniels needs to be a facilitator like Gilbert was for his 10 minutes in game 3.


DEFENSIVE:What did we do in game 3? Do that all over again. We didn't blow out Cleveland by outstanding offense, I think everyone know that. Defense was absolutely spectacular, and the players need to be motivated enough to come out and play like that again.


ROLE PLAYER:Andray Blatche Blatche showed real promise in game 3 displaying skills superior of that of the regular season Blatche. He was aggressive and making strong moves around the basket. Blatche will have to show Anderson Varajao up again in game 4, because Varajao will be out for blood.


We brought it back to a 1-2 series, but 2-2 is much better than 1-3. Let's tie it up heading back to Cleveland.

[tkunit]

Lets try to ride some momentum and even up the series.

[miller31time]

We have momentum and are coming off a game where we shot well. For a streaky team like the Wizards, it's all about momentum. Whether Gilbert plays or not, I see us taking this game with the home crowd behind us.

The key, however, is to play the inspired defense we did in game 3. Our offense might have been good (and it was), but what got our offense going was our defense. I definitely like the top of the key trap on LeBron when either Ben Wallace or Anderson Varejao are in the game. That seemed to work out well. I know it sounds much easier than it actually is, but don't let LeBron turn that corner when coming off of a screen. When he gets some speed, he won't be stopped.

[Wizards2Lottery]

No margin for error. We have to win this game or else the series is over in 5. We win this and I think we give ourselves a great chance to win in 7 and I won't be surprised if we pulled out a win in 6.

Come on Wiz, the Cavs suck.

[omarvelous]

Chicago repeat. We win next 3. This one by 11.

[closg00]

A gimpy Gil out there will hurt us. I hope to see periods of BTH & AB out on the floor together, that works for us.

[miller31time]

A gimpy Gil out there will hurt us. I hope to see periods of BTH & AB out on the floor together, that works for us.

A gimpy Gil got us started off fast last game, and is a big reason we were able to start to take control of the game.

Remember, he was contemplating not playing before the game started, but played the first 10 minutes knowing fully well he wouldn't be able to play longer. It's not like he just injured himself at the 10min mark, and that's why he had to go to the locker room.

If he plays on Sunday, he's be just as healthy (if not more) than he was on Thursday, and there's no denying that he was a positive influence last game, in limited minutes.

[Donkey McDonkerton]

A gimpy Gil out there will hurt us. I hope to see periods of BTH & AB out on the floor together, that works for us.

A gimpy gil like Thursday is still AWESOME, did you see those passes? A gimpy Gil trying to be the man like Monday, will hurt us.

[newslowsad]

-= original quote snipped =-



A gimpy gil like Thursday is still AWESOME, did you see those passes? A gimpy Gil trying to be the man like Monday, will hurt us.

Can't wait for the game. I'll be in section 118.

[Sixersftw]

knock off the cleveland lebrons again guys. you just gotta take one at cleveland cause they can't do crap on the road.

[miller31time]

knock off the cleveland lebrons again guys. you just gotta take one at cleveland cause they can't do crap on the road.

If the damn PHI/CLE game weren't rigged, the Wizards might not even have to worry about winning in Cleveland.

[JWizmentality]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7lACiRYOjzM

[Donkey McDonkerton]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7lACiRYOjzM

http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=784076

[closg00]

-= original quote snipped =-

A gimpy Gil got us started off fast last game, and is a big reason we were able to start to take control of the game.

Remember, he was contemplating not playing before the game started, but played the first 10 minutes knowing fully well he wouldn't be able to play longer. It's not like he just injured himself at the 10min mark, and that's why he had to go to the locker room.

If he plays on Sunday, he's be just as healthy (if not more) than he was on Thursday, and there's no denying that he was a positive influence last game, in limited minutes.

Point of clarification. What I meant to say was, that I hope whatever caused him to leave the game the other night is has cleared up sufficiently so that he does not try to "play through" any kind of pain etc.

[Wizards2Lottery]

I think Gil can take this game off and come back for game 5. We can take out Cleveland at home without him but we need a cold blooded assassin like him on the road. Hes one of the few players on this team who's shown the ability to have big games in hostile environments when it matters.

[Sixersftw]

-= original quote snipped =-



If the damn PHI/CLE game weren't rigged, the Wizards might not even have to worry about winning in Cleveland.

well the nba had to try out their new instant replay somewhere and why not with lebron. unannounced. after they've lost. while in the hunt for the 5,6,7th seed.

sigh.

kill em' guys.

[omegatronic3]

i dont really think Gil helped us last game..with him in there our D was Horrible. Maybe it was an emotional lift but that's about it.

The key in this game will be to not let Cleveland get off to a good start and the only way to do that is through D. They missed wide open shots last game so i'd expect those to go in. I liked the Blache Haywood combo so hopefully we see more of that

[TheKingOfVa360]

i dont really think Gil helped us last game..with him in there our D was Horrible. Maybe it was an emotional lift but that's about it.

The key in this game will be to not let Cleveland get off to a good start and the only way to do that is through D. They missed wide open shots last game so i'd expect those to go in. I liked the Blache Haywood combo so hopefully we see more of that

I agree, We have to come out with the same fire in game 4 and 5. We to play great defense and double team at the right time.

[nate33]

Count the steps:

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

LeTravel could also be called the Cleveland Three Step Man

The Wizards should pipe in Lynrd Skynrd "Gemme Three Steps" every time James touches the ball.