Playoff GT: Game 3: CLE @ WASH

<div align="center">

<font color="DarkRed">The Cleveland Cavaliers (50-32)</font> @ <font color="navy">The Washington Wizards (42-40)</font>
<font color="navy">Series tied, 1-1</font>
Friday, April 28th, 2006
The MCI CENTER
5:00 PM WESTERN; ESPN
</div>

[div=50%]
<font size="3">Projected Starters</font>

<div align="center"><font color="DarkRed">

<font size="1">(E. Snow, L. Hughes, L. James, D. Gooden, Z. Ilgauskas)</font></font></div>

<font size="1">Leading Scorer: LeBron James - 31.4 PPG
Leading Rebounder: Drew Gooden - 8.4
Assist Man: LeBron James - 6.6
The Bench Man: Flip Murray (13.5 PPG, 2.8 APG, 2.4 RPG)</font>

<font size="3">Backcourt</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/eric_snow.jpg[/imgl]<font color="DarkRed">Eric Snow</font>
PPG: 4.8, RPG: 2.4, APG: 4.2
Snow is not an offensive threat for Cleveland, but he's a very, very smart player. If he can get inside of Arenas' head and frustrate him early, that could lead to a very poor outing for Arenas. Snow has to play tight-nosed defense, something he can do. He can't afford to pickup fouls, especially early, if he does, Arenas could get into a deadly flow.</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/larry_hughes.jpg[/imgl]<font color="DarkRed">Larry Hughes</font>
PPG: 15.5, RPG: 4.5, APG: 3.6
After missing over half of the season with a broken wrist, Larry Hughes is still getting back into the flow. He struggled in game one, but played better in game 2. In game 3, Larry returns to the town that he said he would love to stay in, and he won't get a warm welcoming. Expect Larry to struggle, the crowd will be all over his case from the start.</font>

<font size="3">Frontcourt</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/lebron_james.jpg[/imgl]<font color="DarkRed">LeBron James</font>
PPG: 31.4, RPG: 7.0, APG: 6.6
The phenom, wasn't such a phenom in game 2. He played like a normal kid, struggling, especially when Jared Jeffries locked down. The game plan on LeBron won't change. Gilbert will get in his head while Jeffries plays solid D. The Wizards won't let LeBron beat them, his supporting cast is going to have to step up.</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/drew_gooden.jpg[/imgl]<font color="DarkRed">Drew Gooden</font>
PPG: 10.7, RPG: 8.4, APG: 0.7
In game 2, Drew Gooden was in the zone. He hit virtually anything that left his hands. Don't expect that fire to carry over. The Cleveland team is deflated by their loss, and Drew's no exception. I'm looking for Gooden to grab rebounds and adjust some shots, but that's about it. I'm not expecting a lot offensively from him, unless Jamison completely leaves him.</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/zydrunas_ilgauskas.jpg[/imgl]<font color="DarkRed">Zydrunas Ilgauskas</font>
PPG: 15.6, RPG: 7.6, APG: 1.2
Big Z struggled last game, scoring 9 points on 23% shooting. The only two things he did right was block 4 shots and grab 7 boards. If Cleveland wants to be effective, Big Z will take them, not LeBron. I'm looking for Big Z to take a lot of shots in this one, looking to take the game over and have Cleveland play the game at his pace. Haywood can't stop him all game long, Big Z needs to get going early.</font>

[/div]
<font size="3">Projected Starters</font>

<div align="center"><font color="navy">

<font size="1">(G. Arenas, J. Jeffries, C. Butler, A. Jamison, B. Haywood) </font></font></div>

<font size="1">Leading Scorer: Gilbert Arenas - 29.3
Leading Rebounder: Antawn Jamison - 9.3
Assist Man: Gilbert Arenas - 6.0
The Bench Man: Antonio Daniels (9.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 3.6 APG)</font>

<font size="3">Backcourt</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/gilbert_arenas.jpg[/imgl]<font color="navy">Gilbert Arenas</font>
PPG: 29.3, RPG: 3.5, APG: 6.0
What more can Gilly do? He made the ultimate contribution by getting into LeBron's head and staying there in game 2. Gil is the best player in the league during the 4th quarter, he can get to the charity stripe at will. If it's a close game going into the 4th, look for Arenas to dominate. For the first 3 quarters, I'm looking for a balanced attack of passing and scoring from him.</font>


<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jared_jeffries.jpg[/imgl]<font color="navy">Jared Jeffries</font>
PPG: 6.4, RPG: 4.9, APG: 1.9
His offensive attack? Weak. His defense on LeBron? Incredible. He took two charges from LeBron in the 4th quarter that absolutely shattered LeBron's driving confidence. I'm looking for more lockdown defense from Jeffries in game 3, hopefully he can add some offense to the mix, as well.</font>

<font size="3">Frontcourt</font>


<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/caron_butler.jpg[/imgl]<font color="navy">Caron Butler</font>
PPG: 17.6, RPG: 6.2, APG: 2.5
Another player who played superb against LeBron, Butler also added a lot of offense to the game. In game 3, I'm looking for Caron to be just as aggressive on offense, and more aggressive on defense. There is some bad blood brewing between the Wizards and the Cavs, and Caron is right at the heart. He'll be defending Larry Hughes at times, as well, the guy he replaced. I'm looking for Caron to show the home crowd that he is more valuable than Hughes.</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/antawn_jamison.jpg[/imgl]<font color="navy">Antawn Jamison</font>
PPG: 20.5, RPG: 9.3, APG: 1.9
Jamison was huge for the Wizards down the stretch last game. He hit some key shots that kept things in favor for the Wizards. He's not a defensive threat, but he makes up for it on the boards and with his offense. In game 3, Jamison needs to get every single one of his 20.5 PPG, and snatch more than 9 boards. He needs to control the glass, and the Wizards will be fine.</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/brendan_haywood.jpg[/imgl]<font color="navy">Brendan Haywood</font>
PPG: 7.3, RPG: 5.9, APG: 0.6
Believe it or not, Haywood made the smartest play in game 2. LeBron drove, and Haywood fouled him hard. He sent him a message, nothing is easy in the playoffs. If LeBron wants to drive again, let Brendan foul him even harder. The Wizards aren't going to be LeBron's whipping boys, they'll let him know that he isn't all that he's being cracked up to be. This is Haywood's job, he'll get it done.</font>


<font size="3">Wizards Keys to the Game</font><ul>[*]<font color="navy">Control the Paint</font> - The Wizards can't let LeBron, Hughes, and Murray get into the paint when they please. Etan and Haywood have to lay some wood down if the Cavs' guards get to cute. Controlling the paint and rebounding will be two of the biggest things that the 'Zards can do to secure game 3.[*]<font color="navy">Be LeBron's Head Doctor, Again</font> - This one is for Arenas and Caron. In game 2, they got in LeBron head and forced him into a game that belonged at Ruckers. He was sloppy and lost, scared to touch the ball if he didn't have a wide open shot. Arenas is a smart player, he'll get into his head again.[*]<font color="navy">Pace! Pace! Pace!</font> - The Wizards can't let the Cavs set the pace of the game. This is Washington's home court, they stole home court from the Cavs, now they must defend theirs. Controlling the pace will lead to easy buckets and less turnovers, both are keys to an easy victory.[/list]<font size="3">Prediction</font>

I see this being a relatively easy victory for Washington. They have the momentum going to their home court, and they'll defend it.

Wizards: 97, Cavaliers: 88..

 

The Wizards playoff experience made the difference in Game 2. They established a physical brand of basketball to rattle the Cavs, and I expect more hard fouls in tonight's game.

Caron Butler did an exceptional job on LeBron James, but I think LeBron will make the adjustment tonight and play a lot better for the Cavs. He knows what to expect now, and won't be as flustered when he gets the wood laid on him. LeBron is definitely strong enough to absorb the hard fouls physically, and now he should be tougher mentally.

I think the key to beating Cleveland is shutting down Big Z. I've noticed all year, when he struggles the Cavs lose and in the last game he was 3-13 from the field. The Wizards did a nice job of coming from his blindside to double team him and get him off balance.

This is a crucial game for both teams, but I think there's more pressure for Cleveland to win tonight.

The Wizards are feeding off the lack of respect they're getting in the media. I expect Gilbert Arenas to go off tonight on his homecourt. He's going to get to the line at least 12 times.

 

How was it insane when he got away with two clear travels. One to tie it, and the other to win it. I'm disgusted with the refs being so light on him, but tough on everybody else.

They were obvious travels, if you don't believe me, watch it again. LeBron picked up his pivot and hopped both times, the refs lost us the game, I'm disgusted.

 

So? It's the fact that any other player, it would've been called a travel. If anybody knows anything about Gilbert Arenas, excluding Wizard fans, they'll know that he saw that and he's going to derail the Cavs in game 4.

 

Arenas would've have been in the situation, he would've been at the foul line if it was called, that is why the 'Zards lost.

 

I think I would have been hit with a technical if I was Eddie Jordan in that situation. LeBron clearly walked and the officials swallowed the whistle. Arenas shot just rimmed out, I liked the look he got, but he should have taken it to the rack. There was enough time and the officials owed the Wizards a call. Put on the ground draw contact and force the officials to blow the whistle in your favor.

 

Don't count the Wizards out yet, fellas. They were down 2-0 last year, and came back to win. They're a dangerous team. Any member of the big 3 can go off at any given game. You don't think that travel absolutely PISSED Arenas off? He's going to be HUGE tomorrow.