Are the Washington Wizards afraid to meet the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round?
At the end of last season, Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards‘ said, “Cleveland didn’t want to see us in the second round”.
Now this season, some in the Wizards camp are saying, that they don’t want to see Cleveland in the first round. Not just players, but some in the media as well.
If the Wizards really cared about not seeing Cleveland, they wouldn’t have lost to Detroit on Thursday.
LeBron James is still a man. He may be the most perfect human specimen to ever walk this earth, but he’s still a man. I used the term “human” so no comments below, I do believe in God.
For those who say, there’s no religion or politics in basketball, “that’s a foul”. I’ve never seen more people praying while holding a beer at the same time, than at a sporting event.
But James still bleeds like everyone else. So this one man is not going to take down the Wizards, who were 12 minutes away from the conference finals last season.
This is not a David and Goliath scenario. The Wizards have Otto Porter. This is the same Porter that lit up the Cavs last season, and Golden State earlier this season.
They have John Wall. Who here among us are prepared to say that Jose Calderon is better than Wall?
They have Bradley Beal. Who had big talk at the end of last season, you better walk the walk this season. Beal is better than George Hill.
The only weakness that Washington has, which I have written about throughout the entire season, is rim protection.
So this is for you Marcin Gortat. I don’t care if James is steamrolling to the basket, you hold your ground (safely as possible). He expects you to get out of the way, you probably want to do the same.
But for one time in your basketball life, can you be that “machine” that you claim to be. For the love of basketball, please show up.
Last season, “0 points having Tristan Thompson in 2 games of the NBA Finals” didn’t show up for the Cavs. Gortat put points on the board.
Don’t hang your head low. Battle in the paint and do your job.
Yes, Cleveland has youth on its side, and James appears to be aging backwards.
But Kelly Oubre has more energy than any other player I’ve witnessed this season. After he gets fouled he’s doing push ups, and at one point I thought he was about to do sit ups.
He just has to bottle up that energy so he doesn’t make silly fouls. But his energy has been driving this team all season.
Markieff Morris, you said earlier in the season, that it would be a wasted season if the Wizards don’t make the conference finals.
You remember what other writers wrote about you, so remember your own words.
Don’t get into foul trouble. Help Gortat in the middle. Because you put the power in power forward.
It’s one thing for those in the media to say the Wizards should fear meeting Cleveland. But not the players. Why give the Cavs that mental advantage?
If Cleveland knows you’re already afraid of them now, then they have already won the first round. There are a couple of islands that I can point you too, which has the best food and beaches. Where you can lay around and contemplate. Try not to look up at the coconut trees, because those round objects might remind you of something.
Where is your pride Washington? Please stop with, “I hope we don’t have to play Cleveland”.
LeBron James is a man, but you the Washington Wizards are men.
Look how far you have come? Look at how Tomas Satoransky stepped up to run the offense. Look how he battled “Kyrie”. We lost that game at home, but Sato didn’t back down from Irving. He didn’t back down from anyone this season. So don’t start backing down now.
The secret weapon is Porter. That’s right. Cool, calm and collected Otto Porter has been the best player on the Wizards this season. The Porter who lit up the Cavs and Cleveland will be there with you.
Wall, the best point guard in the NBA, will be there with you. (You can comment away down below).
All-Star Beal with his “non-hesi stepback jumper” will be there with you.
Keef who fears no one will be there with you. Please fear the refs though Keef.
I will be there with you. Just like I was there with you in Boston at Game 5, when you were walking through the tunnel, and I said, “you just have to win two more games”. You won the next one, and but for Wall not having a backup you lost the last one.
Hope can go a long way, but fear will get you nowhere.
You believed then, so what’s the difference now? You’re a better team than you were last season.
I will believe in you, since you don’t believe in yourselves. Yes me. But someone has to have faith around here.
A lot can happen and you don’t meet the Cavs in the first round. But if you do, remember this about LeBron: