Recap: Wizards vs. Cavs in 2008-09

LeBron plays air guitar on the sideline as Cavs cruise in game
four of the regular season.  Think he takes the Wizards rivalry
personally? (AP Photo/Tony Dejak).

In the last three years the Wizards have faced the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.  While Washington won't be able to make the trip this year, the Wizards gave fans a little taste of April action before the season was said and done.  Can the Detroit Pistons dethrone King James in round one this year, or will the Wizards haunt the Cavs in an early postseason ending for the MVP candidate?

Now, with the rivalry alive and kicking even without Washington in the playoffs picture, I should mention Caron Butler is the only forward in the NBA other than James to average 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists per game this season.  Therefore, if Washington had the same record as Cleveland does now, Butler would be in the MVP mix too.

And after all the hype of the Christmas Day contest between the rivals and a heated follow-up in early January, why not?

But whether you think James is just a crab-dribbling, cry-baby actor, his 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game are other-worldly at best, more than enough to make the Rick Kamlas and the Bruce Allens of the world break pens trying to keep up (by the way, the lost LeBron footage remains in a .FLV for those too curious).

And after 82 games (whoops, James is a playoffs investment, make that 81 games), that's a lot of ink.  But the playoffs, like the jump from the preseason to the regular season, is a huge jump.  I mean, who would have thought--after a disatrous preseason game--the Wizards could manage to tie their season series with the Cavs 2-2?

And as great as James is, he can find himself in flawed situations that are not always dribbling-related.  I mean, LeBron was hilarious in the safety net of the commercial world in "The LeBrons," and then look what happened when he went on SNL. 

In other words, I got nothing.  He took his team to the Eastern semi-finals last year, he's the clear MVP of the regular season this year, and many would argue Cleveland has even more depth this year.  But when LeBron is up there, live, when it counts, will Washington be on his mind?

According to Coach Mike Brown, Cleveland is happy the Wizards won't be there in the first round this season.  Instead, Cleveland has to challenge the Detroit Pistons.  Basically Richard Hamilton will run around for 35 minutes starting at 3:00 p.m. ET today in an attempt to tire out James, or at least make him dizzy since James won't be guarding him.  But there is an interesting reunion in the match-ups as Ben Wallace faces his former Detroit teammates, and Wallace might be the difference maker in this series with the defense he can provide for Cleveland inside.

The NBA Playoffs begin today at 12:30 p.m. ET as the Boston Celtics host the Chicago Bulls, followed by a 3:00 p.m. ET game featuring the Cleveland Cavaliers as they host the Detroit Pistons. 

Pull out your LeBron cry-baby heads on a stick, shout at your T.V., and pat the man on the back if he wins.  And until the Wizards have another shot at the Cavs, check out gallery to the left to relive that magic moment as the "Zephyrs" broke Cleveland's 13-game win streak in a triumphant home victory in Washington.

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