Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Family found dead in Ohio home
Man gets 3 years in prison for having sex with horse
Brown still testing Cavs' lineup
Kosar would be wrong call as GM
Take comfort in knowing Browns could be bigger losers
Sex-toy study at Duke University raises some eyebrows
Akron man turns himself in after authorities turn up heat
Robbers order bar patrons to empty pockets
Man appears alive at own funeral
Another wacky, crazy Browns week
Judicial colleagues give magistrate job to judge who lost election
Blogs:
Pets:
Not 101 Dalmations…but close!
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
For your perusal
Akron Zips:
The morning after
Tribe Matters:
Tribe makes roster moves
Cleveland Browns:
Lewis doesn't like boycott
Kent State Sports:
Kent State falls to Akron, 20-28
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Knicks
Buckeye Blogging:
Weekly ‘B’ Deck Report – New Mexico St.
Varsity Letters:
Wrestling, bowling teams prepare for season
All Da King's Men:
If It Looks Like Islamic Terrorism…
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Dems Message To Women: Don't Enjoy The Sex
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (62) The Stupak Amendment
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Perfect Weather for an Autumn Drive
Let's Talk Real Estate:
RUMORS: Downtown Restaurant Explosion
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
The Black Keys to perform benefit concert at Musica on November 27
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
New 'Call of Duty' could set entertainment record
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 07:46 p.m. EST, Jan 04, 2009
WASHINGTON: In the opening moments against the Cavaliers Sunday, the Washington Wizards looked bound and determined to make up for their loss at Quicken Loans Arena Christmas Night, when they gave LeBron James and company the fits.
The game offered a sense of dja vu as the Cavs struggled out the gate and throughout the game before mounting a feverish fourth-quarter comeback. The only difference: This time they came up on the short end of an 80-77 score.
It took double technical fouls on Coach Mike Brown to help get his team to kick it in gear. Down 70-58, Brown took issue with an offensive foul called on forward LeBron James. Normally the epitome of calm and cool, Brown almost exploded at the call and the ref didn't hesitate to send him packing with 6:33 left in the fourth quarter.
''I thought Mike James slid over. I thought LeBron James tried to sidestep him,'' Brown said of the play. ''It should have been a block instead of a charge.''
Obviously, the referees saw it differently.
''Mike Brown didn't see it that way because right before that play, Andy [Varejao] got called for an offensive foul on a screen and we had a wide-open layup,'' LeBron James said.
It may have been just what the doctor ordered for his sluggish team. After Wizards guard Caron Butler connected on one of two free throws to take a 71-58 lead, the Cavs made their move, going on a 15-4 run to cut the lead to two points with 2:34 remaining in the game.
That wouldn't be the last call to change the complexion of the game. After the Cavs tied the game at 77, Antawn Jamison hit on a 17-foot jump shot to take the lead with 10.5 seconds left. LeBron James then drove to the hoop and hit what looked to be another game-tying shot. James made a familiar move with a hesitation dribble and two steps to the basket. The referee called it traveling.
''We all make mistakes and I think I got the wrong end of the bargain,'' James said. ''I watched it 10 times after the game and it was clearly a good play, so you live with it. The bad thing about it is that I was able to finish at the rim with contact, so it would have been a 3-point play. There were a lot of questionable calls out there today.''
That may have been the case, but looking at the bigger picture, the Cavaliers could only blame themselves for this loss. From the start, they looked out of sync and as energetic as a slug running in a marathon.
The usually less-than-magical Wizards put a spell on the Cavs — for at least an afternoon — in almost every category. None was more evident than the rebounding game — especially on the offensive glass. Washington won the overall battle 52-35, but owned a 19-9 advantage on offensive rebounds that translated into 20 second-chance points for the Wizards.
The Cavs allowed Washington too many easy points in the paint as the Wizards outscored them 38-28 in that category. And although the Cavs began the game shooting 50 percent in the first half, it wouldn't last, as they returned to the floor for the third quarter and promptly shot 25 percent.
''One thing you can't control, and that's making shots every game. Some games you come out and you can't make shots,'' LeBron James said.
He led all scorers with 30 points, 10 assists and six rebounds, for his 111th double-double. Varejao produced his second consecutive game in that category with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Jamison led the Wizards with 26 points, including the game-winning shot, and 13 rebounds. Butler chipped in 19.
The Cavaliers return home to face the Charlotte Bobcats Wednesday.
WASHINGTON: In the opening moments against the Cavaliers Sunday, the Washington Wizards looked bound and determined to make up for their loss at Quicken Loans Arena Christmas Night, when they gave LeBron James and company the fits.
The game offered a sense of dja vu as the Cavs struggled out the gate and throughout the game before mounting a feverish fourth-quarter comeback. The only difference: This time they came up on the short end of an 80-77 score.
It took double technical fouls on Coach Mike Brown to help get his team to kick it in gear. Down 70-58, Brown took issue with an offensive foul called on forward LeBron James. Normally the epitome of calm and cool, Brown almost exploded at the call and the ref didn't hesitate to send him packing with 6:33 left in the fourth quarter.
''I thought Mike James slid over. I thought LeBron James tried to sidestep him,'' Brown said of the play. ''It should have been a block instead of a charge.''
Obviously, the referees saw it differently.
''Mike Brown didn't see it that way because right before that play, Andy [Varejao] got called for an offensive foul on a screen and we had a wide-open layup,'' LeBron James said.
It may have been just what the doctor ordered for his sluggish team. After Wizards guard Caron Butler connected on one of two free throws to take a 71-58 lead, the Cavs made their move, going on a 15-4 run to cut the lead to two points with 2:34 remaining in the game.
That wouldn't be the last call to change the complexion of the game. After the Cavs tied the game at 77, Antawn Jamison hit on a 17-foot jump shot to take the lead with 10.5 seconds left. LeBron James then drove to the hoop and hit what looked to be another game-tying shot. James made a familiar move with a hesitation dribble and two steps to the basket. The referee called it traveling.
''We all make mistakes and I think I got the wrong end of the bargain,'' James said. ''I watched it 10 times after the game and it was clearly a good play, so you live with it. The bad thing about it is that I was able to finish at the rim with contact, so it would have been a 3-point play. There were a lot of questionable calls out there today.''
That may have been the case, but looking at the bigger picture, the Cavaliers could only blame themselves for this loss. From the start, they looked out of sync and as energetic as a slug running in a marathon.
The usually less-than-magical Wizards put a spell on the Cavs — for at least an afternoon — in almost every category. None was more evident than the rebounding game — especially on the offensive glass. Washington won the overall battle 52-35, but owned a 19-9 advantage on offensive rebounds that translated into 20 second-chance points for the Wizards.
The Cavs allowed Washington too many easy points in the paint as the Wizards outscored them 38-28 in that category. And although the Cavs began the game shooting 50 percent in the first half, it wouldn't last, as they returned to the floor for the third quarter and promptly shot 25 percent.
''One thing you can't control, and that's making shots every game. Some games you come out and you can't make shots,'' LeBron James said.
He led all scorers with 30 points, 10 assists and six rebounds, for his 111th double-double. Varejao produced his second consecutive game in that category with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Jamison led the Wizards with 26 points, including the game-winning shot, and 13 rebounds. Butler chipped in 19.
The Cavaliers return home to face the Charlotte Bobcats Wednesday.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
