INDEPENDENCE — It was a lot more subtle than most of the pre-series trash-talking done by the Washington Wizards, but at least one Cavaliers player suggested Wednesday that the opponent’s rough-house tactics are backfiring.
The Wizards, a fairly soft, run-and-gun team in the regular season, attempted to get tough with Cleveland superstar LeBron James in the first two games of the best-of-seven playoff series, but all that got them was a 2-0 deficit heading into Game 3 tonight at 8 in Washington.
“They may feel like they have to get even more physical,” Cavaliers backup Joe Smith said following practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts. “I think it will continue to work in our favor. It’s going to slow the game down.”
Smith’s point was that by attempting to be something they’re really not, the Wizards are detracting from their biggest strength — the ability to score points in bunches, often off fastbreak opportunities.
“That is taking them out of their game,” the veteran said. “They’re putting us on the (foul) line and it’s taking away from their transition game.”
Cavaliers coach Mike Brown, who is not a fan of providing any bulletin board material for an opponent, was a bit more diplomatic.
“In the past, they haven’t necessarily been known as a physical team,” he said. “When you think of physical teams, you think of Detroit back in the day. … It may be a little out of character.”
Whether the Wizards opt to continue their tactics of the first two games or go back to their free-wheeling style, the Cavaliers vow to be prepared tonight.
“Maybe they think they can change our mind-set,” James said. “Maybe that’s the way they feel. I can’t worry about how they’re going to play in the playoffs. We have to worry about how we’re going to play.”
For the first time, James admitted Wednesday that Washington’s trash-talking, which included being called “overrated” by Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson following a March 13 regular-season game, has added fuel to his fire.
“Mentally, I’ve been extra motivated and extra locked in,” he said. “We’re not going down to D.C. being comfortable with being up 2-0.”
History, however, is on the side of the Cavaliers, who are
3-0 in series where they’ve led 2-0. In the NBA overall, teams up 2-0 have gone on to win the series 191 out of 204 times.
“We know they’re going to try to hit us with a punch (in Game 3),” James said before breaking into a wide smile. “Not literally. Let me change my words. They’re going to try to hit us with a few shots.”

Haywood reaction

After saying after Game 2 that it was up to the league to decide whether Washington center Brendan Haywood should be suspended for his Flagrant Foul-Penalty 2, James sang a different tune Wednesday when asked his reaction to Haywood not being suspended for Game 3.
“I thought he was going to be suspended for what happened,” he said. “He’s not, so we’ve got to be prepared for him to be in the lineup.”

Future bouncer?

Dating back to when he was an assistant with the Indiana Pacers, whose players got into a historic melee with fans at Detroit’s Palace of Auburn Hills, Brown has had a history of being right in the middle of the action trying to act as a peacemaker.
Asked if he might consider a career as a bouncer or security guard when his coaching days are done, Brown, who was raised in a military family, said, “I’ve been in that mix before (in the Detroit fiasco). You won’t see me hanging on anybody’s leg (like former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy did during a fight with the Miami Heat). You won’t see me in the stands anymore.”
Calling what happened at The Palace “crazy” and “surreal,” Brown added with a smile, “The first thing that came to my mind was I didn’t want to pop my hamstring going over the scorer’s table.”

Quote of the day

“I like Brendan. He can say whatever he wants.” — Brown, when asked his reaction to a story out of Washington in which Haywood complained the Cleveland coach was constantly outside the coach’s box in the first two games.
Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4061 or rickn@ohio.net. 

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