To get in real deep into the cracks and crevices of this game, we need to go back to Gilbert Arenas getting hurt and finally coming back. Before his injury, and a bit afterwards, Arenas was hinting at possibly opting out of DC and testing the free agent waters elsewhere. However, Agent Zero miraculously, by the power of Greyskull, started singing a different tune once he was on the comeback trail. What gives?

I’ll tell you what gives..

Damaged goods don’t fetch money in the grocery store, man. Meaning that general managers are going to be weary of a guy coming off an aggravated, surgically repaired knee, and I think Arenas knows this. That’s why he started advertising and campaigning for a paycut to keep Antawn Jamison and the steam intact. He knew the free agent market would be a roulette wheel not in his favor.

The theme coming into this years’ annual tussle with the Cavs was the Wizard’s tune of “We’re Not Gonna’ Take It Anymore”. The guys are confident, but what head coach Eddie Jordan needs to teach this team is that quiet confidence goes a long way. I’m looking at you DeShawn Stevenson. Sometimes, in this game, you could tell the confidence bordered on frustration, which was evidenced at the almost-fight between Brendan Haywood and LeBron James. It got me hyped as a Wizards fan, but I’d rather see points on the board than technical fouls and fights.

Back at the “Q” - I’m missing the days when arenas weren’t sports venues/billboards - Soulja Boy DeShawn Stevenson, who pulled Superman’s cape earlier in the year, had a craptacular game and his 3 points, 5 assists and 0 words backed it up. Defensively, he was this year’s Jamison on James, letting him flow into help defense instead of fronting him. James had no problem driving when he needed to and getting teammates involved.

What I’m starting to see now in a strange way is the NBA going back to the old 80’s playoffs when the Lakers and Celtics were tops in their conferences, and there’s a superstar in the Midwest that’s basically having “Jordan Rules” applied to him. For most of the game, James had nothing easy, as he tasted wood and elbows while Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 22 points and 11 rebounds. It was just like when Bill Laimbeer and Dennis Rodman beat the mess out of Jordan, while Scottie Pippen, John Paxon and the other Bulls stepped it up.

In limited action, Arenas had 24 points and 3 assists and made a nice impact coming off the bench and giving us a taste of the Arenas we fondly remember from the past. However, if we expect to put Cleveland away, we need the Arenas from last year, the one that had 60 against Nash. The one that won games at the buzzer. I can’t help but to wonder if this guy’s really %100, as I’ve yet to see him have a breakout game. It was like he came back, did ok and then straight to the bench to rest for the playoffs. He’s had no real rhythm and this is the toughest time to get it back.

I’m worrying about Caron Butler and Antonio Daniels on the bench. Butler only had 14 points and wasn’t “Tough Juice” today. I’ve never seen him settle for so many jumpers. James was on him a lot, but usually Butler has no problem driving at him, and it was almost as if he was too weary of the refs instead of being aggressive.

The only real saving grace for us was Jamison, who time and again reminds people that he is an All-Star. If a few of his three point attempts had gone down, the Wiz would be leading the series 1-0. Bottom line, both teams got chilly shooting down the stretch but the Cavs got a hair more offense from James who had a game high 32 points while contributing 6 rebounds to help put DC away.

I’m not worried at all about game two, and if we can steal one from under the blind man’s nose we can possibly go ahead at Verizon Center. But for that to happen a few things have got to change:

1. DeShawn Stevenson needs to play his game. I think in Soulja Boy’s mind, it was as much about him vs. LeBron James as it was about the Wiz vs. Cavs. Not a good mindset.
2. Antonio Daniels, this is your eleventh year in the league. Can you stop shrinking when there’s a spotlight on your team? Didn’t you get a title with the Spurs?
3. A quick note to the refs: just because a guy in a Cavs jersey trips over himself, it does not equate to a foul. Delonte West dribbled into Gilbert Arenas, did a Vlade Divac flop backwards and drew Arenas’ fifth foul. If he was still in Seattle, do you really think that would’ve happened?

I’m looking forward to game two as all of you true fans should be. We haven’t had a good playoff rivalry since the days of Bulls-Pistons, Knicks-Everyone Else, etc. and this is shaping up to be war on the hardwood so getcha’ popcorn ready!