GRAY MATTERS
Jordan Stands Up For Wizards Who Don’t
By Mark F. Gray, Host, The SportsGroove
Mon – Fri 7-10 PM NewsTalk 1450 WOL-AM
www.wolam.com

That Wizards coach Eddie Jordan would take the blame for his team’s lack of discipline in game two of the playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers was noble though not fair.  The lack of discipline began when DeShawn Stevenson called LeBron James overrated and then Gilbert Arenas began to blog.  Now – despite all the pre series bravado – the Wizards must beat the defending eastern conference champions in four of their next five games in order to avoid a third straight first round dismissal from the NBA post season.

For 82 regular season games the Wizards were the most resilient team in the NBA.  It was because Jordan did a masterful job at mix and matching makeshift lineups because of the injuries that turned them into a MASH unit.  Despite the additions and subtractions in their rotation Jordan was able to find chemistry because they bought into his philosophy of defense, rebounding, and ball movement.  

But Arenas return to the lineup has disrupted everything in that got them into the playoffs.   As Charles Barkley pointed out at halftime of TNT’s broadcast Monday night Agent Zero “is ball dominant” while the network’s other analyst Kenny Smith chimed in “he has to realize that when his shot isn’t falling he’s got to get other players involved”.   Despite a sore wrist Arenas still forced shots over James and scored just seven points on 2 of 10 shooting in the 116-86 rout that was game two. 

The face of the franchise has been caught in the web of his ego.  Shooters believe they can shoot themselves out of a slump.  However, when you’ve got a bad wrist and a 6’10” 260 pound beast like James is guarding you intelligence dictates that you defer to the other all stars on your team.  Arenas never figured that out in game two and finished 2 of 10 shooting from the field and looked despondent as the fourth quarter drew to a merciful conclusion.

But Arenas is not the only culprit in the Wizards demise thus far.  Stevenson hit a jumper early in the third quarter Monday night and had the audacity to blow on his finger like he was hot.  Mr. LeBron is overrated is shooting 14 of 62 in his last six playoff games against the Cavaliers and continues to struggle trying to stay in front of him on defense.   If LeBron is overrated then what is Stevenson?

Where are the other Wizards all stars in this series in this series?  Check the milk cartons in your refrigerator to see if Antwan Jamison or Caron Butler is on the top shelf.  Clearly they were missing in action in game two combining to shoot 4 of 13 for only 28 points while James scored 30 by himself.  The playoffs are no time for deference and they seem to want to ride Arenas’ return instead of playing big like they did while he was out.

If Jordan is to blame for anything, however, it’s that he shrunk his rotation and omitted Nick Young from the lineup.   The rookie – who proved during the regular season that next to Arenas he is the best player on the team at creating a shot for himself – has been in witness protection since the start of the series.  Jordan has been counting on Roger Mason as the second guard off the bench and he can’t find the ocean from the Lido Deck of the Love Boat right now.  Mason has made 2 of his 10 shot attempts through the first two games and though just a rookie Young could give them a lift.

Nonetheless, there is an old NBA adage that a series doesn’t begin until a team wins a game on the road.  In theory, all Cleveland really has done is hold serve at the crib and now its time for the Wizards to do the same.  The hardest two games of any series of any series to win are the final two and the Cavs are hoping they write an epitaph on the Wizards for a third straight season. 

As much as Jordan wants to fall on the sword for his team they have got to become warriors if the Wizards are going to stay in this series.  But if they don’t step up who’s going to take the fall for him?