2007 NBA Playoffs: Desperate Wizards try to stay within striking distance vs hot Cavs
Even a sprained ankle to Cavaliers’ star LeBron James wasn’t enough to allow the Wizards to get past Cleveland in Game 2 of their opening-round NBA playoff series. Maybe heading back to Washington will help.
The Wizards need all the help they can get in this series considering they’re missing two of their top three scorers. Without Gilbert Arenas or Caron Butler in the lineup the scoring burden for Washington has fallen to Antawn Jamison. Despite Jamison delivering 28 points
and 14 rebounds in Game 1, and 31 points and 10 rebounds in Game 2, it hasn’t been nearly enough.
James, sprained ankle and all, may have been slowed in Game 2 but he still poured in 27 points to go along with eight rebounds and seven assists. Bolstering James was a clutch performance from Drew Gooden who added 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting and 14 rebounds.
Larry Hughes played the primary supporting role in Game 1 with 27 points and seven rebounds for Cleveland, and if James keeps getting that kind of production from at least one of his teammates throughout the rest of this series then the depleted Wizards will likely be shown the door quickly.
Cleveland defeated the Wizards minus Arenas and Butler during the regular season in early April, and are now 3-0 against Washington this season without their big guns. However, the Cavs haven’t been quite as perfect for bettors at 1-1-1 ATS.
Expect a smaller spread in Game 3 with the series moving to Washington on Saturday night (5:30 ET, TNT), which could be just what the bettors placing their hard-earned cash on the Cavs need to get back in the black.
NBA Betting Tips: The Bulls still haven’t proven stingy enough on that end of the court. Until they do, don’t wager big bucks on an NBA crown.
Washington Wizards, LeBron James
