It is one thing to see an arena packed with fans wearing the same color and waving towels, but to see it in person can be breath taking.  When I first walked along courtside and looked up, I instantly got nervous.  I can see how NBA players get intimidated by a large crowd but that’s one thing that makes NBA players professionals, the ability to ignore the circumstances around them and perform.  I hoped the Cavaliers would have been intimidated Friday night, but they weren’t.  The Cavaliers will play on while the Wizards stay home. 

After the game, I was disappointed because the Wizards are loaded with talent and a better team overall than the Cavaliers.  For the third straight year, the Wizards were not healthy. Gilbert Arenas, out for the series with a sore left knee, loses to the Cavaliers, again - that sucks.

     
       I walked to the Cavaliers locker room and of course they were happy and relieved.  Some of the players felt that if their shots hadn’t went down, there would have been a game 7.  Besides Lebron, the players were approachable and cool.  Lebron is not very approachable or talkative.  Maybe Lebron is like that towards the media but generally is a nice guy.  I did tell Lebron that my 7 year-old son said, “ Hi” and Lebron said, “ Tell him I said what’s up”.  In fairness, Lebron had to get ready for the press conference, but after the Wizard’s all-star forwards Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison left the conference, Lebron still had the media wait a half an hour.  Lebron is a rock star, what can I tell you? 

     
      The Wizards were not thinking about the lost so much, but were thinking whether this team will stay intact.  Owner Abe Pollin will address the team on Sunday.  “Me (DeShawn Stevenson) and Gil are like brothers and I especially want to see him come back,” said Stevenson.  D.C.’s native son, Roger Mason, Jr. said,” I know it’s a business, but I would like to stay with my family and be apart of the future for the Wizards”.

         
  With all the bumps and bruises the Wizards endured this year, it was a good season none the less.  Now the real questions begin for the Wizards.  Will Jamison, Arenas and Mason resign to go their separate ways?  Will forward Etan Thomas be ready for next season?  Will head coach Eddie Jordan stay around?  It will be a long summer for the Wizards but this columnist, Barry Barnes, will follow them and keep you, the fans, informed.

Written By Barry Barnes