Game 4 of Bullets v. Cavs: Jumping the shark

This shizznit is off the %$#@ing chain! Things got weird between these two teams earlier in the season when Deshawn Stevenson called Lebon James “overrated.” [He isn't.] Lebron replied that he wouldn’t get into a war of words with Deshawn because that would be like rap legend Jay Z getting into a feud with a one-hit wonder like Soulja Boy. Deshawn struck back by inviting Soulja Boy to sit in the front row of Washington’s blowout destruction of Cleveland in game 3 at the Phone Booth. Now, for some reason, Jay Z is getting involved.

The most ridiculously entertaining and completely ridiculous subplot of this Washington Wizards-Cleveland Cavaliers playoff series has reached another stratosphere, after my moles informed me that hip hop legend Jay-Z made a diss record on Friday about DeShawn Stevenson.
You read that right. Jay-Z, the Jigga Man, H-to-the-Izzo, Mr. Beyonce Knowles, made diss record about DeShawn Stevenson that was played at the D.C. night spot Love on Friday night, according to several witnesses. I have not heard the song or the lyrics but I was told that Jay-Z freestyled over the beat for the track, “Blow The Whistle” by rapper Too Short. The beat is hot, and if you want to know how that beat goes at least, click on this.
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But anyway, witnesses at the club said that the DJ gave the microphone to Cavaliers reserve Damon Jones. Jones allegedly made some unsavory comments about Stevenson and the Wizards, according to people in attendance. And just before 2 a.m., the song was played. It was played five times from what I hear.
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One of the people in attendance at the club was Caron Butler. Stevenson said Butler paged him and told him about the song and was so upset that he walked out immediately. Butler didn’t want to talk about it when I approached him Saturday afternoon. “I don’t have a comment about that,” he said as he walked out of an elevator. “I’m just anxious to play [on Sunday].”

Gilbert Arenas says Deshawn should be honored that Jay-Z even took the time to write something about him. Deshawn says he still respects Jay-Z, but not Lebron or Damon Jones. As for the DC nightclub Love, DS says he and his teammates are boycotting a hometown spot that would allow the hometown team to be dissed on the mike.
And memo to Jay-Z: Your NJ Nets suck. Keep yer trap shut about hoops until your team can at least beat out the Hawks for the 8th spot.
Now, to actual basketball.
Gilbert Arenas practiced Saturday and is going to start today, according to Head Coach Eddie Jordan. We don’t know how much Gil will play, but it looks like he’ll get a few minutes at least. Since I’m not one of those who thinks the team is better off without Gil, I’ll take whatever he can give.
Brendan Haywood is having a helluva series — when he’s on the court. Despite spending a lot of time on the bench and missing almost half of game 2 after being ejected, Haywood is averaging 13 points and better than 6 boards in 3 games.  Big Z and Sideshow Bob can’t do anything with him and he’s critical to cleaning up his teammates’ frequent defensive errors. After the best season of his career, he’s now having the best postseason of his career.

“He’s really just leapfrogged his first six years in one season and just sort of taken a huge leap,” Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan said. “He’s just been the guy for us, being our only center. He’s always said that if he got consistent minutes, he’d perform, and he’s done it. He’s walked the walk, and he’s been great for us all year.”

Finally, fans are once again being encouraged to wear white to the game.

Jordan and players on both teams commented that the “white out” conditions and energy displayed by the sellout crowd made a difference in Game 3.
“In my three years here that is the loudest I’ve heard this arena,” guard Antonio Daniels said. “It was electric in here. The crowd was amazing.”

So, what do the Bullets need to do to win again in game 4? Basically, a lot of the same things they did to win game 3. They need to hit open shots because they will get open shots. They need to let Lebron have his outside jumpers and focus on keeping him out of the paint. They need to resist the urge to confuse fouling with defense and just cover their men well. They need to pressure the Cleveland guards because that’s the weakness of their opponent. They need to keep Haywood out of foul trouble and feed him in the post so he can score early.

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GO, BULLETS!