Is Cleveland-Washington a rivalry?

[TheOUTLAW]

I don't think that the Cavaliers get up for the game like it's a rivalry. There is clearly a different level of interest by the players when the Cavs play some other teams (Boston, Detroit etc.) than there is when playing Washington. That being said, I really have nothing against the team but can't stand the majority of their fanbase.

[Tim Horton]

with Arenas in the lineup i guess it is but if not it's a massacre.

[mdd233]

No! Wiz cannot beat the Cavs in seven game series. No worries no rivalry

[RoyceDa59]

Anyone who followed their two most recent playoff series would know that there is a certainly a rivalry between the Cavs and the Wiz. Recently, the Wiz have been struck by injuries and fallen to the bottom of the league while the Cavs have surged to the top so it's a lot harder to keep that rivalry legit. However, the Wiz did lay a nice smackdown on the Cavs last night (I watched it), and Arenas is starting to look better and better. I expect the Wiz to make the playoffs next season and I hope for another serious against the Cavs.

[MasterRyu]

I do think it's a rivarly. They faced off each other several times, and there has been some decent smack-talking and hate. And the controversy is there. It's unfortunate that the Wizards have fallen back due to injuries, becuase they have a very capable team when healthy.

And I laugh at anyone who says the Cavs didn't take the game seriously, cuz that would mean they don't care too much about HCA. This is crunchtime, you HAVE to treat everygame seriously if you're in the race for HCA , or a certain playoff spot.

[Illmatic21]

I would say that it is.

People say that the Cavs own the Wizards, which is true, but if you just look at the series history, the two teams have been pretty competitive IMO... in 2006, the two teams were neck-and-neck. Even Lebron and Arenas were duking it out individually.. I believe Arenas actually outscored Lebron in that series.

That crucial Game 6 with the Lebron travel was almost like a turning point for both franchises.. the Cavaliers went on to win the series and would eventually rise to the top of the league, while the Wizards were just never able to recover.

The 2007 series was an cakewalk for the Cavs with Arenas and Butler out, and the 2008 series also had some firepower and exciting moments despite Arenas still not being 100%.

IMO the Wizards have always been a fun team to watch and I hope they can finally get it together.

[Cavsfan4lyfe]

I never really considered Washington to be a rival to begin with. To me, it seems like most Cleveland fans and players don't care much about Washington at all. It's mostly Wizard fans and players that have a hatred for the Cavs.

[ropjhk]

Certainly not a two way rivalry. The Cavs own the Wiz in the playoffs.

[Illmatic21]

Washington seems to think it's a rivalry. Cleveland looks like they consider it "just another game" IMO.

Lebron doesn't consider it "just another game":

"Records never matter when you play the Wizards," James said. "It doesn't matter if you're in first place or who is not in first place. It's always going to be like that every time we play them."

[Harry10]

Lebron and Gilbert is a friendly rivalry.

[Dat Pass]

The Cavs are 12-4 agaisnt the Wizards in the past 3 playoff years...

I would hardly call it a rivalry.

[carlos1223]

No. Maybe if they showed some class and had more than one respectable human being on their roster then we could call it a rivalry but they forfeited that last year.

If you talk trash and don't back it up, you're a laughing stock. Stevenson + Haywood = laughing stocks and Washington + Cleveland = no rivalry.

If you show class it's not a rivalry. I consider it a rivalry just like I consider the early 2000s Kings and Lakers a rivalry. Even though the Kings never won.

[heh8me2]

its a rivalry in the way that the Mark Price Cavs teams were rivals to Jordan's Bulls.



The Whizz stand a chance during the season but there really isn't a question of who wins in the postseason.

They are like an annoying younger brother who occasionally beats you when you aren't really looking and then talks endless smack about their occasional triumph.


And as a Cavs fan I wish this were with any other team in the entire league.
Washington and their fans seem to think that the world is out to get them and everyone is conspiring against them, thus preventing them winning 10 NBA titles in a row.

Their whole Lebron hate schtick is really tiring and old. When you have perennial nobodies like Stevenson and Haywood doing your trash talk you are in trouble. Even Caron Butler gets in on it trying to do his best 'Sheed impression regarding Lebron.

Not to mention they have one of the most absurdly (Please Use More Appropriate Word) beat writers in Tom Knott at the Washington Times who uses every cavalier game related article to attempt a GOP style media smackdown of Lebron based on false accusations and pure BS. Pure sour grapes.

I'm glad you Wizz fans got your moral victory for the season... too bad it was only victory number 18

[Illmatic21]

^Come on man, you don't think Wizards at least have a legitimate right to hate the Cavs?

I wouldn't have much love for the Cavs and Lebron after that huge traveling no-call in 2006. The whole NBA world saw the Wizards get jerked.

[He Hate Me]

Well, who is showing the class in this thread? Do you really see Wizards fan touting this win and slamming the Cavs? No you do not. You see embarrassed Cavs fans reaching for excuses, trying to demean a team that outplayed them last night.

Fact is, Wizards want to beat the Cavs badly, every time we play them. The games are intense, and last night was one of the most enjoyable installments of the "rivalry" to watch (as a wiz fan)... No the wiz are not in the playoffs, but our win last night could impact the Cavs post-season by taking home court away from them... and YES, that was on our minds.

Also, this win was great because we had our full lineup. To see a win versus our rival and one of the strongest teams in the League was just a great couple hours. So if you see [a lot of Wiz fans]* talking about this win... it's less to do with you and more to do with our genuine enjoyment and happiness for our team.

[wrxchad]

I think the fans of Cleveland hate the wiz more than any other team, A couple good series until last year when there strategy was basically, When Lebron drives try to take him out. That pissed alot of people off.

Watching the game last night it was obvious this game meant everything to the wiz, Cavs not so much which is not a good attitude to have going into the playoffs.

As for the officiating a couple bad calls both ways, If they want to win the chip they can't let that effect them.

As for Wiz fans, jealousy is a bitch.

[miller31time]

It was pretty easy to predict the answers to this thread's question before even opening it up.

Cavaliers fans will say that it isn't a rivalry until the Wizards beat them in a playoff series.

Wizards fans will say that it is a rivalry because of the amount of hate each team and each team's fanbase has for each other. They'll also point to both injuries (ie: not having Arenas and Butler in our 2nd matchup with the Cavs, and not having a healthy Arenas in the 3rd matchup - a series where our best player could only go a few games before having to be sidelined) and egregious traveling calls that would have potentially changed the outcome of the first series.

As a Wizards fan, I'm obviously partial to the 2nd line of thinking. I feel that it is ridiculous to ignore injuries, especially when you can't field a team with your best player healthy for two our of the three series.

Nobody's mind will be changed, though.

[Roger Murdock]

According to Bill Simmons this is whats called a fued, which I agree with.

Who else wants to compromise?

[hitachi7]

It's pretty unfair to say the Cavs "own" the Wizards. You can throw the 06-07 series out with Arenas/Butler out. After that you have the toss-up series in 05-06 which included Lebron's game-winning travel, and last year's series with Arenas at about 30% (he obviously shouldn't have talked ****.) Any non-biased fan knows the Wizards give the Cavs trouble, and fully healthy they will have very good and entertaining playoff series'.

[Brenice]

On the floor, it is a rivalry, bred from mutual respect. Just like in the street, real recognizes real. You can tell by the antics both teams pull when playing each other. LeBron plays up to the refs, more than expecting the calls, but looking for advantages he thinks he needs to for them to win. Forget the traveling calls or non-calls, I remember an obvious charge being called on LeBron by 1 ref changed to a blocking call on Jared Jeffries, their best defender at the time, by the other referee before halftime so LeBron wouldn't have 3 fouls at the half. Guess who had fouled out when LeBron scored on the last possession of the game in that first series. The wiz get extra physical with LeBron because they know they have to keep him from the rim. Both teams are excellent teams. Remember, last year the Wiz beat Boston 3 of 4, without Arenas, including a home and home back to back. Both teams respect each other. LeBron feels it is a rivalry. Mike Jones too. Arenas does. All the wizards do.

The wiz fan think it is. The cav fans fake like it isn't. But, real recognizes real. Lets hope both teams are healthy next year and let the chips fall where they may.