Just started some more fire between the Wizards and Cavs by talking about Lebron. This coming, AFTER getting their asses beat by Lebron 2 straight years in the playoffs. What a in moron...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted at 12:33 AM ET, 03/14/2008
DeShawn's had enough
Well, it took several seasons but finally a player has emerged who is sick and tired of polishing the statue that has become LeBron James. His name is DeShawn Stevenson and tonight he not only helped the Wizards beat the Cavaliers 101-99, he then added some flame to an already hot rivalry with some choice words for the boy King.
Stevenson, who finished with 13 points, five assists and three steals, engaged in trash talk with James and Damon Jones all night long. At the end of the first quarter, after James missed a layup while he was defended closely by Stevenson, James starting barking in Stevenson's direction. I was sitting at the press table not all that far from James but couldn't make out his exact words because the crowd at the VC was actually loud for once but they weren't friendly.
Stevenson wasn't backing down.
Afterward, he talked about how the Cavs tried to punk the Wizards and how he's tired of it.
"I was just trying to get up under his skin and make him think about me playing, competing and talking trash. I played with Raja Bell in Utah and I take a lot of things from him. He's a great defender. Sometimes you gotta do that with those guys. Those guys play guys that are scared of them all day so sometimes, you gotta get under their skin and talk some trash and tonight, I tried to do that."
On the Cavs at ude: "They beat us two years in a row (in the playoffs) and last year, they gave us a spanking you know, so they have that swagger. When they walk into our gym they feel like they are at home so we have to take that away from them. We've got to stop playing around with them, laughing and joking because we know those guys. We have to take those guys serious."
DeShawn was obviously holding back in that session with reporters around his locker. When he was leaving the building, Mike Lee was chatting him up and mentioned LeBron again. DeShawn has obviously heard enough of that.
"He's overrated," DeShawn told Mike. "And you can say I said that."
Wow. Bet the King won't like that one. Here's hoping that the Wiz manage to jump ahead of Toronto and grab that fifth spot so these teams meet again.
The other story of the night, of course, was Caron Butler who returned to the lineup and finished with 19 points, six rebounds and a steal plus four turnovers in over 41 minutes. Afterward, Butler said he was fatigued in the second half but had no discomfort in the hip. As you may know, he is celebrating his 28th birthday tonight.
Butler clearly gave this team and the crowd a much-needed boost of energy or Eddie Jordan would call it: "Tough Juice." He had some issues defensively as Sasha Pavlovic scored 10 first quarter points on him but his offensive game was solid and generally looked good.
"I've been playing this game for a while now and I know that after a month off, fatigue would set in," Butler said. "I had the momentum in my favor early on, and Coach said I am going to go to you, so attack and be aggressive. I decided that while I was fresh, I was going to be aggressive as possible."
LeBron on the last shot: "I felt good about the shot. I wanted to win. I didn't want to go to overtime. I went for the win. I missed. I'm human."
He also didn't like getting knocked to the ground by Brendan Haywood late in the game. The foul wasn't all that bad but James reacted as if Big Brendan crushed him. He had that scowl he gets and he was looking at the ref like the guy forgot to mow his lawn or something. If you remember, Brendan gave out a similar hard foul in the playoffs during the 2006 series. For a guy who always talks about how he played football in high school, LeBron sure doesn't like contact.
As for the last possession, Eddie elected to not double team LeBron as I suggested he do in my pre-game blog. I asked Eddie about it again after the game and his answer was good: "I wanted to call a timeout and switch places with you," Eddie said.
Me: "I would've doubled him."
Eddie: "You would've doubled him and Damon Jones would've hit a three."
The media room got a kick out of that one but on this night, I have to give it up to Eddie and the Wizards. It worked and they won.
Good for DeShawn. But, who cares really?
Why is it so irreverent to speak badly about LeBron? Even if Stevenson is wrong and is stupid for making his comments, who cares?
There should be more talk among players in the NBA. The league is soft as it is. More talk, less hugs and daps.
Stevenson is a in moron. He got his ass completely handed to him last year in the playoffs by Lebron. They got swept, and he shot a whopping 19 percent or something like that.
Stevenson better hope they don't meet the Cavs in the playoffs because after they get mercilessly swept once again, you can bet his ass will be shipped out of Washington.
I don't mind talking one bit. But when its someone that is a no-name to half the fans of basketball, talking about arguably the best player in the game, after getting their asses kicked by him MULTIPLE times, and only getting 1 measly two point victory... he just needs to keep quiet.
meh....who cares.
It don't matter if it's a no-name or not. That makes it more amusing. At least he's a starter on an NBA team. Fans talk more than anyone, and they don't even play in the league. To me, anyone can talk and it's fine. At least the Wizards beat the Cavs last night and Stevenson actually did outplay LeBron in the game. Let him talk. He and the Wizards will get pounded by LeBron the next time they play.
Actually, he didn't outplay him by any means. He might have done a solid defensive job, but thats about it.
He can talk all he wants, but its only going to hurt his team. That's why the desicion is stupid. It's not like he will have an effect on a playoff series the way Lebron can. If he is not on that level, for his team's sake, and his own sake, he should just keep quiet. Not a smart decision.
He only said Lebron was overrated. He didnt say he was a bad player or anything.
And i agree with Jam the league is too soft and there is too much love among the player, if this get the compe ive juices flowing, welcome.
Still not exactly something an opposing player likes to hear. Especially one of the caliber of Lebron James.
I have no problem with that whatosever.
Stevenson has seemed to have a big head (okay, LITERALLY too) after hitting those few game winners a while back. Speaking of "back"...he'd better watch his
I love what Stevenson did, he probably knows in his mind that Lebron is better than him but still he isn't scared of him. I've always liked to see when a person stands up to the bully, Props to Stevenson but if they meet in the playoffs he better be ready to back it up.
Plus, that beard is really a thing to behold.
I have to say that I like it too! The NBA is lacking rivalries between players now a days. If anything it fires him up when he goes against Lebron in the future. MJ and John Starks had a rivalry as such and it made for some great basketball. Sure John would never stop MJ but MJ had his hands full with starks as well. Starks had some of his better games in his career vs. MJ. Should be fun to watch when they meet.
I always thought Stevenson copied his same exact jumpshot from Lebron, that's why he's so good at shooting now. Was his shot always like that?
Love this Stevenson guy. His beard is great.
Lebroom and his wannabe Leonidas fuzz, attention tendencies, wannabe like mike ass.
I said it here first: stretch is overrated at creating threads.
agree 100%
He played great against us. So did the Warriors of course. The key to beating the Mavs is growing facial hair. The beard hairs allow you to hit wild, off-balance three pointers at will.
little haha
look, just look
Lebron talks to wizards bench all the time.
their last meeting Lebron talked to the bench before the final play that he was gonna make a 3 a beat their asses. Well, he shot a 3 but missed.
Stevenson is a great defender and why can't he talk back?
he made a 20k bet with gooden
what???? is this real?look, just look
SNL
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
