How Sweep It Is!

Last year, LeBron James carried the load for the Cavaliers in the postseason. He averaged almost 36 points per contest in the six-game First Round series against Washington – including a 45-point outburst in a critical Game 5 at The Q.

In the following round, the Pistons knew that if they could stop James, they could stop the Cavaliers.

But with Monday night’s 97-90 win – and the efficient four-game sweep of the short-handed Wizards – the Wine and Gold served notice: to beat the James Gang this year, teams will have to deal with half-James and half-Gang.

In 13 postseason games in 2006, James averaged 30.8 ppg. The next-highest scorers were Larry Hughes at 11.1 and Zydrunas Ilgauskas at 10.4. Through the first four games this year, James averaged 27.8 ppg with Z and Larry Hughes right behind at 19 ppg each.

This is the way James prefers it.

“We can’t win if Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Larry Hughes don’t play well – it’s as simple as that. I need them every game to be a factor,” said James.

“I always want my teammates to shine. I don’t like having it by myself. Any time my teammates do well, I am more happy for them than they are for themselves.”

In Monday’s win, Ilgauskas and Hughes scored 10 points apiece in the fourth quarter – hitting one big shot after another. That duo also pushed the Cavaliers over the top in Game 1, with Hughes leading Cleveland with 27 points and Z’s seven straight fourth quarter points being the difference. In Game 2, it was the Drew Gooden Show and in Game 3, LeBron fed a wide-open Sasha Pavlovic – who struggled all game but stroked the game-deciding three with 25 seconds to go.

“(James) opens up a lot for me,” said Hughes, flashing his trademark lazy smile. “If everybody watches him play and can see what he can do with the basketball, then no one will leave him open. It allows me to get a comfort – shoot a couple 10-footers in rhythm and within the offense.”

Hughes was big from the floor, but just as big from the stripe. He hit 25 of the 26 free throws he attempted and the Cavaliers as a team were clutch from the line – hitting on .826 of their shots.

The First Round sweep – the first ever in franchise history – had to be especially pleasing for Ilgauskas, who went through a rough Playoff run in 2006 and was devastated by a family tragedy earlier this year.

“It’s obviously nice to help the team the way I have this series, and hopefully I can continue doing that,” said the Large Lithuanian. “I know it’s going to get tougher; the teams are going to get tougher, but I’m glad we performed well.”

Barely a media session goes by without LeBron James telling reporters that he’s “a football player.” It’s the one topic that James is always ready and willing to talk about, whether recorders are rolling or not.

So on Saturday afternoon, with James preparing for his pre-game meeting with the media and the NFL Draft playing on the locker room TV, James was especially animated. His team – at least for now – is the Dallas Cowboys and postponed the punditry while Dallas prepared to make their first round pick – No. 22.

Of course, they traded that pick to the Browns and LeBron joined the writers – and a couple Cavaliers – in amazement around the TV. On Monday night, after the dust settled, the former gridiron standout weighed in …

“I think (the Browns) got some good draft picks,” LeBron dead-panned. “They must have known something to be able to get Brady Quinn in a trade with the Cowboys. It’s a good pick for them and I know Browns fans are excited and I’m looking forward to see what they’re going to do.”

He then added: “Hopefully, the Cowboys won’t put the Browns on their schedule. I wouldn’t know who to root for.”

Before Monday’s game, NBA Commissioner David Stern – making his whirlwind tour of the Playoffs – spoke with the D.C. media on the state of the league, the NBDL, the Sonics’ possible move and, of course, overseas marketing opportunities.

“LeBron James (and team) are going to Shanghai and Makow, China – together with Dwight Howard (and team) as a couple of the rising stars in the NBA,” said Stern, referring to next season’s exhibition game.

“We have 300 million people in the U.S.; Chinas has 300 million basketball players,” quipped the Commish. “It’s an extraordinary marketing opportunity and the opportunity to take the Cavs there is very exciting for us.”

Many of the Wizards had a feeling that Monday’s game would be their last of the season. And one knew it would be his last as a Wizard.

On Monday morning, after both teams completed shoot-around, Gilbert Arenas saw the Cavaliers heading towards the bus and took a moment to break chops with some of the guys – notably Damon Jones. “Are you going to play in the last game tonight?” Arenas joked. The DJ, never at a loss for words, shot back, “I’m going to play as many minutes as you, (expletive deleted)!”

Arenas will be back to torment the Cavaliers on the court next season. One player that will not be alongside him when it happens is Wizards center, Brendan Haywood.

The former Tar Heel got in Eddie Jordan’s doghouse in early April – emerging for a few productive minutes in Game 2 last week – and got right back in towards the end of the series. On Monday night, Jordan played every player who suited up – except Haywood.

Haywood – who was a Cavalier on Draft night for about 20 minutes before being traded for Michael Doleac – began walking off the court before the final buzzer, left the Verizon Center before any player and his name plate was already missing by the time reporters got into the locker room to ask him about it.