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By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Monday, Apr 21, 2008

INDEPENDENCE: The playoffs have officially started and so has the posturing.

Cavaliers coach Mike Brown, usually rather bland in his interviews, was aggressive Sunday in trying to send a strong message to the Washington Wizards and the officials working the rest of this series.

Wizards coach Eddie Jordan told the media after the Cavs' Game 1 victory that he wanted his team to be very physical in defending the basket, a tactic that was obvious at times when various Wizards hammered LeBron James on drives.

Brown seized on both and challenged officials to take notice — not only to protect James, but also to prevent any more skirmishes.

''Washington has come out and said they're fouling (James) when he gets in the paint,'' Brown said. ''So that is something you hope the officials take a look at when he drives the basketball. If that is the case, don't make it be a real hard foul and let things get out of hand. If he gets bumped, call it a foul.''

James got 14 free throws Saturday but Brown felt he was due more and the battering he took put him in peril. James reacted to several hard fouls by smashing Andray Blatche, who sent him to the floor twice, with an elbow.

James said Sunday that he expects more hard fouls as the series goes on but he doesn't plan on changing his game plan, either.

''There's a difference between a
foul and a LeBron foul, and I think we all notice that,'' James said. ''If that's their game plan, I have to continue to get back up.''

All season long, Brown has complained that James doesn't get enough fouls called by officials because his size and strength can obscure contact. Over the years, many coaches have used that plea, especially with centers like Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming.

It is also commonplace for coaches to try to set a tone with the officials via the media early in the playoffs. Brown is following suit, and also promising that his team will not back down from the challenges the physical play brings.

''LeBron knows he is going to get hit and unless he gets absolutely clobbered, he's not getting the foul,'' Brown said. ''I don't know what to do in this case. He's got to keep going to the rim and hopefully they'll see that. We have to make sure we protect ourselves. We just can't do anything over the top that will hurt our team.''

Arenas misses practice

After Game 1, James reminded the media that because of his size, when he gets fouled, he isn't the only one feeling the collision. ''Don't ever think I'm the only one that feels the contact,'' James said.

Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas can attest to that. He missed practice with a sprained right wrist Sunday, an injury he suffered after wrapping up James in the closing seconds of Game 1. The Wizards did not announce his status for tonight's game.

No league action

A league source said Sunday there were no plans in the works to issue any fines or suspensions from the NBA office after the on-court confrontations Saturday, or any upgrades on fouls called or not called. Technical fouls, which James, Brendan Haywood and Antawn Jamison all received, have their own automatic fines.

Dribbles

A limited number of tickets have been made available for tonight's game at http://www.cavs.com or 800-4NBA-TIX. . . . The Cavs are 6-0 all-time in series when they win Game 1, including 3-0 against the Wizards. . . . In 34 career playoff games, James is averaging 27.4 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. No player in NBA history with at least 20 playoff games has ever averaged even 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/

INDEPENDENCE: The playoffs have officially started and so has the posturing.

Cavaliers coach Mike Brown, usually rather bland in his interviews, was aggressive Sunday in trying to send a strong message to the Washington Wizards and the officials working the rest of this series.

Wizards coach Eddie Jordan told the media after the Cavs' Game 1 victory that he wanted his team to be very physical in defending the basket, a tactic that was obvious at times when various Wizards hammered LeBron James on drives.

Brown seized on both and challenged officials to take notice — not only to protect James, but also to prevent any more skirmishes.

''Washington has come out and said they're fouling (James) when he gets in the paint,'' Brown said. ''So that is something you hope the officials take a look at when he drives the basketball. If that is the case, don't make it be a real hard foul and let things get out of hand. If he gets bumped, call it a foul.''

James got 14 free throws Saturday but Brown felt he was due more and the battering he took put him in peril. James reacted to several hard fouls by smashing Andray Blatche, who sent him to the floor twice, with an elbow.

James said Sunday that he expects more hard fouls as the series goes on but he doesn't plan on changing his game plan, either.

''There's a difference between a
foul and a LeBron foul, and I think we all notice that,'' James said. ''If that's their game plan, I have to continue to get back up.''

All season long, Brown has complained that James doesn't get enough fouls called by officials because his size and strength can obscure contact. Over the years, many coaches have used that plea, especially with centers like Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming.

It is also commonplace for coaches to try to set a tone with the officials via the media early in the playoffs. Brown is following suit, and also promising that his team will not back down from the challenges the physical play brings.

''LeBron knows he is going to get hit and unless he gets absolutely clobbered, he's not getting the foul,'' Brown said. ''I don't know what to do in this case. He's got to keep going to the rim and hopefully they'll see that. We have to make sure we protect ourselves. We just can't do anything over the top that will hurt our team.''

Arenas misses practice

After Game 1, James reminded the media that because of his size, when he gets fouled, he isn't the only one feeling the collision. ''Don't ever think I'm the only one that feels the contact,'' James said.

Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas can attest to that. He missed practice with a sprained right wrist Sunday, an injury he suffered after wrapping up James in the closing seconds of Game 1. The Wizards did not announce his status for tonight's game.