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Hindsight is always 20/20, right? (Actually, 20/20 is not “perfect” vision, but we’ll just stick with the saying.) If the Wizards “talk trash”and then lose, well, it’s confirmed, they are the dumbest team in the history of civilization.

Now, I won’t detract that bulletin-board material can provide effective examples of motivating opponents in the history of sports. Deadspin has pointed to Chuck Person in 1991. But I find it hard to draw direct lines of comparison between the #7 seed Indiana Pacers talking smack to the #2 seed Boston Celtics, and one of the greatest trash talkers of all-time, Larry Bird.

So, it’s easy for someone like Charles Barkley to assume that what was said prior to yesterday’s Wizards-Cavaliers game would be the equivalent of prodding a sleeping giant with a hot poker. But maybe we should use a new word, assyouhim….because Barkley has just made an ass out of you and him (assuming you are in the thought contingent that Gilbert Arenas should never have opened his mouth).

LeBron James is right. He does not need simple words to motivate him. LeBron James is good. He’s the real f-ing deal. Kobe Bryant may be the better entertainer, and that’s why people mistakingly refer to him as the best player in the NBA, but LeBron Raymone, father of Maximus, James is the best player….let me repeat slowly….play…yer…..in the National Basketball Association. To call LeBron a sleeping giant, to simply think that he needs the motivation of words from others, is an insult to him.

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Welcome to the Wizards-Celtics game preview. To start……

What Happened Last Time?

Wizards Game 2 in Boston: Celtics 103-83: Gilbert talked pre-season smack then got his name chanted (a la Dar-ryl Strawberry) and booed by the playoff atmosphere in Beantown. The Kevin Garnett block on Gilbert Arenas typified the night.

Wizards Game 35 in DC: Washington 85-78: Shocker in DC! (I’m talking about a win vs. the Celtics, not the fact that the Verizon Center crowd was actually *cough* good). Caron Butler and Paul Pierce had an intense 3rd quarter battle. DeShawn Stevenson capped the game with a dunk and trash talk to the Celtics bench.

Wizards Game 36 in Boston: Washington 88-83: Shocker Part II! Tuff Juice was all over the court in the late going…..hitting a double-clutch shot AND1 to put the Wiz up one with 40 seconds left, playing insane D on Paul Pierce, hitting a scoop shot to again put the Wiz up one with 19 seconds left, rebounding a KG miss and hitting FTs to put the Wiz up 3 with 8.6 seconds left, etc., etc…..

Sincerely From Boston.

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Wizards Nation is abuzz with Gilbert Arenas’ latest comments. Let me distinguish since verbiage is common from Agent Zero, the “sign Antawn and I’ll take a pay-cut” comments. You can read about them here: [Post] [Times]

You know the old saying, “Johnny doesn’t find trouble, trouble finds him.” I always found this statement to be a bit fatalistic. Yea, we’ve all dealt with situations beyond our control, but are we going to excuse Johnny’s lack of self control? Now, go ahead and replace Johnny with Gilbert and trouble with attention.

How can you blame attention for finding Gilbert? He’s a charismatic, game-winning shot hitting card who made himself by persevering when unexpected to do so. I’m not going to say that Arenas craves attention. You crave food and I’m pretty sure Gil doesn’t sit around on his couch, all of a sudden saying ‘you know what? I want me some of that tasty attention’ – the swag is inherent to Arenas’ personality.

Let’s just say that Gilbert Arenas likes attention, or maybe it has become a natural high for him. Either way, we’ve come to expect him to feed the itch now and then. Predictably unpredictable, Gil never ceases to amaze.

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Still wondering about the injuries of Gilbert or Caron? DC Pro Sports Report has your back.

Caron’s hip deal is a funny thing….even he doesn’t know when he’s better. The possibility of an aggravation, this being an odd injury; I can’t imagine what’s going through his mind. All I can say is that I feel for ya Tuff Juice. Take as much time as you want as I can only imagine what it’s like trying to gain confidence with hip issues.

Gilbert…..pretty much the same to you. Knee injuries are far more common than those of the hip. So, you can rest a little more assured knowing that you’re not alone. Hey, even I am with you. I had microfracture surgery in late December ’07, and blogged about my experience once, then twice….but never followed up (unfortunately, similar to my dedication to physical therapy). One day.

Point is, Arenas is going through the confidence thing just as Caron. Whatcha gonna do?

Back to the current Wizards: It’s snowing in Toronto. The Pradamaster is a busy guy. DC Pro Sports goes into enemy territory. And I had my preview, so you’re covered.

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So… Chad Ford thinks he can fix the New York Knicks?

Step 1: Buy out Stephon Marbury.

Ford makes a good point. Sure, the Knicks could try to trade Marbury this summer to a team looking for cap room, but Ford doesn’t think that New York will get anything worth their while. Then again, have you heard of the Phoenix Suns? They gave the Seattle Sonics Kurt Thomas and two first round picks, in ’08 and ’10, in exchange for a conditional future 2nd round pick and a gain in cap space.

With frugality on the minds of many most all GMs these days [take that mainstream media....bloggers can cross out words and look cool, you can't]….anyway, you’d think the Knicks would be able to get someone to bite on Starbury. Of course, Marbury’s recipient would surely cut him loose before he could set foot on a plane. No need to pack baggage Steph, all of yours is carry-on. Exactly, Kurt Thomas has been a great locker room presence in Seattle, not to mention averaging almost 10 rebounds in 25 minutes per game. And I’ve really got nothing against Marbury. The whole cheap shoe thing is kind of cool. But he’s never been a winner. Why would any franchise want him? More importantly, for Stephon, how can he resurrect his career at this juncture? And why did Phoenix give up Thomas in the first place? They could sure use him now.

Step 2: Trade Zach Randolph or Eddy Curry.

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