A view of the Cavs-Wizards series from the inside

Cleveland Cavaliers

	While fans are enthralled by LeBron James' offensive exploits, players often take advantage of his defensive deficiencies. Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

The Cavaliers are going to be exposed defensively during the playoffs. Pick-and-roll and dribble-penetration will especially kill Cleveland ... Larry Hughes has come back, but I don't think he's that much of a difference-maker though he is good defensively ... The problem for Cleveland is that defense isn't a priority, and their best player -- LeBron James -- is the main culprit. They hang their hat on their scoring, and they equate playing well with making baskets; whereas the contending teams get a rush from making a defensive stop and scoring in transition ... They signed Ira Newble and Hughes to be defensive stoppers, but both were hurt for most of the year. Eric Snow can't defend like he used to; he's lost a lot at that end of the floor. Zydrunas Ilgauskas doesn't get out and show on pick and rolls; he's soft off the ball and he's not that good of a shot-blocker. Drew Gooden shows flashes defensively, but he's too easily thrown off balance -- he bites on fakes and gets in foul trouble too often ... James is obviously an amazing talent, but imagine how much better he's going to get over the next few years. One other thing he could improve on is his midrange game; he's either shooting the 3 or driving all the way to the rim. That's OK, except in the playoffs teams will back off and collapse around the rim.

Washington Wizards

This team isn't very good defensively either, so the question becomes: Which team is better offensively? I think the answer might be Washington ... The Wizards have a little more depth, firepower and experience. They'll get quick baskets when Cleveland doesn't get back, and if it shifts to the halfcourt, the Wizards will force them to defend multiple actions. Eddie Jordan is excellent at putting defenders in positions they aren't used to defending ... I predict Gilbert Arenas will light up the Cavaliers and basically match James offensively, which then shifts the advantage over to Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler as a couple of guys who can go for 20 against Cleveland ... I don't see Gooden coming out to the perimeter and being able to guard Jamison on the dribble ... The Wizards will change up their defenses too, which is going to make life a little tougher for LeBron. Butler and Jared Jeffries will both be on LeBron. I think Jeffries might have some success with his athleticism and length, because one thing you don't typically see is LeBron taking guys like that into the post and beating them up. That's something Michael Jordan used to do, and LeBron needs to learn it because right now almost all of his free throw attempts come on drives. Even when he goes into the post he'll wind up stepping out and facing up or trying to attack on the dribble. Jordan used to go into the post when he wanted to punish somebody: If you were giving him trouble defensively, he'd take you in the post and put three fouls on you down there and get you out of the game. LeBron doesn't have that in his playbook yet ... Brendan Haywood has tailed off, but between him and Etan Thomas they can defend against Ilgauskas.