You just know which teams are going to choke, because they always do. In the Toronto Raptors/Washington Wizards first round match-up, look for the collective Wiz to gag. Why? Because everything in Washington DC chokes.
How many times have we seen the NHL Washington Capitals compile the best season record, thereby winning the President's Cup, only to choke in the early rounds of the playoffs?
Ditto for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball. Every year, it's talent galore, but they can't get out of the first round in the postseason.
There was probably a reason the cannon fodder teams that always faced the Harlem Globetrotters were named the Washington Generals. It could have been any city, but Washington best represented their choking/losing ways.
Speaking of choking, how about Congress, when it comes to doing something worthwhile for the people? Trump doesn't choke. He just makes billions of other people around the world gag on a daily basis. A difference -- sort of.
So let's cross off the Wizards from going anywhere in the playoffs. Even the Raptors should be able to handle that. Thing is, Toronto has long been known as chokers themselves. Whoever survives the Cleveland Cavalier/Indiana Pacer series, and it's a lot more competitive than many thought it would be, will likely dispatch the hosers from the north in the next round.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are just a shade better than laughable. While they may or may not get past the Utah Jazz in the opening round, those guys aren't going far. This is what happens when you let such mega-talents like James Hardin and Kevin Durant get away to free agency elsewhere.
What they have now is the Russell Westbrook show,. See Russell score 40. 50. Whatever. See Russell talk trash. See Russell about to experience another quick exit from the playoffs. Why? Because he, and fellow aging "superstars" -- and I use that term loosely -- Carmelo Anthony and Paul George can't seem to be bothered with playing any coherent form of defense. Defense matters these days.
Not to be outdone, see Russell's "fabulous" (LOL) wardrobe off the court. It's truly magnificent if one is auditioning for a show called Dancing with the Pimps, or perhaps American Ghetto Idol. What does Westbrook have that Huggy Bear of the old Beretta TV show didn't? A multi-million dollar contract, a shoe endorsement, and a few inches in height. The gaudy clothes between both are a wash. Speaking of wash, they make yours truly want to take a shower every time I see the next outrageous version. Does anybody really wear this stuff on the street?
The last bit of choking belongs to teams not named the Cleveland Cavaliers the league over. I never cease to be amazed at how they continue to allow one Lebron James to cruise into the basket for a lay-up or dunk. Like Michael Jordan before him, it's like the other players are afraid to get physical with His Majesty.
Guys like Rick Mahorn, Wes Unseld, and the ever-lovable Charles Barkley in the past wouldn't have had this problem. If an opponent dude is constantly going to the basket for an easy two, put him on the floor, and let him have his free throws. Ker-thud. At least he'd know the cakewalk days are over and a price will be paid every time he drives to the hoop. After a while he'd get the message, not to mention being mighty sore.
And that goes double for one Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors. How many thunderous kicks to the groin or elbows to the face has he delivered over recent years? Worse, Green seems to think it's worth celebrating when he's caused an opponent to writhe on the floor in pain.
Give him some of his own medicine and see how HE likes it. What's good for the goose.....
And Green's mayhem would STOP. Ain't nothing special about him either, except he keeps getting away with it.
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