Minus All-Stars Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler, who kept things competitive in 2006, the Wizards succumbed in four games to the Cavaliers. Cleveland, nevertheless, looked vulnerable in sweeping the playoffs' most hapless team. Doughty young LeBron had a poor shooting night, going 8-22, but he hit 14 of 17 from the line to help win it.
The balance of power in the Eastern Conference can be summed thusly: Washington's loss makes the Southwest Division 0-12 in the playoffs against Central Division teams. Detroit put down the Magic on Saturday, and Chicago did the same to the defending champs from in Miami on Sunday. (More Cleveland Cavaliers stories.)