MATCHUP \ Cavs vs. Wizards

Seeds: Cleveland (45-37), No. 4; Washington (43-39), No. 5

Season series: Tied 2-2. It’s tough to gather much from the regular season, because the teams were never at full strength at the same time. Gilbert Arenas missed all four games, while All-Stars LeBron James and Caron Butler each sat out a loss because of injuries. James averaged 27 points, 10 rebounds and 7.7 assists in the three he played.

Storyline: Third straight year these teams are meeting in the first round. Cleveland won the previous two, sweeping a Washington team missing Arenas and Butler last year.

Key matchup I: James vs. Butler. Butler averaged 23 points in Washington’s two wins, but was limited to 10 in the one loss he played in. Anxious for a good performance after missing last year’s series with an injury. Whichever of these players survives will be a nightmare for Boston in the second round.

Key matchup II: Arenas vs. Daniel Gibson. Gibson had his own injury problems, missing more than a month after the All-Star break with an ankle injury. Either can change the momentum in a game by coming off the bench and getting hot from outside in a hurry, as Gibson did a few times last year during the Cavs’ run to the NBA finals. Arenas has gradually been getting his confidence back after a lengthy absence following knee surgery.

X-factor: Brendan Haywood. Amid all the injuries around him, the center put together the best season of his career, averaging 10.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in 80 games.

Associated Press