CLEVELAND - The Washington Wizards have a new coach, two new starters and an entirely new attitude this season.

Yet, Washington’s first trip to Quicken Loans Arena ended the same old way - with center Brendan Haywood venting his spleen after another loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA's most one-sided "rivalry." 

"I’m very angry," Haywood said after the Wizards wasted an 18-point lead in a 102-90 loss. "This is a tough situation because you don’t want to talk bad about the refs. I just was upset with how the game was called.

"You hope you get the calls the next time." 

The object of Haywood’s ire was, not surprisingly, new Cavaliers center Shaquille O’Neal, who abused all four Wizards post players to the tune of 21 points and eight rebounds in 29 minutes.

For the first time in his five-game Cleveland career, "The Big Aristotle"  was the most dominant force on the court, making 6-of-6 shots in post-up situations and 7-of-10 free throws. 

While the 37-year-old pivot didn’t entirely turn back the clock to his prime, he did turn back every Washington rally.

O’Neal finished 7-of-9 - his only misses coming on an alley-oop layup and a subsequent tip - and left Haywood, Andray Blatche, JaVale McGee, Fabricio Oberto and Wizards coach Flip Saunders shaking their heads in frustration.

"In the first half, J had four fouls, I had three, Dray had three, Fab had two," Haywood said. "That’s 12 fouls with our bigs alone.

"The game gets played a certain way because of certain people. How you gonna referee him?"

O’Neal’s display allowed the Cavaliers to dig out of a sizable hole in beating the Wizards for the sixth straight time at home - and the 13th time in Washington’s last 16 visits, including six wins in eight playoff games.

Cleveland has eliminated Washington from the postseason three times in the last four years, taking a last spring when the Wizards didn’t qualify.

Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson, who again did most of his talking before the game, admitted afterward, "It was a tough night." 

Indeed it was for the guests, because O'Neal didn't limit his impact to the offensive end. 

Stevenson was met in mid-air by O’Neal when he drove down the lane in the second quarter, taking much of the crushing blow in his lower midsection.

"It hurt real bad, but that’s part of basketball," Stevenson said. "He apologized at halftime, so it’s all right."

Later, guard Randy Foye was driven into the basket support by O’Neal on an NHL-caliber bodycheck. The referees didn’t notice the sequence, but the Cavaliers’ bench did, since it occurred right in front of them.

"That’s the bonus you get for adding Shaq," Washington guard Mike Miller said.

The physical abuse may have forced the Wizards to crumble mentally when they needed to make a stop as the clock wound down.

On one particularly obvious play, Haywood repeatedly yelled for help as O’Neal backed him down in a one-on-one set. The double-team never came, and Shaq easily scored on a baby hook.

"We have to play more as a team, fight through things as a team. We’ve got to stick together no matter what," Blatche said. "Everybody has to trust everybody. Fouls are going to come, but you have to fight through that."

O’Neal added three assists for good measure, passing out of rare pressure to find wide-open shooters on the perimeter. Washington was left to pick its poison - and paid for it as Daniel Gibson and Mo Williams buried seven 3-pointers in nine attempts.

"It’s great. It’s like Christmas, just throwing the ball to someone on the block and watching them work," Cleveland coach Mike Brown said, smiling. "We said, ‘Hey, we’re gonna throw the ball into the big fella,’ and Shaq, ‘You generate offense for us.’"

Cavaliers superstar LeBron James also raved about O’Neal, saying, "I could just sit there and watch. He made some great post moves and when he got fouled, he made free throws. That’s a plus not only for me, but for everybody else on the team." 

It also figures to be a minus for every opponent that believes the 7-1, 325-pound monster has slipped enough to be guarded with a single defender.

Clearly, this is the kind of evening Cleveland hoped for when it added O’Neal in a late-June trade with Phoenix - hoping it carries into next June and the NBA Finals.

"I just have to let (teams) know I’m still here and have to be reckoned with," O’Neal said. "I also have been known as one of the best passing centers in the history of the game. A couple times tonight I could have taken the shot, but I am looking to get my guys involved.

"I’ve got to make sure they are comfortable first - because I’m going to get mine." 

Brian Dulik has regularly covered the NBA since 1996 and is a frequent contributor to Pro Basketball News. He can be contacted at brisports@hotmail.com.