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Deron Snyder

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Deron Snyder

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Deron Snyder is an award-winning journalist and Washington Times sports columnist with more than 25 years of experience. He has worked at USA Today and his column was syndicated in Gannett's 80-plus newspapers from 2000-2009, appearing in The Arizona Republic, The Indianapolis Star, The Detroit News and many others. Follow Deron on Twitter @DeronSnyder or email him at deronwashtimes@gmail.com.

Articles by Deron Snyder

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) watches as the referees check a replay during the second half of Game 3 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland, Tuesday, June 9, 2015. The Cavaliers defeated the Warriors 96-91. AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

DERON SNYDER: Golden State Warriors need more (Steph) Curry on the menu

No matter what happens in the NBA Finals over the next two or more games, the Golden State Warriors can always savor their regular-season performance. But it will leave a bitter aftertaste unless they find the right ingredients to neutralize Cleveland. More Curry would be a great place to start.

June 10, 2015

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates after end of the overtime period of Game 2 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, June 7, 2015. The Cavaliers won 95-93 in overtime. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

DERON SNYDER: LeBron James makes sure NBA Finals far from over

An NBA series isn't a series until one team loses on its homecourt. So welcome to the NBA Finals. This series was supposed to be over the instant Kyrie Irving went down with a fractured kneecap in Game 1.

June 8, 2015

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James smiles during NBA basketball practice, Wednesday, June 3, 2015, in Oakland, Calif. The Golden State Warriors host the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

SNYDER: NBA Finals about more than just Stephen Curry, LeBron James

The two superstars will rightfully garner the most attention, but the teams' highly acclaimed casts of characters were what helped them reach the NBA's brightest stage.

June 3, 2015

FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2015, file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers' Kevin Love talks with a teammate during an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Cleveland. The surging Cleveland Cavaliers visit Minnesota on Saturday for the first time since they acquired Kevin Love from the Timberwolves in the summer blockbuster deal. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)

SNYDER: While the West provides challenge, the East offers opportunity

The annual free-agent shift could be a boon for East Coast teams this summer, with many of them likely benefiting from realizing the run to the NBA Finals is more wide open in the Eastern Conference than in the west.

June 1, 2015

Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III throws a pass during an NFL football organized team activity at Redskins Park, on Tuesday, May 26, 2015, in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

SNYDER: Robert Griffin III undoubtedly has talent; now it’s time for him to realize it

The quarterback should be focused on evolving as a drop-back passer, not merely on shedding a label that, if correctly applied, could signal his durability issues are behind him.

May 27, 2015

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) goes up for a shot against Atlanta Hawks' Mike Muscala during the second half in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs Sunday, May 24, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

SNYDER: Teams finding stopping LeBron James proving easier said than done

James may find someone capable of stopping him in Golden State's Draymond Green, but thus far, success in the playoffs -- and the Eastern Conference Finals against the Hawks -- has been easy to come by.

May 25, 2015

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry, right, drives the ball against Houston Rockets' Trevor Ariza during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA basketball Western Conference finals Tuesday, May 19, 2015, in Oakland, Calif. The Warriors won 110-106. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

SNYDER: Stephen Curry, James Harden put on a show that will be tough to match

The league's most valuable player and its runner-up combined for an explosive match-up in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday that, as Curry later put it, made for "entertaining basketball."

May 20, 2015

Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen leave the Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va. Friday, May 15, 2015, after speaking with reporters. The Capitals hockey team was eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs and spent the day cleaning out their lockers in preparation for the off season. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

SNYDER: Disappointment only natural when teams lose championship pursuits

Parity in the modern world of professional sports has made winning a title very difficult, though the heartbreak associated with a premature ending can quickly be washed away with optimism.

May 18, 2015

Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce salutes the crowd as he walks off the court after Game 6 of the second round of the NBA basketball playoffs Atlanta Hawks, Friday, May 15, 2015, in Washington. The Hawks won 94-91. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Paul Pierce did what he came to Washington to do

Pierce came to Washington to infuse the Wizards with his brazen confidence, his veteran experience and his championship moxie. And that's the truth.

May 16, 2015

Maryland transfer Rasheed Sulaimon said his dismissal from the Duke program had nothing to do with a sexual assault allegation against him. (Associated Press)

DERON SNYDER: No comparison in Dez Wells, Rasheed Sulaimon transfers

Coach Mark Turgeon felt confident enough that Sulaimon, who was the first player Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski kicked off his team, could be a fit at Maryland. He felt that way about adding Wells three years ago, too.

May 13, 2015

Washington Wizards Bradley Beal (3) reacts to hitting a three pointer over Atlanta Hawks DeMarre Carroll (5) in the second half of the Eastern Conference Semifinals basketball game 4 on Monday, May 11, 2015, at the Verizon Center in Washington. The Hawks won 106-101. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) MARIETTA DAILY OUT; GWINNETT DAILY POST OUT; LOCAL TELEVISION OUT; WXIA-TV OUT; WGCL-TV OUT

SNYDER: In best-of-seven series, Wizards must learn lessons, move on

After losing without John Wall in Game 2, winning without him in Game 3 and coming within a 3-pointer of forcing a late tie in Game 4, the Wizards will need to figure out their personality to win the series with the Hawks.

May 11, 2015

FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2015, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady looks to pass during the first half of the NFL football AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts in Foxborough, Mass. The NFL suspended Brady for the first four games on Monday, May 11, 2015, for his role in a scheme to deflate footballs used in the AFC title game. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

SNYDER: Tom Brady’s suspension more outrageous than the ‘crime’ itself

Brady was handed a four-game suspension on Monday by the NFL, which should realize that the Patriots quarterback's actions weren't an outrageous violation of the league's own rules.

May 11, 2015

Washington Wizards guard John Wall, right, smiles as he comes off the court after Game 3 of the second round of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks, Saturday, May 9, 2015, in Washington. The Wizards won 103-101. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

SNYDER: Wizards find a way without Wall

The Wizards came close to winning Game 2 without John Wall. They came even closer to losing Game 3 without him.

May 10, 2015

Washington Wizards guard John Wall celebrate a 3-point shot by forward Paul Pierce in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Thursday, March 12, 2015, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

SNYDER: John Wall’s absence may also force Wizards to win without marquee talent

The Hawks, Washington's playoff opponent, won 60 games during the season without a single superstar. Wall's absence, however long it may be, could force the Wizards to have to do the same.

May 6, 2015

Wizards guard Bradley Beal labeled the sprained right ankle the "worst" he's had. Treatment began after the game and he will be re-evaluated Monday. (Associated Press)

SNYDER: Wizards hope injuries to John Wall, Bradley Beal don’t slow playoff push

Wall and Beal, the Wizards' twin building blocks, went down with injuries at separate points but returned, allowing fans to breathe again. "Those guys have as much heart as anybody in the building," Paul Pierce said.

May 4, 2015

Fans Romeo Santos, left, and Matt Fouse gather ahead of a Baltimore Orioles baseball game against the Chicago White Sox's, Wednesday, April 29, 2015, outside Oriole Park at CamdenYards in Baltimore. The game was played in an empty Oriole Park at Camden Yards amid unrest in Baltimore over the death of Freddie Gray at the hands of police. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

SNYDER: Fans the biggest losers with Orioles’ games not moved to Nationals Park

If the Orioles and Major League Baseball really cared about fans, and if the Nationals were willing to put aside differences for the common good, games relocated to Tampa Bay could have been played close to home.

April 29, 2015

Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan has been the target of an intentional foul strategy by the San Antonio Spurs at end of games in their first-round playoff series. (Associated Press)

SNYDER: A divided stance on NBA’s end-of-game intentional foul strategy

Though hackathons are ugly, they haven't led me join the outcry for modified rules. We should be extremely cautious before eliminating one of the game's fundamental acts — just because some players are terrible at it.

April 27, 2015

Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) celebrates with forward Paul Pierce, behind, in the second half of Game 4 in the first round of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Toronto Raptors, Sunday, April 26, 2015, in Washington. The Wizards won 125-94 to complete the first sweep of a seven-game series in club history, and advancing them to the second-round. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

SNYDER: Wizards on a roll, ready for next challenge after casting Raptors aside

That Wizards team that limped down the stretch? Nowhere to be found. The outfit that blew big leads and fumbled away victories? Just a bad memory. Sunday night's performance was the best all year.

April 26, 2015

Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) celebrates with forward Paul Pierce (34) during the second half of Game 3 in the first round of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Toronto Raptors, Friday, April 24, 2015, in Washington. The Wizards won 106-99. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

SNYDER: Wizards rise to challenge, protect home court in victory over Raptors

The game was filled with tension, but the Wizards never got tight. Some of the sloppiness that plagued them at points resurfaced, they were determined to play as if their season, and not Toronto's, was on the line.

April 25, 2015

Paul Pierce's (left) intangible contributions have led to an apparent sense of greater confidence by the Wizards in this first-round series. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via Associated Press)

SNYDER: Wizards’ confidence, attitude more apparent on court

When Wall and Beal play like they did Tuesday, combining for 54 points, and the team out-rebounds the opponent, 45-28, Washington can have supreme confidence entering any matchup.

April 22, 2015