Front and Center

Thomas Boswell doesn't do Wizard articles as much as he does the 'Skins and Nats, but when he does, Washington hoops fans should listen. This time he talks about the Haywood/Thomas wars:

How can these guys fight? They should hug before every practice and have a beer after every game. They're making each other wealthy by disguising each other's inadequacies. Thomas can set a pick and Haywood can shoot a hook. But neither man could survive playing 35 minutes a night at center. Both have high shooting percentages only because they seldom shoot beyond point-blank range. Neither even makes 58 percent of his free throws. When either touches the ball, the offense comes to a halt.

On defense, tall centers simply shoot over the wide-bodied Thomas while strong pivot men push Haywood around. Neither averages even one assist or one steal per game. Together, they constitute one competent shot-blocker. The reason the pair can combine for about a dozen points and rebounds on most nights is because, when they're in the game, they can expend all their energy and seldom pace themselves. Each provides the other with the rest he needs to stay fresh.

Thomas has the heart of a center while Haywood has the classic 7-foot, 263-pound physique. On some planet, there may be a machine that could meld the two men. But none is available in Washington. So these two ludicrous combatants should wake up every day and give thanks that they have each other as teammates. No two players in the NBA, if they saw things clearly, would appreciate the other man more. But they don't get it. Five-plus seasons of competing for minutes has blinded them. To evaluate their own games, they look at their paychecks instead of watching game films or confronting the facts on the stat sheet.

Amen. Anyone who's a fan of the NBA can tell you that if these guys don't try to get along, being a starter in the league will be the least of their worries.