Welcome to The Now

...but this combined with Chad Ford's "Wade may be traded" talk has me kinda giddy about the Wizards playoff hopes next year. Now if LeBron James would only demand a trade to the Knicks...

As someone who was a Georgetown fan (before I went to Maryland) I was also a big fan of the centers the John Thompson churned out. So it's kinda sad to hear that Alonzo Mourning may have to call it quits . Here's a guy who -between the likes of Ewing and Mutombo- was once considered to be the last of the Great Hoya Centers to have the opportunity to win a NBA Championship Ring. Ewing was a better scorer; Mutombo was a better defensive player. Both were bigger/taller. If anything, 'Zo won on the energy/passion scale, but it was that energy and passion that contributed to many early exits on his Miami teams (but it was mostly Pat Riley's fault). Nevertheless, the guy persevered. And two seasons ago, he finally got his prize. It may not have come the way he wanted (in a reserve role playing Shaq's backup) but I don't think it matters once you actually get that gold around your finger. And now, even after getting that ring, he hasn't let up. Some players are pro...

Awsome . Totally, completely awesome . I know the team didn't want to focus on beating the Heat in regards to streaks and the like, but I still remember that playoff matchup when Miami beat them with Shaq&Wade, w/out Shaq, w/out Wade and w/out either. So to beat this team, with their two star players is monumental. Sure, Shaq's going through some personal stuff (and if rumors are true, so is Wade) but it's not like the Wiz players don't have personal live with ups or downs. So, we can't use that as an excuse. Coach Eddie Jordan's version of the Princeton Offense was running as well as it has been all season, as evidenced by the shared scoring load (five players in double figures) and open looks that players like DeShawn Stevenson got (is Pat Riley even using his scouts anymore?). I mean, even Charley Rosen gives the Wiz props . What I did notice was this: the Wiz held the Heat to 91pts. In the team's last four wins, they've held their opponents to 88...

I was watching ESPN this weekend and the talk was about the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade's comments about Shaq's recent play. Someone thought it would lead to the teammate conflict reminiscent of Shaq and Kobe (with the LA Lakers) or Shaq and Penny (Orlando Magic). Well, even with the related story that Shaq's OK with what Wade said , there's the obvious: Wade isn't Penny or Kobe. Penny was a guy who once thought he could average 40pts/game (something even Michael Jordan thought was a difficult task in today's NBA) despite being injury-prone. Kobe wasn't patient enough to inherit the title of team leader form Shaq, and now that he has it, is basically begging for help (like a big man who could score in the post, block shots and clog the middle). Wade's definitely the most humble of the three, and probably the most durable. Plus (and this is important) he has Shaq's respect. If this team fails to make some noise, it would be because of a Wade-Shaq beef...