On Wednesday, I promised that the My List special would continue with the Wizards. Needless to say, I was unable to write yesterday; let's just say that major car trouble (the back brakes desperately needed repair) plus a doctor's appointment, plus the fact I only slept four hours before I did both, wore me out. So, to make up for that, I'm going to profile two teams today; the Wizards, and the Trail Blazers. Let's start with the Wizards.

Starters:

PG: Gilbert Arenas: "Agent Zero" may not function like a true PG, but that hasn't stopped him from helping Washington reemerge as a good team after some dark years in the 90s. Acquired as a FA from the Warriors in 2004, Arenas became one of the league's best scorers in D.C., averaging no fewer than 19.6 PPG every full season he's played there (minus last year's injury-destroyed season), including a career best 29.3 PPG in 2005-06. Overall, he has made three All-Star teams (2005-07), has career averages of 22.8 PPG and 5.5 APG (single season best as a Wizard of 6.1 in 2005-06), and the Wizards have not missed the playoffs since he arrived after missing in 15 of the previous 16 years.

SG: Earl Monroe: "The Pearl" had his best individual years with the Baltimore Bullets before achieving team success with the Knicks later on. Drafted by the Bullets #2 overall in 1967 (out of tiny Winston-Salem State), Monroe quickly emerged as a great scorer, averaging 24.2 PPG as a rookie and winning ROY honors that season. Monroe averaged better than 21 PPG each year in Baltimore (career best of 25.8 PPG in 1968-69), and was All-NBA 1st team in 1968-69. He also helped the Bullets win two division titles and reach the 1971 NBA Finals (they were swept by the Bucks) before being dealt to the Knicks the following year.

C: Wes Unseld: For all of Unseld's mammoth failures as a coach and a GM, he exceeded expectations as an undersized C. Unseld, drafted #2 overall in 1968, accomplished something that only Wilt Chamberlain had done before (and no one else has done since); he won both ROY and league MVP honors in 1968-69, averaging 13.8 PPG and 18.2 RPG, and making All-NBA 1st team as the Bullets improved from 36-46 and last place to 56-26 and a division title. Unseld was a great rebounder; he averaged double figures in boards in 12 of his 13 seasons (he led the league in 1974-75 with 14.8 per), and led the Bullets to four NBA Finals and the 1978 title, for which Unseld was named Finals MVP. Unseld would also make five All-Star teams before retiring in 1981.

SF: Bob Dandridge: Dandridge provided Washington with the steady second scorer needed for the team to get over the past Finals failures it went through in the early 70s. Signed as a FA from the Bucks in 1977, Dandridge averaged 19.3 PPG and was a major factor as the Bullets beat the Sonics and claimed their first NBA title in 1977-78. He then averaged 20.4 the following year, helping the Bullets claim the NBA's best record, and made a return trip to the Finals (they would lose to the same Sonics team). Dandridge would make the last of his four career All-Star games as a Bullet in 1979 (before injuries shortened his career), and finished with career averages of 18.5 PPG and 6.8 RPG.

PF: Elvin Hayes: The "Big E" finally showed what he could do with a good team after not having that with the Rockets at the beginning of his career. After being traded to the Baltimore Bullets from the Rockets in 1972, Hayes continued to play excellent ball; he averaged a double-double in eight of his nine seasons with the team (highs of 23.7 PPG in 1976-77 and 18.1 RPG in 1973-74) and the Bullets won four division titles, three conference championships, and the 1978 title. Hayes made the All-Star team eight times as a Bullet (12 overall), led the league in rebounds in 1973 (also did it once as a Rocket) and was All-NBA 1st team three times.

Reserves:

PG: (tie) Rod Strickland/Kevin Porter: Neither one had much tenure (Strickland played four full seasons in Washington, Porter played six spread over two tenures), so I picked both. Strickland, acquired in a trade from Portland for Rasheed Wallace in 1996, helped the Bullets reach the playoffs in 1997 for the first time in nine years with 17.2 PPG and 8.9 APG. He then led the league in assists in 1997-98 with 10.5 per game, before the team fell apart and he was traded in 2001. Porter, drafted by the team in the third round in 1972, started for the team that reached the 1975 Finals (swept by the Warriors) and led the league in assists that year with 8 per game. He would lead the league in assists three more times (including one more as a Bullet in 1980-81) before retiring in 1983.

SG: Phil Chenier: Chenier may not be a name many people remember, but he was a good scorer on some excellent Bullets teams of the early-to-mid 70s. Drafted by the team in a suppemental draft in 1971 (this draft was strictly for hardship cases after the Spencer Haywood case forced the NBA to change its draft rules and allowed underclasssmen to be drafted), Chenier proved to be a solid scorer, with three seasons of 20 or better PPG (a high of 21,9 in 1973-74), and he made three All-Star teams (1974-75, 1977). He also played on the 1978 champs, but during that season, injuries started to pop up, and he was forced to reitre in 1981 with the Warriors.

C: Walt Bellamy: Many people may not recognize Bellamy, but for the Wizards/Bullets, he was an early pillar for the team. So early, in fact, he began his career at the same time as the team (which began as the Chicago Packers in 1961-62). Bellamy has an awesome rookie debut on a bad team, averaging 31.6 PPG as a rookie (which remains a team record for a season) and 19 RPG, easily winning ROY honors. Bellamy averaged at least 24.8 PPG and 14.6 RPG in each of his four seasons with the team (and made the All-Star team each of those years) before being dealt to New York in 1966.

SF: Bernard King: For those who may say Caron Butler, I say look ahead, but I put King here because the mere fact he played after his severe knee injury in 1985, much less the great way he played, deserves mention. After being left for dead by the Knicks in 1987, the Bullets took a chance on King, and he played solidly as a part-time starter in 1988, averaging 17.2 PPG. He then averaged over 20 PPG in each of the next three years, and in 1990-91, he made the All-Star team (and averaged 28.4 PPG, the second highest average of his career), capping a remarkable comeback. Though injuries would resurface, King no doubt proved just how tough he really was.

PF: Antawn Jamison: Jamison gets this spot because, of the big three in D.C., he has been the healthiest and is consistently productive. Jamison, acquired in a trade with Dallas for Jerry Stackhouse in 2004, has averaged at least 19.6 PPG each season, along with 8 RPG as well, and has made the All-Star team twice as a Wizard. Last season may have been one of his best; with Arenas and Butler out for long stretches of time with injuries, Jamison averaged 21.4 PPG (his best average since 2002-03) and 10.2 RPG (a career high) to lead Washington to the playoffs. Good stuff, and consistency counts.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Richard Motta: Motta had already established himself as a great defensive coach with the Bulls in the early 70s, and after leaving Chicago for Washington in 1976, he put that stamp on the Bullets, as well. Motta led the team to the playoffs each season he coached there, won a division title in 1979, and won his only NBA title in 1978 as Washington beat the Sonics in seven games. For his career, he won 935 games.

Assistants: Eddie Jordan, Gene Shue: Jordan took over a team in chaos in 2003-04, and today, he is the longest tenured coach in the Eastern Conference. Jordan has guided the team to at least a .500 record and the playoffs in each of the last four years, and when he guided the team to a first round win over Chicago in 2005, it was the first playoff series win for them since 1981. Shue coached the team in two seperate tenures (1967-73, 1981-86), and in his first round, he led the team to four division titles and a Finals berth in 1971, and his second go-round, he made the playoffs three out of five full years.

Honorable Mentions:

SF: Caron Butler: Great stats, but always seems to be hurt.

PF: Chris Webber: Much better known as a King, and his tenure in Washington seemed to be the "Era of Bad Feelings".

C: Moses Malone: Only played two years there, and he wasn't the same dominating force he was in Philly.

SG: Richard Hamilton: Played better in Detroit after the stench of Washington was washed off him.

SF/PF Juwan Howard: He almost wrecked the franchise with that deal that cost the team draft picks in 1996, and let's be honest; he was slightly above-average at best.

SG: Michael Jordan: O.K., I'm kidding; let's forget (we know Jordan already has) that this ever happened.

Now, for the Blazers:

Starters:

PG: Terry Porter: Porter personified how the Blazers were consistently good in the 80s and 90s; they could find small-school products who were real players. Porter, drafted #24 (last pick) in the first round in 1985 from Wisconsin-Stevens Point, became a starter in his second season, and averaged a double-double by his third season (14.9 PPG and 10.1 APG, the only double-double average of his career). Porter would make two All-Star teams in his career (1991, 1993) and piloted the Blazers to two NBA Finals before leaving the team in 1995.

SG: Clyde Drexler: "Clyde the Glide" may have been the major reason the Blazers passed on Michael Jordan in 1984, but Drexler was a great SG in his own right. Drafted #14 overall in 1983 (little known fact; the Bulls, drafting one slot ahead of Portland, took Ennis Whatley over Drexler. So nobody's perfect!), Drexler unseated Jim Paxson as a starter by his third season, and by year four Drexler averaged 21.7 PPG (the first of seven season with over 20 PPG). Drexler made his first All-Star team in 1986 (made nine overall for his career), was All-NBA 1st team in 1991-92, and helped Portland reach two NBA Finals before capturing his only title as a Rocket in 1995.

C: Bill Walton: He may aggrivate people today on ESPN, but in his playing day (when he was healthy, of course), Walton may have been one of the most complete centers in NBA history. Chosen #1 overall by the team in 1974, Walton was only occasionally healthy (his high in games played in a season was 80 in 1985-86, in Portland 65 in 1976-77), but he was magnificent when healthy (double-double average all four years in Portland, highs of 18.9 PPG in 1977-78, 14.4 RPG in 1976-77) and he led Portland to its only NBA title in 1977, winning Finals MVP. Despite more injuries in 1978, he was named league MVP, but during the Blazers' first round loss to Seattle that year, Walton reinjured his foot. He blamed the team doctors for the injury, sat out the 1978-79 season, and signed with the Clippers the following season.

SF: Jerome Kersey: Kersey was yet another example of the Blazers looking high and low for talent, as he came from Longwood college (as the Blazers' second round pick in 1984). Kersey didn't become a starter until his fourth season, but he became a steady producer for the Blazers' two Finalists of the early 90s; he averaged at least 10 PPG each year from 1988 to 1993, and his best averages were 19.2 PPG in 1987-88 and 8.4 RPG in 1989-90. Kersey played for the team for 12 years before leaving in 1995, and in 1999, he won his only NBA title with the Spurs.

PF: Maurice Lucas: Lucas not only provided Walton with the physical enforcer he needed to be most effective, he was the reason Walton's son is named Luke! This "Luke" was acquired by the team in the ABA dispersal draft in 1976, and he led the team in PPG (20.2) and was second in RPG to Walton (11.4) as Portland had its first winning season (49-33) and rode the magic to the NBA title in a major upset of the 76ers. Lucas played solidly for the Blazers for two more seasons (another season with 20.4 PPG in 1978-79) and made three All-Star teams (1977-79) before being traded to New Jersey in 1980.

Reserves:

PG: Geoff Petrie: The current GM of the Kings was a solid player for the Blazers as the team was established in the early 70s. In fact, Petrie was the Blazers' first ever draft pick (#8 overall in 1970). Petrie had a solid first season, finishing tied for ROY (with Dave Cowens) after averaging 24.8 PPG and 4.8 APG. Petrie averaged better than 24 PPG three times (high of 24.9 in 1972-73) and made two All-Star teams (1971, 1974) before retiring in 1976, on the eve of the Blazers' only title.

SG: Jim Paxson: Paxson, the brother of current Bulls GM John Paxson and a former GM himself (with the Cavaliers; he drafted LeBron James), was a solid SG for the Blazers of the early 80s. Drafted #12 overall in 1979, Paxson became a starter in year two, and averaged over 20 PPG twice during his Blazers tenure (high of 21.7 in 1982-83) and made the All-Star team twice during his stay in Portland (1983-84). Paxson eventually abdicated his starting spot to Drexler in 1985, and he played solidly as a backup until he was traded to Boston in 1988.

C: Arvydas Sabonis: Sabonis may have been past his prime by the time he arrived in Portland, but he still played well for the Blazers for six years. Originally drafted by the Hawks in the fourth round in 1985, Sabonis was declared ineligible because he had not turned 21. The follwing year, Portland snapped him up with the last pick in the first round and (because the NBA changed its rules the year after the Hawks fiasco) held his rights until he came over for the 1995-96 season. Sabonis averaged a soild 14.5 PPG and 8.1 RPG sharing the center spot with Chris Dudley (Chris Dudley!?!?), then became a starter in year two. His best individual season in the NBA was 1997-98, where he averaged a double-double (16 PPG and 10 RPG). Sabonis averaged double figures in points each year, and helped Portland reach two conference finals.

SF: Sidney Wicks: Wicks may have been the Allen Iverson of his era (wanting the stats without the hard work), but Wicks did put up solid numbers for the Blazers of the early 70s. Drafted by the team second overall in 1971, Wicks averaged over 20 PPG in four of his five seasons in Portland (high of 24.5 as a rookie in 1971-72, which won him ROY honors), and made four All-Star teams1972-75). But the Blazers never made the playoffs, and they traded Wicks to Boston in 1976, and while Wicks destroyed the Celtics with his selfish attitude, the Blazers won the NBA title. Oh, the irony.

PF: (tie) Buck Williams/Rasheed Wallace: Buck was an key piece of the Blazers team that made two NBA Finals in the early 90s, but Sheed was the face (like it or not) of the Blazers earlier in the decade. So, I'll profile them both. Williams, acquired from New Jersey for Sam Bowie in 1989, brought the toughness the Blazers needed to make those two NBA Finals, and had his best stats year in Portland in 1993-94, where he nearly averaged a double-double (9.7 PPG and 10.4 RPG). Though these stats are tame compared to what he did in Jersey, he was solid enough to make it. Rasheed, acquired from Washington for Rod Strickland in 1996, was a solid scorer (better than 15 PPG five times, a high of 19.3 in 2001-02) and made the All-Star team twice in Portland. He also helped the team reach two conference finals.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Jack Ramsay: Dr Jack was fresh off taking the Buffalo Braves to three straight playoff berths when he was hired by Portland in 1976. In his first season, with Bill Walton at his healthiest in Portland, the team captured the NBA title by upsetting the Sixers. Ramsay would lead the team to a division title and top overall seed the following year, but injuries to Walton derailed the repeat run. Ramsay made the playoffs in nine of the ten seasons he coached in Portland (though that 1977 team won all but one of the five playoff series he won), and before he reitred from coaching for good in 1988, he won 864 games.

Assistants: Rick Adelman, Mike Dunleavy: Can you believe that the Blazers have hired just 11 coaches in their 38 years of existence? Anyhow, Adelman took over during the 1988-89 season, and in his first full year, the Blazers returned to the NBA Finals for the first time in 13 years. Adelman took the team to another NBA Final in 1992, and won two division titles and won over 50 games four times before leaving in 1994. Dunleavy won at least 46 games in every non-lockout year he coached with the team (1997-98, 1999-2001), and won a divison title during the lockout season of 1998-99 and to two donference finals (1999-2000).

Honorable Mentions:

C: Mychal Thompson: Did play very well in Portland, but gained more acclaim as a Laker.

SF: Bob Gross: One of Walton's favorites, but he had a mediocre career.

PF: Brian Grant: Good stats, but not all-time stats.

SF: Scottie Pippen: Past his prime when he joined, and didn't produce when it counted.

SF: Kiki Vandeweghe: Great stats (four seasons with over 20 PPG) but didn't play with team over long haul like Kersey did.

PG: Damon Stoudamire: Wasn't the bellcow he was in Toronto, and Porter and Petrie had better numbers.

SG: Brandon Roy: Let's wait a few years and see what he can do with Oden.

SG: Steve Smith: Underrated, but not spectacular on Blazers earlier in this decade.

Well, there are the Wizards and Blazers. Next week, I'll start the final week of the countdown with the Jazz. Take care for now!

The countdown continues as the My List special reveals team #9 today, the Atlanta Hawks. If I can wash off the stench of lil pest, er, lil runt, er, lil fly, let's see who made the cut.

Starters:

PG: Lenny Wilkens: Does anyone realize that Wilkens is one of only three people (John Wooden and Bill Sharman are the others) to be inducted into the basketball HOF as a player and a coach? Before becoming the winningest NBA coach, Wilkens was the #6 pick overall in 1960 by the Hawks. He played on the last Hawks team to make the NBA Finals in his rookie year (averaging 11.7 PPG and 4.5 RPG), then became the full-time starter in his third year. Wilkens steadily improved his stats as he got older, and his best stats year with the Hawks came in 1967-68, his last with the team and the Hawks' last in St. Louis, with 20 PPG and 8.3 APG (second to Wilt Chamberlain in assists), before he departed to become player/coach of Seattle the following season. His career averages were 16.5 PPG and 6.7 APG.

SG: Pete Maravich: "Pistol Pete" may be better known as a member of the Jazz, but he began his NBA career in 1970 (fresh off his record-setting LSU career) with the Hawks. Maravich made the playoffs in three of his four Atlanta seasons, and averaged better than 23 PPG the same amount of times (with an Atlanta high of 27.7 in 1973-74). But his persona irritated his coaches and Atlanta management, and they sent him to the Jazz in 1974, where he would later win a scoring title (31.1 in 1976-77).

C: Dikembe Mutombo: The 57 year old Mutombo (O.K., no more age jokes!) was at his physical peak when he arrived in Atlanta as a FA (spurning the Pistons, but I digress) in 1996. Mutombo averaged a double-double in each of his four full Atlanta seasons, with hsi best year being 1997-98, when he averaged 13.4 PPG and 11.4 RPG. He also maintained his rep as an outstanding blocker; he blocked at least 264 shots in every non-lockout season in Atlanta.

SF: Dominique Wilkins: The "Human Highlight Film" was the unquestioned face of Hawks basketball in the 80s and early 90s. Wilkins was originally drafted by the Jazz in 1982, but was traded to Atlanta for John Drew, Freeman Williams, and cash (think about that; had the Jazz kept their picks, their mid-80s lineup could have been Magic, Stockton, Wilkins, Malone and Eaton. How many titles could they have won?). Wilkins quickly established himself as a premier scorer; he averaged 27.4 PPG by his third year, and in his fourth, he won his only scoring title (30.3 PPG). Between 1984-85 and 1993-94, Wilkins averaged at least 25.9 PPG, and made eight All-Star teams. Of course, the major blemish was that the Hawks never got past the second round during his career. His most memorable game even came during a loss; in a classic duel with Larry Bird, Wilkins scored 44 points in game 7 of the 1988 Eastern Conference Semis, but the Hawks lost 118-116. So close, but yet so far.

PF: Bob Pettit: Pettit was the Karl Malone of his era; he defined what a PF in the NBA could do. Originally drafted by the Milwaukee Hawks in 1954 (draft records weren't kept round-for-round, so I don't know what round it was), Pettit averaged 20.4 PPG and 13.8 RPG as a rookie, setting the stage for a legendary career. In his second season, he led the league in points (25.7 per) and rebounds (16.2) as the new St. Louis Hawks made the playoffs for the first time since 1950. Pettit averaged a double-double in each of his years (11 seasons) he played, with his best stats year coming in 1960-61, with averages of 27.9 PPG and 20.3 RPG. He led the Hawks to four NBA Finals in his career, and he scored 50 points in the closeout game of the 1958 Finals as the Hawks became the first (and only) team to beat a Bill Russell-led Celtics squad for the title.

Reserves:

PG: (tie) Doc Rivers/Mookie Blaylock: Both were the quarterbacks for various periods of successful Hawks ball, and thus both get honored. Rivers, drafted in the second round in 1983, was consistent in his production; he averaged at least 12 PPG in six of seven years between 1985 and 1991, and at least 6 APG in five of those years, and made the 1988 All-Star team. Blaylock, acquired as a FA from New Jersey in 1992, made the 1994 All-Star team with a career high 9.7 APG, and averaged at least 13 PPG and about 6 APG in his Atlanta career.

SG: Lou Hudson: Hudson was the scoring leader of the Hawks of the early-to-mid 70s. Drafted #4 overall by the team in 1966, Hudson averaged 18.4 PPG as a rookie, and had his first 20+ PPG campaign in 1968-69. It was the first of seven straight such season for Hudson (one of which was shortened by injury). Hudson also was a key player on the Hawks teams that made the 1969 and 1970 Western Division finals.

C: (tie) Zelmo Beaty/Kevin Willis: I'm sure you've heard of Willis, who had four seasons in Atlanta where he averaged a double-double (including his best Atlanta season of 1991-92, where he averaged 18.3 PPG and a career high 15.5 RPG), and very much carried two positions on the team (come on; Jon Koncak was a stiff!). But who is this Beaty character? Well, Beaty averaged a double-double in six straight years with the St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks (best year came in 19667-68 with 21.1 PPG and 11.7 RPG), made two All-Star teams (1966 & 1968), and later would lead the Utah Stars to the ABA title in 1970-71.

SF: Cliff Hagan: While Hagan will always be remembered as one of the two guys (Ed Macauley was the other) the Hawks got in the Bill Russell trade in 1956, Hagan, who waited several years prior to the trade to enter the NBA because of a military commitment, was a solid pro. He had four straight years with 20+ PPG (a high of 24.8 in 1959-60), had three years (1958-60) with a double-double average, and helped the Hawks to four NBA Finals and the 1958 title before retiring in 1966. He would then join the ABA's Dallas Chapparals (today's San Antonio Spurs) as player/coach for three years starting in 1968.

PF: Dan Roundfield: While Roundfield seemed to abhor the All-Star game (despite being selected to three, he only played in one), he was a powerful force in the Hawks' lineup in the late 70s and early 80s. Acquired from the Pacers in 1978, Roundfield averaged a double-double in each of his first five Atlants seasons (with his best year being 1982-83, with 19 PPG and 11.4 RPG), was selected to those three All-Star teams, and was All-NBA second team in 1979-80.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Lenny Wilkens: Wilkens had already established himself as a HOF coach with three other teams (Sonics twice, Blazers and Cavs) when he was hired to coach the Hawks in 1993. Wilkens whipped the team into shape and coached them to 57 wins and the #1 seed in his first year. The Hawks would win at least 50 games in three of Wilkens' six non-lockout seasons there, and won 300 regular season games between 1993 and 2000.

Assistants: Alex Hannum, Richie Guerin, Mike Fratello: Three assistants? What gives? Well, all three had their moments as Hawks coaches. Hannum actually coached the team to the 1958 championship, but because that was his only full year, he can't get the head job. Guerin had three straight years of 48 or better wins, and coached the team to two Western Division finals (1969-70). Fratello won at least 50 games each year from 1986-89, and also copped a division title in 1987, but his inability to advance past round two hurts him.

Honorable Mentions:

SG: Steve Smith: Good scorer, but Maravich and Hudson were just as good, and both defined their Hawks teams more than Smith did, plus I didn't want a three-way tie.

PG: Spud Webb: Aside from his slam dunk title, he had only one year as a starter in Atlanta, and his best years stats wise came in Sacramento.

C: Tree Rollins: Great name, great defense and shot blocking, but that's it.

PF/C Bill Bridges: Good stats (seven years with a double-double), but none of those years stood out.

C: Ed Macauley: Better known as a Celtic.

SG: John Drew: Like Smith, good scoring SG, but do you replace Maravich or Hudson with a good scorer?

PG: Jason Terry: Team wasn't successful during his Hawks tenure.

SG: Joe Johnson: Let's wait until the team puts together regular playoff appearences.

That's the Hawks. Tomorrow, team #10 will be my hometown Pistons. That should be fun! Anyhow, see you then!

The Cleveland Cavaliers advanced to round two tonight by slamming the Washington Wizards 105-88 to win a playoff series against them for the third straight year. The key figure, as one might suspect, was LeBron James. James faced a lot of booing from the D.C fans (as you'd might expect), who directed their venom at him after reserve F Darius Songalia was suspended for the shot he hit LeBron with in game 5 (it looked worse than it was, frankly, but this is the NBA, where leaving the bench to help a teammate gets you a game, but grapping the jewels of someone doesn't. Go figure).

King James had the royal touch, as he scored 27 points, grabbed 13 boards, and set a career playoff high of 13 assists. Observing the game, James was content to be the distributor early on; if I may, he played similar to Michael Jordan in 1991 by not forcing the issue early. He set up his open teammates, and after a close first that saw both teams play well, the Cavs lit it up in the second and didn't look back. Wally Szezerbiak (or just plain Wally) and Daniel Gibson hit a bunch of threes, and the Cavs hit over 10 as a team in every victory in this series.

With the series over, the Cavs can now focus on round two, and with the Celtics losing tonight to Atlanta (who would have thought this series would go 7!), they'll get more rest and might have an advantage (of course, if Atlanta shocks the world in game 7, they'll have homecourt advantage!). As for the Wiz, I for one am glad DeDoNothing Stevenson is gone; all he really accomplsihed was upsetting LeBron. The Wiz's lack of healthy depth hurt them; without Songalia and with Gilbert Arenas shutting himself down, they played only seven guys before the game was put out of reach.

Can LeBron lead the Cavs to the Finals again? It's possible, but highly unlikely (Orlando or Detroit can beat them, but didn't we say that last year, too?). Still, for a guy who heard all the talk about he can't do this or he can't do that, and for all the obnoxious fans who wore "Crybaby" shirts, LeBron shut them all up. And he also showed that he can carry a less than stellar supporting cast (despite what Skip Bayless says) farther than most stars could have. So, congrats, LeBron. And thanks for getting DeDoNothing to, well, dedonothing!

According to ESPN, the Phoenix Suns will try to acquire Shaquille O'Neal from the lowly Heat for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. The feeling in Suns land is that Shaq should provide interior defense and much needed size to counter the Duncans of the West come playoff time. Is that going to be fact or fiction? Only time will tell.

O'Neal has never been consistent as a defender; in his peak years on the Lakers, he was a solid interior defender and always tried to alter shots. In recent years, that effort seems to have waned, and it's probably due to his age and durability issues. The Suns must realize they aren't getting the old Shaq, but an old Shaq, and this Shaq isn't the most dominant force in the league. But my biggest concern is how having him lumber around will affect their high-octane offense, the primary reason the Suns are so good.

Admittedly, up-tempo attacks have gotten away with lack of speed at center; the Lakers' Showtime attacks weren't affected by Kareem usually coming up only after the break stopped. But Jabbar could still occasionally join his mates, and he had quicker backups like Mychal Thompson who could spell him. The Suns are notorious for having very little on the bench and for Mike D'Antoni using only seven players at best, so is Shaq up for over 35 minutes a night? That's doubtful; he's been hurt playing in Riley's slowball, and that could pop up again in Phoenix.

And don't forget Shaq's monster contract; if they fail to win the title, they'll be stuck with him for two additional years. They probably made this deal to avoid paying Marion the big bucks he was expecting to demand, but Shaq's contract is even worse. Now the pressure increases tenfold on Steve Nash and Co. to get the job done now. And moreover, you've got Shaq and Grant Hill needing to play major minutes; that's akin to fixing the breach in the Titanic with chewing gum! One breakdown will derail this team.

So, before people say the Suns are instant favorites, let's get real; the Suns still have the toughest conference to get through. The defending champion Spurs, Lakers, Jazz, and Mavs, among others, will give them challenges. And if Shaq doesn't embrace his new team role, the Suns will find themselves in a familiar place in late May and June; playing golf in the desert.