NBA Basketball: Will MJ manage to lift the Wizards to playoff time?

[James Logan]

I'm a big fan of MJ's, and so I've been supporting the Washington Wizards all year. Thing is, with Jerry Stackhouse being so irregular and the rest of the team being virtually inexistant (except Tyronn Lue, Dixon, and an occasional good game by Kwame Brown), the Wizards are now 9th in the NBA Eastern Conference, two games behind the Milwaukee Bucks for the last qualifying sport for the playoffs, and there's less than ten games to go.

Think MJ can get the Wizards to the playoffs for his final year? Think he's too old and too beaten-up? Don't think at all?

Discuss.

Personally, as you'll have guessed, I'd love Jordan and the Wizards to get to crunch time and maybe even pass first round. And I think they can do it...I really do.

[Indiana Sev]

Being as this is Jordan's last dance , I really hope the Wizards make the playoffs; I think if they could get there, they could do some damage.

He's proven this year that he can still play with the best of them and he just needs to put it into overdrive for the last remaining games and they could make it...

But I doubt they will, they haven't been able to consistently string some victories together all season.

It's a lousy way to end a career, not making the playoffs,I think Gretzky went out the same way and now maybe even Lemieux.

Go Bullets!;)

[MarkItZero]

If anyone can do it, its Micheal.
It never ceases to amaze me how good he is still at 40 years-old. It is really a shame that the rest of the team is full of bums. Christian Laetner and Stackhouse and the rest of those jobbers dont even deserve to be on the same court as His Airness.

I really wish he had a good team to play on so that he could go out in style. Here is a player who raised the bar to unbelievable heights, not becuase he was the biggest or strongest or fastest, but because he had an incredible will power and need to compete that no other player even comes close to. Its not right that the last players to share a court with him are so uninspired and unmotivated. He deserves a better send off.

[RogueSpear]

Although it would be nice to see the Wizards actually make it to the playoffs in Jordan's last season I just don't see it happening. Unless, of course, Milwaukee starts losing and the Wizards start winning.

[Indiana Sev]

Last night's buzzer beater was a heartbreaker...

It doesn't look good, James. It does not look good...

[James Logan]

Originally posted by Indiana Sev
Last night's buzzer beater was a heartbreaker...

It doesn't look good, James. It does not look good...

I know, man, it killed me. I mean, look at this, you're playing against the Atlanta fuckin' Hawks, Michael Jordan has 22 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists (an All-Star game!), and you still lose? I mean, sure it was a lucky buzzer beater, but c'mon...even Tyronn Lue delivered (14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists).

The Wizards lost this game for the same reason they lost each game they lost in the past couple o' months: Jerry Stackhouse's irregular game. Last night, he scored 15 points, at 5 of 14 shooting. He's supposed to be the franchise player of this team, MJ should be his back-up -- and for now, Stack just ain't delivering. If the Wizards fuck up MJ's last run, I'm holding him responsible.

Well, anyways, the Wizards are now at 34v - 41d with seven games to go (they lost their last four). The Milwaukee Bucks, which they need to beat standing-wise to get into the playoffs, are 37v - 39d with six to go, and they won their last three. Not good at all...

[James Logan]

Washington Wizards remaining games:
@ Boston Celtics
@ Cleveland Cavaliers
vs. Boston Celtics
@ Miami Heat
vs. Atlanta Hawks
vs. New York Knicks
@ Philadelphia Sixers

I think the Wizards can do this. They've got seven games to go, three at home and four away, and it ain't such a tough schedule. I think they should be able to beat Boston once, beat Cleveland, and kick Atlanta and NY butt. That'd make them 38v - 44d. If they could just push it and win some more...

Milwaukee Bucks remaining games:
vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
@ Chicago Bulls
vs. L.A. Clippers
@ Toronto Raptors
vs. Indiana Pacers
vs. Orlando Magic

Here's the catch, though: the Bucks have an easy season ending too. They're likely to lose versus Indiana and Orlando, but those four other games, they can win with no big effort, making them 41v - 41d and good for the playoffs...

[Bullet Tooth Tony]

I think MJ deserves it. He has been pretty solid this year dispite his age...he's a legend.

Life wasnt worth living as a kid without a pair of Nike Air Jordans!

[James Logan]

The Milwaukee Bucks just defeated the Cavs, making their standing 38 victories for 39 losses. If the Wizards don't win at least five of their seven games, they're fucked...

[Bullet Tooth Tony]

Originally posted by James Logan
The Milwaukee Bucks just defeated the Cavs, making their standing 38 victories for 39 losses. If the Wizards don't win at least five of their seven games, they're fucked...

Thats a real tall order....especially for an average team.

[SanduskyPA]

Hey, maybe there's a chance.

MJ's former team just beat the Bucks in overtime.

Chicago 117
Milwaukee 115

[James Logan]

Yup, saw that. And Milwaukee even had a 19-point lead late in the game before screwing things up. With any luck that'll get their spirits down...

Washington Wizards 34v - 41d (seven games to go)
Milwaukee Bucks 38v - 40d (four games to go)

The Wizards play the Celtics in Boston today, let's hope they're gonna kick some leprechaun butt!

:)

[SanduskyPA]

Washington won a huge game today...

Washington 99
Boston 98

[James Logan]

Originally posted by SanduskyPA
Washington won a huge game today...

Washington 99
Boston 98

Yeah, man, I saw...and in overtime, too! And MJ delivered a scorching 25 point, 13 rebound, 7 assist, 2 steal performance, leading his team to a great victory and taking his favorite role of clutch shooter in the last three minutes of the game. And for once, both Stackhouse (24 points) and Laettner (16 points, a double-double, and a clutch shot with 53 seconds left in the game) were backing him up...and the Wizards won. If Stack and CL can just keep this up for six more games, then we're up and runnin' for the playoffs!

The Wizards and the Bucks both play tomorrow...

Washington Wizards 35v - 41d (six games to go)
Milwaukee Bucks 38v - 40d (four games to go)

[MarkItZero]

MJ played great on Sunday. I really hope the Wizards can pull it out. They are gonna need some big time help though.

[Indiana Sev]

Wiz win again.

Cleveland falls 100-91.

Is it happening? Will they make it?

[James Logan]

Originally posted by Indiana Sev
Wiz win again.

Cleveland falls 100-91.

Is it happening? Will they make it?

Not only did they win, but MJ rocked Cleveland again, with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists! Is it me or is this man becoming a rebounding machine these days?

Washington is now 36-41, they won two back-to-back games and they're just behind Milwaukee...go MJ!

[MarkItZero]

Fuckin A, GO Wizards!

[MarkItZero]

I just checked the standings and did the math...

Milwaukee is 38-40 with 4 remaining
Wizards are 36-41 with 5 remaining

Because of the tie-breaker, the Wizards have to finish ahead of the Bucks. So MJ and the Wiz have to win 3 of 5, plus 1 for every game the Bucks win. If the Bucks go .500 or worse the rest of the way, the Wiz still have a shot.

[James Logan]

Fuck...

Boston Celitcs 87 -- 83 Washington Wizards

The Wizards lost to the Celtics in Boston... MJ got 21 points and 10 rebounds, another double double, but his teammates were off: Stackhouse only amounted to 16 points on 4/12 shooting, and the only one to chip in was Kwame Brown with 17 points and 9 rebounds. Boston, though, had three players over 20 p's: Antoine Walker (24), Paul Pierce (20), and the surprising JR Bremer (20). One more loss for the Wizards...

LA Clippers 92 -- 112 Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks beat the Clippers by 20 points, led by Toni Kukoc's 26 points performance...damn!

Washington Wizards 36v - 42d
Milwaukee Bucks 39v - 40d

This race is a tight one...hopefull the Wizards can still make it, but it's getting unlikelier every day... :(

[James Logan]

THE WASHINGTON WIZARDS WILL NOT BE A PART OF THE PLAYOFFS... :( :( :(

The Wizards bet the Heat yesterday 91 to 87 (MJ delivered a fantastic performance with 25 points and 4 assists, comforting his best scoring average ever record), but they won't go in the playoffs, as the Milwaukee Bucks won too. It's now technically impossible for the Wizards to get past them and qualify themselves.

And do you know what this means?

Michael Jordan has only three games left in his career. :(

[Indiana Sev]

Originally posted by James Logan
[B]


And do you know what this means?

Michael Jordan has only three games left in his career. :(

Until he comes out of retirement again in 2006.

Sorry for the bad news, James.

[James Logan]

Originally posted by Indiana Sev
Until he comes out of retirement again in 2006.

Sorry for the bad news, James.

Hey, MJ coming back to play again ain't and will never be bad news to me, man! ;)

But seriously...I don't think he will this time. He ain't winning like he used to, he ain't scoring like he used to, and he's just damn old. I'm sure he's having fun, and he's playing great, but it's gotta be tough on his body playing at that level day in and day out at 40. Nah, I think this retirement is the good one, bud'...

...but I hope I'm mistaken. :)

[Indiana Sev]

Originally posted by James Logan
Hey, MJ coming back to play again ain't and will never be bad news to me, man! ;)



I meant the bad news about the Wiz missing the playoffs. That's what I meant, but maybe you got that?

[Cunning Visions]

I went to the Heat game lastnight and watched Michael play his last game against us :( He put on one hell of a show in the 1st half, scoring 23 points (15 in the 1st quarter). Unfortunately he could not keep it going, he was 0-8 with 2 points in the 2nd half. Didn''t matter though. It was just great watching him play. Even at 40 he's better then a lot of players in the league.

[Bullet Tooth Tony]

I watched the Wizards against the Celtics and Jordan was still as cheeky as ever. Made some of the Boston players look second rate...especially Pierce for that dunk to set up OT

[James Logan]

The Wizards fell to the Atlanta Hawks once again (101-100), as unknown Newble scored 21 points and MJ missed a last-second shot (wasn't his fault...coach Doug Collins admitted he forgot to ask the other players to clear the lane for Mike).

Jordan finished the game with 17 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and 1 block shot, which is a magnificient all-around performance for a man his age. I'm gonna miss him. :(

[Bullet Tooth Tony]

Well thats your lot folks...MJ has retired after a crushing by the 76ers.

The least they can do is retire the number 23.

I wish MJ luck in whatever he pursues.