Michael Jordan blasted his teammates' play again last weekend.
Time is running out on Michael Jordan and the Wizards. Doug Collins said his club needed a split of its six-game trip out West to stay within reach of the East's final playoff berth, but the Wiz have dropped two in a row to fall behind the Bucks by 1½ games. The Wizards have to start winning games they're not supposed to win, like tonight's stop in Portland.
Tuesday, March 25
TUESDAY: It's getting to the point where the Wizards better start winning games they're not expected to win if they want to see the playoffs. Washington is 4-8 in March, only halfway through a six-game trip out West and finds itself in Portland, which won the teams' MCI Center meeting handily. It's a game that's just as important to the Blazers, who are trying to hold off Minnesota for No. 4 in the West. Heat at Timberwolves and Bucks at Spurs also figure into the evening's scoreboard watching.
WEDNESDAY: Philadelphia at Indiana pits two East playoff hopefuls going in opposite directions -- Sixers challenging for the Atlantic title, Pacers clinging to home-court advantage -- and marks the (latest) return from suspension for Ron Artest. Orlando at New Orleans finds the Magic, rather suddenly, challenging for No. 6 in the East, with the Hornets trying to bump the slumping Pacers out of No. 4 spot. ESPN carries the latest installment of Shaquille O'Neal vs. Yao Ming in Lakers at Rockets, with Houston bidding to win the season series, and Portland goes to Utah.
THURSDAY: The Rockets can win their season series against the Spurs as well -- Houston is 2-1 against the Lakers and San Antonio -- if they can win at SBC Center. Minnesota at Orlando, meanwhile, is another MVP showcase: Kevin Garnett vs. Tracy McGrady.
FRIDAY: Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan square off for the last time in Wizards at Lakers ... and, yes, it's more than safe to say these teams won't be meeting in the Finals. ESPN serves up a doubleheader: Phoenix at Detroit, giving the Pistons some long-awaited national spotlight, and Dallas at Portland in a potential second-round playoff preview.
WEEKEND: Golden State plays its last game in the friendly East in Saturday's visit to New Jersey, and Utah travels to San Antonio. Sunday's ABC submission is Dallas at Minnesota, also a potential second-round preview, with Sacramento at Detroit serving as a ******* cross-conference matchup.