Heart of Wizards' Problem Is That They Have None

The Wizards had the kind of postseason that makes you want to hug them one moment and scream at them the next. It's an immensely likeable team, from Eddie Jordan through the end of the bench, filled with the kind of people folks find easy to root for. There's not a Darius Miles on the bench, thank God.

On the other hand, the Wizards gave away three games they should have won, making you wonder what you have to wonder at the end of such a heartbreaking series.

What do the Wizards have to do to get better, to at least be a serious contender for the conference championship?

All over the playgrounds of D.C., and wherever hard-core basketball is discussed, it's said matter-of-factly that the Wizards don't have the "dog" in them necessary to be a contender. Just like "bad" came to mean good, "dog" in today's jargon means "edge" or "ruthlessness."

James is ruthless.

The Wizards are not.

The temptation after the local team loses a series by dropping three one-point games, two after having 14-point leads, is to make radical changes. And almost always, as the Miami Heat may soon find out, that's an overreaction.

Ruthlessness or killer instinct or the ability to close -- whatever you want to call it -- usually isn't taught. But it can be acquired. President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld has always had a keen eye for talent. Well, heartlessness, as James demonstrated in his exaggerated and surely arrogant manner Friday night, is an asset, especially when the most talented player on the team has so much dog in him. Whether through trade or free agent signing or drafting some unknown kid from some faraway place, the men scouting for the Wizards will have to do their best to find one . . . or two. A personality transplant may not be necessary, but they do need somebody who can make opponents wince and teammates a little uncomfortable from time to time.

The last thing the Wizards need is a sea change, anything that even hints of starting over. We don't know if the close losses to Cleveland suggest the Wizards are close to a playoff breakthrough; the Cavaliers, after all, started the postseason as a neophyte when it comes to the playoffs. Arenas said Friday night as he exited the arena that he planned to show up and shoot hundreds of free throws Saturday. That's a nice first step for this team. In order to get even, perhaps the Wizards need to get angry and stay that way for a while.