In NBA, Continuity Wins

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Eventful Offseason Awaits Wizards After Another Early Exit

The Washington Post's Michael Lee reports on the Wizards' Game 6 loss to the Cavaliers and looks ahead to what promises to be a busy offseason for Washington.

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4. What to do about the bench?

A year ago I wrote it would be hard to win a summer-league run, let alone an NBA playoff game, with Brendan Haywood, Antonio Daniels, Roger Mason Jr., Darius Songaila and then-Wizard Michael Ruffin on the court at the same time, which they were in Game 2 against Cleveland in 2007.

A year later, I owe those players an apology -- especially Mason, who I also stupidly mentioned as a player the organization should part ways with.

Not only was he a consummate professional in the locker room, he worked on his game until he became an indispensable role player -- Vinny Johnson in training. Now he's a free agent and there is concern about whether the Wizards are too guard-heavy (Nick Young needs more minutes) and will have enough salary-cap room to re-sign Mason. The Wizards don't need to get any younger; they need veterans off the bench who can fill it up like that.

Butler essentially put Andray Blatche on notice this summer, saying how much he needed to improve. If he's ever going to amount to a difference-maker in April and May, Blatche has to show it now.

Depending on whether Etan Thomas can resume his career, they need a veteran power forward-center who can give them quality minutes, one who has Butler's take-no-prisoners 'tude.

5. If everyone is healthy on the current roster, do the Wizards have enough to make a Finals run?

Uh, Carlos Boozer would help.

Bottom line, the East is still a crapshoot. Boston's Big Three look older every day and LeBron still doesn't have a Scottie Pippen, much less a James Worthy, to complement him. Orlando is getting better and Atlanta will be scary for years to come. But who might well meet up in the NBA Finals again in a month?

That's right, the geezers who stayed together in Motown and San Antonio. Months after Jason Kidd flamed out in Dallas, and Phoenix lasted a mere five games against the Spurs, continuity is again proving to be king in the NBA.

Before anyone backs up the truck, the Wizards, with minor alterations and the blessing of health, deserve one more shot with all their key players returning.