Sports

MJ's career ends; Rockets fail again

The NBA Report

Daniel R. Huron

 After 15 seasons, six championships, two comebacks and one stint in minor league baseball, Michael Jordanis career will come to a rather anti-climactic end tonight.

 A season that began with many basketball insiders predicting the Wizards would reach the Eastern Conference Finals is ending with the teamis second consecutive losing season with Jordan in the lineup.

 Jordan doesnit have to score a point in todayis season finale against Philadelphia to remain tied with Wilt Chamberlain for the leagueis all-time points-per-game lead, but he would need another 40-plus point performance to reclaim the honor all to himself.

 Talk is circulating that Kwame Brown, the overall No. 1 pick in the 2001 draft, will be traded during the off-season.

 Wizards head coach Doug Collins is also letting his frustration out on his team.
 "Iive had guys curse at me in the locker room this year, show no respect," Collins told The Associated Press after the Wizards lost to the New York Knicks on Monday. "It was insidious."

 Several times during the season, Jordan openly criticized the efforts of his younger teammates. Collins thanked him for stepping in when players lacked spirit or respect.
 "It wonit happen next year," Collins said. "Trust me. I treat people with dignity. I expect the same thing in return."

 Mondayis game against New York was Jordanis last in Washingtonis MCI Center.
 Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld presented Jordan with the U.S. flag that flew over the Pentagon on the one-year anniversary of 9/11.

 After a nice ovation, Jordan played 37 minutes and scored 21 points. The Wizards lost 93-79.

 While Washingtonis season is virtually over, the 76ers are preparing for a playoff run.
 Philadelphia, currently in third place, still has a chance to claim the Atlantic Division title if it wins its final two games and New Jersey loses its finale. The team could also fall into fifth place.

 The Detroit Pistons havenit been playing their best basketball, but they still managed to lock up the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference.

In the West
 When the Phoenix Suns defeated the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, they earned the eighth spot in the Western Conference, keeping the Houston Rockets out of the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.

 Missing the playoffs this year is especially painful for the Rockets since Memphis owns Houstonis first-round draft pick. The pick was traded to the then-Vancouver Grizzlies for Steve Francis.

 After spending the majority of the season as the top team in the west, the Dallas Mavericks have started to slip.

 The Mavs are now in the third spot in the conference, while the Spurs are surging. San Antonio is 9-1 over its last 10 games, and it will have the home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

 Portland and Minnesota continue to battle for the fourth spot in the playoffs.
 The Timberwolves are fighting for the privilege of having the home-court advantage for the first time in the franchiseis history. This could be the advantage they need to get out of the first round at last.
 

 Send comments to dcsports@mail.uh.edu