It all started Wednesday, when he innocently speculated that he'd be surprised if Michael Jordan returned for the second year of his contract next season. That comment kicked off a media frenzy, even though Collins later said it didn't mean much. "I was surprised he played this year," the Washington head coach said. "He's surprised me a lot."
Nonetheless, the "Wizards organization" issued a gag order for Collins, telling him not to discuss Jordan's plans for next season with the media.
Things got worse Sunday, when Washington lost to Dallas in a game critical to the Wizards' postseason hopes. Following the 110-103 heartbreaker, Jordan blamed Collins for not using him at point guard as much as he should have and said Washington's playoff fate is in the coach's hands.
"[Collins is] going to have to earn his coaching ring to try to find my minutes and how to minimize my minutes and keep me in the focus of what's happening with this team," Jordan said.
Prior to the start of the season, there was a lot of speculation about just how the relationship between Collins and Jordan would work. With the Wizards sitting 2 1/2 games out of the eighth spot and fighting for their playoff lives, we're finding out where the balance of power lies.
As if there was ever any doubt.
Turn the beat around
The Raptors had lost 17 of 18 games before Vince Carter decided to have surgery on his ailing knee. Since his departure, though, Toronto has reeled off five consecutive wins and is only 1 1/2 games behind Indiana for the final spot in the East. The resurgent Raptors have nine games left to play, including two against the Pacers.
Cooling-off period
The Trail Blazers had worked their way back into the Western playoff picture with a hot streak that began in the middle of February. Lately, though, the injury bug has taken a bite out of Portland. The Blazers have lost three of their past four, as Rasheed Wallace has been sidelined by a bad back and Bonzi Wells has been slowed by the flu.
Playing with pain
The Hornets are one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now, having won nine of their past 11 games, but their second leading scorer is hobbled at a critical time of year. Baron Davis developed plantar fasciatis in his left foot two weeks ago, and the painful condition is going to be with him for the rest of the season. "It's not going to get any better until the offseason, when I can rest it, so there's not much I can do but play through it," said Davis.
SWISH: Detroit Pistons
The Pistons became the second Eastern team to clinch a playoff berth, and trail the Nets by 2 1/2 games for the top seed in the East. Detroit is looking to secure home-court advantage in the opening round of the postseason for the first time since 1991.
BRICK: Danny Fortson
The Warriors have already been eliminated from the postseason, but Fortson still gets a brick for his automatic two-game suspension. The Golden State forward, who fouled Detroit's Ben Wallace in the third quarter of the Warriors' 110-103 road loss, has accumulated eight flagrant-foul penalty points this season.
SWISH: Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs have reached the 50-win plateau for the second consecutive season and the fourth time in franchise history. They also have scored 100 points in 13 consecutive games, with a 9-4 record in that stretch.
BRICK: Sam Cassell
The Bucks point guard was fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct after he kicked the ball off the scoreboard with 2.2 seconds remaining in the third quarter of Milwaukee's 107-98 loss at Washington on Friday. "Sam I Am" is obviously frustrated by the way the Bucks are dropping in the standings, but he shouldn't take it out on the equipment.
SWISH: Karl Malone
It seems as if the Mailman has a permanent home in Swishland. In Utah's win against Cleveland on Thursday, Malone passed Wilt Chamberlain (12,681) and took over second place on the NBA's all-time field-goals list. Malone currently has 12,690 field goals; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the all-time leader with 15,837.
Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs, Saturday, 5:30 ET This will be the last meeting of the regular season between the two Texas rivals, with the Mavericks holding a two-game edge over the Spurs for the Midwest Division lead. The Mavs are shooting for their first division title since 1987, while the Spurs haven't finished lower than second place in the Midwest in four years.
Toronto Raptors vs. Indiana Pacers, Wednesday, 8 p.m. The Raptors have a chance to loosen the Pacers' tenuous grasp on the eighth and final playoff spot in the East this week. Trailing Indiana by only 1 1/2 games, Toronto hopes to ride its five-game winning streak into Conseco Fieldhouse and come out a little closer to the postseason.
Michael Jordan's Wizards are 2 1/2 games out of a playoff spot, and they don't have an easy road ahead. Starting Tuesday, Washington plays four games in five nights, including matchups with the Lakers, Bucks and Hornets.
In this week's Off the Glass, OTG digs into the mailbag and answers fantasy owners' questions that range from postseason decisions to filling the void left by Allen Iverson's injury.
In response to last week's question -- "Why aren't the Lakers as dominant in the regular season as they are in the playoffs?" -- the reasons were all over the map, but most had something to do with laziness, boredom or saving the best for last. A sampling of the responses follows:
The Lakers play an 82-game "exhibition season," followed by the "real" season, which doesn't start until late April. Why burn out early?
-- Larry Urish, Los Angeles
The regular season doesn't count.
-- Anthony Lopeman, Downey, Calif.
Laziness. Lack of motivation. Overconfidence. Take your pick.
-- Sam Gonzalez, Berkeley, Calif.
The Lakers are drama queens. They only play hard when the cameras are watching.
-- Joe Sanchez, San Antonio
Every team plays at its highest level against them every night! It would be foolish for them to try and match that.
-- Darnell, Minneapolis
This week's topic: Who's your pick to win the East?
Jennifer Cooper covers the NBA for CNNSI.com. "Week at a Glance" appears each Monday during the season.
Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.
Michael Jordan's Wizards are 2 1/2 games out of a playoff spot, and they don't have an easy road ahead. Starting Tuesday, Washington plays four games in five nights, including matchups with the Lakers, Bucks and Hornets.
