To kick off the newest sports forum (the NBA), it's time to make the great announcement that the Wizards are in the playoffs for the first time since the 1996-1997 season!!!

The team is very solid this year, with young talent coming alive through veteran leadership. The addition of Antawn Jamison has given the Wizards the edge in the Eastern Conference to push them into serious contention. The MVP-esque play of Gilbert Arenas and Larry Hughes has given the Wizards a surprisingly exciting team that will hopefully be a dominant force in the playoffs. Depending on the playoff draw, the Wizards have the opportunity to move deep into the playoffs now that Kwame Brown, Brendan Haywood, Juan Dixon, Antawn Jamison, and Larry Hughes are healthy.

If you have been living under a rock and not seen any games this season, you are missing out. Even if you do not like the NBA, the Wizards are a VERY exciting team to watch. I'm hoping to get to a playoff game this year if tickets are not too expensive. Now let's just hope that they can pull off a few more wins to give them a round of home-court advantage.

Wow, I didn't realize they were any good. Of course the only name I recognize is Juan Dixon. I love college B-ball but after they graduate I might follow the KY players, like Tayshawn Prince at Detroit, a little bit but that's about it.

It would be nice for the area if they could win a series or two though.

Wiz best chance of winning a series is getting the Bulls. for some reason we owned them this year. If they wind up getting the Celts or Pacers they are 1 and done

It is most likely IMO that the Wizards will draw the Pacers. I think that the Wizards and Pacers will get the 4 and 5 seeds. The Bulls lost their center Eddy Curry due to heart problems and will have much difficulty winning even another regular season game, although they are currently the 4 seed (Wizards and Pacers 1 game back).

I would like to see LeBron James and his Cavaliers drop out of the playoffs because of his bickering and fingerpointing, but New Jersey needs to step up and win out. I think the Cavs will hold on to the 8 seed, but it would be nice to see how overrated LeBron really is if they can't. Maybe in a few years once he matures he will be able to get going and lead a team. I also want to see Jason Kidd in the playoffs because he is so fun to watch.

IF the Wizards can stay healthy, I honestly believe they have a good chance of matching up well in the playoffs. If Haywood, Jared Jeffries and Kwame could have more of a post presence on offense, the Wizards could go deep into the playoffs. If they continue to rely on huge offensive outputs from Gilbert Arenas, Larry Hughes, and Antawn Jamison, it will be difficult for them to advance.

I'm not a big fan of basketball, and I have a hard time liking any Washington teams except the 'Skins because it is such a sucky city. And the "Wizards" caving in to PC and changing from the "Bullets" was awful. So, I pay them little attention. If they are a decent bunch of guys that helps, though. What kind of people are they (as opposed to how good they are as players)?

The Wizards have a great bunch of guys (compared to most teams). It is the NBA and individuals are stars, not teams, but the Wizards do not have a bunch of "thugs" as it is assumed of many other NBA teams. The players are solid and seem to be focused on winning games and not as much how much their bank account is.

I encourage you all to check out their games coming up this weekend against the Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. The Wizards still should advance past the Bulls due to the injury of Eddy Curry. I believe that the Wizards WILL advance far into the playoffs, and that's not only because I'm a fan. If they face the Pistons or Heat in the 2nd round, their season will be over.

They finally won a playoff game. Three more and they will be second round bound. I hope some of you have been watching the games.

series is tied up! Go Wiz

Gilbert Arenas just hit one of the most memorable buzzer beaters in NBA Playoff history. Wizards come back home with a 3-2 series lead!!!

With a win Friday night, the Wizards will be meeting Shaq in the 2nd round of the NBA Playoffs!!!

What's the deal with the guy that was booted for the entire playoffs then???

Nice buzzer-beater, BTW, but I'm tired of seeing the replay already.

94-91

Great comeback Wizards! Incredible.

Bring on Shaq!

Kwame Brown. I don't know the reason, but he had his playing minutes cut drasticallyaround game 2 of this series. He then skipped practice and called in "sick" to the next game. Sounds like an individual to me. But Biggins is right about the team and this seems to be the exception and not the rule.

VERY BAD NEWS for the Wizards today.

Larry Hughes decided to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers and play with LeBron James instead of playing for a proven playoff caliber team in the Wizards. This came out of nowhere, as all the NBA analysts thought for sure Hughes was a lock to resign with the Wizards due to his great chemistry with Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison. The Wizards are now in DEEP trouble for next year because they do not have a starting shooting guard, and losing Larry Hughes means they are losing 22.0 points per game and ~3.0 steals per game.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2103569