Wizards' amazing season about to close

Wes Sr. sits in an obstructed corner on the floor of MCI Center, his surgically-repaired left foot encased in a boot. He doesn't want to talk about his injuries just as he doesn't want to talk about his contributions to this team. He wants you to go somewhere else with your camera and your tape recorder.

"He's part of this, but you're not going to get much out of him," Wes Jr. said. "That's just the way he is. Eddie calls him every now and then for advice on things. He deserves credit. He helped with some of the pieces. But that's just not him."

Unseld drafted Jarvis Hayes, Juan Dixon and Jared Jeffries, three of the team's more prominent role players. He had partial roles in many other of the franchise's decisions, both good and questionable. Among the most private and reclusive of Hall of Famers, Big Wes's presence is still felt in ways seen and unseen.

Inside MCI Center, beneath the stands, there are large, framed pictures of former Bullets stars. They hang on the walls leading to the locker room, the coach's conference room and the team's weight room. None is more revealing than Abe Pollin's embrace of Wes Unseld after that championship season. The owner has this look of utter contentment wrapped in Unseld's bear hug. If you look at the photo long enough, you get the sense of what he felt that night 27 years ago when the Bullets beat the Seattle SuperSonics in seven games for the title.

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No matter how long the old Bullets legions have waited, getting to the NBA Finals again will indeed take more time and experience.

Jamison cannot say it, but he knows as well as anyone that the team must acquire a poised veteran or two that can handle the crucible of a wild fourth quarter in May. Jamison, Arenas and Larry Hughes will become those players, but they could use help for at least the next two seasons.

In time, the nagging pains -- the grind on bodies used to playing only 82 games -- will become old hat. If this team stays and grows together, the Wizards will one day be up 3-0 on a team clinging to its season. But that worry is for another night.

"It's a hell of a start to get where we are today from where we were last year," Wes Jr. said. "It's a big stride toward getting back to the old days."

As Wes Jr. stood there in a black Wizards T-shirt and matching black Reebok sweat pants, Jamison walked out the back, past the photo of Unseld's father andPollin from 27years ago.

It seemed fitting -- a couple of winners, intersecting as a season of accomplishment neared its close.

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