Dave Johnson told me (on the blog) that Ernie referred him to the specialists in NYC and told him to get that 2nd opinion.

Inotherwords he didn’t refer him to the physician who’s a family friend of Abe Pollin and simply assume that’s good enough. So maybe that 4-6 months is a realistic timetable and Big Wood doesn’t actually have an undiagnosed virulent case of contact sprain that will spread to the rest of the team and require a full torso amputation for the lot of ’em. And maybe future injuries will be treated by actual experts and not on the discount by some guy I know.

And Haywood’s contributions can’t all be measured in stats. You can’t count the number of altered shots. You can’t count the number of arrested drives. You can’t measure the easy baskets that were made harder.

He was an efficient scorer, and had a low turn over rate (for a Center). He had the second best Adjusted Field Goal % behind Dwight Howard; and he had the 3rd best PER among Centers in the East at 18.37. Behind only Dwight Howard (22.98) and barely behind Ilgauskas (18.76). Thomas’ best PER in his entire career was 2003-04 at 16.48. He is, BY FAR, the best defender on the Wizards – both individual defense, and help defense.

In my opinion, Haywood is among the League’s most underrated big men.

Thomas brings false “energy”. His hands are like stone. He’s undersized and not particularly athletic. He has one (1) consistent Offensive move, and he can’t hit free throws.

In short – Thomas is a good backup Center.