We're not as far along as we'd like to be, and we're probably right between where we might be and where we thought we might be.

Honestly, those first two weeks without The Dew was the roughest two weeks of my life. I'm talking headaches, sweats and everything. Before that I drank at least six 12 ounce Mountain Dews a day.

It was so bad at one point that I had to have a cold one right there at the night stand before I went to bed. I had to get the coasters and let it drip a lil' bit and just have it waiting on me. Come 2 a.m.., I'd wake up out of my sleep, I'd pop one open and hear the fizz sound...and just down it! Then I always had to have another one in the morning when I woke up. Before practice I had one too and before games I would knock back two.

In NBA circles Idan Ravin [aka The Hoops Whisperer] inspires a wide range of reactions. Some coaches, such as the 76ers' Eddie Jordan, see him as a resource. A few years ago, when Jordan was coaching the Wizards, he had a hard time talking with Brendan Haywood, the center who was then sharing minutes with Etan Thomas and was none too happy about it. "Brendan loved working out with [Ravin]," Jordan remembers, "so I went to Idan and asked, 'How do you keep a positive relationship with Brendan?' "

Ravin explained that Haywood merely wanted to be involved, to be part of the process. "You think he's challenging you, but all you have to do is ask his opinion," Ravin said. "Brendan's a cerebral guy. Empower him."

Jordan took the advice to heart. "I carried it over to my daily regimen, the idea that this is what I have to do with Brendan," he says, "and by the end we had a great relationship."

Gilbert Arenas Speaks, 'Really' Does NOT Like The Media

Oberto still likely will be the first option at center off the bench with JaVale McGee the third option and used here in various situations. McGee has been struggling with some fatigue late in practices, which has caused him to lose some mental focus late, Saunders said.

"That's his biggest thing, you know, being able to fight through getting tired," Saunders said of McGee. "As a young player, I'm sure he's being overwhelmed a little bit. He's had three coaches, he's learning a new system. So what he learned last year, he's learning all new things. Older players have seen it, from being on other teams or from being in the league, but younger players have to learn it."

McGee still will be called upon because the Wizards want to save Oberto some for the postseason, Saunders said.

"You have the idea that he was going to be the guy that's going to help us playoff time, so you don't want to try to wear out a guy like that if you can avoid it."

But McGee still has some learning to do, which Saunders expects him to do both by watching and playing. There's no chance the Wizards send him down to the D-League, however, because they believe he can still help them right now in certain situations.

"That’s the thing about it. When you read papers and things like that, I’m the one who’s getting surgeries, I’m the one who’s going thru pain and I’m the one that’s going through the rehab. As much as you guys are mad, I’m sitting here mad too about the whole situation. At the end of the day, it happens. That’s where I got my mind to. It happens to people. Some people get hurt and some people get back their careers. My favorite player Penny (Hardaway) never gained his career back, but players like Grant Hill got to play again so hopefully I can keep moving too."

Wages of Wins: Are the Wizards one of the ten best teams in the NBA?