About five minutes into the second quarter, with the Bucks possessing a better second unit, they still couldn't close the gap in the score. George Karl finally gave up the illusion and, after a timeout, brought in Ray Allen and Sam Cassell, replacing Anthony Mason, whose stats looked good but whose effect on the game was nothing short of disastrous.
As Mason walked off the court, he looked imposing, and the audience in front of the TV could see NBC kindly display his stats: 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists.
Not bad, but at what cost?
Against the Wizards' second unit, which lacked a core player, the Bucks' second unit, boasting Big Dog, Mason, and Red, managed to gain only one point in five minutes.
Seeing the Bucks make a substitution, Collins also sent Fei back on.
And, before the substitution, Collins specially looked at Jordan, "Michael, are you ready to go in?"
Fei looked at them with amusement.
