What's the first thing you notice when you see ESPN's Fred Carter on NBA 2Night or SportsCenter? Of course, he points at you. It's his way of saying hello. So we've asked NBA expert Fred to greet us and make some points for ESPN.com each week.

	Despite an injured toe, Shaquille O'Neal is still the NBA's second-leading scorer.

1. Will Shaquille O'Neal be 100 percent healthy for the playoffs? If not, how much will that impact the Lakers' three-peat bid?
Very few players are at 100 percent come playoff time after going through the rigors of an entire season -- everyone is banged up. But Shaq at 80 percent is better than most players at 110 percent. If Shaq does not sustain another injury, and is therefore able to move freely, I look for him and the Lakers to be their dominant selves throughout the playoffs -- en route to what will likely be their third straight NBA title.

2. Individually, how much have the Washington Wizards improved with Michael Jordan on the team? Who's improved the most?
Every one of the Wizards improved thanks to Michael Jordan's presence, but the guy I thought improved the most was veteran Popeye Jones. Rebounding, shooting the jump shot, he did a better job of doing the things that are needed to win games. Popeye has had trouble remaining consistent, but with Jordan nearby, his play -- and the consistency of it -- accelerate. Rip Hamilton played well with Jordan, but he played great last year, too. Jordan had more of a direct impact on guys like Popeye Jones.

3. Where will Jeff Van Gundy coach next season?
Van Gundy has the track record to pretty much write his own ticket. He'd be a good fit for Golden State or Denver -- they are young teams with lots of talent. He'll have his pick of the litter -- and good for him. Van Gundy deserves a good opportunity.

4. Now that it looks like the Jazz are headed for the playoffs, how can they avoid a one-and-done showing?
I don't think the Jazz can avoid a one-and-done showing. They had to fight like heck to win the eighth spot -- they are lucky to be in there. When they get into a five-game series, it will wear on a team like the Jazz. Opponents will play them more physical, they will put more pressure on veterans John Stockton and Karl Malone. It's good for the younger Jazz players to get the playoff experience, but I don't expect them to get out of the first round.

5. With Allen Iverson out and Shaquille O'Neal hurting, has Jason Kidd returned as the frontrunner for MVP?
Yes. Other players were slowly gaining on Kidd, but he's still on the top. Tim Duncan has had an outstanding, if quiet, year. Ben Wallace should also get some votes -- but a lot of people don't recognize the quality of his year because the Pistons don't get a lot of respect. Wallace is an under-sized center who leads the league in rebounding and blocked shots, and he's in the top 20 in steals. Wallace is the main reason why the Pistons are up there, he should get consideration. My votes would go to Kidd, then Duncan and Wallace -- in that order.