According to the Washington Post, Michael Jordan might be in good shape. His body might be acting as if it isn't 38 years old. However, Washington Wizards Coach Doug Collins knows Jordan can't keep going like this, especially with four games in five days, starting tonight at the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"If I have to chain him down, I have to get his minutes down," Collins said yesterday. "He doesn't want to come out but otherwise, we won't be able to get through the season."

Collins has been playing Jordan, along with veterans Christian Laettner, Popeye Jones and Hubert Davis, extensively in the second half to try to avoid the prolonged stretches of futility that plagued the team during its eight-game losing streak.

The Wizards activated rookie center Brendan Haywood (torn left thumb ligaments) off the injured list yesterday, replacing him on the IL with rookie forward Bobby Simmons (left knee tendinitis). However, Haywood won't be one of the players Collins will use to spell Jordan.

Davis, who has been used primarily as a back-up point guard, will see some time at shooting guard, along with Richard Hamilton and Courtney Alexander, Collins said. Collins also plans to start using power forward Kwame Brown at small forward, to cause match-up problems for other teams with personnel unable to handle Brown in the low post.

More than anyone, it will be the versatile Davis, who opened the season on the injured list because of sore hamstrings, who will allow Collins to use a variety of lineups to rest Jordan or alleviate some of the offensive pressure on him when he is in the game.