What up, what up everybody??? We finally hit the all-star break and it’s going to be a good three days to spend time with the family, kick up my feet and rest up for the rest of the season. I’m gonna get away to the Bahamas for a couple of days with the fam because it’s a short flight from Orlando and hopefully it will be nice and warm after being in Boston, Chicago and Cleveland this past week.

As with the Magic, we know that when we get back after the break is the time to really lock in our focus and look to start peaking before the playoffs.

I know we’ve had some struggles and Cleveland got us Thursday night up there with a big finish, but I’ve seen nothing so far to change my mind that we’re not still a championship caliber team. I know we have a new team from last season, but I think our core guys know how to win and I think we’ll be at our best come April, May and June.

We know that Cleveland will be there in the end and will likely be one of the teams we have to go through if we want to get back to the NBA Finals. They’ve gotten better and LeBron is tough (especially when he’s getting to the line to shoot a lot of free throws), but we know we can beat that team. Both times we have played the Cavs so far we have been on back-to-backs, while they have been off the day before. That’s not an excuse, that’s just keeping it real.

Speaking of keeping it real, I wanted to tell you guys about a really tough decision that I had to agonize over the last few weeks. Team USA asked me to be a part of the team that played in the World Championships this summer and possibly the Olympics in London in 2012.

Usually, that would be a dream come true. Playing for my country usually would have been an incredible experience and something I’ve always wanted to do. After thinking about it for a long while, I eventually declined the invitation for a couple of reasons.

First of all, I’m having another baby this summer around the time that the camp is going on. It’s going to be a baby boy born on July 20th and it’ll be my first son. It’s going to be Junior. Rashard Lewis Jr., that’s so cool to me. So I’m really looking forward to that this summer.

And here’s my second reason for declining: With the guys that they are already going to have on the team, there are really only three spots available. So it’s kind of like 18 guys trying out for three spots. There will be a lot of factors in the decision on who will make it and I just think at the end of the day that it would be tough for me to make that team.

I don’t want to get cut after spending my summer with the USA team while I’m having a baby and already have a 2-year-old little girl. Family is just going to be more important this summer.

It’s kind of disappointing because I always dreamed of playing in the Olympics and I always thought my game would fit the International style because I shoot the 3-ball and I can play small forward or power forward.

Oh well, the timing just wasn’t right for it. And trust me, I’m more excited about having a son that I would have been playing in the Olympics. So I hope you guys understand my side of it. Family has always come first with me.

Well, you guys have a good all-star break, and let’s hope when we get back that our guys with the Magic will be ready to lock it in. We’re going for this championship and know that now is the time to get really serious.

You guys be good and be careful if you in Dallas.

SHARD