All things About Gil's Return (edited thread title)

[Dat2U]

I'm just trying to figure out when did we get all these medical experts on the board? Apparently you all have had the opportunity to evaluate Gil's injury personally and draw conclusions that he should be in the lineup and playing.

Someone being cleared to play by the Wizards medical staff shouldn't necessarily serve as indication that a player is ready to return to game action. History has shown this to be the case on many occassions. Gil's desire to return has far outreached his readiness in previous cases he's dealt with injury.

I'm of the belief that Gil & the organization is best served if Gil didn't return. Pipe dreams aside, the 2007-08 Wizards are not a NBA Finals caliber team, especially with Gil at less than 100%. There's no real point in rushing back and potentially seeing further damage to a knee that's been through alot within the past 12 months. For a what, winning a series and getting some more 2nd round t-shirts?

Gil may want to play but the long term future should take precedence over trying to win a series in this year's playoffs. I don't see the point in risking your 25-yr old star becoming damaged goods permanently.

Plus we've also had enough evidence to see Gil isn't nearly his best when less than 100%. He's never played particularly well when forced to compensate because of injury. I have serious doubts whether he can be effective even if he returned.

There should have never been a timetable for his return. I believe EG made a mistake in giving a best case scenario for Gilbert's return. It was unrealistic and shortisighted.

I hope we don't see Gilbert play until next season.

[LyricalRico]

I'm just trying to figure out when did we get all these medical experts on the board?

Question for my fellow experts: How is playing in a game different from practicing at full speed? It would seem to me that if he shouldn't be playing in games, he shouldn't be participating in full-contact practice. Conversely, if he's okay to be practicing full bore - why hold him out of games if his conditioning is there?

Help me out here, folks.

[queridiculo]

Personally I've always treated practice/scrimmage like a game, much to the dismay of my teammates.

More often than not though practice is neither played at the intensity nor at the speed that you would in a regular game.

The contact on the way to the hoop isn't there, the cutting isn't as intense to get open, the opposing team doesn't necessarily make concerted efforts to shut you down, and then there's the obvious disparity in talent between the scrimmage squads.

It's not the same thing by a mile, at the same time I don't understand what's going on with Arenas at all.

Hell bent on playing one week, not willing to the next. Doctors asking him to sit out a week, then all of a sudden clearing him from afar without even have taken a look at the knee.

I get the feeling that something went on behind the scenes and what we're seeing now is Arenas being on an ego trip.

If I didn't know any better I'd say Jordan deliberately kept him out of the games because he felt he had something good going, and then when Daniels went down he felt the desperation to get him back into the lineup.

[Kanyewest]

-= original quote snipped =-



Question for my fellow experts: How is playing in a game different from practicing at full speed? It would seem to me that if he shouldn't be playing in games, he shouldn't be participating in full-contact practice. Conversely, if he's okay to be practicing full bore - why hold him out of games if his conditioning is there?

Help me out here, folks.

More than likely, Arenas's conditioning is not there. A quote from Caron Butler from the Wizards' insider.

"I'd be surprised to see him any time on the court. Gilbert loves shock value so he's expected to play any time. I expect to see him early next week (he said "probably Philadelphia" here but I think he meant "probably Boston" since the Boston game is on Wednesday and the Philly game is on Saturday). You know, he's still got to get in shape. He hasn't played since November so he still has to get his legs under him."

When practicing, Arenas can control how many minutes he will play. If he is sore, he can probably just sit it out and rest up. If Arenas is experiencing soreness in a real game, he will push himself to the limits and could expose himself to further injury.

[DCZards]

I'm of the belief that Gil & the organization is best served if Gil didn't return. Pipe dreams aside, the 2007-08 Wizards are not a NBA Finals caliber team, especially with Gil at less than 100%. There's no real point in rushing back and potentially seeing further damage to a knee that's been through alot within the past 12 months. For a what, winning a series and getting some more 2nd round t-shirts?

Gil may want to play but the long term future should take precedence over trying to win a series in this year's playoffs. I don't see the point in risking your 25-yr old star becoming damaged goods permanently.

I hope we don't see Gilbert play until next season.

I have to agree with Dat on this one. I'm much more worried about Gil's long-term future, whether it's with the Zards or some other team, than about whether he can play either now or during the playoffs later this month.

I've got some mixed feelings because Gil is fun to watch play and even at 80% he'll make a contribution. But mostly I'm thinking GA needs to get fully healthy so that, hopefully, the Zards can field a team next season that will win at least 50 games and gain homecourt advantage.

The reality is there is no way Gil is going to be anywhere near the top of his game before next season.

Winning a few playoff games this year would be nice, but winning a few playoff rounds next year would be much sweeter.

[jholmbe1]

[quote="DCZards"][/quote]

I would agree with that logic if Gil had not thrown a fit about not being able to play vs. the pistons, which to me indicates that he thought he was fine and ready to play. Also, now that he has been cleared to play, he suddenly does not think he is ready. Something weird is going on.

[Wiz99]

The timing on this stinks. If we had 10 more games left in the regular season, I'd say bring Gil back cause that's adequate time to do a quick and dirty remake of the offense to re-integrate him.

Now, with just 8 games left, I don't know. Especially with the playoffs around the corner, would Gil be more likely to push it too fast, too soon and get injured?

I have to come down on the side of saying let's rest him through to next season, and be sure we have a healthy star. We can't afford a 3rd season of substantial Gil injuries.

[Wizards2Lottery]

maybe its just me but I don't think 8 games is that short of a time for him to get re adjusted.

Hes been in this offense for 4 years now. He knows how its run. Even at 20 MPG, he will be a huge addition to this team. We have no one to run the point for this team besides AD.

Gil has stated that hes physically ready and hes mentally ready and not worried about getting injured again. This is really weird.

[Wizards2Lottery]

From Ivans blog:

Just got back from the locker room area where there was a flurry of activity. Word is that Gilbert Arenas may try to make his return tonight against the Bucks. Caron Butler and Antonio Daniels are back and will start. Stay tuned.

[newslowsad]

He's going to play. What a media w.hore.

[GhostsOfGil]

i dont care im so excited to see gil play again!!!

[Wizards2Lottery]

yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

[yungal07]

lol what's really funny is all the gilbert bashing that went on throughout the last few pages of this thread. you guys are something...reallly...

[GhostsOfGil]

so wats the deal is gil dressed tonite?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

In Before the Lock.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

IBTL -- Unless of course the debate now begins on with Gil back how bad the defense will be now. Is great offense enough?

(Gil's back and near top form, too. No debate there at all judging by the way he looks in the Milwaukee game.)

[yungal07]

IBTL -- Unless of course the debate now begins on with Gil back how bad the defense will be now. Is great offense enough?

(Gil's back and near top form, too. No debate there at all judging by the way he looks in the Milwaukee game.)

Sure, let's blame Gilbert for the poor defense. It has nothing to do with the other 14 guys on the team. Although I hardly remember this team ever being good defensively under the Eddie Jordan regime....

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

yungal, check the first 15 comments in the game thread when Gil returned.

Everybody noticed the difference. Great offense. No defense.

I didn't make anything up.

[yungal07]

yungal, check the first 15 comments in the game thread when Gil returned.

Everybody noticed the difference. Great offense. No defense.

I didn't make anything up.

Don't get me wrong, man. you're right that the defense is poor. i'm just not in agreement with your conclusion that the defense is bad because of gilbert's presence. the defense is pretty poor irregardless of who's on the court for the wiz tonight.

[WizStorm]

The defense was pretty poor against the Lakers and Jazz ... defense hasn't been great for quite some time. Of course, Gil just practicing must be the real culprit for that.