Gilbert Arenas is not Chauncey Billups

[TheSecretWeapon]

Gil is largely in unprecedented territory in terms of missing virtually all of 2 seasons because of injury and then coming back. The others I found when I researched the question this past summer were Bernard King, Bill Walton and Grant Hill. I believe Kevin Pelton found a few others. The three I found came back at about 75% of their previous production. Each was older than Gil, however, and recovery and rehab techniques weren't as good (at least not for Walton and King). But still, it makes sense that Gil will need some time to work himself back into whatever he's going to be.

[Zerocious]

"It's going to happen. It's not going to happen overnight," Butler said. "A lot of people keep forgetting. They think it's supposed to gel immediately. Gil's been away two years. Roles changed; everything changed. Everybody is trying to adjust to a new situation and circumstance."

Arenas had cemented his status as the Wizards' go-to-guy before his knee troubles, but Jamison and Butler established themselves in his absence, making his return more complicated.

After going 0 for 3 in the fourth quarter against the Pistons, Arenas said he wasn't concerned about whom Saunders and the coaching staff decides to give the ball with the game on the line.

"I'll let them figure it out," Arenas said. "Before, the whole building knew who was going to shoot the last four minutes. In this case, we have enough scorers. Sometimes, I won't shoot in the fourth quarter; I won't shoot in the last four minutes. I don't even think about it. I just go with the flow now. I don't want to get on anybody's bad side. I'm trying to play my role until all that weeds itself out."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... tml?sub=AR

i think he also feels as if he would be seen as selfish be taking on a larger scoring load. This was carons (and twans) team last season. there is some friction between gil and caron, which might lead to gil's hesitancy and trying to not take over the team again...he doesn't consider himself a leader and as all to happy to let it fall on caron and twan. but he doesn't seem to realize that it IS his team, and it goes as he goes!

[Zerocious]

i think he also feels as if he would be seen as selfish be taking on a larger scoring load. This was carons (and twans) team last season. there is some friction between gil and caron, which might lead to gil's hesitancy and trying to not take over the team again...he doesn't consider himself a leader and as all to happy to let it fall on caron and twan. but he doesn't seem to realize that it IS his team, and it goes as he goes!

"Before, the whole building knew who was going to shoot the last four minutes," Arenas said. "Now we're in the case where we have enough scorers where sometimes I won't shoot in the fourth quarter, I won't shoot in the last four minutes. To be honest, I don't even think about it. I just go with the flow now. I don't want to get on anybody's bad sides ( ), so I'm just trying to play my role until that weeds out."

idiot! be selfish, you are the way the team goes. boohoo, caron and twan were last years team leaders, see how well they did, WTF! man, get your head out of your @55 and play ball. take the damn shots. carons hurt feelings aint winning us any games.

[closg00]

^^^
Zero - Even-if Gilbert wanted to be selfish, his body isn't letting him, he's already tried & it ain't happening. In the meanwhile, we need a point guard, I'm even desparate enough to want to see Crit out there. Get that damn ball moving around faster.

[nate33]

What I don't understand is why it always has to be an one-on-one iso in crunch time. Arenas is probably still our best one-on-one scorer so he deserves the ball in his hands. But just once, I'd like to see a drive and kick where somebody gets a wide open 3-pointer in the corner.

How many times do you see Lebron setting up Boobie Gibson or Delonte West for open 3's at the buzzer? Why doesn't that happen here?

[closg00]

What I don't understand is why it always has to be an one-on-one iso in crunch time. Arenas is probably still our best one-on-one scorer so he deserves the ball in his hands. But just once, I'd like to see a drive and kick where somebody gets a wide open 3-pointer in the corner.

How many times to you see Lebron setting up Boobie Gibson or Delonte West for open 3's at the buzzer? Why doesn't that happen here?

Totally agree, I thought the iso to end games would end with EJ's tenure. I was disappointed to see a Gilbert iso to end the Toronto game.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

CCJ doesn't dare say I told you so, but he did. He was against paying $111m for a player coming back from 3 knee surgeries (done at Sibley for some crazy reason) that wouldn't be the same. The offense looks like it will come around once he gets a little more elevation going to the basket and the shot and game speed come around and the refs start giving him some respect. That should bring some positive swag back. However, the defense of "Agent zero defense" was always an issue but now he can't stay in front of anyone. He actually never did before either but at least was a threat to get steals. He and L-boogie playing the passing lanes didn't work in the playoffs but was fun to watch during the regular season. And his doubling down unnecessarily and giving up open threes to his man was always infuriating. But its a whole different level now. His current D is so bad they have to go to zone to protect him and the Wiz zone is terrible. I know CCJ was just keeping it real, but I'm staying positive and really believe Gil's knee and game in general will come around. But the defense is a concern considering he is our $111m man.

Chauncy was a solid defensive pg. Until Gil gets himself straightened out, Nate looks right and NY and Foye need more playing time. Maybe this is one of those injuries that needs a bit longer to recover from.

The thing that's often unsaid w dumseld is that Gilbert's playing the worst defense by far of his career. In those stats above, he's giving up .565 eFG% to opposing PGs. (While only scoring at .434 eFG% himself.) His defense really is putting it mildly, problematic.

Good point about Gilbert not playing the passing lanes and getting steals as he once did. Bad defense or not, he used to get 2 or 3 points a game just on converting steals at the other end.

As for the deep three, that was a threat that he might still have in his arsenal, but so far seems reluctant to take.

Regarding anything I said in the past, I told you sos do nothing to deal with today's reality. I am really more concerned about Arenas' well being and how the Wizards can manage their whole team around his injury and anything else that's bothering him. He's still got good basketball in him.

Seems right now playing more SG would help him. Gil with Foye needs to be tried more, particularly with Miller back.

I'd say playing less minutes, and I mean significantly less is also warranted. If I were a coach I'd be playing Boykins with Nick Young a lot because I know they'll both compete with some confidence.

[charlie32]

Most great players, but especially great point guards are able to get wherever they want on the court with the ball. The biggest problem I've noticed with Gilbert is that his handle is not close to where it used to be. He's getting ripped in the open court, poked at from behind, having to fade instead of driving straight to the basket... He used to believe that no one could guard him because he knew he could get wherever he wanted to go. Now, it's clear that he can't do that at the moment and instead of admitting it, he's making up all these excuses about "the system" and not wanting to be perceived as a gunner.

[WizarDynasty]

Going up against earls quickness and speed back in golden states is what transformed arenas into a force before he got to the wiz...earls absence from arenas daily practice slowly lead to detrioration of arenas point skills off the dribble. Point is... Earl is arenas x factor...and arenas owes a lot of his paycheck to earl.

[Zerocious]

What I don't understand is why it always has to be an one-on-one iso in crunch time. Arenas is probably still our best one-on-one scorer so he deserves the ball in his hands. But just once, I'd like to see a drive and kick where somebody gets a wide open 3-pointer in the corner.

How many times to you see Lebron setting up Boobie Gibson or Delonte West for open 3's at the buzzer? Why doesn't that happen here?

Totally agree, I thought the iso to end games would end with EJ's tenure. I was disappointed to see a Gilbert iso to end the Toronto game.

who would you like to see in that corner for the three. who's going to have a better chance at hitting a three (even when a 2 will win it) than having someone take it inside for the lay-up and plus-1 hopefully? i don't know about this approach. i dont have the confidence in anybody on our team to take tht shot, other than maybe gil himself. mm is not playing...

[DCZards]

Going up against earls quickness and speed back in golden states is what transformed arenas into a force before he got to the wiz...earls absence from arenas daily practice slowly lead to detrioration of arenas point skills off the dribble. Point is... Earl is arenas x factor...and arenas owes a lot of his paycheck to earl.

Playing Boykins against at golden state "transformed" GA. LOL! Where did you get that nonsense from? Did you ever watch GA when he was at Arizona? He was as quick as a cat even then. You are giving Boykins WAAAYYY too much credit for GA's abilities.

[pancakes3]

quick as a WILDcat?

i heard boykins used to chase a chicken around as a kid to build up his quickness. THAT's where the credit is due. bring back the chicken, i say.

[Zerocious]

Going up against earls quickness and speed back in golden states is what transformed arenas into a force before he got to the wiz...earls absence from arenas daily practice slowly lead to detrioration of arenas point skills off the dribble. Point is... Earl is arenas x factor...and arenas owes a lot of his paycheck to earl.

[JWizmentality]

Going up against earls quickness and speed back in golden states is what transformed arenas into a force before he got to the wiz...earls absence from arenas daily practice slowly lead to detrioration of arenas point skills off the dribble. Point is... Earl is arenas x factor...and arenas owes a lot of his paycheck to earl.

[fishercob]

HOF