Arenas Traded for Rashard Lewis

[Ruzious]

C'mon. You can't honestly believe that Gil has tanked for the entire season just to set himself up for a comeback in the playoffs.

The only way Gil comes back strong is if he gets over his mental block about pushing his knee 100% (assuming his knee is even capable of operating at 100% anymore).

I never said tank. Read what I actually wrote.

Then what did you mean by suggesting he's "playing possum"?

[cb1115]

Magic fan here. So, let me ask you guys something. Do any of you honestly think Gil will become the go-to score we need him to be or did we trade for an $18 million backup who's gonna shoot 34% for the rest of his career?

[pancakes3]

he looks like he's lost that step and probably can't ever be the 28ppg guy again. however, do you guys really need that version of gil? optimistically, i can see him playing out the rest of his career in a grant-hill esque manner where he'll give you extended years of solid-but-not-stellar production.

[cb1115]

Well, I think we need him to be in 09-10 form or close to it. So yes, we do need the go-to scoring version of Gil.

[FAH1223]

Gilbert is never going to average 28-29 PPG as he did from 2005-2007 but he should still be able to perform as he did last season (his first one with his new knee) with the whole 22 PPG and 7 Asissts.

The Knee isn't what's wrong with Gilbert, its his mind. He is scared to push it all the way and is using that as an excuse.

[cb1115]

Gilbert is never going to average 28-29 PPG as he did from 2005-2007 but he should still be able to perform as he did last season (his first one with his new knee) with the whole 22 PPG and 7 Asissts.

The Knee isn't what's wrong with Gilbert, its his mind. He is scared to push it all the way and is using that as an excuse.

Do you think after a summer of working with Tim Grover he could fix that?

[FAH1223]

It'll help. But Gilbert himself needs to see he isn't injured anymore. Whenever I watch the Magic I'm just so surprised by how he doesn't drive to the basket... he isn't as quick sure... but you have the most dominant big man in the game and your shot isn't falling.

Even last season, Gilbert was a bit tentative driving but as the season progressed you could see him doing it a lot more. Its a shame gun-gate happened, because I truly believe Gilbert would be a lot more craftier and putting up 25 PPG and about 7-8 AST a game with increased confidence.

[cb1115]

Interesting. Thanks for the comments fellas.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Magic fan here. So, let me ask you guys something. Do any of you honestly think Gil will become the go-to score we need him to be or did we trade for an $18 million backup who's gonna shoot 34% for the rest of his career?

That.

He might get his FG% up to 40 again on open threes if he works with Grover this summer and receives pretty miraculous treatment that restores his knee cartilage and/or reverses arthritis.

Most likely is that it's downhill from here for Gilbert's career. Your team would be much better off with Jordan Crawford.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Gilbert is never going to average 28-29 PPG as he did from 2005-2007 but he should still be able to perform as he did last season (his first one with his new knee) with the whole 22 PPG and 7 Asissts.

The Knee isn't what's wrong with Gilbert, its his mind. He is scared to push it all the way and is using that as an excuse.

I respectfully disagree. The knee is all that is wrong with Arenas IMO. He no longer has flexibility and bounce in his legs. He regressed even before the Wizards traded him to Orlando. Gilbert knows how to play basketball but his body won't let him do what he once could IMO.

I think he's close to done.

[JonathanJoseph]

Magic fan here. So, let me ask you guys something. Do any of you honestly think Gil will become the go-to score we need him to be or did we trade for an $18 million backup who's gonna shoot 34% for the rest of his career?

That.

He might get his FG% up to 40 again on open threes if he works with Grover this summer and receives pretty miraculous treatment that restores his knee cartilage and/or reverses arthritis.

Most likely is that it's downhill from here for Gilbert's career. Your team would be much better off with Jordan Crawford.

You say "most likely" but your most likely scenario is going against a 95%+ historical precedent. Perhaps Arenas is the exception, but you are talking about an exception and not the rule.

Regardless of the particulars, saying that a team is better off with a SG with 11 NBA starts shooting less than 40% FG than a multiple time, All-NBA player who's only 29 is more than a little far fetched at this point. You are comparing the best case Crawford to the worst case Arenas and calling it even.

[JonathanJoseph]

Gilbert is never going to average 28-29 PPG as he did from 2005-2007 but he should still be able to perform as he did last season (his first one with his new knee) with the whole 22 PPG and 7 Asissts.

The Knee isn't what's wrong with Gilbert, its his mind. He is scared to push it all the way and is using that as an excuse.

I respectfully disagree. The knee is all that is wrong with Arenas IMO. He no longer has flexibility and bounce in his legs. He regressed even before the Wizards traded him to Orlando. Gilbert knows how to play basketball but his body won't let him do what he once could IMO.

I think he's close to done.

You can't rationally blame Arenas' regression since leaving the Wizards on his knee. So his body can't do what it could days before he got on a plane to Orlando? Arenas averaged 17/5 this season in DC. Please explain?

[Illuminaire]

It's quite possible that the messy legal battles with his pseudo-wife are bringing him down. I know that kind of thing could be crushing.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Magic fan here. So, let me ask you guys something. Do any of you honestly think Gil will become the go-to score we need him to be or did we trade for an $18 million backup who's gonna shoot 34% for the rest of his career?

That.

He might get his FG% up to 40 again on open threes if he works with Grover this summer and receives pretty miraculous treatment that restores his knee cartilage and/or reverses arthritis.

Most likely is that it's downhill from here for Gilbert's career. Your team would be much better off with Jordan Crawford.

You say "most likely" but your most likely scenario is going against a 95%+ historical precedent. Perhaps Arenas is the exception, but you are talking about an exception and not the rule.

Regardless of the particulars, saying that a team is better off with a SG with 11 NBA starts shooting less than 40% FG than a multiple time, All-NBA player who's only 29 is more than a little far fetched at this point. You are comparing the best case Crawford to the worst case Arenas and calling it even.

You are entitled to your opinion.

Over 15 games in March, Crawford did shoot 39%. He also, as a rookie averaged 18.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. In the history of the league here are the 33 rookies that have averaged 18/3/3 (10 are Hall of Famers). Among the active players are Blake Griffin, Tyreke Evans, Grant Hill, Lebron James.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... te_base=36

JJ, you might say Crawford's March was a fluke. He had a triple double his first game in April. With Wall out of the lineup. He had 21 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists on .444 FG and .500 3PT shooting. Today, he upped that to 23 points (.500 FG and .400 3PT), 5 assists, 3 rebounds 2 steals.

Prior to today, as a starter, Crawford has averaged 21.2 points, 4.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds.

Regardless of Gil's status, I believe the Magic would be better with Crawford.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Gilbert is never going to average 28-29 PPG as he did from 2005-2007 but he should still be able to perform as he did last season (his first one with his new knee) with the whole 22 PPG and 7 Asissts.

The Knee isn't what's wrong with Gilbert, its his mind. He is scared to push it all the way and is using that as an excuse.

I respectfully disagree. The knee is all that is wrong with Arenas IMO. He no longer has flexibility and bounce in his legs. He regressed even before the Wizards traded him to Orlando. Gilbert knows how to play basketball but his body won't let him do what he once could IMO.

I think he's close to done.

You can't rationally blame Arenas' regression since leaving the Wizards on his knee. So his body can't do what it could days before he got on a plane to Orlando? Arenas averaged 17/5 this season in DC. Please explain?

I can't. Maybe I'm wrong about that.

The 17 and 5 were WORSE than what he averaged last season as a Wizard. His game was not just limited by Hinrich's presence; it was worse. I thought he was perhaps trying to play his way out of DC. Now, I think he's lost confidence because IMO he knows his knee is not right.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

It's quite possible that the messy legal battles with his pseudo-wife are bringing him down. I know that kind of thing could be crushing.

A lot of things, and that's at the top perhaps, could be crushing Arenas. No athlete except perhaps Tiger Woods has fallen farther from grace. The thing with the greedy common-law wife is bad. He's also on probation as a convicted felon. His mother passed last year. His game has gone south and he's hearing boos nightly.

Not a lot for him appears to be going right.

Hopefully, he can keep his head up as a person. Forget the basketball and popularity.

[hands11]

Gilbert is never going to average 28-29 PPG as he did from 2005-2007 but he should still be able to perform as he did last season (his first one with his new knee) with the whole 22 PPG and 7 Asissts.

The Knee isn't what's wrong with Gilbert, its his mind. He is scared to push it all the way and is using that as an excuse.

I respectfully disagree. The knee is all that is wrong with Arenas IMO. He no longer has flexibility and bounce in his legs. He regressed even before the Wizards traded him to Orlando. Gilbert knows how to play basketball but his body won't let him do what he once could IMO.

I think he's close to done.

You can't rationally blame Arenas' regression since leaving the Wizards on his knee. So his body can't do what it could days before he got on a plane to Orlando? Arenas averaged 17/5 this season in DC. Please explain?

That kind of what I was getting at. And just when everyone gives up all hope for him, the playoffs will be here. We will know what Gil can and cant do once the playoffs are here. Not before. If his tank only has 10 gallons now instead of 20, he would be saving it up for a burst when it matters most. It would be a huge story. Something that could get him back in the lime light for a good reason. Something that hasnt happened for him in a while. I could see Gils mind working like that.

[hands11]

Gil has 16 at the half. Could he be warming it up for the playoff run ? Stay tuned.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=310406030

[montestewart]

Gil has 16 at the half. Could he be warming it up for the playoff run ? Stay tuned.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=310406030

The playing possum theory's back, eh? If Arenas really comes back and scorches the league in the playoffs, I'll laugh my a$$ right out of the arena. That would top every other Arenas stunt I've seen, and might even call for its own "Arenas Playin' Possum" thread.

[willbcocks]

Because he no longer has his explosion or lift, Arenas sucked in DC this year. He is continuing to suck in Orlando this year. The difference is that one team is junk and the other a contender, so he put up bigger stats on the junk team.