If Antawn is not back, then there's no point in me coming back because he's part of my success, too. When you're doing pick and roll with a player like him, they can't double you, they can't trap you because you have a pick and pop guy who can shoot the three at your four position. My success is because of him too. If he doesn't come back, I'm not coming back.
"We're on the same page, then. Because we want to sign Antawn. We want to sign Gilbert," Grunfeld said. "I kind of liked it. He's supportive of his teammate. And he enjoys playing with Antawn. And that's been our plan all along. I'm glad to see everyone in the organization is on the same page."
After being eliminated from the playoffs by LeBron James and the Cavaliers for the third straight season, it appears that the Wizards' management just can't get enough, as they're likely to bring their version of the "Big Three" back for another season.
... Caron Butler sounded certain this afternoon, after his exit meeting with Coach Eddie Jordan at Verizon Center, that Washington's Big Three would stay together and try to advance past the first round for the first time in four years.
The thinking is the Wizards' all-stars will be healthier, their youngsters will add muscle and maturity and Grunfeld will find a key acquisition to help Eddie Jordan's cause.
It's not a sexy strategy. It's certainly not going to shake up the league. But in the NBA today, where continuity has helped keep San Antonio, Detroit and Utah alive, it works.
I know that the Wizards feel like they were close to beating Cleveland this year, and that in their minds, if they had a healthy Gilbert Arenas for the entire series (or maybe were without him for all six games) they might have been able to win it. The reality is though, the team's style is simply not geared towards winning playoff games in the NBA.
Continuity isn't the only thing that keeps teams like San Antonio and Detroit in the playoff hunt every year. The fact that those teams play disciplined, defense-oriented team basketball is why they're successful. And after watching the Wizards take way too many poor shots (like three-pointers with 23 seconds remaining on the shot clock) and refuse to defend consistently, it's clear that they'll need a lot more than just a healthy "Big Three" to ever get out of the first round.
In another of our continuing series, five things to keep an eye out for tonight in the Cavaliers-Wizards game tonight. 1. The Agent Elephant In The Room: I understand folks not wanting to talk about it. But, we're going to talk about it. Two Washington wins? 10 minutes and 2 points combined for Gilbert Arenas. Three losses? Close to 85 minutes for Agent Zero. On the surface, it makes pretty simple sense. Injured player, can't effectively perform, drags down the team. However, it's more than that. The Wizards seem to revel in being without their star. Caron Butler was spectacular in Gilbert's first night back ... out. They seem more cohesive, and more importantly, they're winning more often. Even Zero admitted they're better without him right now. This series had the distinct look of a mismatch after Game 4, and all of a sudden, losing their "best" player may end up being exactly what the Wizards need to get over the hump.
2. Oh, THERE's The Wally I Know And Love:Wally Szczerbiak was apparently walking into Quicken Loans Arena when he passed a vehicle. And in the window of this vehicle, he saw a dreadful sight. Himself. And then he remember who he is. And promptly shot 1 of 6 from the field. Szczerbiak is undeniably the inconsistent thread that leavs the Cavaliers hanging in the wind. Sometimes he snaps, sometimes he holds. So you could say that if you want to destroy the Cavaliers, just hold this Wally while you walk away (while you walk away). The Cavs need supporting three-point shooting to win, unless LeBron has one of, you know, those nights.
"Don't judge this team from comments," he said. "LeBron made a statement saying 'These guys are talkers,' but unless you hear something from the captains--which would be myself and Antawn [Jamison]--don't label that as the team. You know what I'm saying? I'm the voice of this team, 'Twan is the spiritual and emotional leader, and unless you hear it from us, just keep it moving."
And ...
"I just told [LeBron] 'Make the season interesting, let's take it back to D.C.," Caron told us. "And he started laughing. You know, I had to get him back for what he did to Gilbert a couple years ago at the foul line."
If Gilbert Arenas does opt out this summer, it's not necessarily terrible, terrible news for Washington. It'd be bad news, sure; but Tough Juice can be your leader, on the court and off. What a great game from Butler.
The Washington Wizards were already pinned into a corner heading into tonight's elimination game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and now it appears that they will be without their most visible superstar as Gilbert Arenas is being shut down for the remainder of the season. DC Sports Bog's Dan Steinberg drops the sadness on the Washington area:
Gilbert Arenas will not play in Game 5 of the team's first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight, and said his injured left knee will not permit him to play again this season. 'I'm done,' he said.
'My leg wasn't recovering fast enough each game,' he said before tonight's game. 'It still wasn't recovering. The nerve pinch just came out of the blue; you know, the swelling and the achiness, it hadn't affected that, but the nerve pain, each step feels like you're hitting my funny bone. Eventually that was wearing and tearing, and it's not going anywhere.'
It has been kind of obvious -- the first game of the series excepting -- that Gil is struggling out on the court. And this seems like one of those cases where regardless of his effort to pump up the crowd and fight to stay on the court, he is just not helping the team in the long run. That's not to insult Arenas, especially considering he is throwing the rest of his career on the line every time he opts to suffer through the injury instead of sitting on the pine.
Arenas would not discuss the possibility of opting out but did point out that he felt like a "drug addict" just discussing all of the things he was taking in an attempt to get back out on the court. And even more disconcertingly, Steinz dropped a hint at the end of the article that Gilbert might be done blogging, saying that "... do one more blog, and then end that part of his career as well."
*Don't actually. If you still have them. Which you probably don't. Unless you're DeShawn. In which case, you should probably be guarding West.
1. The West Is Strong, Allright:Delonte West, that is. West is averaging 11.3 points per game in this series, including 16 points in Game 4, propelled by some huge shots down the stretch. The big problem with the Cavs during a pretty mediocre (at best) regular season was the lack of an auxiliary scorer. If you reduce this team to just LeBron, you have a much better chance at beating them, though even that's shady depending on how the King feels. The Wizards have to lock down on the perimeter shooting in this game. They allowed 13 three-pointers on 46% shooting, including five from West, in Game 4.
2. It's The Boards, Stupid!: The Wizards are getting murdered on the glass. Not surprising, given Cleveland's army of bulky power forwards and the Wizards gaggle of slender gunners. But to be outrebounded by an average of 10 in the series. Their shooting percentages are the same, the Wizards are actually turning the ball over less, and their defense has been solid. But Cleveland is getting 5 more offensive rebounds per game. That is huge for this series. Andray Blatche needs to step it up, and Brendan Haywood needs to focus less on LeBron being weak and more on getting double digit rebounds and shoring off the Cavs on the offensive glass.
Gilbert Arenas is used to being The Man, the guy who not only takes the last shot of the game but also the first shot and about 20 others in between. But after missing 66 games in the regular season recovering from knee surgery, he's been slow to assert himself, something he openly admitted after yesterday's loss to the Cavs. From Dan Steinberg of the D.C. Sports Bog:
Lastly, here's Gilbert, on why he wasn't shooting in the first quarter: "I mean, this is not my team," he said. "This is Caron and Antawn's team, and A.D.'s team. They held this boat together for the last four, five months. What is my [place] to come out here and take 24 shots? They've been moving by their boat, so I've got to get those guys the ball. If I see an open shot, I'm gonna take it, if I don't, I'm not gonna force anything."
Just for the record, Gil shot 3-for-8 yesterday and has attempted just 20 shots combined in the last three games. Unfortunately, he also has just eight assists to go with eight turnovers in that same span, so he could be doing a better job scoring and distributing.
But still, that he's deferring to fellow All-Stars Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison while gutting it out on one and a half legs is incredibly admirable, if not productive. Like Mr. I pointed out on Friday, Gil isn't acting like a guy worried about getting a new contract, but simply someone doing whatever it takes to win. It's hard not to cheer for a guy like that.
Say what you want about all the silly posturing between Jay-ZLeBron James and Soulja BoyDeShawn Stevenson, and how it might be a little over the top and excessive. But it's making for one hell of a physically-styled basketball rivalry. Sunday was no exception, with Delonte West burying a monster shot only to have Gilbert Arenas not answer the call at the buzzer.
So, micro-fashioned, the biggest story might be the role players on the Cavs stepping up while the [injured, I suppose] stars on the Cavs step down. But in terms of the macro, it's the near violent nature with which these teams are attacking each other.
In another of our continuing series, five things to keep an eye out for tonight in the Cavs-Wizards game tonight.
1. Will The Real Cleveland Offense Please Stand Up?: They almost had me. With a 2-0 series lead after shooting 46% from the field at home, I started to think, "You know, maybe this Cleveland offense is better than I thought." Then came Game 3. Oh, there you guys are! I missed you! Make no mistake, the Wizards defense was unrelenting and their offense was en fuego in Game 3. But to assume that game was an abbe ration in terms of performance for the Cavaliers' offense is quite a mistake. This team was built for rebounding and defense. That' why Anderson Varejao, Zydrunas Ilgauskus, and Ben Wallace get the majority of the minutes. The problem is, they're now up against a Wizards team that has remembered its ability to score from anywhere on the floor. The Cavaliers can do that ... with LeBron James. But if they want to walk out of Washington with that killer 3-1 lead, the backcourt better show up like it did in the first two games. Otherwise Deshawn Stevenson et al are going to have another field (goal) day.
2. The Mysterious Mystery of Agent Zero: Your guess is as good as mine as to whether Gilbert Arenas is going to play today. But it might not make that big of a difference. This team was at its best this season with Zero on the shelf. If he can't go for significant minutes today, and they can get back in that zone they were in during Game 3, the Wizards can still shoot the lights out. Then again, if he comes back healthy and starts pouring in points on top of their newfound offensive efficiency, it makes them even more deadly. The only bad scenario is if he continues to get minutes and can't find his groove. Eddie Jordan has to be flawless with his handling of this situation today.
Every single game of the Wizards/Cavs series has been a blowout, and yet the history and war of words between these two teams has made it one of the most compelling of the postseason.
Soulja Boy: I mean, I've got to support who support me, and that's the Wizards. I mean, I'm a fan of LeBron James, but when it's all said and done I've got to back who backing me up. You know? [Stevenson] called me and invited me out, he said 'I'm gonna fly you out, you just come, rock the jersey, sit courtside,' and I came out.
Dan Steinberg: So are you gonna help the Wizards win?
Soulja Boy: I mean, if it comes down to it, we're gonna have to do what we got to do to win, you feel me? I came all the way out here, we gotta take it home. If it comes down to it, you'll see. For real. We can't lose tonight man. I'm gonna have to talk to him, be like 'It's time to rock,' you know what I'm saying? I've got a lot riding on this.
If you're a Wizards fan, there's good news and bad news, or at least good news and not-so-good, maybe-bad, too-early-to-say news.
First, the good news: after talking the talk, DeShawn Stevenson finally walked the walk, leading the Wizards with 19 points in a rout over the Cavs. All five of his field goals came from long-distance, including a couple of shots right in LeBron James' grill. Maybe it was playing at home, maybe it was the freshly shorn mohawk, maybe it was having Soulja Boy sitting courtside. Who knows? Who cares? It happened, that's the important part.
Now, the not-so-good news: Gilbert Arenas made his first start since returning from surgery on his right knee but lasted just 10 minutes before leaving the game with a bone bruise in the same joint. From the Washington Times:
Arenas suffered the injury with 6:03 left in the first quarter and went to the bench. He spent the first half of the second quarter on an exercise bike, then played four minutes before leaving the game for good. He limped to the locker room, wincing and unable to bend his leg at all.
Every now and again there are some stupendous, silly, stupid, or downright outlandish individual lines from around the L. Doing Lines lets you know which one tops the list.
Washington's not-so-secret weapon was supposed to be their all-around depth and versatility: even if you contain one of their Big Three, there's no way you can stop the other two, right? Meh. On Monday, Gilbert Arenas (7 points, 2-for-10 shooting), Caron Butler (12 points, 4-for-13) and Antawn Jamison (9 points, 4-for-13) combined for 28 points, or roughly a third of what they're supposed to be putting up.
At least Arenas has some kind of excuse: he's still a bit rusty coming back from knee surgery, and he was playing Monday on a sprained wrist. He's also still coming off the bench, but with the Wizards returning to D.C. for Games 3 and 4 with down 0-2 with their tails between their legs, I wouldn't be surprised if he returns to the starting lineup. Antonio Daniels may have been a respectable fill-in starter while Arenas was hurt, but he's done jack lately, combining to score just eight points with two assists in the first two games.
The Cavaliers did what they were supposed to do in Game 1, and that's hold onto their home court advantage by beating the Wizards. LeBron and Gilbert were spectacular, DeShawn ... not so much.
Will Cleveland hold serve at home? Will Gilbert's wrist be a factor? Here are five more things for you to consider until we get started, sometime around 7PM Eastern.
- Magic Johnson with the "sky-is-blue" analysis on Gilbert, basically along the lines of "he'll take a couple of shots early, and we'll see how his wrist feels then." I think I'd rather listen to him sell me health insurance.
- As far as I know, Cleveland's current team colors are a deep red and white, and their alternate uni's are blue. They have a very very thin gold stripe of trim on the jerseys, which is similar in color to the Wizards' road jerseys. Why then, did the team give the fans yellow t-shirts to wear?
- LeBron to the rim, and gets hammered by Bendan Haywood. The no layup rule is in effect early, and why not? LeBron has been known to miss a free throw now and then.
- Quick 6-1 start for the Wizards, thanks mostly to poor shot selection (and a missed free throw) from the Cavs.
- Caron Butler attempts to put Ben Wallace on a poster, and Wallace puts him on the floor instead. Physical Eastern Conference basketball on both ends, I like it.
In another of our continuing series, five things to keep an eye out for tonight in the Wizards and Cavs game.
1. Put The Locksmith On Ice?:DeShawn Stevenson did not have what you would call a "happy day" on Saturday, getting torched by LeBron and being unable to produce any offense, either. That would have been fine had the Wizards held on and won, but without that little piece of the puzzle, and especially because of LeBron's complete takeover down the stretch, you have to wonder if Eddie Jordan is going to sit him down a little bit to rest the King's ire. The problem is that they need Stevenson for offensive firepower, because while the big three (Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, and Caron Butler) showed up at full strength in Game 1, there's likely to be a few where they don't all come through. Especially with...
2. Agent Zero-Health: Zero has a banged up wrist, and for the Wizards who aren't exactly the type to light up the scoreboard, that's a pretty significant injury. It's possible Arenas can shake it off and have one of his "Hibachi!" nights, but it's going to be rough going either way. Whoever guards Arenas is sure to take advantage of it, and his minutes will be limited. It'll be interesting to see how many minutes coach Eddie Jordan gives the superstar, and whether he rests him for the trip home, or burns him at both ends to try and take one in Cleveland and regain home-court advantage.
Yesterday in his blog, Gilbert Arenas made it clear that he considered he and teammate Antawn Jamison a package deal:
After being eliminated from the playoffs by 
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The Washington Wizards were already pinned into a corner heading into tonight's elimination game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and now it appears that they will be without their most visible superstar as 
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Every single game of the Wizards/Cavs series has been a blowout, and yet the history and war of words between these two teams has made it one of the most compelling of the postseason. 
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