“Agent 0” named NBA Player of the Week

Around the metropolitan D.C. area Washington Wizards’ guard Gilbert Arenas is known as “Agent 0.” To the players in the League, “Agent 0” is known as an explosive offensive talent. But to the NBA, “Agent 0” is now known as the NBA’s best for the week of Dec. 4.

On Dec. 11, Arenas was named Eastern Conference “Player of the Week” for games played from Dec. 4 through Dec. 10. Arenas averaged a League-high 37.3 points per game converting on 51.5 percent of his field goal attempts. “Agent 0” also connected on 18 three-point attempts, and handed out 5.5 assist per game.

During the week, Arenas lead the Wizards to a 3-1 record. His 38-point, eight assist effort help snap the Dallas Mavericks’ 12-game winning streak. On Dec. 6 he followed that outing with a 38-point effort against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden, and 32-points against the Philadelphia 76ers in Philly, on Dec. 8. The two road victories were the Wizards first of the season. Arenas completed the week on Saturday Dec. 9, by dropping 41-points in a loss to the Houston Rockets at the Verizon Center. The 41 scored against the Rockets was Arenas’ fourth 40-plus game of the year, making him only the fourth player, joining Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant, in the last 20-years to score 40 or more points four times in their first 20 games of a season.

Too much Yao Ming

The Washington Wizards lost Brendan Haywood for the game in the second quarter to a deep left thigh bruise. With 11:05 remaining in the fourth quarter the Wizards also lost Etan Thomas to a left ankle injury. Despite the lost of their big men the Wizards still played big, but fell short and were defeated 114-109 by the Houston Rockets.

“It was a tough loss for us,” said Coach Eddie Jordan of Saturday’s loss, “but there were some positives. The effort was there.”

Led by Gilbert Arenas, who scored 41-points, the Wizards (9-11) matched Yao Ming’s huge effort down the stretch despite losing their two centers. But last month’s Western Conference “Player of the Month” proved too big and accurate for the Wizards. After Thomas’ fourth quarter departure Ming with his 17-points to that point, showed why he is the League’s most dominant “big man.” Guarded by rookie James Lang and veteran Calvin Booth, Ming scored 21-points, shooting six for six from the field and nine for 10 from the free-throw line. From both side of the box Ming was equally dominating, shooting turnaround jumpers amidst tough Wizards opposition. Jordan, who played with Kareem Abdul Jabbar, one of the League’s most dominating big men ever, said of Ming, that the League has never seen a big man as dominating on both sides of the box as Ming.
“He killed us in that fourth quarter,” said Arenas who changed his sneakers in the second quarter after shooting 0-of-6 in the first quarter. “What hurt us down the stretch is they were in the penalty with nine minutes [left]. From there they were just shooting free throws the whole time. We fought and we kept at it. The big kid hit big shots.”

The Wizards were down by seven points (88-81) with 8:52 remaining in the game when Arenas, who heated up after his slow start, hitting 13-of-24 shots, made back-to-back 3-point shots to reduce Houston’s lead to one. After Ming converted one of his six fourth quarter shots, the Wizards’ guard Antonio Daniels made a free throw as a result of a technical foul called on ex-Wizards Juwan Howard, arguing a foul against Antawn Jamison charged to him. Jamsion, who finished with 27-points, made three free-throws and gave the Wizards a one point lead.

Houston (14-6) rebuilt their lead to eight points, but the Wizards, trying to reach .500, continued to fight for their 10th victory. Arenas driving layup with 1:05 left reduced Houston’s lead to four, but Ming, on an assist from Luther Head scored on a layup.

With the Wizards down by four points with less than 45-seconds remaining Arenas penetrated into the paint, but was met by a few Houston defenders. Unable to get off a shot Arenas made a difficult pass to Booth standing beyond the arc. With no options but to shoot, Booth fired up and converted a 3-pointer from the top of the arc, which brought 20,173 fans to their feet.

“I don’t really shoot threes per se,” said Booth about his unexpected field goal. “But I do consider myself more of a jump shooter than a post-up guy; so I looked around and nobody was open; so I was like I mine as well take it – give it a shot.”

With 11-seconds remaining Ming quieted the excited Verizon Center fans, chanting “De-fense, De-fense,” when he hit his final turnaround jumpers. Arenas tried to answer with a 3-point attempt, but missed.

“We had a chance to tie the game. I thought Gil had a terrific look in the corner,” Jordan said of Arenas’ last field goal attempt. He’s [Ming] got it going this year. To be in a game when you have Yao Ming going really well, even against double teams and different schemes – it’s a credit to our guys that we got a chance to tie the game.”

The injuries suffered by Thomas and Haywood, who collectively combined for four points and seven rebounds, occurred trying to defend the 7-foot-6-inch Ming. Thomas rolled his ankle on Ming’s size 18, and Haywood was kneed by the 310 pound Ming. Both players are listed day-to-day.

Houston’s Tracy McGrady, who finished with 28-points, exited the game in the fourth quarter because of back spasms.

The NBA’s best for November

The League’s centers were definitely the ‘Big Men on Campus’ for November. Centers Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic and Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets were named the Eastern and Western Conference “Players of the Month.”

Howard, considered the engine fueling the best team in the Eastern Conference, averaged 17.1 points per game and led the League in rebounds with 13.6. Facing his childhood idol Kevin Garnett in a Nov. 11th game, Howard grabbed 21 rebounds to accompany his 21-points, and led the Magic pass the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-98. On Nov. 20 against the Memphis Grizzlies Howard posted his second double-double of 20 or more points and rebounds; he scored 24 and pulled 23 boards in a loss to the Grizzlies. On Nov. 27 Howard, four rebounds shy of his third 20 plus double-double, scored 21-points and snatched 16 rebounds.

Ming, with 11 consecutive games of 20-points or more, tallied 36-points against the Rockets’ Texas neighbors, the Dallas Mavericks; 35 and 17 rebounds against the New York Knicks, 34 with 14 rebounds against a Shaq-less Miami Heat, and 33 points and 16 rebounds with four assists against the Detroit Pistons.


Adam Morrison and Rudy Gay were named “T-Mobile Rookies of the Month.” Morrison ranked first among rookies [Eastern and Western Conference rookies] in scoring averaging 15.3 points per game and minutes played averaging 36.1. Chosen third in the 2006 NBA draft by the Charlotte Bobcats, the kid known for his stache,’ ranked second in 3-point shooting among rookies converting .375 percent. Entering the NBA as a prolific scorer, Morrison scored 20-points are more in six games. Against the San Antonio Spurs Morrison scored 27 while being guarded by Bruce Bowen, one of the League’s premiere defensive players. Morrison dropped 12-of-23 shots; (2-of-3) from the arc. Morrison scorched the Miami Heat with 27.

Gay leads the Western Conference rookies in scoring averaging 8.7 points per game. He earned his career high with 23 points in an 89-84 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Gay also ranks first [Western Conference] in minutes played per game with 24.9 and third in rebounding (4.7) and tied for third in steals with .93.

Brian Hill, coach of the first place Orlando Magic and Jerry Sloan, coach of the first place Utah Jazz were named the Eastern and Western Conference “Coaches of the Month.”

Hill has guided the Magic to a 12-4 start, their best since 1998-99, to lead the Eastern Conference. Sloan, likewise, has led his Jazz to a 13-4 mark to lead the Western Conference.

The Wizards gallop over the Mavericks

After setting a franchise record last Saturday for consecutive road losses to begin a season with eight, the Washington Wizards returned home on Dec. 4 and defeated last year’s Western Conference champs the Dallas Mavericks.

The Wizards, winners of seven of nine home games, mounted a huge effort to defeat the league’s hottest team who had won 12 straight games before their 106-97 defeat.
“We stayed organized offensively for the most part,” said Coach Eddie Jordan. “We got stops. We held them – the Dallas Mavericks under 40 percent [shooting] and we . . . got out and ran; we got some easy baskets.”

Jumping out to a first quarter eight point lead the Wizards (7-10) played good defensively, shot and distributed the ball well. “We shared the basketball,” Jordan said. The Wizards converted 15-of-21 field goals for 71 percent and held the Mavericks (12-5) to 39 percent. The Wiz outrebounded the Mavericks – 12 to 6 – and dished out more assist, collecting 10 to the Mavericks’ six.

“That was a result of our approach, our attitude, our willingness to share the basketball and play with each other,” explained Jordan.

Maintaining their efficiency through the second quarter by continuing to play up-tempo basketball, the Wizards extended their lead to 18 finishing the first-half 59-41.
“We like to play up and down,” said Wizards’ guard Gilbert Arenas, who lead the team 38-points and eight assist, about their early lead.

Although the Wizards did cool down in the third quarter, shooting just 37 percent, they were able to briefly extend their lead to 31-points before the Mavericks made their run. With 6:24 left in the quarter Jarvis Hayes hit a three-point shot to cap a Wizards 17-4 run, putting the Wizards up by 31.

Entering into the fourth quarter the Wizards held a 21-point lead, but with 2:31 seconds remaining Mavericks’ guard Jason Terry, averaging 14.8 points per game this season, but held to just one point for the game, hit a huge three-point shot to reduce the Mavericks’ deficit to 10. Throughout the arena the hint of apprehension among the fans could be felt. However Arenas answered Terry’s basket, hitting a 22-foot jumper. But with 1:07 remaining Dallas’ All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki, who finished 27-points and nine rebounds, hit another three to reduce the Wizards’ lead to seven. Arenas tried to answer with another jumper, but missed. Antawn Jamison, who scored 20-points, grabbed the rebound, one of his game high 12, and converted a tough basket under the boards to extend the lead back to nine. Nowitzki and Arenas traded a couple of made free-throws to end the game.

Not disappointed about losing the lead, Arenas said, “We knew they were in striking distance. With a team like that that scores 39 [they scored only 31] in a period – you knew they were ready for a run. We were expecting it. We just had to hold on and be strong.”

Each Wizards starters scored in double figures. Centers Etan Thomas and Brendan Haywood combined for 21 of the teams 53 rebounds.

Franchise futility


On Dec. 2, 1986 the Baltimore Bullets defeated the Boston Celtics at Boston Garden to avoid starting the season with eight consecutive road losses. Twenty-years later, to the day, the Washington Wizards unable to win their eighth road game set a franchise record held by those Bullets and the 1961-62 Chicago Packers, for consecutive road losses to start season by losing to the Chicago Bulls 112-94.

Throughout the first quarter the Wizards (6-10) fought to secure that elusive road victory. Down by seven the Wizards launched an 8-0 run to pull ahead of the Bulls 21-19. But the Bulls mounted their own 10 to 2 run to finish the quarter with a 29-23 lead.

Missing their first six shots of the second quarter the Wizards quickly found their six-point deficit stretched to double digits. The Wiz finished the second quarter shooting 5-of-21. The Bulls (7-9) playing rather bullish shot 60 percent from the field, converting on 12-of-20 shots. They outscored the Wiz 33-19 for the quarter to take a 62-44 half-time lead.

Andres Nocioni converted 5-of-6 shots in the second quarter, and shot 100 percent from the arc hitting three ‘3s. Nocioni finished the half scoring 20-points, and the game with 24. Ben Gordon with 28-points for the game, made 4-of-5 shots and converted 2-of-3 threes in the second quarter.

The Bulls stampede continued through the third quarter. In attempt to find some energy Coach Eddie Jordan emptied the bench by inserting James Lang, Andray Blatche, Donnell Taylor, Jarvis Hayes and Antonio Daniels; Roger Mason replaced Hayes at the close of the quarter. Although the seldom used bench players (Lang, Blatche, Taylor and Mason) did inject some much needed energy, the Bulls eventually built a 30-point lead before handing the Wizards their 10th defeat of the season.

Lang, playing in only his second game of his career, scored the first points of his career, finishing with seven. He also grabbed four rebounds and dished out two assists.

Caron Butler led the Wizards in scoring with 21-points on 8-of-15 shooting and in rebounding, grabbing 10. Etan Thomas was the only Wizards player who did not score.

Kobe goes off

Last night Kobe Bryant helped the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the league’s best team, the Utah Jazz, by scoring 30-points, making all nine of his field goal attempts and each of his 10 free throws. The Lakers defeated the Jazz 132-102.

Bryant, the league’s ninth leading scoring averaging 26.2 points per game was phenomenal with his perfect third quarter. Oh, I apologize. Did I forget to mention that Bryant scored the 30 in the third quarter? Tying a franchise record with scoring in one quarter, Bryant finished with 52-points on 19-of-26 shooting from the field and 12-of-15 from the charity stripe. Just like last season when he scored 62 points against the Dallas Mavericks, he didn’t score in the final stanza.

An unconscious Bryant didn’t force any bad shot. In a groove, and aggressively and continuously attacking every player that tried to guard him, Bryant took excellent shots. It felt like I was playing Playstation, Bryant said of his performance.

“I felt great. I felt explosive,” Bryant said in his post-game interview.

***Bryant flushes on Andrei ***

Signs of his explosiveness were evident at the close of the first half as No. 24 rose above Andrei Kirilenko and flushed it in his face, as Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer refused to challenge the dunk they saw coming. At the start of the third quarter, Bryant victimized the Jazz once again with a vicious dunk. This time Mehmet Okur was the victim, while Boozer once again, and Kirilenko chose not to get jacked.

The Jazz (13-4) were playing the second night of back-to-back games. They defeated the San Antonio Spurs 83-75, in an exhausting game, the night before.

Boozer, who should certainly earned a All-Star birth if he continues his play, finished with 26-points, seven rebounds and five assist.

In addition to Bryant’s great play, the Lakers (10-5) received production from Lamar Odom, who finished with 14-points and 11 rebounds, Maurice Evans with 17-points and excellent energy from second year player Ronnie Turiaf.

The 52-point outburst by Bryant was the 12th time that he has topped the 50-point plateau. Bryant was just four points shy of breaking a league record of scoring in one quarter. In 1978, George “Iceman” Gervin scored 33-points in one quarter against the then, New Orleans Jazz.

November’s Top 10 Flushes

Was it “King” James or was it Jason Richardson? Who had the month’s funkiest dunk? Sit back, relax; well you won’t be able to sit back or relax once you check out Reggie’s “Top Flushes” of November.

[ 10] And How-R you doin’?

[ 9] It’s in his DNA

[ 8] Bruce, you just got bowed

[ 7] Wallace gets posted to the Wall

[ 6] Dirk, the epitome of a high chair

[ 5] Get up off me dawg

[ 4] Dunkin' on Duncan (no video)

LeBron James shows no respect

[ 3] Flight No. 5 has been cleared for take off

[ 2] ooh – Yao – Ming

[ 1] The Price is definitely right

The NBA is suffering from vertigo

Check the NBA standing and you just might get confused. As of Nov. 29, the Orlando Magic stands atop of the Eastern Conference division with a 11- 4 record. The Utah Jazz is the league’s best, with a 12-3 record, and teams like the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, and Memphis Grizzlies (no surprise) are three of six playoff teams from last year who would be on the outside unable to play for the coveted ring if the playoffs begun today.

The San Antonio Spurs, one of the league’s premiere teams, is “doing what they do,” which is playing first place basketball, and Dallas Mavericks, last year’s Western Conference Champs, started slow, but have taken up resident and are tied for second place with the Houston Rockets, behind the Spurs with a 10-4 record. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who finished in second place last year behind the Detroit Pistons in the Central division, have supplanted the Pistons from their first place perch. But that should have been expected with Ben Wallace now playing in Chicago.

The Los Angeles Clippers, the best team playing at the Staples Center last season have reclaimed their familiar position in the standing – last place – and the Los Angeles Lakers, last year’s stepchild at Staples, reclaimed their familiar first place position with nine victories versus five defeats. But the purple and gold need not get comfortable because they will be evicted at some point during the season; probably sooner than later. While their record is among the league’s best, it’s safe to say it’s just a mirage. The Lakers played 10 of their first 14 games at Staples Center with six of their victories coming against teams with winning percentages south of respectability.

While the Western Conference remains the dominant conference winning 56 percent of their games, the Eastern Conference, winning 42 percent of their games, looks like a horrific train wreck. The Boston Celtics are in first place of the Atlantic division with a 5-8 record, and New Jersey Nets, last year’s division leaders are tied with them.

The Washington Wizards, Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls, all with 5-9 records, and playoff teams last year, have the New York Knicks and Charlotte Bobcats to thank for possessing records worse than theirs. But the Bulls, unlike the Lakers, have not had the benefit of playing at the crib. Waiting for the circus to leave town, the Bulls have played just four home games. But when they return home, I’m not quite certain that the circus will have vacated with Wallace and Coach Scott Skiles bickering over ‘to wear or not to wear’ a headband.

The losing bug has also infected last season’s World Champs. The Miami Heat, playing below .500 basketball, have a 6-8 record. But Shaq [Shaquille O’Neal] is recovering from knee surgery and Dwyane Wade, carrying the load while Shaq mends, may be a bit tired from having an abbreviated vacation.

The balance of the NBA may be teetering, but as the season moves forth there won’t be any confusion about who will be battling for basketball supremacy.

The Wiz win ugly, but win

A Ritz cracker looks like a gourmet meal to a man who hadn’t had anything to eat in quite some time. And the Washington Wizards ugly 96-95 victory over the Atlanta Hawks Tuesday night, when all is say and done, may have been ugly, but was still a thing of beauty. Having lost their last four games the Wizards needed a victory in the worst way.

Getting a win was big, said Coach Eddie Jordan in his post-game press conference. However he added, “I’m not happy with some decisions; lost of composer out there from certain individuals . . . but that one unit (Gilbert Arenas, Antonio Daniels, Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, Antawn Jamison, and Jarvis Hayes) defensively in the last two and half minutes really got it done. We shot ourselves in the foot on one end, but we gutted it out at the defensive end.”

In the last three minutes of the game the Wizards (5-9) clamped down defensively. After the Hawks’ Joe Johnson hit an eight-foot jumper to tie the game 93-93, the Wizards forced three turnovers and allowed the Hawks (5-7) to score just one bucket. After pulling ahead of the Hawks 96-93, ex-Wizards, Tyron Lue hit a 15-foot jumper with :50.5 seconds on the game clock to bring his team within one point. Arenas then charged with an offensive foul, gave the Hawks an opportunity to re-claim the lead with :38.4 seconds.

Johnson, who finished the game with 33 points and eight assists, with at least two Wizards halting his penetration into the paint, passed out of the double-team to Josh Smith waiting uncontested at the 3-point arc. Smith, 3-of-16 from the field, missed the opened 3-point shot causing a mad scramble for possession of the ball. Hayes, in his attempt to gain possession, kicked the ball and was called for a back court violation. With about five seconds remaining, Johnson guarded closely by Hayes, shot and missed an 18-footer that had Jordan holding his breath during the press conference. “I’m still trying to catch my breath,” Jordan said.

Arenas, along with Butler led the Wizards in scoring with 21 points, committed nine of the Wizards 20 turnovers. “Gil with nine turnovers doesn’t make me happy,” said Jordan. Butler, who shot poorly from the field (3-of-10), converted all 15 of his free throws. The feat tied a franchise record for the number of attempts made without a miss and was a career high for Butler.

“I am just trying to stay aggressive, trying to stay consistent,” Butler said. “My teammates are finding me in the flow, (and I'm) getting hacked and going to the foul line and just making shots.”

“[Caron] did it in different ways; back down dribbles, drives, quick takes – I think some put backs, [and] offensive rebounds," said Jordan of Butler's frequent visits to the charity stripe. "He was just going to the body. He saw a match-up where he could use his quickness . . . he was quicker than anybody that was defending him.”

In addition to the 20 turnovers, the Wizards missed a lot of shots. “We missed a lot of open shots,” said Jordan. “You say, ‘geez, how can we miss open shots like that – you know.’ But I’m glad it ended the way that it did.”

Is Grant Hill retiring? Hill no!

According to Brian Schmitz, staff writer for the Orlando Sentinel, oft injured Grant Hill “might hang” up his Adidas’ at the end of the season.

“I actually had asked Grant about playing next season when he volunteered the notion of hanging up his sneakers,” Schmitz writes in his Nov. 28 article entitled “After this season, Hill might hang ‘em up.” Regarding the retirement talk Hill said in Schmitz’s article, “I could do that. I don’t know. There’s something to be said about going out healthy, leaving on your own terms while still being able to play at a certain level.”

While there is something to be said for leaving on your own terms – Jim Brown did it, exiting stage left as the NFL’s all time leading rusher. Barry Sanders did it when he needed only one more injury free season to become the NFL’s all time leading rusher. Now, it’s just my opinion, but if Hill plays through an injury free season there is no way in hell he’ll retire.

Hill’s seven year contract with the Orlando Magic will expire at the end of the season. While its admirable that Hill attempted with every fiber in his body to fulfill the terms of his $93 million deal, it’s no way that Hill would fight through five years of injuries and six surgeries, including suffering through a staph infection that also claimed his life; play a productive injury free season – one which has promise of making and possibly excelling in the playoffs, just to say “I’m done.”


At the start of Tuesday’s (Nov. 28) games, the 11 and 4 Magic were atop of the Eastern Conference. Hill, ninth in the NBA in field goal percentage shooting 55 percent, is second on the team in scoring (16.5) and steals (1.23), and third in assist with 2.5. Success is contagious and breeds the desire for more success. Hill is a member of a team who growth potential is super. There’s probably no other club whose future is as bright.

With the ferocious Dwight Howard, arguably the future of the NBA from the five position, excellent point guard play from Jameer Nelson and Carlos Arroyo, who are averaging approximately 25 points and seven assist per game collectively, and Darko Milicic (ranks fifth in the NBA with 32 blocks and seventh with blocks per game at 2.13), now beginning to find his way, Hill retiring doesn’t sound reasonable. Add on battle tested vets like Keyon Dooling, Hedo Turkoglu and Tony Battie, with the superstar presence and leadership of Hill and you have an organization that can potentially content for the Lawrence O’Brien trophy in a few years.

Roscoe Nance, NBA writer for USA Today, said that in his conversations with Hill, it was never revealed that the 34-year-old third pick of the 1995 draft had any plans on retiring. Although 34 and because of his injuries, Hill probably has the legs of 28-year-old. While it is possible that Hill might walk away at season’s end, for me, all this talk is just a hill of beans.

Wizards defeat the Cavs
Defense was the difference

The difference between the Washington Wizards’ win against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers last Saturday and their prior three loses was defense. After going winless for the week of Nov. 12, the Wizards losing because of poor defensive performances to the New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons respectively, played exceptional defense on King James and defeated the Cavs 111-99.

“We got our behinds kicked tonight,” explained Mike Brown, Cavaliers' head coach.

James, who at the start of the Nov. 18 game was the league’s third leading scorer averaging 29.6 points per game, was held to 20 points, making eight of 20 shot attempts. Whenever James had the ball Wizards players swarmed around him like bees on honey. According to Eddie Jordan, the Wizards’ head-coach, Caron Butler, DeShawn Stevenson and Jarvis Hayes defensively got after James.

“DeShawn did a really good job on defending LeBron James,” said Jordan. Jarvis did a good job and Caron did a good job.”

Defensively the Wizards are one of the league’s worst teams. They rank 26th in points allowed, 21st in field goal percentage, and 28th in 3-point field goal percentage. There are 30 teams in the league. The Wizards also rank 25th in the league in rebounding, but out-rebounded the Cavs, one of the league’s best rebounding team, 41 to 37; with 15 offensive rebounds the Wizards’ scored 36 second chance points.

With the victory, their fourth in nine games, the Wizards remained tied for third place in the Eastern Conference’s Southeast division.

After playing almost even during the first-half, the Wizards completed their magic and made the Cavs disappear during the third quarter, outscoring Cleveland 31 to 16. During the quarter the Wizards held their opponents to 30.4 percent shooting, 14 percent from the arc.

“We did a good job last night in the first half, but in the third quarter we stepped way down,” explained Wizards’ forward Antawn Jamison. “Tonight, we definitely came out in the third quarter the way you’re supposed to come out.”

The win according to Jordan was about will and determination.

“It was more will and determination,” said Jordan. “We said more than the game plan and more than making shots, which we hadn’t done in a long time, it was about will. It was about what team needed it the most and what team would show that it needed it the most. We made shots and we kept the juice defensively.”

With the Wizards traveling to Texas this week to play the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks and then to Memphis to tangle with the Grizzlies, the win was big. “We needed it,” said Jordan.

In the closing moments of the game, Hayes trying to block Shannon Brown’s landed violently bumping his head and back. He sustained a back bruise. After lying on the floor for several moments Hayes was removed on a stretcher with his head and neck secured. He was taken to Sibley Hospital were his x-rays were negative. He is listed as day-to-day. Hayes is coming off of two seasons where he has suffered patella injuries.

Arenas plays zero defense

Gilbert Arenas is considered by many industry experts as one of the NBA’s brightest stars. He’s also been donned the face of the Washington Wizards. But despite his lofty accolades the two-time All-Star is cheating the Wizards and their fans. While Arenas thrills the Verizon Center crowd with his offensive explosiveness, he plays about as much defense as the number on the back of his jersey – zero. Just like he gives his jersey away at the end of each game without a care, he also plays a vital part in giving away potential Wizards victory with his non-existence defense.

During the pre-season Arenas said he wanted to take his game to the next level by manning-up and playing defense like Kobe Bryant.

“I’m going to take that challenge this year by stopping the best players,” said Arenas. “I’m going to have to stick the Kobes and the Tracy McGradys out there. If players are seeing me go out there willing to take that challenge, they will do that with me. It’s about setting an example and leading with my play. That’s what the best do. MJ [Michael Jordan] did it on both ends. Kobe does it. That’s what’s next for me.”

Unfortunately, Arenas’ walk has failed to measure up with his talk. Last Sunday against the New Jersey Nets I counted at least eight times during the game’s second-half and overtime period when Arenas chose to defend under the pick oppose to fighting over it; something that’s stressed in high school when learning to play defense. This lack of defensive effort on Arenas’ part creates (1) separation – jump shooters love separation because it makes for an easier jump shot – (2) uncontested passing lanes, and (3) causes defensive mismatches.

On one crucial play during the game’s closing moments, Arenas chose to defended under the pick and New Jersey’s guard Jason Kidd passed to Vince Carter, who made a 25-foot three-point basket to cut the Wizards’ three-point lead to one-point, 85-84. A few plays later, the Wizards needing a defensive stop to help insure the win found Arenas out of position three times on one defensive serious. Fortunately for the Wizards Carter was called for an offensive foul.

After having a three-point lead with less than three seconds remaining in the game, the Wizards lost by 12 in overtime. Better defense from the face of the Wizards will result in fewer loses and more wins. Just like a point-guard is responsible for setting the tone for how his team performs offensively, the guard defending the point-guard sets the tone for how his team performs defensively. Defensively, Arenas is often out of position; seldom will lift his hands to create opposition when his man attempts to make an entry pass, and rather than move his feet and exert effort to keep the offensive player in front of him, will allow players to feint him out of position. He then takes halfhearted strikes at the balls trying to give the appearance that he is putting forth an effort.

Arenas’ lack of defensive intensity often causes a domino effort. As his man constantly enters the paint, Arenas’ teammates are leaking into the lane, like they are suppose to do, trying to assist number “0.” Subsequently they become exposed allowing their men wide open jumpers; the case in the New Jersey game. New Jersey’s Bostjan Nachbar, the benefactor of those defensive breakdown, connected on six of eight field goal attempts, scoring 15 points off the bench. All six baskets scored by Nachbar were assisted by Kidd – Arenas’ man.

If the Wizards are going to become one of the NBA elite teams, then Arenas, their elite player needs to stop cheating the Washington Wizards and play some All-Star defense.