Should Gilbert Arenas come back and play this season?

[tommi]

When Gilbert Arenas went down with an injury once again, I honestly thought The Wizards would be on the outside looking in until he comes back, but boy did they prove me wrong. Caron Butler has now embraced the role as the Leader of the team now averaging a career best 21.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 4.3 apg and 2.3 spg. The team chemistry has improved with him leading the team. The Wizards seem to be doing pretty good w/o Arenas and frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if he came back as just a 2nd option.

Their last two games, defeating the Boston Celtics twice is an example of how good this team is.

So should Gilbert Arenas come back and play? or should he just stay out unless their team really gets into trouble?

Are the Wizards better off without Gilbert Arenas?

Your thoughts...

[JT_55]

Looking on the bright side of Agent Zero, perhaps the team would be even better when he comes back. Chemistry can only take you so far, and since Butler is having a career year, then getting another star teammate isn't going to harm anything.

[benji]

Unless he comes back, isn't at full strength but tries to play like he is, takes possessions from more efficient guys and destroys the team. Like Webber with the Kings, in 2003-04

[Ra$hard_Lewi$]

With the way Caron and Jamison's been playing I really think they will a have a chance in the playoffs so he should come back and play again but he must make sure this time that he is 100% healthy.

[Andrew]

As long as his health permits him to return this season and play at a high level then there doesn't seem too much of an advantage in leaving him on the bench. The Wizards are faring better than expected in his absence but that doesn't make him expendable.

[tommi]

As long as his health permits him to return this season and play at a high level then there doesn't seem too much of an advantage in leaving him on the bench. The Wizards are faring better than expected in his absence but that doesn't make him expendable.

Good Point, if he gets into 100% then go play, If not, give it a rest, the team is doing good anyway.

[Andrew]

Wizards' Arenas Nears Return

During the Cavs/Wizards game on TNT last week, he mentioned that he was hoping to play in that game but was a late scratch when he felt some pain during practice and was advised against it. With nothing certain in the East from 5th to 8th and the Wizards at 33-32, it could be a timely return if his knee holds up.

[Lamrock]

The Wizards, while better than expected, are not good enough to get past the first round, even in the East. Arenas should obviously watch out, and maybe only play 20-25 MPG at first, but I definitely think he should return.

And for all of you who say the Wizards are better without him, don't forget that before he went down last season, his Wizards were a few games above .500 (and Eddie Jordan coached the all-star game).

[Skills]

If I were Eddie Jordan, I would keep Arenas out for the rest of the season. Two reasons.
#1. He'll get much better, and it gives other players more playing time.
#2. If they don't make the playoffs, they can settle for some extra talent in the draft.

[Andrew]

Assuming Arenas returns when he is 100%, I don't think he'll get any healthier. Also, I don't see any advantage in keeping your best player out so others can get more playing time. Who on the Wizards roster should have more playing time at Arenas' expense?

As far as missing the Playoffs and the Draft are concerned, with their current record the Wizards aren't going to have a high pick or anywhere near the best odds of getting a top three pick. More to the point, they're currently in sixth place and can remain in the Playoffs with a sustained effort, which should be easier with Arenas back in the lineup.

[Skills]

Assuming Arenas returns when he is 100%, I don't think he'll get any healthier. Also, I don't see any advantage in keeping your best player out so others can get more playing time. Who on the Wizards roster should have more playing time at Arenas' expense?

As far as missing the Playoffs and the Draft are concerned, with their current record the Wizards aren't going to have a high pick or anywhere near the best odds of getting a top three pick. More to the point, they're currently in sixth place and can remain in the Playoffs with a sustained effort, which should be easier with Arenas back in the lineup.

Good point. But isn't Butler out too?
That would make it harder to keep the spot.
And there have been a lot of great pickups between the 10-20th picks.
And also, the draft class looks pretty strong. They could easily pick up a guy like Roy Hibbert or Hasheem Thabeet. They need that extra big man.
Haywood isn't really cutting it for me.

[Donatello]

Only if it is declared by doctors that he is absolutely beyond-a-doubt okay to play. His career was too meteoric of a rise to risk ruining because of a non-consequential return for a futile playoff run.

[Indy]

The Wizards run the Princton offense which Gilbert is not suited to play in. I've never seen him make a great backdoor cut, and I've seen him dribble the ball much more then a point guard running that offense is supposed to. Eddie Jordan has a very confusing system when Gilbert is playing because he gives Gil leeway to go one on one, but the rest of the time is supposed to keep running the offense unless he starts to go in to it. They are often unsure of what they are doing.

With that said, the Wiz have no chance to contend with Boston and Detroit unless Arenas is back at full strength.

[Drex]

From the Wizards POV, I'd think they should rest Arenas till next season. They've been playing good ball without him, and the Sixers are right behind them in the standings. At this time of the year, such a big adjustment could mean a slip in the standings.

[Andrew]

Good point. But isn't Butler out too?
That would make it harder to keep the spot.

Butler returned last week, he had been out since before the All-Star break though.

And there have been a lot of great pickups between the 10-20th picks.
And also, the draft class looks pretty strong. They could easily pick up a guy like Roy Hibbert or Hasheem Thabeet. They need that extra big man.
Haywood isn't really cutting it for me.

Absolutely, it's not as though the best players are always selected in the top ten. But the Wizards are sixth in the East and as of this moment, in the playoff picture. They should be thinking of holding onto that playoff spot, not moving up in the Draft.

[Lamrock]

From the Wizards POV, I'd think they should rest Arenas till next season. They've been playing good ball without him, and the Sixers are right behind them in the standings. At this time of the year, such a big adjustment could mean a slip in the standings.

So they can lose in the first round, as opposed to possibly going deeper with Arenas?

[Drex]

Yeah.





What I meant is that Arenas can't find a shot he doesn't like. He'll break whatever chemistry the Wizards found without him on the court. Yes, he might help, a lot, but he could also fuck up the team.

[Lamrock]

I would day its worth the risk though. Its not like a 33-33 team in the East would go anywhere anyway.

[benji]

Personally, I'd ignore the data and prefer just having Butler to Arenas, simply because I'd be afraid of Arenas taking possessions from more efficient players.

Although, this is entirely a personal opinion and unrelated to Arenas' statistical performance. I do not care for players who dominate the ball.

[Andrew]

This report suggests that a return this season is uncertain, but doesn't rule it out completely. For his part, it seems Arenas would like to return but is no longer making any guarantees and acknowledges the benefits of sitting out until next year. If he's healthy enough to return, I could see him making a few late appearances and competing in the Playoffs but the latest report is considerably less optimistic than the first one I posted.

[shadowgrin]

Arenas was set to release different versions of his new shoe this season, too bad for him.

I wonder if Arenas' ranking in Halo 3 at XBoX Live improved, he does have a lot of free time because of his injury.

Arenas must play just so he can stop talking about his pubes in interviews because he has nothing to do (read it in an article somewhere, when he was still a rookie and a vet suggested something to him).

[Andrew]

Speaking of video games, it's the first time an NBA Live cover player has fallen victim to a major injury that same year, reminiscent of the infamous "Madden curse" superstition.

[shadowgrin]

While Gilbert's counterpart in 2K, Chris Paul, is doing pretty well.

lol at the coverplayer for 2K9:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_2K#Gam ... _Franchise

[Andrew]

I wonder how long that one will last.

[benji]

The entire table on that page is wrong.

Antoine Walker suffered a terrible career after being on the Live 99 cover.