November 23, 2009 9:00 am  |  53 Comments

Somehow, Things About to Worsen in DC


by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

The Washington Wizards are off to a disheartening 3-9 start to the season. They have been bitten by the injury bug, and even when everyone is healthy, there’s been no success on the court (or happiness in the locker room.)

Following their beatdown on Saturday night at the hands of the Spurs, Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood lobbed verbal grenades at fellow teammates (and one another) through the media, an indication that things are about to get a lot worse before they get any better.

The Washington Post looks into the situation:

He didn’t single out anyone, but he spoke of the need for the players to humble themselves, stop worrying about statistics and glory and play basketball. “Check your ego at the door. Let’s try and win,” Haywood said. “I watch the Celtics, and that’s what they do. Paul Pierce can have 12 in the fourth quarter if they’re up, he don’t care. That’s what we gotta do. Check your ego at the door, move the ball, play some defense.”

But immediately after Haywood was done talking to reporters, Arenas emerged from the shower and basically said that he was going to start going for his if the situation doesn’t get better. It was a rather bizarre because Haywood intentionally yelled his answers so that everyone in the room could hear them. Arenas actually walked in from the shower while Haywood was talking, then returned until Haywood was finished. Arenas then began talking as if he was going to save the team and that the individual agendas of the Wizards’ eight free agents have been the reason for the team’s failures.

The Wizards obviously have to try new things on the court, but I’m not sure that a gunning Arenas is necessarily the solution. Flip Saunders needs to gain control of his locker room before things turn ugly, assuming it’s not already too late.

Thanks goodness for the Redskins. Oh, wait …

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  • Yesse Posted: Nov.23 at 9:02 am
    Start rebuilding!Players like Jamison and Arenas are worth alot of great players.

  • German Reignman Posted: Nov.23 at 9:05 am
    Well, they were as long-lasting as souljah boy ….

  • Brad Long Posted: Nov.23 at 9:09 am
    For the love of all that is holy, FREE CARON BUTLER!

  • thesubwayconnection Posted: Nov.23 at 9:27 am
    One of the “Big 3″ should get traded this year.

  • riggs Posted: Nov.23 at 9:32 am
    antawn jamison came back from an injury and his balling his a*s off, and for what?

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Nov.23 at 9:37 am
    You mean Flip Saunders isn’t a great coach? I’m shocked!

  • Mo Charlo Posted: Nov.23 at 9:37 am
    Iverson and Starbury are available. One more ego couldn’t hurt, right?

  • Jacqueline Mitchell Posted: Nov.23 at 10:02 am
    Maybe they all can sit down and have some Gatorade(or Vitamin water) with President Barack Obama.I’m sure he can help.

  • YKnot Posted: Nov.23 at 10:03 am
    Mo beat me to it. Bring in Iverson.

  • tavoris Posted: Nov.23 at 10:07 am
    Maybe Flip can run more than “Give Gil the ball and get out of his way” or “Spot Jamison up at the top of the Key”

  • Dacre Posted: Nov.23 at 10:08 am
    Hmmm… So coach wants X & Y done. Gilbert wants to do A & B, but I’m guessing Agent Zero will be the one thats still around…? Sucks to be MAX (contract). Here’s a thought: Houston, no TMac and Yao and they are playing swell. Spurs, lose Manu or Parker (it’s like a rostered day off or something) and still hold down the fort. So who agree’s that if The wiz DIDN’T have Hibachi, their record would be better (maybe 2 games better?)?? Anyone else? What are they 3 - 9? I would realistically say, without Gil, todate they are 5-7.

  • Hoodsnake Posted: Nov.23 at 10:11 am
    Maybe they stil tired from the ‘rivalry’

  • NUPE Posted: Nov.23 at 10:15 am
    It will be interesting to see who gets traded and for whom. The org has to decide who the players are they want to grow with, get rid of the other(s) and show commitment that they want to win. Otherwise they’ll end up with nothing even decent next year when all the free agents leave and all that’s left is who didn’t draw any interest.

  • iLL wiLL Posted: Nov.23 at 10:53 am
    Keep Tuff Juice. That’s all. Oh, and Nick Young too.

  • Sporting-Lisbon-Blazers Posted: Nov.23 at 10:58 am
    zero is a basketball artist but hes a big problem on that team…he is like 55 for 555 in shots for the year, actually Boykins was the key down the stretch against Cleveland…

  • kev Posted: Nov.23 at 10:58 am
    big 3? they dont have a big three. why were the expectations for this team so high? at their best they were first round fodder for the cavs. i like jamison,he is unselfish and brings a lot to a team. butler is ok but was never allstar worthy and gilbert is an over hyped ball hogg who does nothing but throw up bad shots.

  • neaorin Posted: Nov.23 at 11:00 am
    Um, Gil is shooting a whopping 39% on 19 shots a game… exactly what would it take to convince you it’s definitely not the solution?

  • Exile Posted: Nov.23 at 11:06 am
    “Fire in the hole!” (Everybody duck and run)

  • tavoris Posted: Nov.23 at 11:21 am
    The only trade assets the Grizz possess are Butler, Blantche, and Foye. Nobody wants-or can afford-any other player on that roster.

  • Jeronimo Posted: Nov.23 at 11:30 am
    @ Yessee: “Players like Jamison and Arenas are worth alot of great players.” This is sarcasm, right?

  • Allenp Posted: Nov.23 at 11:30 am
    Yeah, Arenas still doesn’t know how to run the point.
    Jennings > Arenas.

  • Allenp Posted: Nov.23 at 11:33 am
    Arenas is Iverson without the success.

  • Orlando Woolridge Posted: Nov.23 at 11:41 am
    First of all, Gil is no DWade. I’m officially sick of this dude and wish he would just go away. I would love to punch him in the face after reading his ridiculous comments, and I have nothing to do with the team. Imagine what his teammates must feel.

  • rikson Posted: Nov.23 at 11:55 am
    Thats what all the INet-hype will bring you -> hes waaayyyy overrated!

  • Allenp Posted: Nov.23 at 12:24 pm
    Damn, y’all are turning Gil with the quickness. Since I was never on the bandwagon, my cutting remarks are no big deal, but some of y’all used to be Arenas fans. No loyalty these days.

  • tavoris Posted: Nov.23 at 12:45 pm
    I think people should be realistic with Gil’s comeback..he’s basically missed two full years of playing. It’s gonna take a while to get his rhythm back.

  • riggs Posted: Nov.23 at 12:47 pm
    i remember the video of the game he played before the season started, man do yall flip flop like crazy.

  • Orlando Woolridge Posted: Nov.23 at 12:55 pm
    As Allenp said, I was never on that bandwagon. Tavoris, his stupidity has nothing to do with his injury or lack of playing time. He calls out his teammates when he is in fact the one who taking too many ill advised shots and killing the team chemistry (if they had any).

  • Cizzo Posted: Nov.23 at 1:10 pm
    I’s over for he Wizard’s of Washington!!!

  • john Posted: Nov.23 at 1:24 pm
    arenas is so overated its ridiculus he is just a good for nothing ballhog

  • Exile Posted: Nov.23 at 1:31 pm
    @ Orlando, Gil has no idea what he’s thinking. He’s also the one that blamed the Wizards for not stopping him from rushing back from his firs tinjury.

  • tavoris Posted: Nov.23 at 1:38 pm
    that last comment was me

  • rog123 Posted: Nov.23 at 2:01 pm
    Trade mike miller and oberto! They are the only wizards who don’t deserve to be on a losing squad.

  • Lebron >Kobe Posted: Nov.23 at 2:08 pm
    @MO Charlo starbury doesnt anna play

  • Exile Posted: Nov.23 at 2:19 pm
    @Tavoris. I would be annoyed to see someone post under my name… but I agree completely.

  • Tzvi Twersky Posted: Nov.23 at 2:32 pm
    Via Michael Lee: Gilbert Arenas on team dissension: “For the most part, we all get a long. There are, what, 15 players on the team? 14 do.”

  • Z Posted: Nov.23 at 3:26 pm
    Gil is an incredibly gifted scorer and a killer at the end of games (when healthy). What he isn’t and probably will never be is a leader. Ever.

  • Orlando Woolridge Posted: Nov.23 at 4:42 pm
    Along with being a gifted scorer, Gilbert also excels at being an a-hole.

  • rav Posted: Nov.23 at 4:43 pm
    arenas is this generation’s steve francis

  • Joe King Posted: Nov.23 at 5:29 pm
    umm whoever said they would be better off without gil..
    were you following last season??

  • Tommy Patron Posted: Nov.23 at 5:52 pm
    Arenas is also AI without the durability.

  • Orlando Woolridge Posted: Nov.23 at 5:54 pm
    I didn’t say that, but are they doing any better this year?

  • JE Posted: Nov.23 at 6:01 pm
    Firing Eddie Jordan was stupid.

  • Bruno Posted: Nov.23 at 6:31 pm
    I still believe in Gilbert, Antawn & Caron

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Nov.23 at 6:45 pm
    Arenas is a great player. Thank you for pointing out the obvious, Allenp, that Arenas is not Allen Iverson. I think we figured that out a while a go, when Iverson was (and still is) considered one of the greatest players EVER. But thanks.
    Arenas is not the problem on the Wizards–aside from his big@ss contract. He is a gifted scorer and a great passer too. He’s just gotten back from injury, and he’s looked pretty good so far–not 100%, but getting there. It also doesn’t help that Antawn Jamison was out for the first month of the season.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Nov.23 at 6:46 pm
    Also, Antawn Jamison > Caron Butler.
    Antawn Jamison is one of the most underrated players, maybe in the history of the NBA.

  • GoNets Posted: Nov.23 at 11:13 pm
    The white dude on ESPN, I don’t know his name but he was a definitely a Arenas fan who was doin all the team season previews jinxed it. He was like the Wiz and Raps are goin to kill it this season and now they are both killin themselves hahah

  • J Posted: Nov.23 at 11:35 pm
    jamison coming from an injury and still balling great.. and i don’t hear any complain from him despite all the Wiz issues. truly a great player. free antawn.

  • Laumol Posted: Nov.24 at 2:55 am
    Yeah. Let’s get a franchise in Vegas featuring Iverson, Arenas, Starbury, Steve Francis and T-Mac. It sounds so crazy it might actually work.

  • BobbyFree Posted: Nov.24 at 5:14 am
    So I’m guessing all those analysts saying the Clips and the Wiz would be the two breakout squads this year are feeling really worth their paychecks….it’s okay, you’re still more legit than Bill Simmons

  • 360vue Posted: Nov.24 at 8:37 am
    @JE yes they should never of got rid of Eddie Jordan, he’s plagued us so far. Don’t even think he can coach D and he sure as hell don’t know to make a team run.
    I second Teddy-the-Bear. I like Caron, probably more than Antawn, but Jamison is undeniably a better player. Probably the most underrated PF in NBA history, thats hyperbole before people start tracing their memories to think of other disregarded PFs so dont waste your time

  • tavoris Posted: Nov.24 at 9:36 am
    360vue, they can dig all they want…that is probably an accurate assessment of Jamison. How many other players have been 20-10 for a decade without ANY recognition?

  • rog123 Posted: Nov.24 at 11:39 am
    If duncan didn’t win any rings, not many people woukd know who he is. Hell, he has rings and many people still don’t thinl he is an effective player because he doesn’t always dunk

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