SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2010
KLMNO PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL Wizards’ busy day ends with a narrow loss to the Heat
After Arenas trade, Washington stays close but loses 7th straight
BY GENEWANG Following a chaotic afternoon
that included the prospect of an appearance by President Obama and the reality that Gilbert Are- nas was no longer part of the team, the Washington Wizards still had a game to play. The opponent? None other than the Miami Heat, which was making its first visit to the nation’s capital since LeBron James’s polarizing decision to take his act to South Florida. Despite the distractions and
beingwithoutailing JohnWall for a second straight game, the Wiz- ards almost pulled off the un- thinkable, pushing Miami to the brink but unraveling in the clos- ing seconds in an excruciating 95-94 loss before a sellout crowd of 22,078 that ultimately didn’t include the president, whose plans to attend changed. Boy did he miss a good one. Washington had a chance to
win when point guard Kirk Hin- rich got the ball with 7.9 seconds to play after DwyaneWade made a pair of foul shots for the Heat, which won its 12th in a row to match the longest active streak in the league. Playing all but six seconds of the entire game, Hin- rich dribbled almost the length of the court and drove into the lane, where he appeared to draw con- tact—“I got fouled,” he said later- -from Chris Bosh and James. No whistle, game over. “We did everything wrong to
lose the game,” Wizards Coach Flip Saunders said, “and they ev- erything right.” The Wizards were in position
to stage an improbable victory thanks largely to a team-high 30 points from Nick Young, who was elevated to starting shooting guard with Arenas gone to Orlan- do in exchange for Rashard Lew-
is.ForwardAndray Blatcheadded 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Hinrich had 13 points and 12 assists, although he missed 12 of
16 shots. Washington’s inspired perfor-
mance especially defensively was not enough to overcome a game- high 32 points by James, who was 11 of 12 from the foul line, and 20 points each by Wade and Bosh. They were the only players on Miami to reach double figures. “We played our [butts] off,” Saunders said. “We played hard. I mean that’s how we have to play. We played hard.We executed.We got shots that we wanted.” Washington (6-19), which ex-
tended its season-high losing streak to seven, had led for just about all of the fourth quarter after it scored six straight points in opening minutes of the period for an 80-72 advantage. The Heat (21-8) never let it get more un- manageable, however, and closed to 91-89 on a three-point from Bosh with 28 seconds to play. Josh Howard, playing his first
game for the Wizards since ACL surgery in February, made 1 of 2 foul shots, got the rebound off his missed free throw and then quickly went back to the line after getting fouled.He againmade1 of 2, this time for a 93-89 lead with 18 seconds to play, but Blatche fouled Bosh on a three-point at- tempt. Bosh made 2 of 3, and on theensuinginboundspass,Young was unable to control the ball, turned it over and fouled James Jones,whomadebothfreethrows to tie with 13 seconds remaining. Hinrichwasfouledimmediate-
ly thereafter and made 1 of 2 with 12 seconds to play before Wade drove into the lane, where he drew contact from Blatche and went to the line forwhat would be the decisive points. “We made a lot of mistakes
downthe stretch,”Hinrich said. “I mean we were up [four] with 18 seconds. We foul a three-point shooter, turn it over trying to get it inbounds. Miss some free throws. I mean, it’s bad stuff.”
wangg@washpost.com
MIKE WISE
When a promising star’s career turns south, everyone loses
wise from D1
Three here—Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison— was reduced to the Suspended and Troubled One. Arenas ended up in a halfway house in Montgomery County for a month for violatingD.C. gun laws, his image was taken off the Verizon Center facade and all that he had done to bring magic and suspense in the Wizards’ post-Michael Jordan era was forgotten. Arenas made the shot that
sunk Chicago in 2005, which helped advance the Wizards to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time in two decades, and he helped establish the playground scrap with Cleveland each year. Yes, the Wizards were knocked out each time, but they had not gone to the playoffs four years in a row since the 1980s. Credit Grunfeld with moving
a contract many observers in the NBA thought was near- impossible. Rashard Lewis was an all-star two years ago, but he was brought toWashington more as a rent-a-scorer and for cap room in 2012. With this move, Grunfeld gets a save with a little more than one year remaining on his contract. Gilbert also gained a small measure of redemption for returning this season, blending in with his teammates and ceding the star role and franchise player title toNo. 1 draft pick JohnWall. Occasionally there were flashes of the Gil of old, a blinding stutter-step, or a stop and pop three-pointer that just demoralized the opposing defense. But on other nights, there was no more of the hellion who went to the basket without
fear.Maybe it was because he wasn’t getting calls like he used to, maybe it was because he was trying to play in his surgically repaired body. Either way, one of the top 10 players in the NBA between 2005 and January 2007 had become a serviceable point guard when the newstar was hurt and a spot-up shooter whenWall was healthy. I’ve said thismany times: Worse thanmaking an
“We played hard.We executed.” —Wizards Coach Flip Saunders
EZ SU
D9
JONATHAN NEWTON/ WASHINGTON POST
Wizards forward Andray Blatche, top, foulsHeat guard Dwyane Wade as he drives to the basket.He made both free throws to clinch the 95-94 win. The Washington bench could only look on in the closing seconds, along with frustrated Coach Flip Saunders.
Arenas era in Washington ends arenas from D1
Grunfeld said during a news con- ference before the team’s 95-94 loss totheMiamiHeat. “It’safresh start for us and a fresh start for Gilbert.” Arenas had long been consid-
ereduntradeablewithhisbaggage and a contract worth around $62 million over the next three sea- sons after this one. But his close ties withMagic GeneralManager Otis Smith—who has served as a mentor for Arenas since the two were together in Golden State — helped push the deal along. Talks between both sides intensified in recent days, with Arenas telling those close to himthat something could soon happen. He told some fans during a loss to theLosAnge- les Lakers at Verizon Center on Tuesday that it was his last game in aWizards uniform.He actually had just onemore. After the Wizards lost to the
TONI L. SANDYS/THE WASHINGTON POST
Guard Gilbert Arenas rekindled interest in the Wizards after Michael Jordan left town, but ultimately Arenas also departs without having achieved what many expected he could.
embarrassing perp walk at D.C. Superior Court or actually being booked into the Montgomery County Pre- Release Center, Arenas had to face the indignity of realizing what he had done to the Wizards. Every night he walked on that floor, he knew he had no support tomake basketballmatter in Washington inMay or June. Because there is no talent beyondWall, Kirk Hinrich, an injured JoshHoward and a bunch of guys whomay ormay not become bona fide role players on a playoff team. There are better summer runs at Pauley Pavilion than there are at Verizon Center onmost nights. Ted Leonsis, who took over
the franchise after the death of Abe Pollin, apologized the other day on his blog for someone in the team’s offices promoting an opponent; it’s the knock everyone used to put on former president Susan O’Malley. But why should anyone have
a problem with telling greater Washington that Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are coming to your city? There was little other reason to watch. That’s the real lament when I
think of Arenas and what he meant here. The Wizards had a
star.He wore number 0 and he hit shots at the buzzer and he took off his jersey each night at home and threwit into the stands, as if he had just finished an encore with some uber- popular rock band. Gilbert Arenas had the District’s long- suffering pro basketball fans cradled in his hands. They loved him, and he loved them back. Lost in all the “Gilbert is
now the worst person in the history of the universe” madness last season after the gun incident, was the story of the kid who lost his parents in the fire, whom Gilbert befriended and supported financially and emotionally for many years. Lost was the way in which he reached out to his fans in an authentic way that never came across as a pre- arranged autograph signing or a league-mandated public relations event. He was an original, and he
made us get up out of our seats, and though it never matured into much more than being outplayed by LeBron each spring, for a moment we all thought we had something special and lasting. Gilbert Arenas was special, all right; he just didn’t last.
wisem@washpost.com
NewJerseyNetsonThursday,Are- nas expressed his frustrations about being one of the few veter- ans onaninexperienced team. “This is something newforme.
It’s hard, because you’re in a re- building situation. I feel like I’m the odd man out here,” Arenas said. “Just cause I’m older. When you look and see a team, 19 [years old],20,20,20,
20.Andyoulookat yourself, about hit 29. You look at the long picture and you’re not part of this.” The timing of the trade was
somewhat surprising since it comesnearlytwoweeksafterWiz- ardsownerTedLeonsis shotdown a trade rumor involving Arenas, and about a month after Leonsis said Arenas “isn’t going any- where.” But Grunfeld said on Sat- urday, “Ted was 100 percent on board with this, this goes in line withwhathewants to do.” Signing Arenas in 2003 to a
six-year,$65milliondealwill like- ly serve as the bestmoveGrunfeld made in his time in Washington. Arenas made three all-star teams under that deal and led the Wiz- ards to their only second-round playoff appearance since 1982. But giving him a six-year, $111
million dealwill likely go down as Grunfeld’sworst, sinceArenashas been limited to just 68 games since he signed in the summer of 2008. Asked if he would give Are- nas that second contract again, Grunfeld said: “Well, if you had a crystal ball and knew somebody would get hurt, you’d say, ‘No. We’re not going to do that.’ But at the timewe signedGilbert,hewas one of the top 10 players in the
PHOTOS BY
COLIN E BRALEY/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rashard Lewis (9) is having one of the worst statistical seasons of his career, averaging just 12.2 points and 4.2 rebounds a game.
game. Looking back on it, we did what we thought at the time was best for the organization. You can’t foresee what’s going to hap- pen in the future as far as injuries are concerned.” For theWizards, themove was
motivated more by finances than basketball, since Lewis, a two- time all-star, is owed $43 million in the next two seasons after this one, but he is guaranteed about $10 million (possibly $13 million with performance-based incen- tives) inthe final season. The trade also signaled that the
teamcan truly begin its rebuilding process around No. 1 overall pick JohnWall. “There’
snoquestion.No oneisevergoingtoaskwhoseteam it is,”CoachFlipSaunders said. “It’s his team, and so that comeswith a
responsibility.The critics or people who thought that maybe Gilbert would hinder his development, that’s not ever going to be brought up anymore. Hopefully what will happen, too, ishewon’teverhaveto defer toGilbert,anditwill facilitate his learningprocess.” When Arenas found out about
the trade, he was at the home of teammateNickYoung,whoisnow one of only threeWizards players —along with Andray Blatche and JaValeMcGee—who were on the team’s roster at this time last year. Young said he was taking a nap whenArenasknockedonhisdoor. Arenas, whomaintains an offsea- son home in Orlando, told Young, “I’mgone.” “I thought he was going to the
store or something,” Young said with a laugh. “Hewas about to get a flight to Orlando. I thought he was playing around. He was all dressed up, bagswas packed.” The trade was completed near- ly a year after Arenas brought
guns to the locker room in a dis- pute with former teammate Java- ris Crittenton. Arenas was forced to serve a 50-game suspension and the team removed his image fromthearenaandtheteam’sWeb site. Grunfeld also expedited the rebuilding process by trading away veterans Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood andDeShawnStevenson. “It never came together,” Grun-
feld said. “The decisionwasmade to rebuild.” The team then got lucky and
landed Wall with the top choice. Therewas some concernoverhow Wall and Arenaswouldmesh, but injuries to both players — espe- cially Wall, who has missed 10 of thefirst25games—haveprohibit- ed them from spending much time onthe floor together. “I thought it could have
worked. I think more than any- thing else, where we look, where we’re at not just with John but withour team, thedevelopmentof our youngplayers,”Saunders said. “To bewherewe reallywant to be and make a run and make a long run,we’reacoupleyearsaway,and that’s going to put Gilbert at the end. If you’re going to rebuild, thenyouneed to rebuild.” Youngsaidhethought themove
would help Arenas, who had struggledwithhis rolethis season, with the team shifting him to shooting guard and shifting focus toWall. “He’s a good dude, a great player
and for everything that happened here, it was kind of tough for him, madeithardonhim,”Youngsaid.“It came with a lot of difficulty. To see himgo home, get a fresh start and be on awinning team, that’s some- thingthatwillbegoodforhim.”
leem@washpost.com
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