By the time he arrived at his locker Tuesday night, Gilbert Arenas’ mood had shifted. He cracked a couple jokes, calmly answered questions and lingered long after the game had ended.
Yes, Phoenix had just whipped he and his teammates by 22. But Arenas and the Wizards knew this: a bigger game awaited them; and one game in an 82-game season does not provide definition. And it’s why no one else in the locker room wore a shell-shocked look.
“The beautiful thing about the NBA is that there are so many games,” Wizards forward Caron Butler said. “There’s a chance to redeem yourself fast.”
Besides, tonight’s game against Detroit is arguably more important than the one against Phoenix. Tonight is a chance to play a top team in the Eastern Conference, a former NBA champion and a squad the Wizards must contend with for playoff seeding.
The Wizards (24-17) trail the Pistons (24-16) by a half-game for the conference lead. They’ve already lost twice to Detroit and, with two games against the Pistons remaining, the Wizards must win both or lose a valuable tiebreaker.
They also play in Washington on Tuesday.
“They’re still the favorite out of the Eastern Conference,” Wizards forward Antawn Jamison said. “To take that next step, that’s the team you have to go through.”
The Wizards went 3-0 against Detroit last season. But the first-round playoff loss to Cleveland prevented a postseason matchup.
The Pistons are slightly different than when Washington last faced them in November. They’ve added former Wizard Chris Webber, who is averaging 12 points and seven rebounds in four games with Detroit since being acquired from Philadelphia.
“It’s scary for the rest of us,” Jamison said. “It’s revived him; you’ll start to see the Webber of old.”
Detroit has won three straight after losing eight of 11 (with point guard Chauncey Billups missing eight of those games).
They allow more points than last season (93.8 points compared to 90.2), but are defending shots a lot better (teams are shooting 44.1 percent compared to 45.2 last year).
“I always look at them as a champion,” Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said. “You’ve got to get ready to play. We can’t have the same performance [as Tuesday].”
WASHINGTON WIZARDS (24-17)AT DETROIT PISTONS (24-16)
» When: Tonight, 8
» Where: Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, MI
» TV: ESPN, CSN
» Radio: WTEM—980 AM
Arenas voted All-Star starter
Gilbert Arenas never thought the fans would vote him into the NBA All-Star Game.
He was wrong.
Arenas became only the sixth Washington player since 1976 to be voted as a starter and the first since Michael Jordan in 2002. Arenas edged New Jersey’s Vince Carter by approximately 3,000 votes.
“It is unbelievable feeling,” said Arenas, now a three-time All Star. “Two years ago I was voting myself in for the game, now fans are voting me in and I’m going to do what they are looking for.”
The game is Feb. 18th in Las Vegas.
Arenas is averaging 29.7 points per game, second best in the league, and 6.2 assists.
“This is very exciting for Gilbert and the Wizards,” said Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan in a statement. “Gilbert’s outstanding play has led us to a strong first half.”
Teammates Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison have a chance to be named as reserves when the rest of the team is announced next month.
“I told Antawn and Caron to not worry about their vacation because as long as we are winning, they are going to make the All-Star game,” Arenas said.
— John Keim
