The Wizards are 0-3, have the worst shooting percentage in the NBA, and Gilbert Arenas sat out Monday’s practice to rest his surgically repaired knee. Is the sky falling?
Yesterday at Verizon Center, forward Antawn Jamison didn’t sound particularly concerned as he provided a review of the new Denzel Washington film, “American Gangster.”
“That was the best movie I’ve seen in 10 years,” said Jamison. “I missed some of the [Sunday] football games. But any time you can watch Denzel in a movie, with your popcorn, and an Icee, it took my mind off the 0-3 start.”
After shooting a combined 35.4 percent in losses to Indiana, Boston, and Saturday at home to Orlando, the Wizards have five days off to regain their edge before Thursday’s game at New Jersey (2-1).
“We know we haven’t played up to expectations. It’s not time to press the panic button,” said Jamison. “We’ve just shot poorly offensively. We’re doing great things, or, pretty good things defensively. If we play our normal offensive game, we’ll be fine.”
With Arenas out, along with forward Oleksiy Pecherov (sprained ankle), the Wizards practiced with only 10 players Monday, putting a crimp in coach Eddie Jordan’s plan to get back to basics.
“I said I’d like to get back to a training-camp mode. But training camp, you’ve got like 19 guys,” said Jordan. “You have to be creative with the things you want to work on with them.”
Curing an ailing offense without your point guard is also a challenge. Jordan didn’t sound alarmed by Arenas’ inactivity Monday. He said he expects the All-Star back on the floor today.
“It’s strange to have three games in four nights, then [five] days off,” said Jordan. “A day off yesterday and one today will be good for him.”
Wizards at Nets
WHEN » Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE » Izod Center
TV » CSN
RADIO » 980 AM
WELL-CENTERED
» Wizards center Brendan Haywood ranks first in the NBA in offensive rebounds with 8.3 per game. He is tied for fifth in the league overall with 13.7 per game.
» Haywood (52.0 percent) and Caron Butler (45.1 percent) are the only Wizards shooting better than 39 percent from the floor.
» Starters Gilbert Arenas (33.3 percent), Antawn Jamison (29.5 percent) and DeShawn Stevenson (26.3) reflect the Wizards’ struggles from the field.
