Wizards players and coaches arrived home from Detroit around 2 on Thursday morning, hoping to get a little rest before the playoff chaos began.
Gilbert Arenas had other ideas.
While others slept, he showed up at Verizon Center to shoot around and play games.
At 7:30 a.m., he finally went to sleep – in the players’ lounge.
“It’s playoff time,” Arenas said. “I have to get ready. … This is where you make your name.”
Fifth-seeded Washington (42-40) plays at fourth-seeded Cleveland (50-32) in a first round Eastern Conference matchup Saturday. The Wizards took three of four from the Cavs during the regular season, leaving many to predict a first-round upset. Cleveland is in the postseason for the first time since 1998.
“We know they’re hearing people say it’s a tough matchup for them,” Wizards forward Antawn Jamison said. “They’ll want to prove people wrong.”
Among those with something to prove: ex-Wizard guard Larry Hughes, still bothered by a finger injury that kept him out of most of the season after signing a free-agent deal with Cavs. He and Arenas remain good friends and Arenas planned on calling him last night. Arenas hinted that Hughes regretted his decision to leave Washington, saying, “I know he misses it here.”
Hughes likely will defend Arenas.
“He really thinks he can stop me,” Arenas said, smiling. “We talked trash [in Washington’s win Sunday] and I’m sure that will continue.”
Game Two will be in Cleveland on Tuesday.
When asked about the importance of avoiding an 0-2 start, Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said, “We don’t expect to go down 0-2 so I don’t even think about that.”
Wizards vs. Cavaliers
First Round, best-of-seven
Game 1: at Cleveland
Saturday, 3 p.m., ABC
Game 2: at Cleveland
Tuesday, 7 p.m., CSN/TNT
Game 3: at Washington
Friday, 8 p.m., CSN/ESPN
Game 4: at Washington
Sunday, 7:30 p.m., CSN/TNT
Game 5*: at Cleveland
Wednesday, TBD
Game 6*: at Washington
Friday, TBD
Game 7*: at Cleveland
Sunday, TBD
* if necessary
