The Washington Wizards have adjusted to life without high-scoring point guard Gilbert Arenas. Tonight at Verizon Center, they face a team that is undergoing the same transformation, and thriving.
After the loss of Stephon Marbury (ankle), the New York Knicks (12-26) have won three straight games for the first time in more than a year. The difference, according to the Knicks, is ball movement.
“Anytime you have 26 assists and nine turnovers, you are starting to believe in your teammates,” said coach Isaiah Thomas after a win over the Wizards in New York on Tuesday. “I think our players are starting to trust each other and believe in their teammates.”
Against the Wizards, guard Jamal Crawford hit 6 of 7 shots from 3-point range, scoring 29 points. The next night, Crawford hit six more treys on his way to a season-high 35 points in a 111-105 win over New Jersey.
“We don’t care who is shooting,” said Crawford. “We just have to continue to do what we have been doing — ball movement, player movement, and playing together.”
The Wizards have discovered the same about their offense without Arenas. But their ball-movement catalyst, point guard Antonio Daniels, is questionable tonight after sitting out Tuesday with a sore knee. It’s the same knee that he sprained in December and knocked him out of seven games.
Daniels dressed for practice Thursday, but didn’t participate.
“A.D. took a precautionary practice off,” said Wizards coach Eddie Jordan. “We think he’ll be ready. It’s just sore.”
Roger Mason, who had 20 points as Daniels’ replacement Tuesday, was listed as the Wizards’ probable starter for tonight. He shares ball-handling duties with DeShawn Stephenson and Nick Young. One of their objectives tonight will be to slow down Crawford.
“He’s an ex-teammate of mine [at Chicago],” said Mason. “Obviously I know what he can do. He had a great night and is having a great year. We definitely need to stop him.”
