Wizards Anticipate A Lift From Arenas

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Wizards Anticipate A Lift From Arenas
Injured Guard Should Play Tonight
By Steve Wyche
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 30, 2003; Page D05


Washington Wizards leading scorer Gilbert Arenas practiced yesterday for the first time after aggravating the strained abdominal muscles that forced him to miss 14 games -- of which 11 were losses -- and is likely to start tonight against the Atlanta Hawks at MCI Center.



His expected return couldn't come at a better time for Washington, as frustrations among the Wizards (8-20) are at a season high. Coach Eddie Jordan, beginning with postgame remarks following Washington's 100-86 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, has taken a firmer stance with his young team to establish a more professional approach and to prevent simmering angst from boiling over.

"I can't keep sitting here and watching," Arenas said. "We're trying to make the playoffs and the longer I sit and the longer we lose, I'm getting heartbroken. If I've got to come out and play, I'm going to do it. I've been playing hurt my whole life. . . .

"[But] I don't want it to be something that will kill me a month from now. I don't want to be out sitting, watching the game when it's coming down the playoff stretch and we need games and I'm sitting there watching the games. I don't want that to happen."

Arenas (20 points per game) said he will make his decision based on how he feels this morning, but all indications are that he is ready to rejoin the team that has won just three games without him.

"Certainly he's going to help us, no doubt about it," Jordan said. "We just don't want other guys [to keep thinking] because we're going to be home, that we'll win . . . that when Gilbert comes back we'll win. We still want guys to work hard and do the right things on the floor at a maximum energy level."

The Wizards have lost four straight games and 12 of their last 14. After the loss to Chicago, players accused each other of selfishness and apathy while Jordan said his coaching decisions led to an underachieving performance. He was tough on players at practice yesterday, according to players, and said afterward that only those who play and practice hard will see action and that any outwardly negative remarks or behavior would result in "severe consequences." He did not specify what the punishments could be but fines and benchings are the typical means of discipline in the NBA.

"If there's one sign of anyone, of any individual being negative there's going to be some severe consequences," Jordan said. "That's sort of a little bit of a formula of how to change a losing situation, but no finger pointing or the consequences will be very severe, very severe. Stay positive, work hard, stay positive, work hard. That should be our slogan every day we come into work. Don't look at the record so much and look at our progress. Not to underachieve, not to take a step backward."

When Arenas returns, the scoring load on shooting guard Larry Hughes should lessen. In the three games Washington has won without Arenas, Hughes has led the team in scoring, averaging 32 points, including a season-high 38 against Utah.

Hughes, after scoring 22 points in the Wizards' recent loss to the Bulls, called out teammates, claiming they need to hurt more after a loss and be more concerned about winning. Forward Kwame Brown said some players are simply trying to fatten their statistics.

Jordan viewed the remarks as players holding teammates accountable, something missing because of the lack of player leadership. Injured swingman Jerry Stackhouse was supposed to fill that role, but he's been on the injured list all season following preseason right knee surgery. His return remains unclear but a team official said Stackhouse could be back by the end of January.

"That's a good thing when you've got players arguing, fighting," said Arenas, who was not with the team in Chicago. "That means they still care and they're not just going out there losing every game and saying, 'Let's get on the bus, get on the plane and let's go home.'

"If they're fighting, grunting and still getting mad that means they still want it."