Wizards huh?

[KloD]

Thought he was gong to the Clippers?

Gilbert Arenas

 

[hcsilla]

Yes, that's a smaller surprise for me.

 

[elindholm]

I hadn't noticed this before, but Arenas's numbers from last season are almost identical to those of Steve Francis. Francis has a few more points -- mainly due to playing more minutes -- and a few more rebounds, but other than that, almost every stat is a very close match. The shooting percentages, including at the line, are eerily similar.

Minutes: Francis 41.0, Arenas 35.0
Points: Francis 21.0, Arenas 18.3
FG%: Francis .435, Arenas .431
3FG%: Francis .354, Arenas .348
FT%: Francis .800, Arenas .791
Assists: Francis 6.2, Arenas 6.3
Turnovers: Francis 3.7, Arenas 3.5
Rebounds: Francis 6.2, Arenas 4.7
Steals: Francis 1.7, Arenas 1.5
Fouls: Francis 3.1, Arenas 3.2
Blocks (for the sake of completeness): Francis 0.5, Arenas 0.2

 

[S_Nash]

I would say that Arenas is the more consistant player though. Francis is likely to explode for 40 one night, then go single figures the next.

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by elindholm
I hadn't noticed this before, but Arenas's numbers from last season are almost identical to those of Steve Francis. Francis has a few more points -- mainly due to playing more minutes -- and a few more rebounds, but other than that, almost every stat is a very close match. The shooting percentages, including at the line, are eerily similar.

I don't see Francis a lot, my recollection is he's a better defender than Arenas who has proven to be a real enigma on defense. he gets the steals but his man scores way too easily he has a nasty habit of laying back and giving up 3's. When he replaced Hughes last year the defensive FG% for the Warriors went up, 3P% up, and of course scoring defense. Part of that was they ran more, part of that was he simply gets lazy on defense, no excuse he's too good an athlete.

As a Warrior fan I'll miss Arenas, but if we really sign Claxton and retain Boykins I won't be devastated. I would imagine now they'll consider dealing Richardson for a PG as well.

Arenas is very talented but he's got major holes, defense, shoots too much, over dribbles, and his off court pouting really became a nuisance. Organizing the sitout of practice with J Rich to protest Boykins playing in the 4th quarters too much(they claimed they were sick). The game against the Knicks where he refused to shoot for 3 1/2 quarters because some of his teammates had dared to suggest he shot too much.

Gil has great talent and I wish him well, but he really needs to grow up and become a mature person, until he does I suspect the Wizards are going to regret giving him this much money this soon. THe gun charge is not indicative of his character, I don't think he's a bad kid at all, I just think he's immature, has a large chip on his shoulder, and until he lets it go, he's going to continue to be a distraction on a team.

The Wizards players were all talking about the need for a pure distribute the ball PG, they got a great player but not a distributor, I predict MAJOR problems next year with players not being happy with ball distribution.

IF the Warriors don't get Claxton/Boykins and or a trade this will be a huge blow. Right now it reminds me of the year Tim Hardaway blew out his ACL and we all panicked, they signed Avery Johnson who distributed the ball much better than Timmy(great player but he again shot too much and over dribbled) and the Warriors were a BETTER team with Johnson. IF Claxton is signed and can stay healthy, with Boykins off the bench, it could work out ok. Both are small and could have defensive problems, but again the team already had major defensive problems with arenas who just wasn't close to the defender he should be.

Good luck to Gil hopefully he'll grow up quickly and put the negative stuff behind him, he's certainly made a nice niche for himself in a short time, he just needs to mature.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by S_Marbury
I would say that Arenas is the more consistant player though. Francis is likely to explode for 40 one night, then go single figures the next.

How can you say after a single year that Arenas is more consistent? I don't get it. Give him another year of similar statistics, and THEN say he's more consistent, but right now, there's no basis for that.

 

[arthurracoon]

I'd rather go to the Clips than the Wizards.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by arthurracoon
I'd rather go to the Clips than the Wizards.

I wouldn't. Even though the Wizards aren't great, the Clips track record speaks for itself....the worst franchise in pro sports.

 

[SweetD]

I would like to see Gilbert in Washington, but I would hope he makes the team change their name back to the Bullets. Retro BABY!

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by Krangthebrain
I wouldn't. Even though the Wizards aren't great, the Clips track record speaks for itself....the worst franchise in pro sports.

What makes no sense is Arenas openly said he had little interest in cold weather and wanted to stay on the West Coast or at least warmer weather(Miami). So the bigger offer is from the Wiz and off he goes.

I have no problem with taking the money, just be honest about what your real criteria was, cash.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by Russ Smith
What makes no sense is Arenas openly said he had little interest in cold weather and wanted to stay on the West Coast or at least warmer weather(Miami). So the bigger offer is from the Wiz and off he goes.

I have no problem with taking the money, just be honest about what your real criteria was, cash.

Same thing that Ricky Watters said when he spurned the Cards for Seattle.

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by Krangthebrain
Same thing that Ricky Watters said when he spurned the Cards for Seattle.

I like Gil but what's become very apparent today is most of his teammates did NOT like him. Nobody is out there saying what a loss this is. IN March or April, Boykins said he figured Arenas would leave for Denver or "wherever the money was". At the time I figured it was a bad blood thing since Gil had complained about Boykins taking away playing time, now I think he just knew what he was saying.

Even his best friend on the team, Richardson, has said nada to the media today about Gilbert signing the offer sheet.

I wish him luck but I think this could well be one of those situations where if they replace him correctly, they'll be just fine without him.

I'm not a huge Richardson fan this would be a perfect situation to move him too if they get the right offer. I wanted Zach Randolph over Richardson in the draft 2 years ago and I'd make that deal straight up now if Portland would consider it.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by Russ Smith


I'm not a huge Richardson fan this would be a perfect situation to move him too if they get the right offer. I wanted Zach Randolph over Richardson in the draft 2 years ago and I'd make that deal straight up now if Portland would consider it.

I'd make that trade in a heart beat, though I don't know if Portland would.

Randolph will be a pretty good player in a year or two, though I doubt he will ever be as good as Stoudemire will.

 

[fordronken]

I think a large factor in Gilbert's decision had to do with Eddie Jordan and with the point guard competition in the east. There is probably a chance of him being an all-star in a couple years over there, and not much of one in the west.

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by fordronken
I think a large factor in Gilbert's decision had to do with Eddie Jordan and with the point guard competition in the east. There is probably a chance of him being an all-star in a couple years over there, and not much of one in the west.

Unless the wizards to a complete 180 I doubt it. His statistics last year were really not any better than Jason Terry's, and no one even mentioned Terry's name for the All-Star game.

Joe Mama

 

[S_Nash]

Originally posted by Chaplin
How can you say after a single year that Arenas is more consistent? I don't get it. Give him another year of similar statistics, and THEN say he's more consistent, but right now, there's no basis for that.

I'm saying he's more consistant on a game-to-game ratio. I think 82 games is a good enough time to make a judgement on whether or not someone is consistant or inconsistant