The Wizards’ Gilbert Arenas Carries Fire

Washington improved to 26-13 on the season, good for a tie atop the Southeastern Division of the NBA after its 114-93 defeat of the Orlando Magic last night. Consider this: according to Washington Post.com’s “Wizards Report“, the Magic have a total team output of 160 three-pointers on the season. Arenas, or “Hibachi” as he is renowned for shouting after shots to embody that he is on fire, leads the NBA with 121 treys…by himself.

When did Arenas come to the forefront of the Wizards? Last year he had a tumultuous year in which he questioned play calls made by referees, rather than focus on his game plan (in spite of this, he still averaged 29.3 points a game). Let’s take a look:

Ever since coming to Washington from Golden State in ’03, the Man Who Wears Number Zero has done nothing but improve steadily. His PPG averages: ’03-’04: 19.6; ’04-’05: 25.5; ’05-’06: 29.3, and currently he’s averaging 29.9 a game, second to only Denver Nugget Carmelo Anthony who leads the league with a 31.6 average. Arenas’ three-point shooting percentage has never gone below 36%–that’s a guaranteed 3 or 4 baskets out of 10 from downtown. While the NBA’s leading long-range shooter is Miami’s Jason Kapono, currently holding a strapping 54%, (57-of-106) Arenas has 121(out of 304 attempts) dial-ins to his record. He’s also in the top 20 for assists per game at 6.2—a category that Phoenix’s Steve Nash leads at 11.5.

This year arguably is the best out of Zero’s five-year career in the NBA. He’s ranked in the top 30 for three-points, top 20 for assists, and top 5 for overall scoring league-wide.

For the Wizards team statistics, the 25-year-old leads in scoring; his mate Caron Butler is the next closest at 20.9 PPG. He also leads the long-range shooting charge, at almost 40% (39.8) and shoots 84% from the free throw line (Butler leads at 87%). The Wizards have scored 100+ points in 25 of their 39 games, and Zero has put on several 50-point performances, including 60 against the Los Angeles Lakers. Out of those same 25 games, the Wiz have a 21-4 record. Overall, they have had a 5-8 November, 12-3 December, and a currently 6-3 January.

So, is Agent Zero also the Agent of Change? Yes, with factors. While he may be at the forefront, he has a remarkable supporting cast, notably Butler and Antawn Jamison. Big men Etan Thomas and Brendan Haywood also have contributed, as have the men off the bench, especially in the win over the Magic. The reserves combined for 22 points (the wining margin was 21 points) that went towards putting the game away.

He’s not a ball hog, either (his 6.2 assists per game leads the team). What he is doing for the once-erstwhile Wizards is revamping their image, and contributing to turning Washington into a playoff team. They’ve made the playoffs the past two seasons, and this writer sees no reason why they should not do so this year, provided they continue their winter wonderland successes.

Gil’s patience has started to show—he has been dubbed by Sports Illustrated.com’s Chris Mannix as the go-to clutch shooter, he doesn’t force opportunities any more. As a player, Arenas used to let the pressure of the situation build on him, trying to shoulder the expectations of the team on himself, and he has started to let the pressure instead create opportunities for him. As Mannix points out, Zero has had the ball and made 11 buckets in the final seconds of a quarter. This is not a player any team shouldn’t post defense on in crucial moments, because Arenas has shown he WILL follow through.

Gilbert Arenas is bringing the Washington, D.C. community together as part of the Wizards with his fiery playing style and ubiquitous intensity. Look for him to be a potential All-Star, and to continue having a breakout season. This writer hopes to see the Wizards contend in 2007, under Agent Zero and his mates’ talent!