SB Nation - Mike Miller

The bottom line with the Wizards? The stars aren't performing

Mike Prada — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:17:14 -0000

Normally, I'm all for over-analysis. And I still am, even though it can be time-consuming and nerve-racking when it comes to our Wizards. Clearly, the team's 5-10 November has a lot to do with complicated explanations that have no easy answers.

But the truth is, for all of the Wizards' supposed problems, there are only two parts that really aren't working. Antawn Jamison has come back and played even better than usual in his first few games (the Charlotte game notwithstanding). When healthy, Mike Miller has been excellent. Brendan Haywood is having another outstanding year, typified by his outstanding offensive board work (he's grabbing almost 15% of all available offensive rebounds this year). Randy Foye was good early and Nick Young has been good lately. Fabricio Oberto has been himself. Andray Blatche continues to perform solidly (give him more minutes!). JaVale McGee has flashed nice upside, and Earl Boykins has been a revelation. The defense is currently 20th in the league, which isn't great, but at least is respectable.

All those parts are working fine. The problem is that the two most important parts are underperforming, significantly. Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler have each been a shell of themselves all month, and that's all you need to know about the Wizards this season. It's like saying all parts of your car are working fine ... except the engine and the brakes. If your engine and your brakes aren't working, chances are your car is screwed. If your two best players aren't performing, then you're toast as a basketball team.

The drop-off this month for Arenas and Butler has been equally steep. Arenas has gone from being a superstar to being an average player, while Butler has gone from being a secondary star to a below-average performer. Each has their excuses - Arenas is coming back from two years off and learning how to quarterback an exceedingly complicated system, while Butler is at least putting in more effort on defense - but each needs to step it up.

Just how bad has it been for each? Here are tables illustrating how far off both guys have been from their career averages in several key categories.

Stat	Arenas this year	Arenas career	Difference
Pts/36	20.2	21.9	-1.7
FG%	39.2%	42.6%	-3.4%
3PT%	33.3%	35.7%	-2.4%
FT%	73%	80.6%	-7.6%
TS%	49.2%	55.4%	-6.2%
eFG%	43.5%	48.6%	-5.1%
PER	15.6	20.6	-5
TO%	15.9%	14%	-1.9%
ORtg	98	111	-13

And as for Arenas' on/off court stats ... well, let's just say they aren't pretty and leave it at that. (Major caveat with these for both players - it's probably too early for the sample size to be significant. Just throwing them out there).

So that's not pretty. But Butler's situation isn't really much better.

Stat	Butler this season	Butler career	Difference
Pts/36	15.8	16.5	-0.7
FG%	41.2%	44.2%	-3%
3PT%	26.7%	31.4%	-4.7%
TS%	49.7%	52.5%	-2.8%
eFG%	43.3%	46.2%	-2.9%
PER	12.6	16.6	-4
AST%	5.2%	14.5%	-9.3%
TO%	14%	12.8%	-1.2%
ORtg	96	106	-10

And while Butler isn't hurting the team as badly as Arenas is according to the on/off data, he is still a major net negative. Not to mention that Butler really doesn't have as many built-in excuses as Arenas. Sure, Butler has an adjustment to the new offense, but it's nowhere near as difficult as Gilbert's. Gilbert is basically entrusted with getting everyone going at a time when he doesn't even know if he can get himself going after being hurt so much the past two years. Butler, on the other hand, is being asked to catch and shoot more. One adjustment is bigger than the other. (Of course, one guy is also getting paid more than the other, so he should have a bigger adjustment. And the wagons keep turning, and we keep arguing like kindred spirits around the virtual sports bar that we populate here).

Now, these are just stats. As we all know, stats can tell us what's happening with remarkable precision, but they can't tell us how and the why what's happening is happening. That's where the overanalysis comes in, and this is as good a spot as any for you all to chime in with your theories about these two.

All I'm trying to say, though, is that we need not spent hours trying to dissect what the problem with the Wizards is right now, because it's clearly Arenas and Butler.

Gameday Preview at Washington Wizards

David Arnott — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:09:27 -0000

Pump Up Music: Jay-Z -- "Run This Town"

The Big Picture: The Washington Wizards have won two in a row, a one-point win over the 76ers and then last night over the Heat in Miami. Don't let that fool you, though. They're a team in disarray, still figuring out what works, much like the Bobcats.

I'm pretty sure they miss Mike Miller, out with a calf injury, but then again, I'm not totally sure. It's certainly possible that Gilbert Arenas can't co-exist with him, since both so desperately want the ball in their hands. With Miller out, maybe it clears things up for them. After all, Antawn Jamison has been their best offensive option, by far, and Caron Butler has totally fallen off a cliff. It's a good thing to have four good scoring options, but it's not a good thing to have four scoring options when at least one of them feels like he's getting the shaft, or is generally losing effectiveness because others are doing what he does.

Wasn't the whole point of starting DeShawn Stevenson and guys like Etan Thomas that they would be defensive presences alongside three scorers? Now, they've just got a bunch of offensively-minded guys. It's certainly possible they're better overall with the Outscore 'Em lineup, but their ceiling is limited if they can't stop anyone, and they're not getting the most out of Butler that way.

Key to Victory: Boris Diaw has been out of sorts the past few games, and he'll be charged with stopping Jamison. Ideally, part of that would involve making him work hard on the defensive end, and Diaw's best equipped to do that from the power forward spot. Gerald Wallace or Derrick Brown can post him up, but they won't be able to make him work on the block like Diaw can. On the other end, I'm worried that Diaw won't be able to deal with Jamison's variety of offense, from threes to putting it on the floor.

Detail That Might Interest .08% of You: Dominic McGuire started 57 games for the Wiz last year. This year? 49 minutes.

Game #15: Washington Wizards (4-9) vs. Miami Heat (9-5)

DolPhanDave — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:04:40 -0000

More photos » by Evan Vucci - AP

Dwyane Wade goes plain DIAGONAL on the Wizards

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Tonight the Heat will play a much different Washington Wizards team then they have seen the previous two times this season. The reason? Antawn Jamison. The Wizards star forward missed the team's first nine games with a shoulder injury, but he has been amazing since returning.

In the four games Jamison has played, he's scored 31, 22, 15 and 32 points while shooting 51.4% from the field. He is also averaging 10.8 boards and 1.5 steals. With Antawn, Gilbert, Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood all in the lineup for Washington, the Heat are going to see a much more powerful, all-around team.

The Heat are coming off of perhaps their most invigorating game of the year but are still dealing with some issues on defense. The Heat have given up 26 three pointers in the last two games, but in those games the Hornets and Magic put up 59 attempts from beyond the arc. That is pretty ridiculous, and one has to assume that the Heat, who opened the season playing great perimeter defense, has somewhat lost their way.

Another thing to keep an eye on is how Mario Chalmers and Carlos Arroyo come back after the stinker they put up in Orlando. Forget about points, when two point guards combine for 3 assists, there is a problem. Granted, the Heat have often been guilty of not moving much without the ball, but either way that is a problem that needs to be solved asap.

GAME NOTES

The Heat have won two in a row overall and six in a row against the Wizards

Quentin Richardson is listed as doubtful, still dealing with a sore back.

The Wiz will be without Mike Miller, who is dealing with a sore calf, Mike James (hand) and Javaris Crittenton (foot).

This is also going to be the 2^nd game in a row that the Heat are nationally televised on ESPN.

Dwyane Wade has scored 40 and 41 points in the two games against Washington this season, his only 40-point games this year (so far).

Another great test for Miami as they shoot for 3 in a row. Tipoff is at 7pm from the AAA.

Practice Quick Report - Caron Butler's injured, Nick Young's starting, Gilbert Arenas is talking

Mike Prada — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:40:32 -0000

I attended practice today, and I'll have more later, but some really quick things while I'm on company time.

And your newest injured Wizard is ... Caron Butler. (Pay up if you didn't have him in the pool). Butler has been trying to play through some ankle pain for six days, but it swelled up really bad during and after the San Antonio game. He's scheduled to have an MRI this afternoon to figure out what's up. Flip Saunders said he's not sure whether he'll play tomorrow. Gilbert Arenas basically ruled him out. Butler hasn't practiced in two days and was walking around with a sock and flip flops today
Gilbert Arenas gave an interesting interview after practice, during which he said that of the 15 players on the team, 14 get along and are all on the same page. He didn't say who that one person was, so I have no clue. However, I should point out that, when asked whose shoulders it's on to get everyone on the same page, he mentioned himself and Antawn Jamison. Someone then jumped in and asked about Caron Butler. Gilbert at first said "Come again," as if he didn't hear the question. Then, after it was asked again, Gil said "Yeah." It's definitely weird that he didn't mention Caron right away, but it could also be nothing. Just feel it should be pointed out.
Nick Young is like a cat - he gets nine lives. After being inactive against San Antonio, he will start for Mike Miller against the 76ers tomorrow. Gilbert said: "Nick is coming out of the box."
Mike Miller's MRI still hasn't come back yet. When he was asked about his status as he was walking by, he said "I'm playing tomorrow." Funny thing is, I would have believed it.
I talked to the two Mikes about the Haywood-Arenas incident a bit. They made it clear that nobody called anyone out by name, and both made a point to say that it was a team-wide problem. They just wrote what they saw, which is their job. Haywood and Arenas, for the record, were shooting free throws and joking around together after practice. Not sure if they were feuding or not, but there's at least a possibility that they weren't.
UPDATE: Michael Lee just tweeted this: "Just for clarification, Gilbert Arenas & Brendan Haywood do not have a rift. Their comments were not directed at each other."
UPDATE 2: Mike Jones caught up with Caron Butler via phone. Butler didn't really address the "rift" stuff in depth - Jones said he took the high road. I kind of expected nothing less - he's never going to talk about stuff like that in public.
UPDATE 3: From Michael Lee's Twitter: "Caron Butler just texted me. He called Gilbert Arenas to clear up what was said in practice. There's no beef, I guess."

More later.

Spurs vs Wizards: Stats of the Game

BlaseE — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:54:44 -0000

Sorry for the lateness on this, but Sunday is a slow day for all of us to catch up on our NFL (I think). The Cowboys are really playing ugly right now and the Titans (and VY) get a MNF game to conflict with a Spurs home game. Cedric Benson is hurt so I rooted against the Bengals today and they lost! To the Raiders! Ricky Williams dominates for the Dolphins on the Thursday night game, but I'm stuck watching our Spurs lose to the Jazz.

So yesterday, I skipped watching the UT game live on TV to go see our Spurs in person. UT ate the Jayhawks' dinners (night game) without my mojo from watching and wearing my burnt orange. The Spurs treated me to what I've needed whether they needed my mojo or not: a dominating beatdown of an opponent to end this misery streak. Stats and a song after the jump.

Your song sounds sad but it is optimistic. I'm breaking out my favorite band for this one Copeland's "When Finally Set Free". We are "finally set free" of this losing streak. Not only that, but I think we are just starting a winning streak. I posted a couple of weeks ago that if we could make it past the Wizards game over .500 we'd stay that way for the rest of the season. At 5-6, we're just going to have to wait until after Golden State on Wednesday and then @ Houston on Friday to cement it.

1. You think Pop was pleased with our defense holding them to 33.3% shooting for the game? They averaged less than 20 points for the first 3 quarters. We only had one more offensive rebound, but if you factor in that they missed 56 shots, holding them to less than 20% offensive boards is damn impressive. The league's worst offensive rebounding teams are Cleveland at 20.6% and New York at 20.7%.

2. I worship at the shrine of TD. Tim Duncan was just shy of a triple double at half. We were dominating them so bad, he only had to play 27 minutes which is probably the only reason he didn't get it. He didn't even get a double double finishing with 9 rebounds and 7 assists. TIM DUNCAN DOMINATES!!!

3. Our bench, without Manu, shot 17 of 40 (43%) compared to their 10 of 37 (27%). Hill was not good at 3 of 10 and no FTA's which I'll take as room for improvement. Finley didn't help with his 2 of 7 either, but 2 of 7 is good for a zombie. Without those guys having coldish shooting nights, this game could have been ugly.... If Bonner can get 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block after every Fred Silva bashing of him, I think Fred might need to make his analysis more regular.

4. Oberto co-lead their team in +/- at +1.

5. Mike Miller has been having a great season and his 7 minutes were really disappointing. I mean he wasn't disappointing. The fact that he got injured and had to leave was really disappointing. I like the Wizards, mostly because I think they have the talent (if healthy) to challenge one of the Eastern powers in the playoffs. Many people will throw this game away as beating a bottom dweller fodder team. The Spurs wanted this game more. Parker and Duncan's aggression was amazing so if this is your only time watching the Wizards, know they are better than this. I hope this team can get healthy and makes this win look even more impressive in hindsight. They did just beat Cleveland last week in Jamison's first game of the season. I think that is the Wizards team we should expect on a nightly basis.

6. Bonus: I just noticed this and had to add it. Parker lead all Spurs with a +/- of +31. The next closest was Duncan at +19. Oh, Parker, we missed you so...

This is the win I think we all needed. Enjoy it and I'm predicting it right here: The Spurs are going to go into that Boston game with a 9-6 record.

If Mike Miller is out for a month, that's a really, really bad thing

Mike Prada — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:45:05 -0000

More photos » by Bahram Mark Sobhani - AP

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So apparently Mike Miller now has a calf injury in addition to the shoulder problem that clearly hasn't fully healed. Mike Jones tweeted last night that he will be evaluated tomorrow, but if his calf muscle "popped," as Flip Saunders said, he could miss up to 4-5 weeks.

If so, that's really bad. Really, really bad.

Right now, the Wizards' offense is struggling with a lack of ball movement. There's no flow to anything that's going on. Guys are shooting too many contested two-point jumpers. Over 70% of the Wizards' shots this year are jumpers, which isn't astronomical, but only 51% of those jumpers are assisted, which is pitifully low. It's no surprise that the Wizards are posting just a 40.9 eFG% on those jumpers. In other words, to put it fairly bluntly, too many guys are displaying on-court selfishness out there.

The one guy who has not displayed such on-court selfishness is Mike Miller. Miller's usage rate is a criminally-low 12.7%. He's taking only good shots and hitting them -- his true shooting percentage is an insane 73.3%. He's moving the ball, making plays for others and passing up looks to give his teammates shots. In short, he's been the antithesis of what's ailing the Wizards offense right now.

Don't believe me? Check out these on-off stats:

When Mike Miller is in the game, the Wizards score an average of 121.5 points per 100 possessions. When he is out of the game, the Wizards score only 90.7 points per 100 possessions. That's a difference of over 30.8 points per 100 possessions.
When Mike Miller is in the game, the Wizards' team effective field goal percentage is 53.7%. When Miller is out of the game, the Wizards' effective field goal percentage is 41.7%
And perhaps most strikingly...
When Mike Miller is in the game, 61% of the Wizards' made field goals are assisted. When he is out of the game, that number drops to 45%. 45 percent! That means that more than half of the Wizards' points when Miller is out of the game come because someone made a one-on-one move and created his own shot. You simply can't score efficiently in this system that way.

It's a small sample size, sure. Still, for a team whose locker room may be fracturing, losing the one player who displays on-court unselfishness is potentially a devastating blow. It's easy to wonder why Miller was playing hurt in the first place, but the Wizards clearly needed him. Now that he's out again, the Wizards will very easily realize how much they will miss the little things Miller provided for them.

Briefing: The Thunder Kept on Rolling and Rolling

JakeTheSnake — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:10:58 -0000

More photos » by Alonzo Adams - AP

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Game Hub | Boxscore | Game Flow

I'm not all that good at picking momentum-changing moments, but I do know that when play like this happens, odds are that team is going to win. Sometimes, you just have games where it just doesn't come together and tonight was one of those nights. There are a lot of places blame can be assigned for last night's blowout, as you'll see below, but let's hope that no one dwells on last night for too long. It's a long season and there's another game tonight. The best thing that everyone can do is forget about what went wrong last night and gear up for a big game against the Spurs (see how I didn't say anything about you-know-who there? I'm getting better!).

Instant Analysis: Wizards-Thunder - Brian Jackson, CSN Washington

The Wizards had no answer for Durant. The former Montrose Christian star poured in 35 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. He wasn’t alone; fellow Prince Georges County product Jeff Green had a double double by half time and Westbrook scored 26 points on only 12 shots. Most of Westbrook’s’ damage came from the lane (which he got into at will) leading to 12 free throw attempts and seven assists. Jamison, Butler and Arenas combined to score 69 of the Wizards 108 points but it simply wasn’t enough.

Wizards run hot and cold in defeat - Mike Jones, Washington Times

The Wizards (3-8) started off slow - falling behind by 10 in the first five minutes - responded with a spurt that put them back in the game, but went cold again and slipped into a double-digit hole. The roller-coaster ride continued throughout the game, and finally after pulling within 82-81 with three minutes left in the third quarter, Washington allowed Oklahoma City to outscore it 45-27 in the final 15 minutes of play.

Thunder 127, Wizards 108 - Michael Lee, Wizards Insider

Saunders said that every time his coaching staff focuses on one weakness, the team forgets everything else that it has learned. After training camp, the team focused on rebounding and became a better rebounding team. They focused on defense and became a better defensive team through the first 10 games. But the past few practices, the Wizards tried to address their offensive woes, then decided not to play defense against the young and exciting Thunder. So much for that carryover from the big win against the Cavaliers. "We focused on offense and we forgot all of our defensive concepts," Saunders said. "We have not evolved to be a total team, where we can grasp everything."

Thunder fend off Wizards 127-108 - Jeff Latzke, Associated Press

After watching Washington answer every Thunder run for the better part of three quarters, Brooks changed the game when he went with a three-guard lineup. Oklahoma City immediately went on a 9-0 burst to stretch its lead to 91-81 on Durant’s three-point play. Then Brooks went even smaller, going without a center and leaving the 6-foot-9 Green as his tallest player on the court. The move worked, as Oklahoma City continued to pull away.

Thunder 127, Wizards 108 - Mike Jones, Outlet

Said Arenas: "We let them kept getting middle. Our defensive philosophy is don't let a team get middle because once they get middle, they put pressure on the bigs, and then the guards have to suck in, and then you have wide-open 3-pointers, so mentally we just shut down today and they just took advantage of it." OKC is a young team, but they played like the experienced bunch. And tip your hat to coach Scott Brooks. Whenever the Wizards would cut the score to within striking distance, he'd call timeout and his guys would come out and execute. And it wasn't just one play, they came out and reeled off scoring runs. That's a mark of a coach who is getting through to his players. "Every time they came out of a timeout, they went on a 6-0 run. They just scored. They came out of the timeup only up one and they went up," Arenas said.

Washington Wizards lose to Oklahoma City Thunder, 127-108 - Michael Lee, Washington Post

Miller returned to the game in the second quarter but was wincing as he kept his left arm bent near his waist and pressed against his body. He finished with five points, but said he would continue to play through the pain. "It's one of those things that's going to keep lingering and hopefully, it's going to go away sooner than later," Miller said. "Right now, its something that I got to deal with. The doctors said there isn't a chance for it to get worse structurally so it's going be really painful. Right now, I can bear it, so I'm going to play. It's not an excuse."

Thunder 127, Wizards 108: Think Durant was up for that one? - Craig Stouffer, Pick & Roll

Washington simply couldn't match OKC's offensive explosiveness, but the 20 turnovers didn't help. Even Mike Miller coughed the ball up three times. Again limited by his shoulder, he took only four shots and finished with five points. Randy Foye was also a goat, with one point, one assist and two turnovers in 11 and a half minutes. He's still not sharp coming off the ankle injury. But Miller is the bigger concern. Until he plays a game without looking like a one-armed man, it's time to start questioning whether he should be playing at all.

Wizards Plus: Saunders stresses rest - Mike Jones, Washington Times

Always looking for ways to get more out of his players, Wizards coach Flip Saunders canceled the morning shootaround for the second straight game to allow his team to get extra rest. Instead of the traditional midmorning shootaround, the coach held a 3 p.m. planning meeting with his players at the team hotel before they headed over to Ford Center. Portland, New York and Boston have made similar moves this season to keep their players fresher.

Wizards fall to Thunder, 127-108 - Matt Kremnitzer, Krem's Sports Blog

What exactly is Boykins's role? Is he the backup point guard? I guess he is, and for the most part, I don't have a problem with that. Boykins played the entire fourth quarter and took all seven of his shots then (making five), scoring 11 points. But when Boykins is in the game, he has the ball a ton and dribbles a lot, which means Arenas doesn't have the ball. At least for right now, I'm not a huge fan of the Boykins-Arenas backcourt.

Thunder 127 Wiz 108 - Joe Newell, Daily Thunder

Grant Long said it well tonight when he was talking about the Wiz when he said something along the lines of the Wiz having all the talent a team could want, but for whatever the reason the pieces don’t seem to fit. I see his point. I personally think the Wizards problem is defense, or a lack of it to be more specific. The Wiz matchup very well with the Thunder at every position but their supposed "stopper" is Deshawn Stevenson who only saw 12 minutes of play.

Best of Twitterville

Twitter / Mike Jones
I really don't get why Mike Miller is being allowed to play. Arm is hanging like it weighs 100 pounds.

Twitter / Michael Lee
I know Caron has had to guard LeBron, D-Wade & others, but Durant might the toughest cover of them all. Dude is at least 6-11 – not 6-9!

Twitter / Rashad Mobley
Nick Young to Flip at halftime: "Coach I have TWO shoulders..put me in..put.me.in.

Twitter / Chris C-Ford
The Thunder makes the "Which NBA teams don't end in 'S'?" A little bit harder

Twitter / wizznutzz
unless Harden has John Adams tattoed on his apple, Dsean win RT @MikeJonesTWT DeShawn and James Harden in the battle of the beards.

Twitter / Truth_About_It
I think the agility in Jamison's arms on offense compensates for the lack of agility in his legs on defense.

Twitter / Chase Hughes
What happened to Andray Blatche, he had 2 points tonight? 127-108 final

Twitter / Agent Dagger
the big 3 all have 20 points, when was the last time that happened?

Twitter / George V. Panagakos
Since Boykins joined Wizards, Washington hasn't played a single game without scoring at least 100 points. Miller and Jamison of course :).

Twitter / Wizards Extreme
30 win season if the Wiz kids can't get it together, another mediocre performance tonight

Twitter / The BF gang
So what happened to that much-improved defense? This looks like an Eddie Jordan effort.

Twitter / Kevin Durant
Good win against the hometown wizards...Gilbert is back!!! Back to work tomorrow!!! What's good tweeps

Game 13 Preview: Washington at Oklahoma City

illfreaky911 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:57:35 -0000

More photos » by John Raoux - AP

Etan Thomas goes up against his former team, as well as Arch Enemy Brendan Haywood. Expect the big man to get extra physical tonight when he sees Haywood coming down the lane.

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Time: 7:00 PM CST

Place: Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Betting Line: Thunder -4

TV: FSN-Oklahoma; Comcast Sportsnet DC

Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1)

Backstory: Like our Oklahoma City Thunder, the Washington Wizards are trying to avenge their disappointing lottery campaign from a year ago. While their 3-7 record isn't particularly impressive, they are only a couple of nights removed from a dismantling of LeBron James and the Cavs at the Verizon Center in DC. To make matters worse, Antawn Jamison is just making his return to the lineup, making this one of the most versatile offenses in the league, despite their lackluster record. Jamison scored 31 points and grabbed 10 boards in his return to action Wednesday night, but it's point guard Gilbert Arenas (another Wizard coming back from a string of injuries) who is the engine that makes this offense move. His (admittedly unorthodox) knack for getting in the lane and making things happen should be our primary defensive concern, and Russell Westbrook will have his work cut out for him trying to keep "Agent Zero" in check. Mike Miller and Caron Butler are also players with all-star caliber seasons in the not too distant past, and need to be watched out for on the perimeter.

As far as the Thunder are concerned, this game marks Etan Thomas' first game against his former team, after 7 tumultuous seasons in Washington. The last few years he spent there were tainted by his very public spat with Center Brendan Haywood over the starting Center position. The two exchanged shots in the media (and allegedly in practice), and it should be interesting to say the least to watch these two go head to head when they're in the game together. Haywood is averaging a double-double this year, but my gut tells me that Thomas' adrenaline will have him up for this game, and he could have his best outing of the year off the bench. We could use all the help we can get after being dismantled by Orlando in our last outing, where everybody on this side of James Harden looked like they couldn't throw the ball in the Atlantic Ocean. Should be a fun one!

Matchups and Prediction After The Jump!

Matchups:

Point Guard: Russell Westbrook vs. Gilbert Arenas:

At 6'4, 215 pounds, Gilbert Arenas is used to pushing opposing point guards around. That shouldn't be the case tonight. Russell Westbrook (another one of the bigger point guards this league has to offer) should match up very well with Arenas on the defensive side of the ball, although his unorthodox slashing style could provide some problems early in the game (before we adjust to it). You also never know when Arenas is due for one of his trademark "Hibachi" runs from the outside, when he is capable of stringing together a run of three pointers that can turn a game in Washington's favor. On the other side of the ball, Westbrook's quickness off the dribble should present Arenas and his surgically repaired knee. We should see RW attacking the paint early and often, and he could be in line for a big stat line if he makes responsible decisions with the ball.

Shooting Guard: Thabo Sefolosha vs. Mike Miller

Anybody who's watched Mike Miller knows that he's on a short list of NBA players who's 3 Point Shooting can single handedly alter the course of a game. Miller won NBA Rookie of the Year in the 01-02 season and added a Sixth Man of the Year Award in 05-06, in large part due to his ability to catch fire and score in bunches. Fortunately, we have our top perimeter defender matched up against him in Thabo Sefolosha. Thabo is becoming a fan favorite for his defensive capabilities, and his length should provide a good counter to the 6'8 Miller's outside shooting ability. Keep an eye on this one though, it should be a good matchup.

Small Forward: Kevin Durant vs. Caron Butler

Critics have put Kevin Durant's toughness and ability to play physical in question. Tonights matchup with Caron Butler should help provide an answer. The 6'7 Butler is a bull in the paint, and has a non-stop motor, that allows him to clear the glass effectively on both sides of the court. He isn't one dimensional however, and has the ability to knock down the open shot if Durant plays too far off of him. He's also a capable defender who will play Durant very physical when the Thunder have the ball. If Durant is willing to push through his physical off ball defense though, he should be able to rise and fire over the shorter Butler all game. KD could put up very impressive scoring numbers tonight if his mid-range shot is falling.

Power Forward: Jeff Green vs. Antawn Jamison

When the Sonics drafted Jeff Green, I was worried that he would be too small to play Power Forward in this league. When I heard the ESPN crew compare him to Antawn Jamison however, my nerves were calmed. That's why I'm so excited for this matchup, as two great forwards with similar skill sets face-off against each other. Both are dealing with potential setbacks (Jamison's shoulder and Green's ongoing slump from the field), but both are usually the X-factors that decide the outcomes of their teams games. They both hit the glass hard, and have capable outside games to compliment their skill set in the post. Jamison is gonna look to stay hot after his 31 point outburst against Cleveland, so Green is gonna have to play some of his trademark defense tonight to keep the All-Star in check.

Center: Nenad Kristic vs. Brendan Haywood

As excited as I am for the afore mentioned matchup between Haywood and Thunder Center Etan Thomas, it's probably gonna be Kristic who gets the first crack at the UNC Alum tonight. Haywood isn't a particularly skilled big man, but rather just a big, tough, athlete who constantly finds himself on the receiving end of easy buckets courtesy of Arenas. That being said, his success on the offensive end probably depends more on how Westbrook fares against "Agent Zero" than it does on how Kristic handles him in the post. Haywood is also the Wizards leading rebounder, grabbing almost 11 boards a night. Nenad and Etan are gonna have to make him work on the defensive glass, and hopefully open up some second chance opportunities late in the game.

Benches:

With Sixth Man Randy Foye slowed up by an ankle, the immortal Earl Boykins has stepped into the Wizards rotation and produced admirably for 2 games. One of my favorite players to watch in the league, Boykins is a pain in the rear to guard, and could devastate us with his quickness if we don't sub our guys properly. The super-athletic Andray Blatche is an up and coming center in the league, and can put up a decent line off the bench. For Oklahoma City, Etan Thomas should be in line for a good game against his former team (as mentioned above), and James Harden looks to continue his success after a career game in Orlando (24 Points, 6 Three Pointers)

Coaching and Intangibles:

The Wizards are probably gonna try to use their dismantling of the rival Cavs as a catalyst for their thus disappointing season. That makes this game one that they should be particularly desperate to win, as it would deflate all of their momentum should they lose. To go along with Thomas' adrenaline boost, the Thunder should come out ready to play, as they try to avoid dipping under .500 with their hometown fans supporting them. I'd say the intangibles are slightly in our favor.

Prediction:

Westbrook has a good game penetrating the slower Arenas and exploiting his weak knee with his athleticism. We should put a decent number up on the scoreboard, and lacking a serious low post scorer, our perimeter defense will be the key to this game. I think Sefolosha and Green hassle Miller and Jamison from the perimeter all night, and the Thunder stay above .500. Thunder 97, Wizards 88.

Poll

Who Wins Tonight's Game?

Oklahoma City Thunder

24 votes

Washington Wizards

16 votes

40 votes | Poll has closed

Briefing: Antawn Jamison is Unfamiliar With the Concept of Rust

JakeTheSnake — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:01:26 -0000

More photos » by Ned Dishman - NBAE/Getty Images

22 days ago: WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 18: Antawn Jamison #4 of the Washington Wizards shoots against Jamario Moon #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Verizon Center during the game on November 18, 2009 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)

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Game Hub | Boxscore | Game Flow

Rust is natural. If you take someone away from something that they do on a regular basis for an extended amount of time, it takes sometime to get back into that rhythm. That's just the way things work, unless your name is Antawn Jamison.

Not only was Jamison thrown back into the starting lineup, but expected to carry the team as they slumped through most of the first half. If it weren't for his 21 points and 8 rebounds in the first half, the Wizards would have faced a much, much more formidable deficit heading into halftime. You tend to forget about these things when the team ends up winning by 17, but without Jamison's spectacular first half in his first game back from injury, the Wizards would be staring at a 2-8 record this morning. Antawn didn't waste anytime helping out where the team needed him to help out. That's what team captains do, and that's why he was so sorely missed when he was out.

Behind the Box Score, where the Nets still haven't won - Kelly Dwyer, Ball Don't Lie

After watching Antawn Jamison in this win, I'm convinced that every player should develop a cold after deeming themselves ready to return to action. That way, you don't feel as if you're coming right off the shelf, rather, you feel as if you've been waylaid by something else (a cold) that is easily overcome. Jamison fit right in, in his first game of the season, only turning the ball over two times in 38 minutes, pouring in 31 points in various styles and pulling in 10 rebounds (six offensive).

Wizards Plus: Jamison's title focus - Mike Jones, Washington Times

Before the start of the season, Jamison threw out the "C" word, saying a championship "is all I'm playing for." To keep that goal fresh in his mind, Jamison has an 8-inch-by-10-inch, framed color photograph of the Larry O'Brien Trophy hanging in his locker. On the wall that borders Jamison's locker, which is just outside the trainers room, is a poster-sized image of the trophy, also framed. "We need a little championship aura in here," Jamison said last week. He also said he plans on ordering a copy for all of his teammates' lockers.

Wizards 108, Cavaliers 91 - Mike Jones, Outlet

"Sometimes you don’t realize the little things," Jamison said. "One thing I’ve noticed lately is our energy level has been down, whether we miss a couple of shots or make a run, guys run to the huddle with their heads down and that’s something that I knew that I could come in and change that and just move that ball form one end to the other, another added weapon for them to really key in on. I’ve been sitting down for what seems like forever, so I had a lot of energy. I knew it was going to be different from what we’ve been doing." Jamison kept shooting, and kept barking at his teammates and eventually Mike Miller responded with back-to-back 3-pointers in the second quarter.

Is it a rivalry yet? Wizards top Cavs 108-91 - William Yoder, Agent Dagger

Antawn Jamison made his return Wednesday night and helped lead his Wizards to a 108-91 victory over Cleveland at the Verizon Center. The Wizards powerforward helped spark the Wizards with 31 points on 12 of 22 shooting, and10 rebounds. Jamison helped fill a void tonight that the club had strugled to fill all season. They had been missing the man on their team who keeps the club together when things get rough. When no one else can seem to put the ball in the hoop, grab the rebound, or make the defensive play, Antawn has been there. He was there tonight.

Wizards cruise past Cavaliers, 108-91 - Michael Lee, Washington Post

But the Wizards weren't focused on anything except the win, which ended Cleveland's five-game winning streak and marked just the 11th time that Arenas, Jamison and Butler started a game together since April 4, 2007, when Arenas first injured his left knee. "It's great to have us all out there together," Butler said. "That's been the talk for years, 'When is the Big Three going to be out there together, along with the new additions?' Antawn was great tonight. He kept the energy going. Gilbert did some spectacular things. I thought DeShawn did a great job of slowing down LeBron. "This is what we expect. We expect to win games. That's what happened."

Game Notes: Cleveland vs. Washington - Rashad Mobley, Hoops Addict

The stat sheet will show that Arenas shot 6-for-22 from the field, and even in person, there were times when he forced the issue and tried to shoot his way out of his slump. In the first half he shot just 1-for-9, and he had six points. But in the second half, he played a bit better and found his stroke. Even Arenas noticed this inconsistency, "I just can’t find two halves to match right now. I just gotta get it together…I had one bad half, and I figured the second one would get better." What will not show up in the stat sheet is his solid defense on Mo Williams. Williams who is widely considered to be the second best player on the Cavaliers squad scored just six points in 36 minutes.

Wizards 108, Cavaliers 91 - Michael Lee, Wizards Insider

Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler have struggled with their shots all season, and it was no different on Wednesday night, as Arenas and Butler combined to shoot just 12 of 38. Any other night, the Wizards probably would've succumbed to the LeBron James one-man show. But on this night, the Wizards had Antawn Jamison to fill the gaps, and he did that and more, as he scored 31 points with 10 rebounds, keeping the Wizards competitive in the first half, until Arenas was able to wake up in the third quarter, scoring 14 of his 18 points, and Butler was able to take over the game completely in the fourth, scoring 13 of his 19 points.

Wizards 108, Cavaliers 91: When LeBron scores, the other guy wins - Craig Stouffer, Washington Examiner

The one guy whose role has emerged is Mike Miller. He came into the Wizards very accepting of whatever capacity that they wanted to use him. It’s pretty clear that role needs to be substantial because not only does Miller make shots, he makes hustle plays and smart plays. But – and this remains a concern – his left shoulder still looks mighty banged up.

Wizards come full circle against Cavaliers - Craig Stouffer, Washington Examiner

Stevenson allowed James just six of his game-high 34 points in the final period, tying him up with a blocked shot on a fast break with three minutes, 22 seconds, a play that ended with Caron Butler alone at the free throw line after James argued the call. James then responded with two huge dunks with the game basically decided, only to injure his left wrist on the first. "He came in very professional and played ‘meat and potato’ basketball," said Wizards head coach Flip Saunders of Stevenson. "He didn’t give them any antics. He just put his nose into it and played solid defense."

Before They Self-Destruct, Wizards Beat Cleveland - Jarrett Carter, Stet Sports Blog

Caution yourself against classifying this win as "season-saving." Yes, the rotations were better for Flip Saunders, the defensive commitment in the second half was more noticeably solid, and there was fun to be had on the floor even in tense moments. But there are miles to go before the Eastern Conference can be called out for sleeping on the Wizards; specifically within a Wizards west coast road trip with games against Oklahoma City and San Antonio over the next few days. They still have injuries, they still have trust issues, they still have quite a few problems. But this game can serve as a memory to the Wizards of what injury-free, focused basketball looks and feels like. Rivals can be vanquished, stats can be compiled and expectations can be met. Before tonight’s game, the Wizards were on the verge of implosion for reasons that they couldn’t fully control. They were headed for self-destruction, but allowed experience and trust to make a big game smaller than their team objective.

Cavs Win Streak, Wizards Losing Streak Both Snapped as Wiz Pull off 108-91 Win - RockKing, WaitingForNextYear

The Wizards showed a lot of poise in not panicking after digging a deep hole early and fighting their way back to a blowout win. It was certainly easy to see the impact Jamison brings to the team and they found a way to still score 108 points despite not shooting the ball particularly well. So they certainly deserve all the credit for coming up with the win, but you have to believe the Cavaliers feel frustrated that they never made any kind of adjustments and let this game slip away out of their reach. This will be one they will want to forget about as soon as possible.

Wizards Blow Out Cavaliers - Carla Peay, Washington Informer

Wizards head coach Flip Saunders didn’t go so far as to call it a "statement game", but the team’s 108-91 defeat of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wed., Nov. 18 at Verizon Center might have been the best victory of the season. The Wizards are now 3-7 on the season, and for the first time in what seems like years, guard Gilbert Arenas, and forwards Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, the so-called "big three" were on the floor together, and healthy.

No More Excuses For The Washington Wizards - Gerald Narciso, Dime Magazine

Now that the big three of Arenas, Jamison and Butler are in full force, the Wizards have no more excuses. I understand, the team still has to adjust to Flip Saunders’ system and all the new faces on the roster like Mike Miller, Randy Foye and Earl Boykins. Even Arenas, who basically missed two seasons, is still trying to find his chemistry with the team again. Bottom line is Washington has enough talent on that roster to finish in the top five of the East. The ball movement looked a lot better last night and maybe this win can get their confidence up. If the team can get comfortable in the offense in the next 10 games and the team escapes any more injuries, than this team has no excuses why they shouldn’t be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. But even with injuries, it shouldn’t be an excuse. Last year, Orlando and L.A. made the Finals with some of their key guys hurt, so why can’t Washington do that?

Jamison's return helps Wizards stop skid - Mike Jones, Washington Times

The Wizards carried a 75-72 lead into the fourth quarter, and with Arenas and Jamison watching from the bench, Washington blew the Cavaliers away. Boykins and Butler led Washington on a 25-8 charge that ballooned a three-point lead into a 100-80 advantage. In the quarter, Boykins had nine points and two assists, and Butler scored 13 points. "We said from the beginning that depth will always help you," coach Flip Saunders said. "I told our guys in the locker room that if we have a group that's playing well, no matter who it is, we let them play it out. In this league they are all good players. Given the opportunity and in certain situations they can all play well."

Cavaliers falls to Wizards, 108-91: Windhorst Beat Blog - Brian Windhorst, The Plain Dealer

You can really see the impact of not having Andy Varejao and Shaq. The Cavs are getting hammered on the boards. This is something Mike Brown is also I'm sure making a big point of in the locker room. Brendan Haywood has 10 rebounds already and the Wiz have 13 second-chance points. The Cavs gave up 23 last night. They didn't have a game where they allowed more than 14 before these last two nights.

Arenas waiting for 1 million followers to tweet - Associated Press

"Once I get a million followers, I’ll do it," Arenas said after his Washington Wizards beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-91 Wednesday. Asked why he picked that number, he said because it’s "so far-fetched." When someone pointed out to Arenas that the way people tend to accrue followers is by tweeting, he replied: "I’m trying to do the opposite."

Best of Twitterville

Twitter / Michael Lee
Gilbert just said he won't make another shot until he gets one million followers on Twitter.

Twitter / The BF gang
Dear Cavs fans: That was a really bad call on DeShawn. He wrapped him up. See, #Wizards fans can admit when there's a bad call.

Twitter / Truth_About_It
My eyes could be deceiving me, but I swear I just saw Mike Brown go over & lick LeBron's wounds.

Twitter / Mike Jones
Second guest student pep band of the season, and once again, a rendition of Jay-Z's Empire State of Mind. WE'RE IN DC PEOPLE!

Twitter / Jack Kogod
LeBron not joining team huddle, busy glaring at section 112. Can't imagine why.

Twitter / Bob Sumner
Enjoy that highlight, Lebron. This one is over like your hairline. Guess you will have a hard time hoisting Cris at Lima wit that limp wrist

Twitter / Agent Dagger
Lebron is considered dominant because his size proposes ridiculous match up problems...could say the same for Boykins?

Twitter / wizznutzz
BOYKS!!! The Bunson Burner gone all BRAISE on the Cavz. MOIST HEAT.

Twitter / Marcel Mutoni
Pretty sure each of the Wizards dancers could post up Earl Boykins with ease.

Twitter / 106.7 The Fan
DeShawn Stevenson's doing a terrific job on Lebron James. Just tied him up on a drive to the hoop. Jump ball called, then Lebron got T'd up.

Twitter / Brian Windhorst
Wizards 108, Cavs 91. DeShawn Stevenson is MVP without taking shot, just by getting in LeBron's head.

Twitter / John Krolik
Well, then. Crap.

Twitter / Ric Bucher
For anyone thinking tonight's outcome would be different if Shaq were playing: Wizards consider Z a tougher matchup for Haywood.

Twitter / We <3 DC
Oh I'm sorry, Bron Bron, did we break your concentration? Love, the Wizards

Twitter / Andrew Sharp
Gil throws his jersey as he leaves the court. Good to have the real gilbert arenas back. Also: !!!!!!!!!!!

Twitter / Jon Lewallen
Come on ESPN, at least let me enjoy the Wizards win before throwing it to SA-Dallas. Mark Jackson makes me sad inside.

Twitter / Wolf Blitzer
Wizards WIN. 108-91. Enough said.

Gilbert Arenas talks about his struggles learning how to balance scoring and distributing

Mike Prada — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:49:22 -0000

More photos » by Evan Vucci - AP

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You've probably already read about how Gilbert Arenas admitted he's having trouble figuring out his role in Flip Saunders' offense. It's a pretty obvious thing to notice when you're watching, and I found it really enlightening, if still concerning, that Arenas opened up about it.

But I also disagree with both beat writers, who seem to wonder whether there's some sort of rift between Arenas and Caron Butler. Their evidence? Butler didn't get a shot down the stretch, and then made some postgame comment that indicated he liked how Earl Boykins got him the ball in good spots. The implication Michael Lee makes is that Butler was indirectly calling out Arenas, and while I don't think that's the case, I was talking to Arenas when Butler said that, so I suppose it's possible.

That said, I want to post Arenas post-game interview in full and then try to get at what might have actually happened down the stretch for Butler to not get any shots. I'm thinking the problem is that Arenas didn't step up to get the ball enough, not that he was hogging it and looking off Butler.

If you want to follow along with the Arenas interview transcript, here's the audio.

Gilbert Arenas talks after the Wizards' loss to Detroit.

Can you talk about the way Earl [Boykins] played tonight?

He did great tonight. But that's what Earl does. Me and Earl played together my second year. We went from 19 wins to 40 wins, and the only additions were me and him, so we played well together. I think he's going to help us this season.

Talk about getting all the pieces back healthy together as you approach the Cleveland game.

The funny part with Antawn coming back now is that now we have to jell and get him back into the flow. Hopefully, it can be a quick turnaround. Players have been dropping, players have been added, so we just don't have the rhythm we would like right now. But we've never really been a team that's played November very well. Since I've been here, December has been our month.

Why haven't you guys been able to sustain your effort for 48 minutes?

I don't know. I don't know if I'm sitting out there just watching. There's always a half or a quarter where I don't shoot and I don't score. Before, in Eddie [Jordan's] system, he needed me to score 30. In this system, I don't have to, so not shooting for a whole quarter doesn't really bother me because we have other player that are scoring. But then, when I try to get into a rhythm, I don't have that feel, so I have to find a way to keep myself in the game the whole time.

Is this system too complicated? Is that what's tough?

No, no. It's just that you have so many weapons. You have Mike Miller, you have Caron [Butler], you have Andray [Blatche], you have Earl. You can relax and let them go. But then I find myself in the fourth quarter realizing I haven't shot the ball yet, and I get up to the free throw line and boink it. I just have to find out how to keep my rhythm throughout the whole game.

(A question about the defense, which I'm skipping through)

What's been the toughest thing for you? Is it coming back and running the team? Is it finding your rhythm?

I think the assist to turnover ratio is what's bothering me right now. I find myself doing more thinking than I am just reacting off my instincts. Players in this league, they react. I was a reactor. Now, I find myself being a thinker. Just like the Miami game, I'm sitting there concentrating on getting assists. Averaging eight assists, averaging nine assists, because I want to be labeled a "point guard." So, I catch myself forcing assists. Today, I just found myself saying "I'm going to forget the turnovers, go out there, and just do whatever. I ended up getting 10, and I was like "Jesus Christ." (smiles)

Do you want to go back to the old free-flowing style of Gilbert Arenas?

You know, even Earl said it when he first came here. He said, "I remembered the angry Gilbert in Golden State. All that Gilbert did was get a whole bunch of technicals and tear up the locker room. You just got to go back to being yourself. Go out there, have fun, laugh, play silly. That's when you play your best.

Do you think you need to be off the ball more to get going?

I was off the ball in the fourth quarter (laughs).

So then, were the shot just not coming for you? Was the ball not finding it's way to you?

I don't know, I just relaxed. When Earl's out there, he's out there doing his thing, and I'm going to let him do his thing. When Caron got going, Caron got going. Sometimes, there would be periods where the ball just didn't find me.

You feel like if you stay consistently aggressive on offense, that'll spread the floor for others?

That's how it was before, in Eddie's system. He just told me "Attack, attack, attack, 24/7." In this system, I have the ball so much where if I just attack, attack and attack, I'll sit around and score 60. I'll just be ball-hogging. So I have to take myself off the ball and take my mind out of shooting. If I just attack, I'll just attack every play, and I can't play like that.

When you were talking about thinking too much about assists, is that from having been away the past two years, or is it being in a new system?

It's being in a new system. (Pauses). And being away. You see players out there like Chris Paul averaging 20 and 10. They consider him the best point guard [in the league], so you put in your mind that in this system, I can go average 20 and 10, so let me go average 20 and 10. And then I catch myself trying to force assists. Like, in the Miami game, I took 27 shots and had 3 assists. I'm sitting there saying "Shit, I can't do that." So the next game, we play Indiana, and I take 10 shots. Then, I look, and I see 3 assists.

Is there anywhere else in your game, other than the system adjustment, where you think you're struggling to get back into a rhythm from being off for a while?

You would think shooting, not having my legs. I can see in my free throws, I don't have a feel for it. I'm practicing them, and they feel good then, but in a game, I just don't have a rhythm for it. Other than that, not really.

Is it frustrating that you haven't found that comfort level?

It's frustrating because we know what kind of talent we have. It's frustrating for me because I know I can take over in fourth quarters like I have been doing, but I don't want to take away from the team. [DeShawn Stevenson] got mad at me today, because in the fourth quarter, I only took three shots. Before, this wouldn't have happened. He said, "You would have taken over the fourth quarter even if you had to take every shot." But I don't feel like I have to do that this early because of what we have here.

Now that it's not working, do you see yourself going back?

I don't want to get into that situation. We have Antawn [Jamison] coming back, and we have to get him into the flow. You know, it's only been nine games. We can find ourselves out of this.

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I always used to think that the whole "the true test of a superstar is how he makes his teammates better" theory was a load of bull spit. I just didn't really see how a superstar could wield so much control over his supporting cast. Did Kobe Bryant really become better at "making his teammates better," or did his teammates just change from Smush Parker and Kwame Brown to Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum? Is Steve Nash responsible for making his teammates better, or did Phoenix just do an exceptional job at putting the right complimentary pieces around Nash?

But listening to Arenas talk, it's clear that there might be something to it. Here you have a Wizards team that, even when shorthanded, has some guys who can really put up points. They're being plugged into a system where sharing the basketball is the whole point. Without sharing the ball, the system doesn't work. It's also a system where the point guard plays such a huge role in determining who gets the ball when. When that point guard is also someone with supreme scoring ability, it's a tough role to balance. Hearing Arenas admit he's completely out of rhythm when he takes a backseat to let others score only drives the point home.

That's why I find it hard to believe that Arenas is ignoring Caron Butler. Butler is getting his shots. Nearly 25 percent of the Wizards' possessions when Butler is on the court end in a Butler shot attempt, drawn foul or turnover. That's not as high as Arenas' mark, but it's higher than where Butler was at in his two all-star seasons. The problem with Butler is twofold. First, he's not converting the attempts he gets, and second, he's not creating good enough shots for himself or for others when he does get the ball. It's hard for me to believe that Arenas is both freezing out himself and Butler.

What really happened down the stretch on Saturday displayed that Arenas the off guard in crunch time isn't a good idea. Boykins was the one who dribbled the ball up the court. Arenas was the one trying to pop out and catch the ball. When it didn't work, which happens a lot with Boykins because Boykins tends to pound the dribble a lot, Boykins created something himself. When Arenas doesn't get a chance to catch and create, then Butler suffers too. At least that's how it should be -- Arenas creating with Butler finding a way to play off him.

Basically, my read is that both Arenas and Butler were phased out, at least relative to how much they should have received the ball. I don't really think Butler should be getting the ball and isolating down the stretch. He's not as good at that as Arenas is, even with Arenas struggling to get into a rhythm.

All that said, something about our crunch-time setup needs to change. I have two suggestions for that, neither of which are mutually exclusive.

Give Arenas the damn ball and let him make plays. No more of this "playing Arenas off the ball down the stretch" garbage. The best closers in the game -- Kobe, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade -- always get the ball to start possessions in the fourth quarter and then consequently get help and make plays for themselves or others. Arenas is one of the few players in the league with the capacity to drive for a score himself or find an open teammate. He's still learning how to do both at the same time, but having someone else bring the ball up the court down the stretch doesn't fix any of that. Now, should Arenas go off the ball earlier in the game? Absolutely. It allows guys like Boykins and Randy Foye to do their thing and get into the game while Arenas still maintains a rhythm. But down the stretch, you need to trust your best player to make the right decisions. This Wizards team is sinking or swimming with Arenas anyway.
Run more Arenas/Butler screen plays late rather than early, and run them at the top of the key: The play I'd really like to see the Wizards run down the stretch is the one Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki have been doing for years in Dallas. Have Butler set a high screen for Arenas and the fade to the pinch-post/elbow area in the middle of the floor. Don't have Arenas jet to the hoop just yet. Instead, have him try to force a switch, so that a smaller guy gets switched on Butler. Then, either decide to take the bigger guy off the dribble, or lob it into Caron and let him go to work one step from the lane. If Caron gets doubled, swing it and get an open shot. This keeps Butler involved while ensuring that Arenas is trusted with the ball in his hands.

It's not an easy fix, of course, but it's also a problem Arenas is well aware of. This is a situation where the Wizards need to rely on him, now more than ever. This isn't the type for them to scale back his capacity for decision-making in the offense.