Arenas has spent some of his abundant free time watching old video of himself. "When I was getting...

Arenas has spent some of his abundant free time watching old video of himself. "When I was getting MVP chants, I was always trying to make the big play -- throwing the ball up the court, hitting the big shots," he said. "I call it 'controlled reckless.' It was controlled chaos, the way I was playing. I don't need to play that way now."

From an SI article about how maybe Gil has matured. It was probably written before "I might have to change my plans."

almost 3 years ago Jon L 7 comments 0 recs |

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cool article

thanks for pointing it out.
it gives the best-case scenario i think, for what the wiz will be next year.

i hope the wise, self-aware side of arenas wins out over the look-at-me side of him.

"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler

by little stevie colter on Apr 8, 2009 5:04 PM EDT reply actions

AJ

I like the idea of Avery Johnson. He would demand defense. Not sure how he’d mesh with Gilbert though.

by Jheiser3 on Apr 8, 2009 9:30 PM EDT reply actions

I thought this was the most interesting part of the article.

Is this the beginning of a new approach? “I don’t know about next season,” he said with a smile. “But I don’t need to play that way now. Because I have the ball in my hands. With Eddie Jordan’s offense, it was equal opportunity, so I didn’t get to control the ball as much; so when I did have it I tried to make something happen. Now I can give it up a couple times, I can do a lot of probing. Tap (interim coach Ed Tapscott) is just letting me go out and play.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laydODN6xVk

by hibachi on Apr 8, 2009 10:01 PM EDT reply actions

Thats a good word for it. Ed called a lot of plays with Gilbert coming off of ball screens at an angle instead of at the top of the key. It reminded me of how Miami uses DWade. He’s on the move but looking to make plays for others. Much different than Gilbert’s style of looking for one of two things: his shot or contact followed by his shot.

by Jheiser3 on Apr 8, 2009 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Also

it raises the issue of how the guards were considered largely interchageable in EJ’s offense. Maybe if he had the ball in his hands more instead of Hughes/Stevenson he could’ve gotten other guys involved more.

Now writing for Ridiculous Upside, where we knew who Mike Taylor was before you did.

by Jon L on Apr 9, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions

So, let me get this straight

Eddie Jordan’s offense made Gilbert Arenas a 3-time All-Star and one of the best players int he League…….
But EJ’s offensive scheme didn’t allow Gil to control the ball and create for others, and therefore was bad for the team.

uh………… my head is spinning………… and I seem to be caught in an existential loop…….

I think I’ll go back to trying to figure out easier stuff, like, where did the universe come from……

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Apr 9, 2009 4:22 PM EDT reply actions