Misguided Characterization of Arenas [via Kevin Broom, The Secret Weapon]

Kevin Broom usually puts out some great posts on his Wizards blog, The Secret Weapon ... but his latest on the 'Misguided Characterization of Arenas' might be his best piece of work I've read yet.

7 months ago Truth About It 12 comments 1 recs |

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many thoughts on this - great post

not sure why people look at arenas in such a negative light. is it $$$ + injuries=overpaid selfish athlete? i don’t quite get it.
i do think if he worked a bit more on defense it would improve the overall perception of him.

but mainly, this made me realize how long it’s been since we saw him play healthy – last years games were like a dream – did he really play, or did i imagine that? the guy was unstoppable at times, truly unguardable. COME ON GILBERT!!! come back string please please please.

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

by little stevie colter on Jul 30, 2009 4:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

overpaid is the better classification of gilbert .. at his best, gilbert had been one of the top scorers in the game but, at the time, i dont remember him getting much national attention in relation to the numbers he put up and the style he did it in but like one person said its been so long since gilbert was healthy i forget what it was like when he was lighting it up …

by wizfan2247 on Jul 31, 2009 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rosens

article is just another instance of the media’s “I know more than anybody” attitude. They say the same things about Iverson. In the offseason. Then when the season rolls around, and he’s leading the league in scoring, and he’s single-handedly taking his team to the Finals, they’re all trying to get the first sniff of his jock. What’s sad is that some people actually buy into this crap. Some people actually think journalists know more about basketball than the rest of us. Hah. Personally, I’d like to know which COACHES wouldn’t want Arenas on their team.

Oh, and

Also, don’t forget the many times he’s choked in the deciding moments of playoff games.

where does this come from? He may have “choked” when Lebron whispered in his ear at the FT line, but other than that I can’t remember him choking. Many times? Can someone enlighten me?

by CJHutch on Jul 30, 2009 8:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Apparently

In the mind of Charley Rosen, …… once is the same as many

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

by Rook6980 on Jul 30, 2009 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

National NBA journalists and reporters

are usually one of two things (in most cases). Ignorant or idiotic.

by lj15 on Jul 30, 2009 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rosen is both

by shoothoop on Jul 31, 2009 3:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rosen also said

A note to long-suffering Cavaliers’ fans: Don’t get caught up in the LeBron James pipe dream. The best King James can ever be is an average NBA player.

by shoothoop on Jul 31, 2009 3:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I said this at Broom's site and I'll say it here.

That was beautiful to read, and I’m not even a Wizards fan (obviously).

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 30, 2009 10:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Finally someone with some sense......

I have been so furious about everybody classifying Gilbert as a team killer and a “ball hog”. There are not many point guards in the league who can consistently play with two OTHER 20ppg players. Gilbert did it for 3 straight going back to Larry Hughes. Selfish players dont have 20 point a game players next to them AND score 30ppg. Gilbert is one of the best IF NOT THE BEST player this franchise as ever seen. And the “characterization” of his play ON the court as DRASTICALLY changed in many peoples eyes just because he’s OFF the court

by SkinsWizStangs on Jul 31, 2009 10:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The thing I don't understand...

…is why commentators (and/or fans) criticize Arenas’ offense at all. Gil is a sensational player on the offensive end, and his team had one of the league’s most potent offenses. And I don’t think it requires advanced stats to know this. Arenas critics should focus on the defensive end of the floor. Had Rosen called Arenas overrated and talked about what a lousy defender Gil is, I wouldn’t have complained a bit.

by TheSecretWeapon on Jul 31, 2009 1:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it's a bit weird

I just think a lot of commentators, coaches, bball people etc. only consider one right way to play offense, an orthodoxy of sorts. Players like Arenas who don’t fit that are automatically shunned. They don’t have an open mind to see beyond their framework.

It’s unfortunate, but understandable. You see stuff like this in every field.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Jul 31, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

To me it started with Barkley's criticisms of him on TNT

And like the media in a lot of different spheres everyone followed like lemmings. That article needs to be e-mailed to Rosen and every other Arenas critic.
As someone who admittedly has criticized Arenas’ usage in the past and much preferred the Gilbert we saw at the end of the 2009 season this kind of article is a fantastic eye opener. I always knew that despite my problems with Gilbert’s shot quotient that the Wizards were still a terrific offensive team. It’s the fact that his TS% and Offensive Rating put him ahead of some of the leagues top names that changes the debate for me.

"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck

by George Templeton on Aug 1, 2009 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs