Bench Mark: Arenas Is D.C.'s Super Sub

GILBERT ARENAS FEELS THE TIME isn't right to talk to the media. We all know that because he told the world on his blog.

Arenas' teammates have taken away some of the spotlight this week talking up their quest for revenge against Cleveland in their first round Eastern Conference showdown.

And though the low-lying (ahem) Arenas insists there's nothing to talk about until "I hit a couple of game winners," he'll attempt to do that as the highest-profile substitute in this year's NBA playoffs.

"Right now, we like it the way it is," Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said of Arenas coming off the bench. "I don't think there are any concerns even on Gil's part to be a starter.

"We still have to consider his minutes. They're still under doctor's orders. We hope that those 24-25 minutes can go to 30, 35, maybe, during the playoffs."

Arenas returned to the lineup on April 2 after a 66-game layoff to deal with a second surgery on his left knee. The Wizards are 3-2 in games Arenas has played in since his return, including his crucial 20-point, seven-rebound, five-assist performance in a win over Philadelphia that helped secure the fifth seed.

The spaced-out playoff schedule favors the Wizards since Arenas won't have to test his knee on back-to-back nights at any point. Arenas played three games in four days last week to help the Wizards cement their playoff position, but won't have played an NBA game in seven days when he laces up on Saturday.

"We hope it throws a little bit of a curveball on them," Jordan said of his new super sub. 'They're going to be prepared. He's not always going to go against their backups. He's going to go against starters."

When Arenas enters games, he speeds up a squad that has run Jordan's offense well all season.

"I think everybody gets a little extra juice when Gil comes in," center Brendan Haywood said. "He's coming out looking to pass more and get guys involved.
"But at the same time, he came out and proved in the Philly game that when it's time to take over a game, he's still got it."

Written by Express contributor Eric Brandner
Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post