Swengali: No Arenas? No Problem This Year

EARLIER THIS YEAR, we asked whether the Washington Wizards were better off without Gilbert Arenas, and we eventually decided the team's best player was needed to win in the playoffs.

Mea Culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa.

I was wrong, at least this year and in this most unusual situation.

Surely, it's no coincidence that the Wizards' two wins over Cleveland — including Wednesday night's thriller to stave off elimination — came when Arenas wasn't even a factor.

Agent Zero's presence has been a distraction all season. When he's healthy, he's one of the NBA's great players.

Anyone who's watched Washington the past month knows Arenas was anything but great, and the Wizards were worse trying to fit him in after he missed most of the season.

Out of deference, coach Eddie Jordan kept giving Arenas the ball on the line, including in last Sunday's loss in Game 4 when the All-Star was a mile off on his final shot.

You have to admire Arenas' willingness to play through pain, but sometimes it's best for everyone to just sit out.

Perhaps sensing that, Arenas pulled the plug on this mini soap opera Wednesday when he declared himself out for the postseason before Game 5. The Wizards' win delays the big question about what to do should Arenas, bad knee and all, opt out of his contract.

On Friday night, in yet another elimination game, there is no question who will get the ball in key situations: Caron Butler, and the team will better for it.

No. 3 is much better than Zero this year.

Photo by Preston Keres/The Washington Post