Gilbert Arenas Rocks

[John Galt]

Sure, he is completely insane, but he still rocks.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/03/sports/basketball/03arenas.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/03/sports/basketball/03arenas.html?_r=1&oref=slogin','401)

"Spending countless hours participating anonymously in online auctions, e-mailing prospective sellers and reaching out to the league's player network, Arenas has collected 262 jerseys — from Bob Cousy to George Mikan, from Ron Artest to Zeljko Rebraca. (It was a gift.)

But why? It is a question Arenas often hears.

"I'm going to build a gym, with an all-glass mirrored floor and walls," Arenas said this week. "In the glass, it will be all jerseys, every player I came in contact with. When I finish my career, my jersey will be the last jersey I'll put in there."

[KevinNU7]

Where can email him to give him my jersey?

[stevew]

Resisting the urge to start a parody thread "Gilbert Arenas Flops." Seems like he goes down way too quickly on contact.

[wade moore]

He's also known for giving his jersey to kids. In fact, when he went to the all-star game, he had a bunch of jerseys ordered for him to take with him to hand out.

[John Galt]

My favorite Arenas story is of course the coin flip decision to come to the Wizards. I can't find the original Kornheiser column talking about it, but this is from a later article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51539-2005Jan5.html

"Playoff MVP Gilbert Arenas credited Muresan with making the difference against Shaq and Tim Duncan. Said Arenas: "I can't understand one word that dude says. Where's he from, Pakistan? But when he's out there, nobody wants a piece of him, not even Shaq. He clears out the paint like human Glade." (At the ceremony honoring the Wizards' championship, Arenas recalled the coin-flip episode in which he decided to come to Washington despite the fact that eight of his 10 coin flips landed on the side designated for the Clippers, explaining, "I must have been crazy thinking about going to the Clippers. Who wants to live in Oregon all year?")"

[wade moore]

Hah.. Arenas rocks.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Playoff MVP? Wizards' championship? Exactly how much of that article is fact and how much is fiction?

[John Galt]

Playoff MVP? Wizards' championship? Exactly how much of that article is fact and how much is fiction?

The Kornheiser column is fiction (sarcasm really). I just posted it because it retells the coin flip story (which is true). I couldn't find Tony's original take on it which I remember being hilarious.

edit: here is an article without any fictional components talking about the coin flip:

http://www.hoopsworld.com/cgi-bin/news/exec/view.cgi?archive=39&num=5204

The story that Arenas flipped a coin to decide between the Clippers and the Wizards as a free agent – picking the opposite of the coin’s result, though I must commend him for using a ten-flip sample size – combined with a re-telling of the stories about Arenas skipping practice and deciding not to shoot for three and a half quarters in one game have caused fans and experts to wonder about Arenas’ stability.

[JeeberD]

He's also known for giving his jersey to kids.

I read the other day that he takes his jersey off and throws it into the crowd after each and every game. He couldn't afford to do that his rookie year (jerseys cost like $200 each) so he was tossing his shoes into the crowd instead.

Seems like a cool cat...

[Sublime 2]

I read the other day that he takes his jersey off and throws it into the crowd after each and every game. He couldn't afford to do that his rookie year (jerseys cost like $200 each) so he was tossing his shoes into the crowd instead.

Seems like a cool cat...

I didn't know the jerseys came out of the players money. That's kind of a cool thing to know. I just always figured the teams paid for them.

[DeToxRox]

ESPN did a piece on the kid he's basically taken in as his own little brother since he never had one. The kid lost his dad, and Arenas was in the same situation as a kid, so he got the kid a job as ball boy and hes going to pay for his college when the time comes. Definetly a good guy.

[DeToxRox]

Dola. Reading that article I realized it was a kid without a mother, as Gilbert didnt grow up with a mom.

[Sublime 2]

After reading this thread, my dislike for Gilbert (I bleed Celtic Green baby!) has turned into a good amount of respect. Though I still hate his BS game-winners this season vs the C's!!

[Vince]

I was quite disappointed when he left the Warriors.

A college buddy of mine played against him in High School -- said it was never any fun defending him :)

[stevew]

Outside of the fact that this dude is currently on the enemy, I do like his game for the most part. In the NBA he's actually, dare you say, a bargain, as he makes less than the Maximum salary. As far as him leaving the Warriors, staying for about half the money wasn't really a realistic option. The Warriors front office botched it when they decided to not make enough moves to get under the cap to retain him.

[SnDvls]

It's people like Gilbert that make it hard for me to hate anything and everything that went to u of a.

[John Galt]

Gilbert is still, by far, my favorite NBA player. More Gilbert Arenas goodness:

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2006/10/agent_zero_stories_galore.html
http://www.esquire.com/features/articles/2006/061005_mfe_November_06_Gilbert.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/28/AR2006102800830.html

And you can read his blog at:
http://www.nba.com/blog/gilbert_arenas.html

[Subby]

I love Gilbert Arenas and I am glad he is on my favorite team. Guy works as hard as anybody in the league.

[wade moore]

I love Gilbert Arenas and I am glad he is on my favorite team. Guy works as hard as anybody in the league."

[stevew]

The Post article where it talks about the lengths he went to in order to avoid being served was hilarious. Not that he was trying to avoid responsibility, just that California law would have gotten his ass good.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/28/AR2006102800830.html

[John Galt]

My favorite insane Gilbert tidbits:

"Agent Zero [Arenas] plays against his virtual self in Xbox, talking trash to virtual Gilbert."

"When I get a new cell phone, first thing I do is turn it off and call from my house phone and leave stupid little messages to myself. Like: "It's me." "It's me." "This is Gilbert." "It's me." "It's Gilbert." I just fill it up, so no one can leave messages."

"I had my house converted to the Colorado altitude, so I am always above sea level," Arenas said Monday at the Wizards annual pre-training camp media day. . . . "I had to put a tent in one room, and then they are going to come during training camp and fix the whole house," Arenas said. "Then I have a have a portable tent I'm taking on the road."

[Subby]

link (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/18/AR2006121800023_pf.html)

Arenas Sets the Standard
Wizards Guard Pours In 60 Points For Franchise Record, Overtime Win: Wizards 147, Lakers 141

By Ivan Carter
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, December 18, 2006; E01

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 17 -- When it was finished and Gilbert Arenas had set a franchise record by scoring 60 points and beating the team he once dreamed of playing for, the Washington Wizards guard stopped near midcourt at Staples Center and took a bow.

It was a fitting end to a sublime performance.

In a game that was slipping away from the Wizards, who watched a 17-point fourth-quarter lead eventually evaporate when Brian Cook tied the game and forced overtime with a three-pointer, Arenas saved his team by scoring 31 points during the fourth quarter and overtime while leading the Wizards to a 147-141 overtime victory Sunday night in front of a sellout crowd of 18,997.

The last Wizard to score 50 points in a game was Michael Jordan, who scored 51 on Dec. 29, 2001, against the Charlotte Hornets, and the previous franchise high was held by Earl Monroe, who scored 56 in an overtime win over the Lakers in 1968.

"It's a great feeling because all of my friends are Kobe Bryant fans," said Arenas, who grew up in Los Angeles and hosted around 75 friends and family Sunday night. "It's just a great feeling."

Arenas's final line shows that he hurt the Lakers in just about every way possible. He made 17 of 32 shots overall and 5 of 12 three-pointers, including a huge one in overtime that gave the Wizards a five-point lead with 57 seconds remaining, and also made 21 of 27 free throw attempts.

"I was just mad at myself for missing so many free throws," said Arenas, who set an NBA record by scoring 16 overtime points. "I looked at the sheet and it said I missed six but it felt like I missed 20."

Arenas has now scored at least 40 points in a NBA-high five games this season and scored at least 30 in six of the last seven games. Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler -- already the highest-scoring trio in the league -- combined to score 112 points Sunday night.

The Wizards have won eight of their last 10 games and opened a four-game trip that continues Monday night at Denver in style, beating the Lakers in Los Angeles for only the second time since 1991-92.

Arenas's heroics were needed on a night when Washington's lead hovered around double figures throughout the second half before the Lakers mounted a strong comeback in the final minutes.

The big play came when Bryant drove and made a layup while drawing a foul on Jamison and completed the three-point play by making the free throw, drawing the Lakers to 125-123 with 24 seconds remaining. After DeShawn Stevenson made 1 of 2 free throws, Cook caught a pass from Bryant, pump-faked and then made a three-pointer, tying the game with 5.7 seconds remaining.

Arenas had a chance to make the game-winner but his attempted jumper over Bryant was long and the game went to overtime. Bryant, who scored a season-high 53 points in Friday's win over Houston, led the Lakers with 45 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds but his individual brilliance wasn't enough to handle Arenas and the Wizards.

Bryant was on the receiving end of some of Arenas's biggest plays. On one key overtime possession, Butler dribbled the ball up the floor and Arenas, reading that Bryant was overplaying the passing lane, cut backdoor and took a bounce pass from Butler.

He made a difficult layup while drawing a foul on Andrew Bynum and made the free throw, giving the Wizards a 139-137 lead. In overtime, Arenas made 5 of 6 shots including two three-pointers, and was 6 of 6 from the free throw line.

Jamison added 25 points for the Wizards on 8-of-18 shooting while grabbing a team-high 13 rebounds and Butler scored 27 points on 7-of-14 shooting.

Before the game, Lakers Coach Phil Jackson talked about how difficult it is defending the Wizards, who have been clicking offensively for two weeks now.

"This day and age in the NBA it's real difficult to find teams with three players who can do that," Jackson said. "Dallas has three. You might get three guys who step up on a given night in San Antonio, but this group, they're really impressive. They're very aggressive with scoring and they have a great offense that works with those real aggressive scorers. They play their defense to get out and run and that makes it difficult to guard them on any particular part of the floor."

[Subby]

This is my favorite Boulezards team ever.

That is all.

[wade moore]

This is my favorite Boulezards team ever.

That is all.

If it weren't for the black/gold uni's...

[Subby]

They are obviously magical.

[John Galt]

Go Agent Zero.

[Toddzilla]

Hibachi!

[digamma]

I turned down free luxury suite tix last night. My bad.

[Subby]

I turned down free luxury suite tix last night. My bad.
baller card revoked

[digamma]

baller card revoked

That means I had one. Suuuuhhhhhh-weeeeeeeettt!

[sterlingice]

Good read

SI

[heybrad]

I'm watching the Sun-Wizards game and Arenas is a pretty incredible player.

[heybrad]

On the other hand, Nash is pretty good too.

[Subby]

Updated: Jan. 12, 2007, 3:02 PM ET
Scouting breakdown: Arenas is a unique combo

Scouts Inc.
By David Thorpe

This summer I was working out some guys and I asked them, "Who is the toughest player to guard, off the dribble, in the league?" Their answer surprised me: Gilbert Arenas (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3540).

Later I spoke to a video coach (who breaks down every play from every game and archives them) for a Western Conference team and asked him the same question. He said the same thing my players did.
<!--------------------------START PLAYER CARD------------------>
<!---------------------INLINE MINI-PLAYER CARD ENDS HERE--------------------> THE CONSUMMATE COMBO

With that in mind, and after studying Arenas this season, there is only one conclusion I can make: He is the best combo guard in the game today, and the benchmark that future combo guards will be measured against.<offer></offer>
What's a combo guard? A player that can be effective as both a dribbler and a shooter and can play point guard or shooting guard. He's neither a natural point nor tall enough to be a classic 2-guard. (Ideally a 2-guard is 6-foot-6 or taller.)

The new rules interpretations that penalize a defender for impeding an offensive player's movement have enabled more combo guards to find a place in the league. "Little" guys that can break down a defender with the dribble and create five-on-four actions and shoot with range coming off of screens or on kickouts have a place in the league now.

Some insiders consider former Sixth Man of the Year Bobby Jackson (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3191) the prototypical combo guard of his generation. Especially with the Kings, he had the size and incredible speed of a point guard, but with a scorer's mentality.

Dwyane Wade (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3708) was drafted as a combo, and even played some point guard his rookie season, though he's basically a full-time 2-guard now.
But even in such company, Arenas' talents are wholly unique. He's an unguardable player off the dribble and an excellent shooter with unlimited range and confidence, yet still enough of a passer to play the point effectively.

Here's a quick look at some of the specific qualities that make Arenas such a singular talent:

OFF THE DRIBBLE

Arenas has all of the necessary dribble moves to be effective -- crossovers, hesitations, behind the ankles, spins and change of speeds. But it's how he uses those moves in combination with his quickness that makes him impossible to stay in front of.

I liken him to boxing legend Joe Frazier -- always coming, always pushing, always in an opponent's face. Arenas puts the defender on his heels. (Try sliding your feet from that position. You can't because you have no balance -- a defender need to be on the balls of his feet to move adeptly.)
Arenas knows how to slow down just enough to keep his defender further off-balance and off-timing, then he habitually makes one of the most fundamental movements any attacking offensive player can make -- he "sits down" before he attacks.

That means he bends his knees a little more and crouches down with his upper body. He gets small, he gets low. Picture a running back exploding through a small hole in the line. Think of a sprinter, starting from a crouch. The lower center of gravity keeps Arenas balanced and also allows him to explode past his defender just a little faster.

So here's the formula that gets Arenas to the basket:
PM + NQ + CS = Blowing past the defender

That's "perfect mechanics" (staying low, with flawless ball handling) plus "natural quickness" plus "changing speeds."
If any of these elements were adjusted, Arenas would be easier to defend.
Kobe Bryant (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3118) and Wade have the same formula working for them, but they actually add the additional factor of elevation on the finish. This is the one area Arenas does not often show -- the ability to elevate over his defender or the help defense for the flush or finish.

Instead, he depends on an uncanny feel for when and how to release the ball. He has long arms and strong hands, so instead of jumping over people he extends around them or under their hands for the bucket. He is an excellent finisher, maybe just slightly behind Kobe and Wade, the league's finest.

Ultimately, many defenders find themselves unable to get in front of him. Sometimes they just reach out and grab him. This is another part of his arsenal -- his ability to get and make free throws.
Arenas has attempted 317 free throws in 34 games this season (making 83.3 percent). That's 9.3 per game.

Contrast that total with some other shooter/scorer types:

Mike Miller (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3404): 2.9 points per game
Ray Allen (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3080): 5.9 points per game
Mike Bibby (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3245): 5.6 points per game

Now compare him to Wade and Kobe, two of the top scorers/drivers in the game:

Wade:10.9 points per game
Kobe: 9.2 points per game

Clearly, his quickness, talent and strength put him in an elite class off the dribble.

ON THE JUMPER

While a number of players can penetrate and score, Arenas' ability to both drive and shoot the J makes him unique and nearly impossible to guard. He is an excellent shooter with very good form, a quick release and great range.

We've all seen him shoot and make some very deep 3-pointers, and the stats show his range and accuracy as well. He shoots a lot of 3s. Bryant, known for his quick trigger, shoots 4.8 3-pointers a game, while Wade tries fewer than two per game. Arenas attempts 7.9 3s per game ... and shoots the 3 much better than either Bryant or Wade. Arenas is at 39.6 percent from 3-point range on the season, while Kobe shoots at 34.8 percent and Wade at 27.7 percent. Of the top 10 highest-scoring guards in the NBA, Arenas has the best 3-point percentage.

He's not just a bomber, either. He has an excellent midrange jumper off the dribble, allowing him to toy with defenders. As he penetrates, head up and moving forward, his quick starts and stops give the defender no clue as to what his next move may be. Back off too much and he pulls up for the jumper with that quick release. Stay too close and he sits down and blows by you.

All of this means that defenders must always close out on Arenas just a little faster than they would a typical driver. Arenas uses their close-out speed to his advantage -- he sets up for a 3 before driving right by them for a shorter jumper or a layup.

Add it all up and you have one of the top shooters in the NBA, and one of the top slasher/drivers.

Arenas is, indeed, in a class by himself.

David Thorpe is an NBA analyst for ESPN.com and the executive director of the Pro Training Center in Clearwater, Fla., where he works as a personal coach for Udonis Haslem (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3765) (Miami Heat (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=mia)), Orien Greene (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3979) (Indiana Pacers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=ind)), Alexander Johnson (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=4173) (Memphis Grizzlies (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=mem)) and Kevin Martin (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3843) (Sacramento Kings (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=sac)). You can e-mail him here (http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/mailbagESPN?event_id=13886).

[sooner333]

I'm really pissed about this ice storm because I was really, really looking forward to heading up to OKC tonight to see Arenas play. It was all my friends were talking about the past two weeks...he's become our favorite player (except, I still think I like CP3 just as much).

[John Galt]

I just saw this from Gilbert's Wiki page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Arenas):

After a team practice, Arenas made a $20,000 bet with fellow Washington Wizard DeShawn Stevenson. Arenas claimed he could make more shots from the college basketball three point distance with one hand than Stevenson could make professional level three-pointers using two hands. Out of 100 attempts, Arenas completed 73 shots. While Stevenson was taking his shots, Arenas attempted to distract him during nearly every shot attempt, including trying to do a street basketball trick involving falling on the floor, throwing another basketball in the air in front of Stevenson's path, throwing an invisible football, and mimicking shooting motions off to Stevenson's side, among other acts. Stevenson needed to make his final ten shots just to tie, but only made his first five shots before missing his sixth (meaning Stevenson completed 68 of 96 attempts,) leading to Arenas winning the bet and extravagantly celebrating. Arenas added "I hope this don't mess you up for tomorrow" as a parting shot while Stevenson left the court.

There is actually a video of the event on Youtube:

hxxp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn6O42a5vl8

Hibachi!

[Subby]

Unreal how many shots an NBA guy can make without anyone in his face.

[wade moore]

John, don't take this the wrong way, but I think I have a Man Crush on Agent Zero.

[Easy Mac]

welcome to last week :)

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showpost.php?p=1378305&postcount=171

[John Galt]

John, don't take this the wrong way, but I think I have a Man Crush on Agent Zero.

I've probably only ever cheered for one other athlete (Barkley) as much as Arenas. In both cases, their ridiculous personalities made them much more human to me. These days, I'm just happy to have any athlete that I actually enjoy cheering for, so feel free to throw any label at me you want.

[John Galt]

welcome to last week :)

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showpost.php?p=1378305&postcount=171

I don't read that Youtube thread and everyone should know ALL Gilbert-related posts must appear in this thread. ;)

[Subby]

Well you put it in the wrong thread, silly.

[wade moore]

I've probably only ever cheered for one other athlete (Barkley) as much as Arenas. In both cases, their ridiculous personalities made them much more human to me. These days, I'm just happy to have any athlete that I actually enjoy cheering for, so feel free to throw any label at me you want.

That label wasn't at you. I was applying that label to myself, in all seriousness. I was trying to say that I wasn't using that term because I was quoting what you wrote, but because it's the truth...

In the end, I just sounded like a jackass ;).

[John Galt]

That label wasn't at you. I was applying that label to myself, in all seriousness. I was trying to say that I wasn't using that term because I was quoting what you wrote, but because it's the truth...

In the end, I just sounded like a jackass ;).

I'm an idiot. Because you began with "Don't take this the wrong way," I just assumed you said I had a man crush on Arenas and didn't read it carefully. And I didn't take that is anything other than a playful jab (although my reply reads grumpy). But as it turns out, I totally misread what you wrote and my reply sounds odd. Oh well. One of these days I'll master the Internets.

[wade moore]

I'm an idiot. Because you began with "Don't take this the wrong way," I just assumed you said I had a man crush on Arenas and didn't read it carefully. And I didn't take that is anything other than a playful jab (although my reply reads grumpy). But as it turns out, I totally misread what you wrote and my reply sounds odd. Oh well. One of these days I'll master the Internets.

The tubes can really jumble up and get confusing sometimes, don't worry, you're not the only one!

[albionmoonlight]

Unreal how many shots an NBA guy can make without anyone in his face.

That's true. The idea that "NBA Players can't shoot anymore" derives, in part, from how good defenses are nowdays.

15 years ago, you didn't have 7 footers like Kevin Garnett who are able to jump out and contest shots on the outside.

[Logan]

They showed this on PTI a few days ago. Kornheiser brought up the interesting point that Stevenson is grossing something like $900k this year. A $20k bet isn't exactly chump change to him.

[Fidatelo]

It's roughly equivalent to someone who earns $50k making a $1000 bet.

[st.cronin]

It's roughly equivalent to someone who earns $50k making a $1000 bet.

Not quite. The value of any given dollar goes down the more you have. So it's more like somebody who earns 50K making a $500 bet (depending on other variables).

[stevew]

Yeah, so Gilbert is pretty well done for the season with a knee injury. It's dissapointing cause he's a good guy to watch play. With Butler also injured the Wizards were pretty well done as it is. But this just confirms that. Better luck next year for the Wiz.