EJ, "The Jet", & "Sir" Charles

[ReddZone22]

I was a little surprised after watching TNT's Inside the NBA after the Cavs/Kings game last night. Barkley and Kenny Smith were asked to name the players who they thought deserved to start the all star game because Charles has repeatedly called the fans who vote to be drunk. Well after they told us their picks they proceeded to proclaim who they thought deserved to be at the game period. Smith said that Antwann Jamison deserved to go, Barkely agreed with him but then added Larry Hughes to the mix. However, neither one of them so much as thought about Arenas. Granted, Jamison and Hughes are having great years but how can "The Jet" and Charles say that they deserve to go to Denver before the Wizards's leading scorer? If you take away Arenas from Washington that team will fall off just like the Suns without Nash. I really hope that they are the only two who are going to leave Gilbert off their All-Star roster and not the coaches. On a side note I actually do like Inside the NBA and I usually agree with what Kenny and Chuck have to say, however this time I do not think I am the only one who disagrees with these so-called "experts."

[Chicat]

Arenas is constantly overlooked. I was pissed off the other night when he poured in 43 and Sportscenter highlighted the fact that he got most of those points in "garbage time". Meanwhile, what they failed to mention is that even though the opposing team scored 72 in the first half, Arenas still almost cut their lead to single digits in the second, almost single-handedly.

[PointGuardU03]

As good as Jamison and Hughes are, Arenas is clearly the leader of the team. And he's always the one taking, and most importantly making, the big shots and big plays at the end of games.

[DCCat]

I will take the minority view here. I enjoy Gil and think he's a phenomenal talent, but he does not have a well-rounded game yet. I think Hughes has been more valuable to the Wizards this season than Gil. He's made at least as many big shots as Gil in the last 20 or so games before his injury, he's a much better defender, and even though he and Gil are sort of co-point guards, Larry has taken on more of that responsibility and is averaging more assists. He's scoring nearly as many points as Gil and leads the league in steals. The Wizards have become totally dysfunctional without him in the last couple of games (much more so than in the couple of games this year when they were without Gil). And these views are coming from someone who has never been fond of Hughes's game ... until this year. His improvement has been extremely impressive. But the question is likely moot, because Larry is likely to be out until after the all-star game.

As for Jamison, he might make it because his position isn't as strongly contested, not because he is more deserving than Gil in any absolute sense.

As for the game against Dallas, over 3/4 of that game was "garbage time", and Gil (and the team as a whole) didn't really kick it into gear until they were down 37 early in the second half. (Dallas scored 73 in the first half, for the record.) Gil scored a lot of points off of Wizards steals from their pressure defense when Dallas was basically coasting. Still, his play was quite spectacular. One might wonder though where his leadership and scoring were when the Wiz were digging that 37 point hole.

But I'm not here to knock Gil, because I like his game, love watching him, and know he's a major piece of the puzzle for the Wiz. But I honestly think Hughes was having a better season until his injury.

[GreedyHo]

I've seen a lot of Wizards games this year. Not knocking the year Jamison is having because he is playing well but he is not in the class of Arenas and Hughes. Jamison plays like a 2 guard. I wish he would play like he did at UNC. Most of his shots are jumpers and he throws up some of the worst shots I've ever seen. Granted, he makes them at times, but there have been games where his shots don't fall and he looks terrible. No one can stop Arenas off the dribble. NO ONE. Look how many free throws he shot today. He shot poorly from the floor tonight, but he went to the line I believe 18 times.

Arenas doesn't have the respect of the league yet. It's kind of similar to when I talk to knuckle heads out here on the east coast about Arizona and the only thing they say is how we get knocked out in the first round. When I break down the stats for them to show how ignorant they are they can't counter. It's the same attitude with who is the better 3 point shooter Reddick or Salim. There is no way Reddick is a better shooter then Stoudamire. It's not even close when you look at the stats. But if you ask 10 people from the east coast, 9 out of 10 will say Reddick because most people out here don't acknowledge the west coast exists. Ignorance is bliss for most. I was talking to a friend of mine who went to Duke about Salim vs. Reddick. He tried to give me the argument that JJ is always the focal point for opposing team on D. Another ignorance moment. Salim gets boxed and 1 every freaking game. Then again if some of these east coast jerk offs even attempted to watch an Arizona game they would know that.

If Arenas doesn't make the all-star team, I will protest the NBA. I think this board is the only place where he gets his due. A lot of people around here appreciate Arena's skills.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by GreedyHo

I was talking to a friend of mine who went to Duke about Salim vs. Reddick. He tried to give me the argument that JJ is always the focal point for opposing team on D. Another ignorance moment. .

You mean your friend who PLAYED for Duke? He's a dumbass. Why else would he be moving to Boston?

BTW, I guess this post of yours means you weren't blinded today? Seriously, how did the Lasix go?