The shorthanded Wizards (11-22), playing without the suspended Gilbert Arenas (who is going to be gone for a while) and Mike Miller (who may return Friday from a calf injury), couldn't slow down the now 28-9 Cavaliers, who took care of business at home in a comfortable 121-98 win. The performance was predictable considering this was the second game of a back-to-back on the road for the Wizards -- not to mention that they were without their best player. But unfortunately, they're going to have to adjust to playing without Arenas once again.
Offensively, the Wizards were decent, shooting 44 percent from the field and hitting eight of 16 three-pointers. But strong perimeter shooting was the only thing keeping the Wizards in the game, because they had no answer for the Cavs on defense. Cleveland shot over 57 percent from the field, made 11 of 22 threes, got to the free throw line 10 more times (making 24 of 30), outrebounded the Wizards by 16 (a 44-28 advantage), and dished out 13 more assists. Also, no Wizard posted a positive +/- number -- not even Dominic McGuire in his six garbage minutes at the end of the game.
As for individual numbers, only two Wizards were particularly noteworthy. First, Antawn Jamison led the team with 26 points and did his best to try to rally the troops in the third quarter. But because of Cleveland's much bigger frontcourt, he only grabbed two rebounds. And second, Randy Foye scored 18 points in 29 minutes off the bench. Foye mainly hit jumpers but was still a very solid 8-12 from the field. That was about it. Oh, and Earl Boykins had 10 points and six assists, so that's something worth mentioning.
Also, for the second straight night, Caron Butler didn't do a whole lot. Sure, he was matched up against LeBron James, but you'd think that with Arenas out, he'd try to assert himself more on the offensive end. Instead, Butler took only nine shots, making three of them, and scored just eight points. He also had four rebounds, three assists, and a steal, but that was it. Memo to Butler: With Arenas out, you're going to have to pick things up. Where's Tough Juice when you need him?
Again, this game's result wasn't surprising. How many teams could deal with the Arenas controversy and still be able to hang with the Cavs, one of the NBA's best, on the road? The Wizards played hard; they were just overmatched from the beginning.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Shanahan signs deal with Redskins
Mike Shanahan has agreed to become the next head coach of the Washington Redskins, signing a five-year deal reportedly worth $7 million per season. Shanahan will be introduced as head coach this afternoon.
In the above article, Adam Schefter also answers the widely asked question of how much say Shanahan will have in football matters: "Shanahan will team with Redskins executive vice president and general manager Bruce Allen, but Shanahan will have the ultimate authority on football decisions." So that answers that question.
Whether or not that's a good thing, Shanahan's signing is still very important. But he does have his work cut out for him. Anyway, there will be more on this to follow.
In the above article, Adam Schefter also answers the widely asked question of how much say Shanahan will have in football matters: "Shanahan will team with Redskins executive vice president and general manager Bruce Allen, but Shanahan will have the ultimate authority on football decisions." So that answers that question.
Whether or not that's a good thing, Shanahan's signing is still very important. But he does have his work cut out for him. Anyway, there will be more on this to follow.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Strong second half effort leads Wiz over 76ers
After allowing the Sixers to score 58 points in the first half (and trailing by 14 points), the Wizards went to work after halftime, outscoring Philadelphia by 12 points in the third quarter and nine points in the fourth. The Wizards also played better defense in the second half, holding the Sixers to 39 points in a 104-97 win on the road.
Playing without Brendan Haywood (sick) and Mike Miller, who wasn't ready to come back from his calf injury, the Wizards shot over 51 percent from the field and dished out 25 assists (to 14 turnovers). The loss of Haywood certainly hurt in the rebounding department -- the Sixers grabbed 10 more rebounds (a 42-32 edge) behind Samuel Dalembert, who had 20 of them (and 20 points too). Still, the Wizards forced 18 turnovers and forced the Sixers into taking more difficult shots in the second half.
Antawn Jamison led the Wizards with 32 points on 13-20 shooting; he also led the team with 14 rebounds -- nine more than anyone else. Gilbert Arenas scored 19 points on a not-so-efficient 6-15 from the field, but he did accumulate 14 assists, a season-high for him.
Unfortunately, Caron Butler didn't have a particularly solid game, only scoring eight points and grabbing four rebounds in 36 minutes. He also only took eight shots. But back to the good: Nick Young gave the Wizards a big spark off the bench, putting up 21 points on an outstanding 9-14 from the field. With the Wizards trailing by four with about five minutes left, Young put this sequence together: he hit an open three; cut to the lane on a fast break, banking in an and-one layup and making the free throw; and then went right at Allen Iverson and nailed a 15-foot jumper to put the Wizards up four and give them the lead for good.
This performance doesn't mean that the Wizards are going to rattle off several wins in a row, especially with consecutive games against Cleveland and Orlando coming up (and the Arenas suspension looming), but it was nice to see the Wiz close out a game in the fourth quarter and actually play like, you know, they cared.
One more thing: I know Dalembert was busy dominating the paint, but Andray Blatche has to do better than three rebounds in 38 minutes. Come on man, box someone out or something.
Playing without Brendan Haywood (sick) and Mike Miller, who wasn't ready to come back from his calf injury, the Wizards shot over 51 percent from the field and dished out 25 assists (to 14 turnovers). The loss of Haywood certainly hurt in the rebounding department -- the Sixers grabbed 10 more rebounds (a 42-32 edge) behind Samuel Dalembert, who had 20 of them (and 20 points too). Still, the Wizards forced 18 turnovers and forced the Sixers into taking more difficult shots in the second half.
Antawn Jamison led the Wizards with 32 points on 13-20 shooting; he also led the team with 14 rebounds -- nine more than anyone else. Gilbert Arenas scored 19 points on a not-so-efficient 6-15 from the field, but he did accumulate 14 assists, a season-high for him.
Unfortunately, Caron Butler didn't have a particularly solid game, only scoring eight points and grabbing four rebounds in 36 minutes. He also only took eight shots. But back to the good: Nick Young gave the Wizards a big spark off the bench, putting up 21 points on an outstanding 9-14 from the field. With the Wizards trailing by four with about five minutes left, Young put this sequence together: he hit an open three; cut to the lane on a fast break, banking in an and-one layup and making the free throw; and then went right at Allen Iverson and nailed a 15-foot jumper to put the Wizards up four and give them the lead for good.
This performance doesn't mean that the Wizards are going to rattle off several wins in a row, especially with consecutive games against Cleveland and Orlando coming up (and the Arenas suspension looming), but it was nice to see the Wiz close out a game in the fourth quarter and actually play like, you know, they cared.
One more thing: I know Dalembert was busy dominating the paint, but Andray Blatche has to do better than three rebounds in 38 minutes. Come on man, box someone out or something.
With Zorn gone, Redskins in talks with Shanahan
After firing Jim Zorn with one year left on his contract, Daniel Snyder, as expected, is in talks with Mike Shanahan to fill the team's head coaching vacancy. According to The Washington Post, Shanahan flew in on Snyder's private jet yesterday and met/talked with Snyder and Bruce Allen and "were expected" to do so "into the night." Sounds like fun.
The job is obviously Shanahan's to turn down, and why would he do so if he's reportedly being offered around $8-$10 million per season over five years? Anyway, look for him to be named head coach by the end of the week.
If Snyder can hire Shanahan, with Allen already on board as the team's general manager, then can this season really be called a failure? Well, sure it can. This organization was the laughingstock of the league this season, with an embarrassing loss to the Lions, a confusing sign ban at FedEx Field, and a circus of an offensive system after Zorn was stripped of his playcalling responsibilities (among many other things). However, the team's terrible performance did cause Vinny Cerrato to finally lose his job, which fans had been calling for for years, and even Zorn wore out his welcome with frustrating loss after frustrating loss.
This team has a lot of needs, but there's plenty of time to talk about that later. Hiring Allen was a step in the right direction, and now it's time to find the right coach. Is that Shanahan? We'll find out soon enough.
The job is obviously Shanahan's to turn down, and why would he do so if he's reportedly being offered around $8-$10 million per season over five years? Anyway, look for him to be named head coach by the end of the week.
If Snyder can hire Shanahan, with Allen already on board as the team's general manager, then can this season really be called a failure? Well, sure it can. This organization was the laughingstock of the league this season, with an embarrassing loss to the Lions, a confusing sign ban at FedEx Field, and a circus of an offensive system after Zorn was stripped of his playcalling responsibilities (among many other things). However, the team's terrible performance did cause Vinny Cerrato to finally lose his job, which fans had been calling for for years, and even Zorn wore out his welcome with frustrating loss after frustrating loss.
This team has a lot of needs, but there's plenty of time to talk about that later. Hiring Allen was a step in the right direction, and now it's time to find the right coach. Is that Shanahan? We'll find out soon enough.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Redskins fire Jim Zorn
Well that didn't take long, did it? The Redskins have fired head coach Jim Zorn after two full seasons in Washington, refusing to wait even 24 hours after the regular season had ended. I guess staying medium wasn't so effective after all.
The path now appears to be clear for Dan Snyder to hire Mike Shanahan to lead the team, especially since the team doesn't have to interview Jerry Gray again because they've already complied with the Rooney Rule.
After finishing 4-12 this season, Zorn's final record in D.C. was 12-20.
In a little less than three weeks, the Redskins have fired Vinny Cerrato, hired Bruce Allen to be the executive vice president of football operations and general manager, and now fired Jim Zorn. Yet again, the team will look completely different next season.
The path now appears to be clear for Dan Snyder to hire Mike Shanahan to lead the team, especially since the team doesn't have to interview Jerry Gray again because they've already complied with the Rooney Rule.
After finishing 4-12 this season, Zorn's final record in D.C. was 12-20.
In a little less than three weeks, the Redskins have fired Vinny Cerrato, hired Bruce Allen to be the executive vice president of football operations and general manager, and now fired Jim Zorn. Yet again, the team will look completely different next season.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Week 17 NFL picks
Picking games the last few weeks has been pretty difficult. Seriously, did anyone have Tampa Bay beating New Orleans? And what happened to the Giants last week?
The Saints (though they have clinched home-field) and Vikings have fallen back to the rest of the NFC pack a little bit. In the NFC East, the Eagles have won six games in a row -- they haven’t lost since Week 10 against the Chargers -- and the Cowboys have righted the ship with consecutive wins over the Saints and Redskins after losses to the Giants and Chargers. The Packers have also looked solid lately, with six wins in their last seven games -- the only loss coming when Ben Roethlisberger completed a last-second, 19-yard pass to Mike Wallace to steal a victory. All in all, the six playoff teams have already been determined in the NFC -- the Saints, Eagles, Vikings, Packers, Cowboys, and Cardinals -- and all that’s left to determine this week is final positioning.
In the AFC, things are much more hectic. The 14-1 Colts have already clinched home-field throughout the playoffs, so they don’t have anything to play for this week. The Chargers, Patriots, and Bengals have already clinched their respective divisions, with the Chargers also clinching a first-round bye. (By the way, did you know that the Chargers have won 10 games in a row? How did Norv Turner pull that off? And they’ve beaten some pretty good teams over that stretch too: the Eagles, Broncos, Cowboys, Bengals, and Titans.) As for the final two playoff spots, the Jets, Ravens, Steelers, Broncos, Texans, Jaguars, and Dolphins are all still alive and could sneak in with various combinations of wins and losses among those teams. If the Ravens and Jets win, then they’re both in. But if one or both of those teams falters, look out.
Anyway, for the final time this season, here are my picks for this week:
(Home team is in caps.)
Colts (+8) over BILLS
The Bills are pretty bad; the Colts are very good. But the Colts will be resting many of their starters, not wanting to risk further injuries. However, the bad weather may negate any kind of advantage the Bills would otherwise have on the field, so expect a close game in snowy and windy conditions.
PANTHERS (-7) over Saints
Drew Brees isn't playing. The Panthers have also looked much better with anyone other than Jake Delhomme playing quarterback. Don't be surprised if the Panthers win big.
Jaguars (+1) over BROWNS
The Browns have won three games in a row, beating the Steelers, Chiefs, and Raiders. Oddly enough, their quarterbacks have done almost nothing in those games; they can mostly thank Jerome Harrison and Joshua Cribbs for some outstanding performances. Even though the Jaguars only have a minimal chance to make the playoffs, they still need a win this week to have any possibility of sneaking in. And do you think the Browns can win four games in a row? I don't.
Bears (-3) over LIONS
The Bears looked great last week, so that probably means they'll lay an egg this week. Still, either Daunte Culpepper or Drew Stanton will start at quarterback for the Lions, who seem to be positioning for yet another high draft pick.
TEXANS (-7) over Patriots
How long will Tom Brady play? As of this moment, no one really knows. My guess is that he won't play at all in the second half, which would give the Texans a huge advantage. Houston desperately needs a win to have a chance, and as of this moment they're firing on all cylinders with three wins in a row. If Brady and the rest of the team's starers play the entire game, the Texans could be in trouble, but I don't think that's going to happen.
Steelers (-3) over DOLPHINS
Two losses in a row have all but ended the Dolphins season, but technically, they still have an outside chance to sneak in. The Steelers, though, have more realistic odds, needing a win and only a couple of losses. Unfortunately, they'll still be without safety Troy Polamalu, who the defense has certainly missed. Still, this is a big game, and the Steelers haven't lost many big games lately -- I'll go with Roethlisberger and Pittsburgh.
VIKINGS (-8) over Giants
The Vikings want that first-round bye, and to get it, they'll have to take care of the Giants. That shouldn't be too difficult, especially since the Giants apparently checked out before their Week 16 blowout loss to the Panthers. Brett Favre and crew have looked a little shaky the last two weeks, but expect them to get back to business this week.
49ers (-8) over RAMS
Move along, nothing to see here.
Falcons (-2) over BUCCANEERS
Ditto, though Michael Turner isn't expected to play.
Eagles (+3) over COWBOYS
Now here's an important game. The Eagles would like to earn a first-round bye (with a win and a Vikings loss), while the Cowboys would like to prevent that from happening while also earning that same first-round bye with a win, a Vikings loss, and a Cardinals loss. Both teams are playing their best football of the season, and each would like nothing more than to knock the other down the totem pole a bit. As for my pick, I just think the Eagles are better.
CARDINALS (-3) over Packers
The Packers don't have much to play for, while the Cardinals can clinch a first-round bye with a win, a Vikings loss, and an Eagles loss. How long Aaron Rodgers, Kurt Warner, or any of the other starters will play is anyone's guess. That's always fun.
BRONCOS (-10) over Chiefs
Anything less than a Broncos blowout would be a big surprise.
Ravens (-11) over RAIDERS
Ed Reed returns for the Ravens. Charlie Frye is starting at quarterback for the Raiders. Enough said.
CHARGERS (-3.5) over Redskins
Philip Rivers may not play more than a few series, but it won't matter if the Redskins can't score any points. The Redskins seem to have given up on the season, and just as it happened last year against San Francisco, flying across the country for the last game of the season isn't going to change that.
Titans (-6) over SEAHAWKS
Chris Johnson is going to have a HUGE game.
Bengals (+10) over JETS
I haven't been able to figure out the Bengals all season, so why wouldn't they keep this game close while they have nothing to play for?
Last week: 5-9-2
Season: 126-107-7
The Saints (though they have clinched home-field) and Vikings have fallen back to the rest of the NFC pack a little bit. In the NFC East, the Eagles have won six games in a row -- they haven’t lost since Week 10 against the Chargers -- and the Cowboys have righted the ship with consecutive wins over the Saints and Redskins after losses to the Giants and Chargers. The Packers have also looked solid lately, with six wins in their last seven games -- the only loss coming when Ben Roethlisberger completed a last-second, 19-yard pass to Mike Wallace to steal a victory. All in all, the six playoff teams have already been determined in the NFC -- the Saints, Eagles, Vikings, Packers, Cowboys, and Cardinals -- and all that’s left to determine this week is final positioning.
In the AFC, things are much more hectic. The 14-1 Colts have already clinched home-field throughout the playoffs, so they don’t have anything to play for this week. The Chargers, Patriots, and Bengals have already clinched their respective divisions, with the Chargers also clinching a first-round bye. (By the way, did you know that the Chargers have won 10 games in a row? How did Norv Turner pull that off? And they’ve beaten some pretty good teams over that stretch too: the Eagles, Broncos, Cowboys, Bengals, and Titans.) As for the final two playoff spots, the Jets, Ravens, Steelers, Broncos, Texans, Jaguars, and Dolphins are all still alive and could sneak in with various combinations of wins and losses among those teams. If the Ravens and Jets win, then they’re both in. But if one or both of those teams falters, look out.
Anyway, for the final time this season, here are my picks for this week:
(Home team is in caps.)
Colts (+8) over BILLS
The Bills are pretty bad; the Colts are very good. But the Colts will be resting many of their starters, not wanting to risk further injuries. However, the bad weather may negate any kind of advantage the Bills would otherwise have on the field, so expect a close game in snowy and windy conditions.
PANTHERS (-7) over Saints
Drew Brees isn't playing. The Panthers have also looked much better with anyone other than Jake Delhomme playing quarterback. Don't be surprised if the Panthers win big.
Jaguars (+1) over BROWNS
The Browns have won three games in a row, beating the Steelers, Chiefs, and Raiders. Oddly enough, their quarterbacks have done almost nothing in those games; they can mostly thank Jerome Harrison and Joshua Cribbs for some outstanding performances. Even though the Jaguars only have a minimal chance to make the playoffs, they still need a win this week to have any possibility of sneaking in. And do you think the Browns can win four games in a row? I don't.
Bears (-3) over LIONS
The Bears looked great last week, so that probably means they'll lay an egg this week. Still, either Daunte Culpepper or Drew Stanton will start at quarterback for the Lions, who seem to be positioning for yet another high draft pick.
TEXANS (-7) over Patriots
How long will Tom Brady play? As of this moment, no one really knows. My guess is that he won't play at all in the second half, which would give the Texans a huge advantage. Houston desperately needs a win to have a chance, and as of this moment they're firing on all cylinders with three wins in a row. If Brady and the rest of the team's starers play the entire game, the Texans could be in trouble, but I don't think that's going to happen.
Steelers (-3) over DOLPHINS
Two losses in a row have all but ended the Dolphins season, but technically, they still have an outside chance to sneak in. The Steelers, though, have more realistic odds, needing a win and only a couple of losses. Unfortunately, they'll still be without safety Troy Polamalu, who the defense has certainly missed. Still, this is a big game, and the Steelers haven't lost many big games lately -- I'll go with Roethlisberger and Pittsburgh.
VIKINGS (-8) over Giants
The Vikings want that first-round bye, and to get it, they'll have to take care of the Giants. That shouldn't be too difficult, especially since the Giants apparently checked out before their Week 16 blowout loss to the Panthers. Brett Favre and crew have looked a little shaky the last two weeks, but expect them to get back to business this week.
49ers (-8) over RAMS
Move along, nothing to see here.
Falcons (-2) over BUCCANEERS
Ditto, though Michael Turner isn't expected to play.
Eagles (+3) over COWBOYS
Now here's an important game. The Eagles would like to earn a first-round bye (with a win and a Vikings loss), while the Cowboys would like to prevent that from happening while also earning that same first-round bye with a win, a Vikings loss, and a Cardinals loss. Both teams are playing their best football of the season, and each would like nothing more than to knock the other down the totem pole a bit. As for my pick, I just think the Eagles are better.
CARDINALS (-3) over Packers
The Packers don't have much to play for, while the Cardinals can clinch a first-round bye with a win, a Vikings loss, and an Eagles loss. How long Aaron Rodgers, Kurt Warner, or any of the other starters will play is anyone's guess. That's always fun.
BRONCOS (-10) over Chiefs
Anything less than a Broncos blowout would be a big surprise.
Ravens (-11) over RAIDERS
Ed Reed returns for the Ravens. Charlie Frye is starting at quarterback for the Raiders. Enough said.
CHARGERS (-3.5) over Redskins
Philip Rivers may not play more than a few series, but it won't matter if the Redskins can't score any points. The Redskins seem to have given up on the season, and just as it happened last year against San Francisco, flying across the country for the last game of the season isn't going to change that.
Titans (-6) over SEAHAWKS
Chris Johnson is going to have a HUGE game.
Bengals (+10) over JETS
I haven't been able to figure out the Bengals all season, so why wouldn't they keep this game close while they have nothing to play for?
Last week: 5-9-2
Season: 126-107-7
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Amid distraction, Wizards lose to Spurs
It's not surprising that the Wizards lost to the Spurs, especially with the current off-court distractions disrupting the team's focus on improvement. However, with one quarter left to play, the Wizards led the Spurs 71-70 and had a strong chance of winning the game.
And then the fourth quarter started. The Spurs turned up the defensive pressure, and the Wizards started to settle for jump shots instead of attacking the rim. Believe it or not, the Wizards actually outscored the Spurs 34-16 in the paint, but only four of those points came in the fourth quarter. The Wizards also failed to shoot a single free throw in the final frame.
Meanwhile, the Spurs took a lot of jump shots too, but they collectively shot over 50 percent from the field in the game and ran their offense efficiently in the fourth quarter to get plenty of open looks. They also got to the free throw line eight times in the quarter -- and made all eight of them.
The Wizards put forth a strong effort against a very good team, but the performance wasn't unlike what the team has shown this season. They had a chance to win but just didn't seize the opportunity with enough big plays in crunch time.
As for statistical notes, Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, and Antawn Jamison scored 23, 24, and 17 points, respectively. Arenas shot too much (10-25 from the field), while the other two were more effective with fewer shots. Brendan Haywood chipped in four points (on only five shots) and nine rebounds, while Andray Blatche, getting the start at power forward, scored five points (on six shots) and grabbed six rebounds.
Fabricio Oberto played 14 minutes and DeShawn Stevenson played seven minutes, so Flip Saunders must have really been desperate to try to improve the team's defensive effort. They both played hard, and they're decent defenders, but they contributed about nothing on offense (three combined points). I'm not really sure what kind of message that sends to Dominic McGuire (one minute) and Nick Young (DNP).
Overall, the Wizards were outrebounded by just one (37-36) had 17 assists (and nine turnovers).
And then the fourth quarter started. The Spurs turned up the defensive pressure, and the Wizards started to settle for jump shots instead of attacking the rim. Believe it or not, the Wizards actually outscored the Spurs 34-16 in the paint, but only four of those points came in the fourth quarter. The Wizards also failed to shoot a single free throw in the final frame.
Meanwhile, the Spurs took a lot of jump shots too, but they collectively shot over 50 percent from the field in the game and ran their offense efficiently in the fourth quarter to get plenty of open looks. They also got to the free throw line eight times in the quarter -- and made all eight of them.
The Wizards put forth a strong effort against a very good team, but the performance wasn't unlike what the team has shown this season. They had a chance to win but just didn't seize the opportunity with enough big plays in crunch time.
As for statistical notes, Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, and Antawn Jamison scored 23, 24, and 17 points, respectively. Arenas shot too much (10-25 from the field), while the other two were more effective with fewer shots. Brendan Haywood chipped in four points (on only five shots) and nine rebounds, while Andray Blatche, getting the start at power forward, scored five points (on six shots) and grabbed six rebounds.
Fabricio Oberto played 14 minutes and DeShawn Stevenson played seven minutes, so Flip Saunders must have really been desperate to try to improve the team's defensive effort. They both played hard, and they're decent defenders, but they contributed about nothing on offense (three combined points). I'm not really sure what kind of message that sends to Dominic McGuire (one minute) and Nick Young (DNP).
Overall, the Wizards were outrebounded by just one (37-36) had 17 assists (and nine turnovers).
Latest links/reports on the Arenas gun situation
In case you haven't heard by now, according to multiple sources, Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton apparently had some sort of heated confrontation earlier this season, and the two may have been holding guns during the ordeal. There are conflicting reports out right now about the severity of the confrontation between the two, but here is some of the latest information on the situation.
Marc Stein, ESPN:
Marc Stein, ESPN:
Michael Lee, Washington Post:
A dispute that began on the team plane and resumed more than 24 hours later in the team's locker room between Washington Wizards guards Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton is at the center of an investigation by local and federal authorities into Arenas' recent admission of gun possession on Wizards property, according to sources close to the situation.
Multiple sources told ESPN.com that an argument commenced during a card game on the team's overnight flight back to Washington from Phoenix on Dec. 19 and escalated into a heated exchange between Arenas and Crittenton. The Wizards had Dec. 20 off, but sources say the hostilities resumed Dec. 21 in the locker room on a practice day.
Sources say that Arenas, in response to what was said on the flight, placed three guns he owns on a chair near Crittenton's locker stall and invited him to pick one before practice on Dec. 21. Sources said that Crittenton subsequently let Arenas know that he had his own gun.
Surely there's more to come, but I believe these are the two stories with the most up-to-date information. As always, it's a good idea to head over to Bullets Forever and Truth About It for more coverage on this situation and its ramifications.
When contacted by phone on Friday, Arenas's father, Gilbert Sr., also denied that Arenas and Crittenton pulled weapons on each other. "From the respect of guns being pulled in the locker room and at each other, yes, that's ludicrous," Arenas Sr. said. "Him bringing the guns to the locker room to keep away from his kids, that's true. Gil did not pull a gun on anybody. That's about all that I can say."
. . . According to two sources close to the team, Crittenton and Arenas had a disagreement on the team plane on the Wizards flight from Phoenix on Dec. 19. The reason for the dispute is unclear, but it may have been over a card game.
A person who has spoken with Arenas recently said that the incident involving Crittenton was "nothing more than horseplay" and that there was never any intent to physically harm Crittenton. The person also said the argument between Arenas and Crittenton was over "who had the bigger gun."
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