Arenas held to just nine points in Wizards' loss

[TheBlueVan]

WASHINGTON -- Gilbert Arenas vowed to score 50 points against Portland.

"Thats like a dude saying he's going to punch you in your face."
-- Blazers' Jarrett Jack on Gilbert Arenas' 50-point prediction

He wasn't even close as the Washington Wizards fell to the Trail Blazers 94-73 on Sunday.

Arenas had made the promise in retaliation for Portland coach Nate McMillan's involvement with Arenas being left off the U.S. national team last summer. The guard, who is averaging 29.4 points, shot 3-for-15 from the field, including 0-for-8 on 3-pointers. He finished with nine points.

"Thats like a dude saying he's going to punch you in your face," said Jarrett Jack, who guarded Arenas for most of the game. "With a guy like him, Kobe or LeBron, the easy way to guard him is don't let him get the ball back when he passes it. We did a good job of trying to deny him when he was one pass away, and my big guys did a great job of helping me whenever he got by me."

Jack and LaMarcus Aldridge scored 18 points each to lead Portland.

The Trail Blazers are the only team that Arenas has not scored 30 points against during his six-year NBA career.

"We have a new philosphy now and that is focusing on defense," said Arenas, who spent most of the game guarding Jack, who shot 5-for-8 from the field with five assists. "Right now we are still adjusting to that. At the end of the day, they scored a lot of easy baskets on us."

Reserve guard Juan Dixon had 14 points on 7-for-11 shooting with four steals and three assists in 27 minutes for Portland, which has won two straight.

"Dixon basically helped with the scouting report last night and really helped out on the floor with giving us the calls and knowing what to take away," McMillan said of the former Wizards player. "But we did have some other guys -- Jarrett played a really nice game and LaMarcus probably played his best game offensively and defensively."

With their 22nd victory, the Blazers eclipsed their win total of last season.

"Other than the [20] turnovers, they probably executed the game plan better than we've seen them this season," McMillan said.

DeShawn Stevenson had 12 points and Caron Butler added 10 for the Wizards.

"You can't put your finger on it," Butler said. "Portland played good basketball, that's it. They played great basketball on both ends of the floor. As a player, I was embarrassed about our effort."

Washington lost its second straight and fourth in five games since forward Antawn Jamison went down with a sprained left knee on Jan. 30.

Arenas averaged 28.5 points in two starts against Portland last season.

"When you tell a team: 'Hey, we don't have Antawn anymore. We can't outscore people. You've proven that we can't outscore people anymore. We have to go out there and stop people,' for a scoring team, it kind of takes that air out of you," Arenas said of what the Wizards have been hearing lately from coach Eddie Jordan. "We're who we are. We're a high-scoring team. We're a running team. That's what we do. We're a high-scoring caliber team."

Not on this day, when the Wizards scored a season-low 73 points, seven less than their previous low.

"That's just plain stupid," Jordan said of Arenas' comments about playing defense. "The whole idea of us having to have to play defense better, is that a problem or is that a question? That's ludicrous.

"We haven't found the answer for missing Antawn," said Jordan, who's waiting for some one to step up and fill the leadership void created by their injured captain. "We're searching. ... Leadership is a big thing for a team. We don't have leadership and we don't have guys who can make plays like Antawn makes plays. ... Frankly, we didn't have enough talent on the floor."

[nashtymavsfan13]

Good job by the Blazers, they have a lot of potential.

[Stranger]

Ha, I love Gilbert but this is like pointing to the left-field fence and popping out to the first baseman.

[antoinewalker]

dang it, i wanted gilbert to own the blazers. oh well.

[capitalcity]

MVP.

[SeattleMavsFan]

I have no problem saying he is going to own the blazers, I think there needs to be more competitiveness like this but it is pretty funny that he tanked so bad lol

[Nemesis]

just another punk in the playground now...

[spreedom]

Arenas is a chucker.. nothing more. I don't ever get too excited when I see he's going to be on TV. He just forces way too many shots and gambles way too much on defense.

LOL at his 0-for-8 from downtown.

[dude1394]

Any player that talks about what HE'S going to get is in the wrong state of mind play good basketball. Too much sportscenter.

[Dirkadirkastan]

Originally Posted by dude1394

Any player that talks about what HE'S going to get is in the wrong state of mind play good basketball. Too much sportscenter.

Sportscenter showed the conference after the game, when his coach called out on Arenas and his lack of leadership skills, team mindset, etc. If only he would do that after one of Gilberts high scoring games.

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

Sportscenter showed the conference after the game, when his coach called out on Arenas and his lack of leadership skills, team mindset, etc. If only he would do that after one of Gilberts high scoring games.

Diva probably thought he was doing great.

[SaltwaterChaffy]

HIBACHI!!!!

[Flacolaco]

I think that in 10 years, Arenas and Garnett will have a lot in common to talk about.

[Windmill360]

what an ass.