Washington Wizards Refuse To Quit amid Distractions

Four years ago, the Wizards touted the highest scoring trio and brightest future in the NBA. Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, and Antawn Jamison were responsible for 65 points per game, and led Washington to their second consecutive playoff berth.

That was then, and this is now.

Arenas is suspended—likely gone for the rest of the season, and out of Washington for good. That leaves Butler and Jamison to carry the struggling Wizards for the rest of the season, or until they're traded. Despite their plight, neither man seems content to simply play out their time in Washington.

The Wizards are showing more life now than they did with their most lively player still in the lineup.

The Wizards' record since losing Arenas isn't pretty, but how well do most teams play without their top scorer? Despite losing four out of the last five, the Wizards are learning to get points from other players. No longer is the scoring deferred to Arenas.

Jamison is averaging 27 points and 11 rebounds since Jan. 6, when Arenas' suspension began. In games against Atlanta and Chicago, Jamison pulled down 19 and 18 rebounds, respectively.

If there were signs of rust from missing the first nine games due to a shoulder injury they're gone now.

Butler has stepped up his scoring lately. Coming off of back-to-back eight-point nights against Philadelphia and Cleveland, he is averaging 18 points per game. He topped out at 27 points in the double overtime loss to the Bulls.

But it isn't the two remaining stars that have stood out in Arenas' absence.

Brendan Haywood has been solid all season long, averaging close to a double-double for the year. He's averaging 12 points and 14 rebounds per game since the first night without Arenas. Against Chicago, he poured in 16 points and a season-high 20 rebounds.

Even more impressive is that he has missed just one game this season after sitting out almost the entire 2008-2009 season.

The best thing to come out of the loss of Arenas is the emergence of Randy Foye. Foye has had to step up and into the starting point guard position, and has done the most with the opportunity. Over his last six games, Foye is averaging 19 points and eight assists in his new role.

And he has only shot 20 or more times once over that stretch.

In his last six games prior to his suspension, Arenas had made 51 out of 128 shots. That's good for 40 percent from the field. To make matters worse, he shot 38 three- pointers and made just 13, or 34 percent of his attempts.

Foye is shooting 42 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range, but has only taken 25 shots from beyond the arc.

The biggest difference between Arenas and Foye is their free throw percentages. Arenas was 74 percent from the free throw line before his suspension, while Foye is shooting an outstanding 93 percent—all the more reason to retain Foye beyond this season.

The Wizards' spirit was on full display in their victory over the Kings on the 16th.

Not only did Washington give coach Flip Saunders his 600th career win, they did so without exceptional performances from their stars. The Wizards got good production from the starters, and some long-awaited scoring from their bench.

Nick Young chipped in 12 points off the bench, and Earl Boykins added 13. The surprise of the night, though, had to be DeShawn Stevenson hitting on all four of his shots in a rare start.

The Kings may not be championship contenders, but the Wizards still won.

The Wizards may be more like the Kings in due time, with the potential for a major roster overhaul still on the horizon. Butler and Jamison will be hot commodities when, and if, the Wizards decide to put them on the trading block. There has already been rumored interest from the Cavaliers, Rockets, and Knicks.

Very little has yet to materialize as the final move to void Arenas' sizable contract hasn't been made.

Once the Wizards commit themselves to cutting ties with the former face of the franchise, no one is safe in Washington. The season is still far from over, which means a lot more growing pains over the remaining 43 games. Things aren't going to be pretty in Washington for the next several months, maybe even the next few years.

With the eye of the media focused squarely on the Wizards, it is great to see that the players who can take the floor are taking it seriously.