Barnes' Bark: As The Injury Turns

Barry Barnes, Columnist/Baltimore Lead Writer

[Barnes' views are his, and may not converge with those of i95Ballerz.com, any of its writers, or supporters]

September 21, 2008 - This week, a major storm rocked the D.C. area – Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas will miss the first two months of the season because his injured left knee was cleaned out. Just when things seemed to be in order for the Wizards to at least advance to the second round of this year’s playoffs, with forward Antawn Jamison and Arenas resigned, this happened.

Arenas signed a six-year deal for $111 million this off-season, which he earned, but for that reason, people may get upset. But I’m about to make people even more angry – Arenas should shut it down for the season, completely.

Injuries are common for professional athletes, but certain breakdowns can be costly. Arenas does not have to worry about the financial part because he is set for life, congratulations. But for the Wizards’ franchise to be set for the next six years, Arenas should sit this year to be truly ready for the next five. Arenas’ game is based on speed, cutting and penetrating. Arenas is a right handed player and all of his strength and pressure is put on his left side, especially on his left knee, which is the same knee he had surgery on three times in the last 18 months.

Gilbert Arenas (red), seen here the summer before last in the Barry Farms League, did not participate in such events this year. Nevertheless, he is scheduled for season-diminishing surgery.

Skilled players need certain parts of their body to be right so they can perform the way they are expected to. The Phoenix Suns’ guard/forward Grant Hill injured his left ankle years ago and like Arenas, he is a speed, cutting and penetrating player, too. Hill missed out on the prime of his playing career because he refused not to, or took bad advice to, play on his ankle before he was completely healed.

Vince Carter, of the New Jersey Nets, was another one known for his leaping ability. Although Carter did not miss out on his prime completely, he did lose a year or two of greatness because his left knee was not fully healed, insisiting on playing on it. There are many others who played with serious injuries and hurt their teams in the process, but you get the picture.

It is imperative for Arenas to be completely healthy for the Wizards to be successful in the future, even if it means missing this season. I’m not tying to be insensitive or make it sound easy – I’m just a writer, what do I know? But for the fans and Wizards owner, Ernie Grunfield, to get their investment, Arenas needs to be healthy.

No one wants to see Arenas play more than the fans of the Wizards, but if he plays this season, this is how it will be: Arenas will be out for the opener, November, December and probably all of January, having to get in “basketball shape” and mentally and physically. Because of that, February and March will be like exhibition for Arenas; not good because the team will gun for him because of who he is. In April, Arenas will have to learn his teammates - and vice versa - in real game situations - to avoid being lost like last season before the playoffs. And through all of this, the improved teams in the Eastern Conference will be battling for playoff spots. (We will talk about the improved teams in the season preview, stay tuned).

The good thing is the Wizards have proven an ability to play without Arenas, but with the absence of guard Roger Mason, Jr, who signed in the off-season with the San Antonio Spurs, this is even hampered. His not being there could hurt the Wizards down the road, especially if Arenas is out long term.

Arenas did the right things in the off-season and took good advice by not playing pick-up ball, overworking himself and his knee. Arenas is just 26 and he has done well for himself, especially for being a second round draft pick. Hopefully, my prediction would be wrong and go exactly the opposite way. But if this were to happen, can we, as fans, handle it if the Wizards were to lose in the first-round again, or miss the playoffs all together? Better yet, would the Wizards be able to handle it? Stay tuned!