| Arenas vows better 'D' next season |
 |
| Written by Admin |
| Thursday, 10 May 2007 11:59 |
|
WASHINGTON (AP) -Gilbert Arenas is vowing to be a better defensive player when he completes his comeback from season-ending surgery on his left knee in April. ``This summer I have to work hard to get my knee back to 100 percent and make sure my legs are stronger than they were last year,'' Arenas said Thursday, when he made the All-NBA second team. ``Working on getting my knees stronger will help improve my defense, too, because I can get down and play defense for a longer period of time.'' During the season, Arenas and Wizards coach Eddie Jordan clashed publicly about Jordan's desire for better defense. Arenas joined Elvin Hayes as the only players in franchise history to receive an All-NBA honor three consecutive seasons. ``It's a real accomplishment,'' Arenas said in a statement issued by the Wizards, ``and a lot of the credit has to go to my teammates.'' He was a third-team selection after the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. Arenas finished third in the league in scoring this season, averaging 28.4 points, and helped the Wizards reach the playoffs for the third straight year. But he missed the postseason after having knee surgery April 5. He scored 30 or more points in 35 games and 50 or more points in three, including a franchise-record 60 against the Los Angeles Lakers in December. With Arenas leading the way, Washington ranked fourth in the NBA in offense at 104.3 points. But the Wizards also allowed 104.9 points per game - more than all but two teams in the 30-team NBA. ``We have been playoff contenders for three years in a row, but that is not good enough anymore. We want to get to the Eastern Conference finals,'' Arenas said Thursday. ``We can score with anybody in this league and we proved that this season, but we know now that the way to get better is to get better on defense. I'm going to get stronger so that we can do that.'' Arenas also said he's ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation. ``I can walk without crutches, I can walk up the stairs, and I'll probably be able to get on the treadmill next week,'' he said. |
|
|
|
Live Odds, Scores, Injuries And More - 14 Day Free Trial! |
|