Gilbert Arenas Drops 54 Lumps of Coal in the Suns' Stockings
Gilbert Arenas is the NBA's Santa Claus--only the list that he makes and checks twice doesn't contain who is naughty and nice but rather anyone who he feels disrespects his talents. After all, he wears number zero because his doubters told him that was how much playing time he would get at Arizona. When Arenas was left off of the final 12 player Team USA roster last summer he vowed that he would try to score 100 points in his two games against Phoenix and 100 points in his two games against Portland. He targeted those teams because Phoenix Coach Mike D'Antoni and Portland Coach Nate McMillan were assistants on Mike Krzyzewski's Team USA staff. It took an overtime session, but Arenas delivered the first 54 points on Friday in Phoenix, leading the Wizards to a 144-139 victory that snapped the Suns' 15 game winning streak. Arenas shot 21-37 from the field (6-12 on three pointers) and 6-6 from the free throw line. Arenas had five points in overtime; his teammate Caron Butler, who also had a strong performance (34 points, one off of his career-high, and 10 rebounds), led the Wizards with 10 overtime points. Steve Nash tied his career-high with 42 points and had 10 assists in defeat.Arenas scored 60 points on Sunday versus the Lakers, so he has gone for 50-plus twice in a six day period. If you are thinking that must be a pretty rare feat, you are correct. The Elias Sports Bureau reports, "Over the past 30 years, only five other players have scored 50 points twice in a six-day span: Kobe Bryant (2006), Allen Iverson (2004), Antawn Jamison (2000), Michael Jordan (three times in four days in 1987 and then in 1992) and Bernard King (1984)."
In case you are wondering, Arenas next faces the Suns on January 23 in Washington, while the Wizards' two games against Portland will be played on February 11 (at Washington) and March 20 (at Portland).
posted by David Friedman @ 2:21 AM
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