Arenas limited but still effective

In the days leading up to Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas’ return from a 66-game layoff following a second knee surgery in roughly a year, Arenas, his coaches and teammates cautioned that things would be different in the short term.

Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said the three-time All-Star needed to play a few games before finding his rhythm. Team captain Antawn Jamison said Arenas would be fine offensively, but he would have to re-establish the chemistry he had with his teammates defensively.

Two months ago, Arenas said he would come off the bench as he worked his way back into the flow to avoid disrupting what his teammates had going.

Three games into his comeback all of the predictions have proved true. Arenas is a work in progress. He has been limited to 20 to 24 minutes a game, has entered the game in the latter half of quarters and is being brought up to speed on defensive assignments.

Offensively, Arenas hasn’t regained the form he had in averaging 28.4 points and 6.0 assists before he tore his left lateral meniscus last April. And he’s still a ways off from the 22.4 points and 5.8 assists he recorded before having surgery Nov. 21 to repair a torn medial meniscus in the same knee.

But Jordan and Arenas’ teammates have praised the contributions he has made in a short portion of time, finding ways to spark his team in different areas.

In his first game April 2 against Milwaukee, he came off the bench and scored 17 points in 20 minutes. The next game he led the team with eight assists. Wednesday night against Boston, Arenas tied a season high with four steals. In three games, Arenas has averaged 14.3 points. But his court vision has led to more points for his teammates and forced opponents into more turnovers.

Without Arenas in the lineup, Washington played a slower, more patient style, which limited the team’s transition scoring. In the 66 games without Arenas, the Wizards averaged 9.7 fast-break points. In the three games since his return, the Wizards have increased their fast-break scoring to 19.3 points. Before Arenas returned, the Wizards created 13.5 turnovers a game. In the three games with him back, opponents have averaged 16.6 turnovers.

“Gilbert’s the difference,” Jordan said. “Look, we’ve been satisfied to a degree of how we’ve been playing without Gil … but it’s very exciting to have him out there. It makes us an exciting team. It makes us a dangerous team and [does it] right now. He created a lot of action on the defensive end, got us out on the break. He still has to get his conditioning and get his legs under him. And we knew it was going to be a process, and we have a few more games to get it right, and he still won’t be Gil until next October.”

Arenas, who played just more than 24 minutes Wednesday — the most since his return, appeared winded at times and occasionally didn’t appear to have as much lift in his jump shot as usual. But the Wizards are glad to have his contributions even in limited form.

“Him being out there really means a lot,” Jamison said. “He’s creating easy opportunities for his teammates.”

Forward Caron Butler agreed.

“Having Gilbert back really helps out a ton,” he said. “He’s a guy that really pushes the ball, and guys are running the lane, and he’s finding guys in the open court. We’re a team rejuvenated.”

The Wizards said Arenas has appeared more focused as of late. He has taken a break from writing his blog for NBA.com and hasn’t spoken to the media in just more than a week in an attempt to block out distractions.

“I think he’s just geared to play basketball now and not to talk about a whole lot of stuff,” Jordan said. “It probably should be that way right now. He’s focused on playing well, and I think he’s going to let his game do his talking.”

When the old “Hibachi” gets cranking again is anyone’s guess, but the Wizards — winners of three straight — aren’t pressuring him. Instead, they offer encouragement when needed but for the most part are letting Arenas ease his way back.

“He’s probably more hungry now than ever because he realizes he has a mountain to climb, and he’s climbing it,” guard Antonio Daniels said. “And we’re right there with him, pushing him along because it’s not easy, and we understand that, and he knows we’re there.”