Eddie Jordan worked his way in front of the media, exchanging a pat on the chest with forward Caron Butler. “That was a love tap,” the Wizards coach pointed out to laughter Monday. A day later, he had a nickname for their facility: Happyville.

After a tumultuous weekend, life has returned somewhat normal as the Wizards enter tonight’s game against struggling Philadelphia (17-35). The Wizards (28-21), though, have lost four of five and gained news because of fights and verbal sparring.

“If this had happened three years ago, no one would say anything,” Jordan said. “Now we’re getting national publicity.”

There was the players-only meeting on Monday as well as a meeting between All-Star point guard Gilbert Arenas and Jordan, which both termed a good one.

This story continues below
Advertisement

“The last time we had a crying outburst was in Chicago,” Arenas said, referring to a loss in December, their fifth in seven games. “The players and coaches had a meeting and from there our whole thing turned around and we went on a tear [winning six of the next seven]. The same thing is going on now. We felt we needed a tune-up and we’re ready to go again. This is when teams get lackadaisical before the break. The coaching staff felt we were getting lackadaisical and we felt they were getting lackadaisical.”

Arenas is fond of Jordan, whom he publicly lobbied to get an extension after last season.

“Everything’s been cool since 2003,” Arenas said. “We had a rough start, but from there it’s been good. … We had a little bump. Maybe three years ago it would have lingered more.”

Arenas also unveiled a potential plan for the All-Star Game; he might wear a jersey with Agent Zero on the back instead of his name. But one thing he said he’s not: a leader.

“I’m a goof,” he said, “everyone knows that. I look at my elders as the leaders of the team.”