Champs come to town, Arenas getting healthy

December 11, 7:30 PMWashington Wizards ExaminerGeorge Panagakos

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Arenas, Coach Ed Tapscott, and DeShawn Stevenson:
will Tapscott be here when Arenas returns?
(AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

With yesterday's trade rumor buzz coming to a head, and a duo of new guards for the Washington Wizards to employ, the team is still without superstar point guard, and All-Star hopeful, Gilbert Arenas.

Despite being on the inactive list for the all 19 Wizards games this season, Arenas has earned 64,450 All-Star votes.  Arenas probably won't make the bench at this rate, but it is promising for the veteran guard as he makes strides on the road to recovery. 

When I was at the Verizon Center last Friday as the Wizards hosted the Lakers, I looked at Washington warming up and I thought, is that Arenas down there?  Surely enough, Agent Zero is practicing with the team at the beginning of games now, and not afraid to mix it up in his suit during the second half warm-ups.

Arenas is slated to return, by his own prediction, sometime after New Year's, but so far, his shot is falling pretty well.  I think it will just be a matter of conditioning, and being ready for in-game situations--especially if this latest trade for Mike James doesn't quite work out.

Other than Arenas, I want to see Caron Butler, who is doing a bit of everything, on that All-Star list, or Antawn Jamison, who is almost averaging a double-double in points and rebounds.  Vote daily, fans, make it count.

Tonight, the Wizards play host to the Boston Celtics, last year's NBA Champions.  The Wizards beat the Celtics 3-1 in their season split last year, the best by any team.  However, this year's 4-15 Wizards will have their work cut out for them as they tackle the red-hot 20-2 Celtics, who seem to be playing pick-up ball out there against some opponents.

Tune in to TNT at 8:00 p.m. ET to catch the Wizards in action.  Sorry about saying Comcast, I must be a knuckle-head. :)