Coming to a “track” near you

Those of you who like wide-open, run-and-gun basketball should check out the Washington Wizards, preferably in-person. The Wizards have adopted the high-scoring style associated with teams from the NBA’s western conference, such as Dallas and Phoenix. After a slow start, they have won 10 of their last 13.
In their last game, they out-gunned Phoenix 144-139 in overtime to end the Suns’ 15 game winning streak. Arenas scored 54 points, including an old-fashion three point play to send the game into overtime in what he deemed a grudge match. It seems that the Phoenix coach and general manager had helped run the U.S. national team that dropped Arenas just before this year’s world championship competition began. Not that Arenas needs a special incentive to go off. Phil Jackson had done nothing to offend him, yet Arenas poured in 60 against the Lakers in an overtime win earlier in the road trip. It’s too bad Arenas can’t suit up against Duke (say for the University of Maryland), since it was Coach K who actually was in charge of the U.S. team this year.
To be honest, I think Coach K and the Phoenix guys did a pretty good job managing that team, especially compared to recent disasters in international competition. Still, with the likes of Kirk Hinrich manning the point guard position, it’s hard for me to believe that we couldn’t have used Areans down the stretch of the semi-final against Greece in which we were eliminated.
UPDATE: Gilbert put up 31 points in 33 minutes tonight, and Wizards scored 77 in the first half as they handily defeated Memphis.