Wizards, Arenas offer fans hope at sold-out Siegel Center

With 2:57 left in the first quarter, Gilbert Arenas, the infamous Agent Zero for the Washington Wizards, drove into a pile of wide bodies in the paint, got to the glass, laid the ball off the backboard and drew a foul.

Seconds later, he made the free throw to complete the three-point play.

It was the Wizards' first preseason game, and it's dangerous to infer too much from one game or one play.

But if that one play and if Arenas' extended playing time were any indication, better times are ahead for the Wizards.

After playing in 13 games in 2007-08 and just two games last season because of knee problems, Arenas looks to be back.

At least he did last night against the Memphis Grizzlies as the Wizards won 101-92.

It would be nice to know how Arenas feels. He once was a near non-stop talker.

Now, after two seasons on the sidelines, he is all but mute.

After the game, he declined interview requests, saying he doesn't talk anymore.

There is no way to overstate Arenas' importance to the team.

"It's safe to say that as Gilbert goes, we have a better chance of winning a championship," Wizards forward Caron Butler said.

The Wizards missed the inside presence of 7-0 Brendan Haywood, out with a wrist injury, in the first 75 games last season. But Arenas is "The Man" for the Wizards. He orchestrates the offense early and wants the ball late when the game is on the line.

With no Arenas and no Haywood, the Wizards began last year 1-10, their coach, Eddie Jordan, was fired and they finished 19-63.

They are starting anew this season. They have a new coach, Flip Saunders. They have, or so they say, a new attitude.

Defense first. Offense second.

"We know we can score," Butler said. "We've got the personnel to do that. The thing that's been holding us back was our defense.

"Now we have a nice defensive scheme. We know our spots and where we're trying to push guys and where the help is coming from and where the rotation is. And I think it's going to be great."

This is what players always say when a new coach comes in. The air is cleared. Everyone gets a fresh start. The new coach's system always is better than the old coach's system.

"There is a big difference," Butler insisted.

The Wizards kept things simple last night. They passed and cut on offense and played hard and with awareness on defense.

Arenas not only played 24 minutes, almost triple the original plan, he also had a maestro's touch directing the offense. He had seven assists in the first quarter.

"At times, I thought he was almost too unselfish," Saunders said.

There was no lack of effort from the Wizards. That's to be expected from the players off the bench. Some are trying to earn minutes once the season begins. Others are just trying to earn a spot on the roster.

But Antawn Jamison is in his 12th season and Butler his eighth. They are starters. Yet they played in this first preseason game in front of a sellout crowd of 7,500 as if they were fighting to earn roster spots.

Some fans no doubt came to see Hampton native Allen Iverson perform for the Grizzlies. He was unable to play because of a bad hamstring.

The fans sat in polite silence early. They grew louder and more involved as the game wore on. To draw so well here should tell the Wizards they could make significant inroads into this market.

The Wizards' players plan to make significant inroads into the playoffs.

"The preseason is time to work out some kinks," Butler said. "We don't get down to nitty-gritty until first game of the season."

If last night was any indication, the 2009-10 season will not be nearly as gritty as 2008-09.

Contact Paul Woody at (804) 649-6444 or . Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/World_of_Woody.