Gilbert Arenas: Wizards Stink Now

Flip Saunders has seen enough. Changes are coming for the Washington Wizards.

[...]

``This team needs a mindset change,'' the Wizards' coach said after Washington's third straight loss. ``This team, the last five years, has been known as one of the worst defensive teams. ... We couldn't stop anybody out there.''

Added Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas, who scored 24 points: ``Right now, we stink - and we're showing it. You can sit here and talk about it every day, every game, every loss. But until we can turn it around, we stink.''

Saunders wouldn't commit to specific adjustments, but said everything will be considered.

``Spots will be open. If guys don't like it, that's fine but that's the way it's going to be,'' he said. ``I'm not going to sit there, stand there and look at that any more. You evaluate for 30 games where you're at. Right now, where it's going, it ain't getting done.''

[...]

Saunders had a different take on the Thunder's resurgence.

``That team is playing a lot better, but that's not the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Los Angeles Lakers or those teams yet. ... Until our guys decide that it hurts when teams score on you, we've got no chance. We're kidding ourselves,'' Saunders said.

[...]

Saunders was most upset by his team's inability to play effective man-to-man defense in the second half, and counted 46 uncontested shots allowed. The Wizards used a zone to stay close in the middle two periods, but Thunder players blew by Washington defenders down the stretch.

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``Guys want to come out of the zone and play man-to-man, but they can't guard anybody. I can go out there on that floor and take anybody on our team on one-on-one at 52 years old and drive right around them,'' Saunders said. ``We've got to wake up. As I told them: Don't think it can't get any worse, because it can. There's no question it can. We've got to have a sense of urgency.''