CHICAGO -- Gilbert Arenas' first taste of the NBA playoffs
was a sour one.
The scoring leader and All-Star guard of the Washington Wizards
was bottled up by a tough Chicago defense and a bit confused by
some of the calls Sunday during a dismal performance in a 103-94
loss.
Arenas shot just 3-of-19 and finished with nine points, 16 under
his season average, and fellow All-Star Antawn Jamison had just 14
points on 6-for-15 shooting.
"You miss shots and that happens. Everybody can't be Superman
every game," Arenas said.
Arenas found himself confronted by the tough defense of Chicago
rookie Chris Duhon for most of the game, but there was plenty of
help in making Washington's star earn his points.
"They were there. I mean every time I drove they were all there
waiting for me. Every time I shot the ball, they had a hand in my
face," Arenas said.
Larry Hughes picked up the slack with 31 points but couldn't
carry the Wizards to their first playoff win since 1988.
"You know Antawn and I can't go what 7-for-40 (actually
9-for-34) and not expect an L," said Arenas, who'd averaged 30
points in three games against the Bulls in the regular season.
"But I have to pass the ball when you got all five guys paying
attention to me. Larry did a great job and our bigs did a job in
the paint. But it's one game and that's why it's the playoffs."
Arenas went to the officials a couple of times for explanations
on calls, trying to figure out what was an offensive foul and what
wasn't.
"I wasn't frustrated. I didn't get a tech. I kept my head in, I
was just asking questions, so I'll know what to expect later on,"
he said.
Arenas was 0-for-6 and scoreless at the half but the Wizards
trailed by only one.
"I'm disappointed in myself. Once I got my first foul I
couldn't be what I wanted to be. I couldn't drive because I didn't
want that second easy charge," he said.
"I was passive in first half. I kinda hurt my team in first
period, but Larry kept us together."
Hughes expects the real Arenas to reappear for Wednesday's Game
2.
"He wasn't taking his normal shot, he was worrying about the
guy trailing him or the guy in front of him," Hughes said.
"And he's one of the best shooters in the league when he's
taking his regular shot, and I think he'll do that next game."
Now that his first playoff game is over and he thinks he has a
feel for the tempo, the defense and the officiating, Arenas expects
to be more of a force. He did have eight assists and eight rebounds
Sunday, but he never got his shot untracked.
"On Wednesday if the same thing happens, I need to re-evaluate
myself," he said.