Arenas and Thomas Injury Updates
After a season full of injuries, the Washington Wizards received several pieces of good news today when they announced that guard Gilbert Arenas has been cleared for light non-contact drills, Etan Thomas has been cleared for full-contact practice, and Caron Butler returned to practice today.
“Etan has had some minimum 3-on-3 contact in practice, but today we moved it up to 4-on-4 contact with additional guys returning to practice (Caron Butler and Antonio Daniels),” said Head Coach Eddie Jordan. “Gilbert did some light non-contact drills today in practice.â€
Although both Arenas and Thomas have taken a step forward in their recovery’s, Thomas from heart surgery and Arenas from knee surgery, neither has set a timetable for a return to game action.
“I am just trying to get stronger and continue to work hard at rehab,” said Arenas. “I do not want to go out there too fast. I just want to get some mobility and take it from there.â€
Butler, who has missed eight of the previous ten games with a left hip flexor strain, is listed as a game-time decision tomorrow night against the New York Knicks.
Posted: February 18th, 2008 under Wizards.
Comments
Comment from edry09
Time February 19, 2008 at 7:03 AM
That’s a great news but hopefully their come back will not be too quick (like Gil’s at the beginning of the season), they have to come fully recovered, play witout any pain and contribute to actual chemistry for boosting the Wiz in this second half of the season.
I agree with the idea of starting games with Gil seated, I think it’s the best issue to have a jocker “all star” coming from the bench and don’t forget that Daniels did a great job so far…let’s see.
GO WIZARDS!!!!
Comment from aznzero
Time February 19, 2008 at 7:51 AM
this is exciting news. i cant wait for everyone is healthy. lets remember we were the top team in the east when all of our players were healthy.
Comment from Marc_dL
Time February 19, 2008 at 8:40 AM
OH man i can’t wait till get back there gonna punish everyone in the league and I have been waiting for Etan Thomas to be back so it gives better frontcourt and have Blatche play a better position and get out of foul Trouble.
Comment from onebigfan
Time February 19, 2008 at 8:53 AM
let’s GO! VERIZON CENTER cheer for your team.
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time February 19, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Great News! Our 9 man team will finally get some much deserved Help. Notice I said deserved and not needed. The Wizards have proven to every basketball fan this year what Grit, Guts, and Sand the team now plays with.
I agree Tag Flip. What a Morale booster to have Etan back just 6 months after open heart surgery. That has to be the feel good story of this season. It says a lot about Etan and his passion for the game. It’s a wonderful thing for Etan, the Wizards, and we fans as well.
I’ll bet anybody a buck (lol) that when Gil is healthy there is No Way he is coming off the bench. Blog aside it isn’t gonna happen. It may be the best for the team when he first comes back, but, it isn’t happening. As soon as he can run and cut on both legs Coach will again have him in for 40 a game. It’s just the way Coach does things.
Aznzero I’m also very excited. Not only were we the best team in the East at the break last season, but, that was before all of Grunfeld’s upgrades. We now have a healthy Songaila and Pesh replacing Michael Ruffin. Mason and Young replacing Donnell Taylor. Blatche replacing Calvin Booth with Etan coming back. Last year we really didn’t have an “X” factor. This year the “X” factor it turning out to be Dominic McGuire.
It should be a very exciting 2nd half of the season starting tonight against the Knicks.
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time February 19, 2008 at 2:16 PM
Marc lol I think if Blatche sat on the bench the entire game he would still end up with 2 fouls 
Comment from Bridge
Time February 19, 2008 at 4:43 PM
Oh GR that’s not funny…kinda (lol)
Comment from Da_Big_Taba
Time February 20, 2008 at 2:34 AM
Yeaaah when Etam Thomas comes back Blatche can play the 3. I think he plays a lot better as a 3. And Once Arenas comes back we will finally be winning games. Everyone for the wizards have stepped up their game but cant finish it off in the 4th quarter. Agent Zero will help to dominate all the other teams. As Pecherov says “I juss choose the wizards”
Comment from dsgoldbe
Time February 20, 2008 at 12:10 PM
great news for the wiz. Hopefully they all get back soon.
Comment from TAG FLIP
Time February 20, 2008 at 3:23 PM
i think a curious lineup they could try would be (when everyone gets back)
PG-arenas
SG-butler
SF-blatche
PF-pecherov
C-thomas
that lineup could provide both some offense and defense because of the tall frontcourt while all but etan can shoot the deep ball.
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Comment from TAG FLIP
Time February 18, 2008 at 11:43 PM
This is great news for us. I feel that with Etan Thomas coming back, not only will that provide more depth in the frontcourt, but it will also provide a significant morale boost given the fact he is not even 6 months removed from open-heart surgery.