Wizards Adjusting To Hughes's Absence

After the 'Shock,' Team Comes Together

"They're playing well," Larry Hughes said of his teammates. (Toni L. Sandys -- The Washington Post)

ORLANDO, Jan. 27 -- It was a bad break and bad timing: Washington Wizards guard Larry Hughes fractured his right thumb just as the team was about to face the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks.

The Wizards played so poorly in those lopsided losses without Hughes that it looked as if the team was preparing to make a U-turn from the seven-game win streak that preceded the trip. When the Wizards returned from Texas, point guard Gilbert Arenas visited Hughes at his home, and Hughes's critique was brief. "He said we played like [garbage]," Arenas said.

"The shock was tremendous losing Larry," Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan said. "He was great, we had a thing going, and we go to probably the toughest places in the NBA to play. Along with the shock, along with those teams . . . we didn't handle it well. I'd be the first to say it."

Hughes, however, said he wasn't concerned that the team wouldn't be able to compete with him out at least until the end of February -- "It was obvious that wasn't the same team that's been playing," Hughes said. "I knew that wasn't us."

Since then, the Wizards have reeled off four consecutive wins. They have shown poise under pressure, defeating the Indiana Pacers on the road on a last-second shot by forward Antawn Jamison and coming back from a 17-point deficit to defeat the Cavaliers in Cleveland. And, they have put away teams that they should beat at MCI Center in Toronto and Philadelphia. "I think we needed to feel that we can win without Larry," Jamison said. The Wizards will try to keep their win streak going as they play the first of back-to-back games against the Orlando Magic tonight at TD Waterhouse Centre.

What does Hughes have to say now? "I'm telling them that they're playing well," Hughes said. "They're playing good basketball. But these next two games, these are the biggest games until the next step."

Jordan has pushed the right buttons since he had time to regroup from the initial loss of Hughes. He started Juan Dixon at shooting guard the first two games without Hughes but when he realized Dixon's energy and scoring were better as a reserve, he moved up Jarvis Hayes. Hayes has averaged 11.5 points in his new role as shooting guard. Dixon, who missed two games with the flu, has averaged 24 points in his past two games off the bench. But the key to the switch has been its impact on Arenas.

"I think he's adjusted now," Jordan said of Arenas. "I think the change, with Jarvis as a starter, helps Gil to know that, 'It's my ball.' He doesn't have to learn how to coexist with Juan. He can say, 'It's my ball and I'll make the decisions. I'll run the team now.' Not wait to see if Juan is going to run the break or Juan is going to run the play set."

With the ball in his hands, Arenas has scored at least 30 points in the past three games and may have helped solidify his case for his first all-star appearance as he has lifted his scoring average to 23.8 points -- eighth best in the league. "Obviously, I think I'm an all-star," Arenas said, "but we're doing some great things as a team right now. That's more important."

In addition to the usual contributions from Arenas and Jamison, the Wizards have also gotten increased production from Anthony Peeler, whose three-point shooting was crucial in Cleveland and Indiana (especially with Dixon out with the flu); Brendan Haywood was benched the entire second half in Dallas, but he averaged 14 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.7 blocks against Toronto, Indiana and Cleveland before allowing Etan Thomas and Michael Ruffin to provide the hustle, rebounding, defense and the occasional buckets against Philadelphia. "Everybody had to step up their game a little bit with Larry gone," Hayes said. "When he gets back, I think we'll be that much better. "

Jordan has called 6-foot-11 forward Jared Jeffries "the unsung hero" for his ability to defend Indiana power forward Jermaine O'Neal in the post and Cleveland swingman LeBron James on the perimeter in consecutive games. Jeffries had a tendency to defer to Hughes, Arenas and Jamison but he has also been more aggressive on the offensive end, snatching rebounds and pushing up the ball for driving layups. Jeffries has scored in double figures in three of the past four games, which is huge, considering that the Wizards are 11-0 when Jeffries scores at least 10 points.

Jeffries had 13 points and eight rebounds against the Raptors and pointed to Hughes after every basket. "I let him know that he's seven foot [tall]. And in this league, a guy that can handle the ball and get in the air, guys will move out of the way if you go up there hard and aggressive, like you really mean it," Hughes said. "Don't shoot touch shots, leave that to the smaller guys."

Hughes's presence has been felt in numerous ways during this run, as he has called players on the road to offer tips and critiques. During the Wizards' 117-107 win against the 76ers on Wednesday, Allen Iverson's fill-in, Willie Green, had already reached his career high in scoring with 28 points in just three quarters when Hughes told Dixon that Green likes to go left and that he doesn't like to pull up for the jumper. Dixon heeded the advice and helped hold Green to four points in the fourth quarter. "He's been telling me, 'You got to make plays,' " Dixon said. "He's shown that he's grown up a lot and that he's a leader of this team. We've got to try to fill Larry's shoes. It's hard, but I'm going to do my best until Larry gets back."

When it was suggested that Hughes should get some side money as an assistant coach, Hughes chuckled. "That'd be good. I'm watching. You obviously get a chance to see things you don't normally get to see. I'm able to relate what I see to be able to help those guys out."