For Jamison, It Hasn't Been Such a Fine Line This Season

Washington Wizards forward Antawn Jamison doesn't need to look at a stat sheet to know that he's struggling from three-point range this season.

"I don't know what I'm shooting but I know it's not good," Jamison said.

Jamison, who is averaging 18.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, has made 28 of 95 shots from three-point range (29.5 percent) and is shooting 40.1 percent from the field. Jamison, who entered the season with a career shooting percentage of 46.1, has steadily improved his three-point shooting since leaving the University of North Carolina in 1998. He attempted 208 threes last season and made 34.1 percent of them.

"I think the thing with me is, I have to start getting into the paint earlier in the game," Jamison said. "I can't just rely on my jump shot, that's not my game. I have to mix it up and find ways to keep the defense on its heels instead of just shooting [jumpers] and shooting threes. Once I get a couple of baskets and I'm in the flow, that's when the three-point [shot] is going to be there for me."

Jamison, who was a first-time all-star last season, has always been a streaky scorer and that's one reason Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan has not been overly concerned about Jamison's shot selection. Along with Gilbert Arenas (80 of 210 from three-point range) and Chucky Atkins (31 of 83), Jamison is one of the few Wizards who has the green light to take three-pointers at his own discretion. However, Jordan does stress to all of his players the need to take shots in rhythm after the ball has moved.

"I tend to look at it and think, 'This is the one that's going to go in and help us,' " Jordan said. "I just can't tell Antawn Jamison, who is an all-star, not to take three-pointers because his percentage is down. . . . You can't just take four consecutive jump shots but I'm not going to tell him not to take three-pointers. Over two years here, Antawn has made some big threes for us."

Olympic Hopeful

Arenas is waiting to find out whether he will be invited to try out for the U.S. men's national team, which will compete in next year's world championships and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Jordan said he would have no objection to the extra workload if Arenas were invited. Arenas regularly plays pickup games during the offseason, including a few appearances last summer at Washington's Barry Farm park -- one of District's most competitive pickup venues.

"I hope he is chosen," Jordan said. "He is physically solid enough to carry big minutes and he plays all summer anyway so it wouldn't be a problem."