Arenas Is Upbeat On His Progress

Before last night's game against the Utah Jazz at Verizon Center, Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas said he is making steady progress toward returning to action. Arenas underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus on Nov. 21 and last played during a Nov. 16 win at Minnesota.

"I'm 20 to 30 days away from being back, baby!" Arenas declared.

If Arenas can return to game action by late February or early March, he would have the opportunity to play between 20 and 30 contests before the end of the regular season.

"It has to be the right time," Arenas said. "I missed the playoffs last year and I can't wait to get back into it this year, so I'm going to hold off until the playoffs so I can make some miracles happen on Abe Pollin Street."

Good Signs

Since Coach Eddie Jordan and President Ernie Grunfeld were hired by team owner Abe Pollin in 2003, three Wizards have made the all-star game (Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison and Arenas) and the team has made three straight playoff appearances.

None of the three was an all-star before coming to Washington.

"It's a combination of both good front office and good coaching," said Jordan, who was hired before Grunfeld. "We are picking and developing players well. Ernie has done an excellent job of acquiring guys such as Antawn, Gilbert and Caron and I think our coaching staff has done a good job of putting them in situations where they can be highly successful."