There’s been a lot of talk recently about whether or not the Wizards are better without Gilbert, especially in the wake of the Wizards prevailing after he decided to shut it down for the year.  It’s certainly safe to say the Wizards are better off without an injured Gilbert that hasn’t had time to re-adjust to his teammates, but Antawn Jamison and Bethlehem Shoals both make it clear that the team is still better when Agent Zero is 100%.

Here’s the quote from Jamison on the Wizards with a healthy Gilbert:

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: we’re a better team with him out on the court….I’m the captain. I’m telling you. He’s the best player on this team. How could you be better without him? That’s it.

At The Sporting Blog, Bethlehem Shoals devotes an entire column to the subject:

Let’s all step back for a second. Sure, Washington moves the ball better sans Arenas. And both Butler and Jamison are severely underrated. But a backlash against Arenas—that seems to miss the point. The guy is a total weirdo who, when healthy, plays his a** off and can win a game by himself. Sorry, but the Little Wizards That Could aren’t taking out Detroit, Boston, or even Orlando. They couldn’t hang with the Hawks at home. If there’s any success in this team’s future, they need to live and die by the Arenas wild card. Or at least acknowledge that, if this sports is at least somewhat about entertainment, no one fills that quotient like Agent Zero.