• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Arenas, Wizards open season on the road at Pacers

Oct 31, 2007 - 1:17 PM Washington (0-0) at Indiana (0-0) 7:00 pm EDT

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Gilbert Arenas and the Washington Wizards try to begin their season on a high note when they visit the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

Arenas followed up a break-out season in 2005-06 with another tremendous performance during the 2006-07 campaign. The man nicknamed "Agent Zero" averaged 28.4 points a game, third best in the league, while dishing out six assists in his sixth NBA season.

But Arenas missed the playoffs last season after suffering a knee injury in early April.

While Arenas continues to dominate the league with his ability to score at will, he hasn't received much help from his teammates. The problem may continue during the 2007-08 season after the Wizards failed to make moves to improve the supporting cast during the offseason.

The Pacers are trying to return to the playoffs after missing the postseason for the first time in nine seasons last year, finishing with a 35-47 record - their worst since the 1988-89 season.

New coach Jim O'Brien replaces Rick Carlisle in Indiana and has a proven track record with losing teams. O'Brien took the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers to the playoffs the in his first season as coach after they had finished with losing records in the previous season.

O'Brien may be without star forward Jermaine O'Neal, who is doubtful with a knee injury. Forward Troy Murphy is doubtful with an Achilles ailment.