Gilbert Arenas

The Lakers appear much more at ease with their offense after acquiring guard Ramon Sessions in a trade with Cleveland. He's addressed their backcourt needs and given their lineup some youth. And in the last five games since his arrival, the Lakers have improved in several offensive categories from their regular-season averages, including points (95.88, 102.4), field-goal percentage (45.7%, 48.5%) and assists (21.69, 24.2). A little more than a month ago, the Lakers appeared so desperate for anything that would solve their backcourt struggles, they brought in Gilbert Arenas for a private workout.

The Lakers appear much more at ease with their offense after acquiring guard Ramon Sessions in a trade with Cleveland. He's addressed their backcourt needs and given their lineup some youth. And in the last five games since his arrival, the Lakers have improved in several offensive categories from their regular-season averages, including points (95.88, 102.4), field-goal percentage (45.7%, 48.5%) and assists (21.69, 24.2). A little more than a month ago, the Lakers appeared so desperate for anything that would solve their backcourt struggles, they brought in Gilbert Arenas for a private workout.

There's hope for the rest of us In the good news for Gilbert Arenas , at least they didn't send him to Alcatraz to bunk with Al Capone . Actually, Alcatraz is part of a national park, Capone is dead and the big guy wouldn't have taken anyone who was in for not licensing unloaded pistols seriously, anyway. The judge set aside a request for three months in jail by the crusading D.A. — who let teammate Javaris Crittenton off with a misdemeanor — instead suspending Arenas' sentence with 30 days in a halfway house.

Jeanie Buss couldn't help but laugh. She's Phil Jackson's longtime companion but says she doesn't even know how much he wants to coach in the NBA again. "I can't answer that question," said Buss, a Lakers executive vice president. "Only he can. Nobody's called him. Unless somebody calls, we won't know how to answer that question. " That uncertainty also applies to the New York Knicks, who recently fired coach Mike D'Antoni . Jackson won 11 NBA championships as a coach — six with the Chicago Bulls and five with the Lakers.

Gilbert Arenas' goofy antics seemed more amusing when he was known as a gunner of a less sinister type. . . . His nickname -- Agent Zero -- seems to fit the bill. . . . Archie Manning , inundated with interview requests as the most popular player in New Orleans Saints history and father of the Indianapolis Colts quarterback, told reporters Sunday in Indianapolis that anybody wondering who he'd be rooting for Feb. 7 "must not have children." . . . Peyton Manning may be the NFL's most valuable player, but Drew Brees passed for more touchdowns than his Super Bowl opponent and compiled a higher passer rating.

Suspended Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas was ordered Friday to spend 30 days in a halfway house for his conviction on gun charges stemming from a locker-room confrontation with a teammate. District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Robert E. Morin also sentenced Arenas to 400 hours of community service, which cannot be conducted at basketball clinics, and a $5,000 fine. Arenas apologized in court, saying, "Every day, I wake up wishing it did not happen." Arenas pleaded guilty to violating the city's gun laws in a Dec. 21 incident at Verizon Center with teammate Javaris Crittendon over an unpaid gambling debt totaling a few hundred dollars, "The evidence is that both of you felt disrespected," Morin told Arenas.

Washington 102, at Dallas 91: Gilbert Arenas had 29 points and nine assists to help lift the Wizards. Dirk Nowitzki scored 34 points for the Mavericks. Shawn Marion had 16 points and seven rebounds in his Dallas debut. at Portland 96, Houston 87: Travis Outlaw scored 23 points for the Trail Blazers, who out-rebounded the Rockets, 51-33. Houston's Aaron Brooks had 19 points. Boston 95, at Cleveland 89 at Lakers 99, Clippers 92 -- associated press

Bonfire of the Wizards Day 27 of Gilbert Held Hostage . . . . With sentencing put off until March, the prosecutors got what they needed, insisting Gilbert Arenas plead guilty to a felony, not a misdemeanor, recommending only six months in jail. That must be the difference between getting busted in the District of Columbia and the suburbs, like Cleveland's Delonte West . West was charged with four misdemeanors for carrying two loaded handguns and a loaded shotgun on his motorcycle, may beat jail with his bipolar history and is playing, amid no controversy.

Gun-toting Gilbert Arenas was almost a Clipper. ... Before signing with the Washington Wizards in the summer of 2003, Arenas later told Sports Illustrated, he flipped a coin 10 times to decide between the Wizards and the Clippers -- and the Clippers' side came up eight times. ... Ever the eccentric, Arenas then signed with the Wizards, saying he felt compelled to "go against the odds." ... The reported Arenas- Javaris Crittenton confrontation in Washington, by the way, recalls a 1971 incident in which Angels outfielder Alex Johnson accused teammate Chico Ruiz of pulling a gun on him in the clubhouse during a game . ... Ruiz denied the charge.

Washington 106, at Toronto 102: Antawn Jamison had 30 points and 12 rebounds and Gilbert Arenas had 22 points and nine assists for the Wizards. Arenas had been held below 10 points in each of his last two games, the first time he'd failed to score at least 10 in consecutive games since his rookie season in 2002. Boston 108, at Charlotte 90: Led by Ray Allen, who broke out of his shooting slump with 27 points, the Celtics had little trouble slowing the Bobcats, who had won four straight.

Road life in the NBA isn't exactly a series of connecting flights and Motel 6s. Players fly charter and stay in posh hotels with marble bathrooms and turndown service. Still, there's no place the Lakers would rather be than the spot where they always enjoy purple and gold status. Beginning with a game against Atlanta on Tuesday night, the Lakers will play three of their next four games and six of their next nine at Staples Center, where they are a robust 11-2 as the home team.

Reporting from Toronto -- The Lakers used to shrug whenever opposing players had a career night against them, be it Gilbert Arenas' 60-point spree at Staples Center or anybody from Charlotte over the years. Whatever. The Lakers would chuckle and win championships. The laughter doesn't come as easily now when an opposing player blitzes them. New York point guard Jeremy Lin crushed the Lakers with a career-high 38 points Friday and Toronto point guard Jose Calderon sprung for a career-best 30 points Sunday in the Lakers' narrow 94-92 victory.

In a major roster shakeup, the Orlando Magic acquired guard Gilbert Arenas from the Washington Wizards and Hedo Turkoglu and Jason Richardson from the Phoenix Suns on Saturday. The Magic traded forward Rashard Lewis for Arenas, and sent Phoenix guards Vince Carter and Mickael Pietrus and backup center Marcin Gortat . Orlando also received Earl Clark from the Suns. A preseason favorite in the Eastern Conference, Orlando had lost five of its last six games entering Saturday.

Landon Donovan and the still-standing, still-kicking U.S. soccer team are nothing if not implacable. … Says Donovan of Team USA's resilience in the World Cup despite head-scratching calls that have twice disallowed crucial goals: "We embody what Americans are about; we can moan about it or we can get on with it, and we kept going." … Tweeted Andy Roddick during Wednesday's record-breaking Wimbledon marathon between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut: "Seriously … doesn't anyone have to pee?"

Zenyatta came to Oaklawn Park as visiting royalty. After romping to victory in the Apple Blossom Invitational, her 16th win in a row, racing's queen stood before her adoring public and bowed her head twice. Zenyatta high-stepped her way to the starting gate Friday in her distinctive Radio City Rockette style. She lagged behind early as usual before making a sweeping move through the stretch turn on her way to a 41/4-length victory at Hot Springs, Ark. "It's kind of hard to say if she's getting better and better because she's so good," jockey Mike Smith said.

There's hope for the rest of us In the good news for Gilbert Arenas , at least they didn't send him to Alcatraz to bunk with Al Capone . Actually, Alcatraz is part of a national park, Capone is dead and the big guy wouldn't have taken anyone who was in for not licensing unloaded pistols seriously, anyway. The judge set aside a request for three months in jail by the crusading D.A. — who let teammate Javaris Crittenton off with a misdemeanor — instead suspending Arenas' sentence with 30 days in a halfway house.

Only you, Gilbert Arenas. Irrepressible to the end -- which Arenas triggered prematurely with a pregame skit Tuesday in which he pretended to shoot teammates -- the Washington Wizards star was suspended indefinitely Wednesday by NBA Commissioner David Stern. League sources said Stern is prepared to suspend Arenas for the rest of the season, but will let the legal process play out before making a final decision. Stern intended to let the process play out before doing anything, but that went up in smoke after Tuesday's pre-game introductions in Philadelphia, where Arenas' teammates circled him and he put his thumbs up, index fingers out and pretended to shoot them.

True to his zany self to the end of a farce he created, blew up and then volunteered to atone for, Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas was suspended for the rest of the season by NBA Commissioner David Stern on Wednesday. Arenas' teammate, Javaris Crittenton, who engaged in this so-called joke that involved five handguns in the Wizards dressing room, was also suspended for the season. None of the weapons was licensed in the District of Columbia, and bringing them to the arena was a violation of NBA rules.

Suspended Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas was ordered Friday to spend 30 days in a halfway house for his conviction on gun charges stemming from a locker-room confrontation with a teammate. District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Robert E. Morin also sentenced Arenas to 400 hours of community service, which cannot be conducted at basketball clinics, and a $5,000 fine. Arenas apologized in court, saying, "Every day, I wake up wishing it did not happen." Arenas pleaded guilty to violating the city's gun laws in a Dec. 21 incident at Verizon Center with teammate Javaris Crittendon over an unpaid gambling debt totaling a few hundred dollars, "The evidence is that both of you felt disrespected," Morin told Arenas.

Prosecutors say Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas tried to pressure teammate Javaris Crittenton into covering up their locker-room confrontation in December. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Kavanaugh made the allegation in a court filing Tuesday as he advocated for a three-month jail sentence for Arenas for bringing guns to the Verizon Center. Arenas' lawyer is arguing for probation and community service. Sentencing is scheduled for Friday. Kavanaugh quoted from a text message that Arenas purportedly asked a teammate to forward to Crittenton.