THE Eastern Conference coaches did not select Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas as a reserve for the NBA All-Star game.

The reserves were announced yesterday. Arenas is averaging 28.2 points, 5.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game. When Arenas was selected for last year's team, he was averaging 24.7 points per game.

"I'm disappointed," Arenas said. "Someone was going to be disappointed with this year's All-Star game, and it's me. But I still have a team to play for and the rest of the season to play for."

There is still a chance Arenas could make the team, as NBA commissioner David Stern will select a replacement for injured starter Jermaine O'Neal. Arenas said it would be "a blessing" to get that final spot.

Wizards coach Eddie Jordan isn't worried that Arenas' snub might affect the point guard negatively.

"Will he be focused to lead this team the right way to as many victories as we can get or will he sulk for three weeks?" Jordan said. "My belief is he'll be a focused assassin--a focused basketball player who gets the job done."

Washington got off to a better start last year than it did this season, but Wednesday's win over the Golden State Warriors gave the team a winning record, and if the season ended today it would hold the seventh seed in the playoffs.

Arenas was bypassed in favor of four Detroit Pistons, along with Raptors forward Chris Bosh, Nets guard Vince Carter and Celtics forward Paul Pierce.

The Celtics and Raptors both have losing records this season.

"There's not another guy outside of Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and LeBron James who's tearing through the league like Gilbert has," Wizards forward Caron Butler said. "He's doing a great job and leading our ballclub. I'm shocked."

Arenas slipped to the second round of the 2001 draft, where he was selected by the Warriors. He's used that slight as motivation as he develops into one of the league's top players.

"I'm going to use this disappointment to get me further," he said.

Hayes on the mend

Wizards forward Jarvis Hayes says there's a chance he could return this season.

Hayes fractured his right kneecap during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 16.