<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Washington Wizards have the ability to make a deep run in the Eastern Conference playoffs if they can remain healthy, coach Flip Saunders said.</p><p>Washington, who won their only NBA title in 1978, finished 19-63 and in the conference basement last season after injuries to All-Star Gilbert Arenas, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson derailed the once-promising campaign.</p><p>"This team is no different than any team in any other sport - when your main horses are healthy, you put yourself in a situation to win games," Saunders told reporters.</p><p>"There's a fine line between winning in the NBA. The average winning margin is 3 1/2 or 4 points. You're talking two possessions in a game.</p><p>"When your main people are not healthy, it becomes very difficult."</p><p>The key to the Wizards' success is the comeback of Arenas, a three-times All-Star who is one of the NBA's best players when he is healthy. A knee injury has limited the 27-year-old guard to just 15 games over the last two seasons.</p><p>Saunders, in his first year with the Wizards, said Arenas appears to be playing at the same level he did when he averaged more than 28 points and six assists a game three years ago.</p><p>"I've told him I'll be harder on him than probably anyone else because I have higher expectations," Saunders said. "He's like the quarterback on the team.</p><p>"He's got to get people in the right spots, they have got to be there, and if they're not, he's the guy that's going to look bad as far as far as running the team."</p><p>Washington dealt the fifth pick in this summer's NBA Draft to acquire veterans Randy Foye and Mike Miller, a move that should give the club some sorely needed depth.</p><p>"If we stay healthy, we should be able to compete in the East for a lead spot," the coach said. "You want to make sure you have depth in case you have some tweaks along the way.</p><p>"But I don't think there's any reason we shouldn't be able to compete with elite teams in the East - or in the league, for that matter."</p><p>The Wizards added some size during the off-season with the signing of Argentine center Fabricio Oberto, who spent the last four seasons with the San Antonio Spurs.</p><p>Saunders, a 13-year NBA head coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons, likes what he sees with the Wizards set to begin training camp next week.</p><p>"I've never had the weapons I've had on this team," said Saunders, who reached three straight Eastern Conference finals with the Pistons.</p><p>"I'm even more excited because I think we can take a major step defensively.</p><p>"We got a lot of players who can play a lot of different positions. We can play fast, we can play big, we can play methodical in the half court if we need to. We'll find out in another week."</p><p>(Editing by Justin Palmer)</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=59580752&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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