Struggling team hopes for better tonight at Chicago
What a difference two losses can make.
Monday when he was asked if he thought Gilbert Arenas would return this year, Caron Butler said, “Oh, yeah, definitely.”
But three days later, after deflating defeats at Orlando and at home to Toronto, Butler did a 180-degree spin when he was posed the same question.
“Me personally, I don’t think he’ll be back, just for the simple fact of where we’re at right now,” said Butler on ESPN 980’s “The John Thompson Show.”
» The Bulls are led by the perimeter trio of G Ben Gordon (21.0 points per game), F Luol Deng (13.1 ppg), and sensational rookie PG Derrick Rose (17.1 ppg, 6.0 apg). Former Wizard G Larry Hughes (12.0 ppg) is the top bench threat.
Where the Wizards (7-27) are “at right now” is last place, six wins clear of 14th place Charlotte (13-23) in the 15-team Eastern Conference. To make the playoffs for the fifth straight year, Washington would have to vault seven teams to grab the eighth slot, currently held by Milwaukee (17-20).
Even with a healthy Arenas, it might be an impossible task.
Butler’s dismay is understandable. Wednesday’s 99-93 defeat to a Toronto team that was without three starters, was one of the Wizards most uninspired efforts, their rebounding and defensive shortcomings exposed again.
“Any loss is discouraging,” said Butler afterward. “It’s no damn excuse with the back-to-back. But just to be flat. It just wasn’t there tonight. It’s just frustrating.”
Butler (20.6 points per game, 6.4 rpg, 4.5 apg) and Antawn Jamison (20.9 ppg, 9.4 rpg) are playing up to their All-Star standards of a year ago. But few of their teammates have risen, despite getting ample opportunity with starters Arenas, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson out of the lineup.
“We’re developing a lot of players right now,” said Butler. “It’s no secret. You see a lot of guys playing who wouldn’t see the court at all if everyone was healthy.”
Those players will give it another shot tonight at Chicago (15-20) where the Wizards hope to avenge a 117-110 defeat on Dec. 6.
“You have to prepare yourself to be ready from the get go,” said Jamison. “[What] really hurts us is the little things. To come in and shoot jump shot after jump shot, nobody moving the ball, not getting back in transition, getting out-rebounded. Those are certain things you can control.”
