After a last-second loss in Miami, Caron Butler sensed trouble. Not with his team, but with his knee. “It ain’t right; it ain’t right,” he said. Butler had an MRI on his sore left knee, but it was negative and he is listed as day to day. But there’s also no doubt that if Butler has knee problems, then the Wizards have problems. Period.
The Wizards have lost their last eight games Butler has missed, dating to the end of last season.
Actually, the Wizards have consistently struggled when any of the Big Three is sidelined. They were 4-5 when Antawn Jamison was out, but Butler and Gilbert Arenas were playing. They were then 0-3 when Jamison and Butler were out.
By comparison, Cleveland is 9-2 in LeBron James’ career when he doesn’t play — and the Cavs are 2-0 this season without him (and 6-6 when Larry Hughes sits out). Only one player, reserve guard Eric Snow, has appeared in every game for Cleveland.
Miami is 8-2 since Dwyane Wade injured his shoulder and has won seven straight. Also, only one player,Udonis Haslem, has started all 63 games for the Heat. Yet they trail Washington by one game in the Southeast Division.
There’s more: Utah was 6-2 minus forward Carlos Boozer. And Houston was 20-12 without Yao Ming.
In many cases, there’s a reason why other teams have remained strong: defense. All four of the above teams allow 98 points or less per game. Some of that stems from defense; part of it is their style of play.
But the Wizards are built to outscore teams and that task falls onto the Big Three. When one is out, they don’t score as much — and their defense remains weak.
“We need to be more committed to defense,” center Brendan Haywood said.
Some might call that the understatement of the season. And a tired one as well.
Of the Big Three, Butler is the best defender. When healthy, he also makes many of the hustle plays others don’t: getting to many loose balls; grabbing defensive boards.
The player who needs to produce in Butler’s absence is Jarvis Hayes. However, Hayes, though able to make some hustle plays, is too inconsistent a shooter. In seven starts this season, he’s made only 30.4 percent of his shots.
Replacing a starter falls on numerous shoulders. In the past, it’s clear the Wizards struggle when others are asked to carry a greater, or different, load.
