Who are the Wizards without injured All-Stars Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler?
The answer lies in their first two games without Butler, five weeks ago on back-to-back nights against the Toronto Raptors.
In the first, the Wizards rode their best characteristics — their resiliency and experience — winning in overtime, 108-104, after blowing a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter. The next night, the Wizards showed their other side — their age and lack of depth — in a 122-83 blowout loss.
Recently all of the Wizards’ games have followed one of the two scripts. At their best, they’ve had the wherewithal to gut out victories over New Orleans (twice) and Chicago. At their worst, they’ve had no chance in losses to Houston and Orlando.
Which Wizards (29-31) team will show up tonight in Toronto, after Wednesday’s unsightly loss to the Magic in which they played terrible defense (Orlando shot 56 percent from the floor) and were out-hustled, getting just six second-chance points and two points off fast breaks.
“Nothing matters before and nothing matters after,” said Wizards coach Eddie Jordan. “We have to compete better than we did last night, and we have to compete with a game plan. We have to make shots. Our top players have to play at a high level.”
Thursday brought some good news on the injury front as Butler said he hopes to resume practice Monday, as he tests the torn labrum in his hip.
“I’m trying to get back out there,” said Butler. “I am going to wait until next week to start participating in practices, and I am going to play it by ear. My body is going to determine whether I am able to play or not.”
Butler has missed 16 of the last 18 games, with the Wizards going 6-12 since the 6-foot-8 forward came down hard on his hip in an overtime loss to Milwaukee. Butler returned for two games, but re-injured the hip and was later diagnosed with a torn labrum. The original injury was a less serious hip flexor.
“This is one of those things that I am pretty sure I can bounce back from. The medical staff feels the same way,” said Butler. “The best way to do it is to come back 100 percent. That is what I am waiting on. Jogging around, I can do that with no discomfort. Leg lifts with weight, I can do that with no discomfort.”
The last resort, according to Butler, will be surgery.
“I would have to play and get pulled out again,” said Butler. “And play through more pain, and all sorts of things before [surgery] would even be an option.”
