His knee is fine and has been for a while. Jarvis Hayes doesn’t doubt that for a minute. Besides, there’s no evidence to the contrary. And, yet, the Wizards swingman doesn’t trust his knee.
That’s why, when watching film, he looks for clues as to his mental recovery, detecting any favoring of his right knee, seeing if he’s shying away from certain cuts.
Hayes underwent surgery in February 2006 to repair a fractured right patella, which he originally hurt the previous February while attempting a lay-up.
“That’s something you think about every game,” said Hayes, coming off a horrible 1-for-10 shooting performance in Sunday’s loss at Minnesota. “This is something I’m still working through. It will just take time for me to stop thinking about the knee. I’m still trying to find that right rhythm. It’s been a tough struggle, but I’m a warrior and I’ll get through this.”
Hayes has provided sporadic help: an 11-for-35 shooting stretch preceded a 10-for-19 one.
The Wizards maintain they’re pleased with his defense. But Hayes isn’t pleased. It doesn’t help he originally hurt his knee coming on such a routine play.
“That’s something you think about every game,” he said. “I know I need to play better than what I’m doing now for us to be where we want to be at the end of the season. I’m struggling right now. Not because of ability, but more so the mindset about my knee.”
Coach Eddie Jordan said, “The time has come where he should feel comfortable. We’re in February now and he’s had this much time to get in the flow of things. But that’s his body and his mind.”
Hayes has talked often with teammate Caron Butler about recovering from knee surgery. Butler suffered a knee injury in his second season, causing him to miss 14 games.
“I was always second guessing myself,” Butler said. “I’d go up for a layup and look at my leg before I’d go up. I was looking down and it messes up your shot.”
Hayes says that day is coming.
“When I do go to the hole it’s not like I’m timid,” he said. “I’m actually getting up. The leg feels fine. I just have to continue to ensure myself that I’m perfectly fine.”
Long road back
» In his five starts this season, Hayes has made just 25.6 percent of his field goals — and one of 15 threes. At 39 percent shooting for the season, Hayes is only slightly below his career percentage of 39.7.
» Before hurting his knee in 2005, Hayes averaged more than 28 minutes and 10.2 points per game. He’s averaging 17.6 minutes and 6.0 points this season.
» All-Star forward Caron Butler will be a game-time decision tonight at New Jersey after missing Sunday’s loss to Minnesota because of back spasms. Butler said his back has been stiff for the past week and is “real tight.” “I’m not as mobile as I want to be out there,” Butler said. “I want to be a hero, but I want to be a healthy one.” Hayes started in Butler’s place Sunday.
» Forward Antawn Jamison returned to practice Monday for the first time since injuring his knee last month. Jamison sprained his left knee against Detroit on Jan. 30 andwas expected to miss three to six weeks. Coach Eddie Jordan said Jamison looked good in practice but “is still little ways away” from playing in a game.
“The main thing is to make sure my knee is getting stronger and that I am able to go through traffic and see how it holds up,” Jamison said. “So far, so good.”
Jamison was the only one of the Big Three to practice. Leading scorer Gilbert Arenas sat out to rest his sore shoulder and sore left knee, but should play tonight.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report
Wizards at Nets
» When: Tonight, 7:30
» Where: Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, N.J.
» TV: CSN
