MRI Exam Reveals Broken Bone in Hand
By Ivan Carter
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
The Washington Wizards haven't experienced much success playing without Caron Butler the last two seasons, but to achieve their preseason goal of making a deep run in the playoffs the team is going to have to figure out a way to win without the all-star forward.
An MRI exam taken yesterday revealed that Butler suffered a second metacarpal fracture in his right hand while attempting to block a shot during the third quarter of Sunday's 121-107 victory at Milwaukee.
Butler is expected to be out six weeks, in all likelihood ending his season.
The Wizards (39-33) enter tonight's game at Charlotte with a half-game lead over Miami in the Southeast Division and have 10 regular season games remaining. Given the six-week timetable established for a possible Butler return, the Wizards likely would have to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for him to play again this season.
As Butler said after Sunday's game, the most likely scenario is that he won't be in uniform again until the team opens training camp next October. The team has gone 2-7 without Butler this season and lost five games when he was out with a right thumb injury late last season.
"I banged my right hand on the backboard and I immediately felt a great deal of pain," Butler said. "I am really disappointed because we finally had everyone back from injuries for the playoff run. I am going to stay positive and continue to support my teammates, and hope to get back as soon as possible."
Jarvis Hayes, who has swung between the guard and forward positions all season, will replace Butler as a starter tonight against Charlotte. For other opponents Coach Eddie Jordan may opt to go with a larger lineup that would include either 6-foot-8 inch Michael Ruffin or 6-9 Darius Songaila.
Hayes played one of his better games of the season Sunday, connecting on 6 of 11 shots and scoring 17 points off the bench. Second-year forward Andray Blatche has started 13 games this season but remains out with a left knee sprain and isn't expected to return until sometime next week.
Butler was in the midst of his best pro season. Despite missing three games with a back injury and six more with a left knee contusion, he averaged career highs in points (19.1 ppg), rebounds (7.4 rpg) and assists (3.7 apg). Butler also ranks second in the NBA in steals per game (2.13).
Injuries have plagued the Wizards all season. Forward Antawn Jamison missed 12 games with a left knee injury in February (the team went 4-8 during that sprain); Songaila missed training camp, the preseason and the first 45 games with a lower back injury that required surgery; Ruffin missed 43 games with a right foot sprain and headaches/dizziness; and center Etan Thomas missed 13 games with a sprained ankle.
Butler's knack for converting steals and offensive rebounds into points and his high-energy style made him an ideal complement to Jamison and all-star guard Gilbert Arenas.
Arenas, Jamison and Butler have formed the league's highest scoring trio for two seasons. But Butler's scoring and playmaking duties will have to be filled by players such as Hayes, Songaila and shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson, who is the team's fourth-leading scorer at 10.9 points per game.
"Caron has had an outstanding season," Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld said. "We will miss his production and leadership on the court. We expect him to make a full recovery, and we will look for his teammates to step up in his absence."
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