By Ivan Carter
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 18, 2008

Only four NBA players averaged at least 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists per game this season. Two of them will be on the court when the Wizards and Cavaliers open a best-of-seven first-round playoff series in Cleveland tomorrow.

One is Cleveland's LeBron James and the other is Caron Butler, who has been bothered by a bruised right knee but nonetheless plans to have an impact on what promises to be an exciting series between the Eastern Conference rivals.

Butler, who was named an all-star for the second straight season, is extra hungry because he was out with a fractured right hand last spring when the Cavaliers swept the Wizards out of the first round.

"It doesn't even matter how I feel right now, it's the playoffs," said Butler, who missed the final three games of the regular season. "I'm banged up a little bit everywhere, but at the same time I have to go out there and do the best I possibly can do. I will do that. When I was injured last year, I was trying to heal up, but that came about two weeks too late. Now, it's an opportunity to play. I'm a little banged up but my teammates need me and I know we can get the job done if I'm out there."

The Wizards certainly will need an effective Butler if they plan to avenge consecutive playoff losses to the Cavaliers, who took the Wizards out in six games in 2006.

The Wizards were 33-25 with Butler in the lineup this season. When healthy, he adds much -- needed toughness -- plus scoring, playmaking and rebounding. He will also take turns with DeShawn Stevenson trying to defend James.

However, it's fair to wonder how sharp Butler will be.

Since injuring his left hip during a 40-point performance in an overtime loss at Milwaukee on Jan. 27, Butler played in only 17 of 40 games. He scored more than 20 points three times during that span and only occasionally resembled the player who was so dominant over the first half of the season.

If Butler's knee responds well to rest and if he can establish a rhythm, the Wizards' chances of beating the Cavaliers improve dramatically.

"I've said it all along and I'll keep saying it: Our best advantage is our health," said guard Antonio Daniels, who averaged 13.3 points and 11.8 assists during the first round last spring.

Butler's scoring punch is especially crucial because Coach Eddie Jordan said he plans to continue bringing three-time all-star Gilbert Arenas off the bench during the playoff series.

In the five games since he returned on April 2, Arenas averaged 14.6 points and 3.8 assists while shooting 41.8 percent from the field -- modest numbers by his standards -- but in his last outing, an important home win over Philadelphia on Saturday, Arenas scored 20 points in just over 25 minutes and took over the game in the fourth quarter.

If the starters can get the Wizards off to good starts, it will be easier for Arenas, who hasn't played against the Cavaliers this season, to enter the game and keep the momentum flowing.

"We want to use him the same way we have so far," Jordan said. "We'll bring him off the bench, get him his 25 minutes and maybe, hopefully, that can grow to 28 minutes or maybe 30 if he feels good, and he's going to be a catalyst off the bench."

Wizards Notes: The team practiced yesterday and will hold a short shoot-around this morning before flying to Cleveland. Game 1 will tip off at 12:30 p.m. and some players said they will need to adjust.

"The last time I played that early was probably AAU or high school," Stevenson said. "But we're going to be ready. I don't think anybody is going to be sleeping the night before."