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Wizards Look to Arenas, Offensive Efficiency
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DeShawn Stevenson, Darius Songaila and Roger Mason Jr. shot a combined 2-of-19 Saturday afternoon, and Butler learned that he has to adapt to the defensive strategy Cleveland Coach Mike Brown has employed on him.
For much of the game, slow-footed Wally Szczerbiak was assigned to Butler. But when Butler received the ball in one of his sweet spots -- such as on the wing where he likes to either take a jump shot or penetrate, or on the block where he likes to post up -- the Cavaliers often sent a second defender to force the ball out of his hands.
Striking the right mix of looking for his own offense and moving the basketball will be crucial for Butler as the series continues.
"It was a big adjustment because it was the first time back to live action," said Butler, who missed the final three games of the regular season with a bruised right knee. "And they were playing me a little different. They were redding me [running a second defender at him] on cuts and doubling on all of the [isolations] I get, so I just have to be a facilitator for the most part. But at the same time, I have to look for ways to assert myself into the offense and find my rhythm."
The other matchup the Wizards must exploit is Antawn Jamison against Ben Wallace. Jamison estimated that Wallace, who is not as quick laterally as he used to be and does not like to leave the paint defensively, was assigned to him about 70 percent of the time in Game 1. As a result, Jamison got just about any shot he wanted.
He finished with 24 points and a career-playoff-high 19 rebounds, but made 10 of 24 shots and only one of eight three-point attempts. Many of the shots were wide open.
"Of the 24 I took, maybe four or five of them were tough shots, but the rest of them were in the flow, shots I normally take," Jamison said. "On a couple of those threes I could've drove to the basket, so I have to be more patient with that. But those were good shots. I just need to make them."
Getting more efficient offensive production will be a major key for the Wizards, who won only 10 games during the regular season when they scored fewer than 100 points. Meantime, the Cavaliers won only nine games in regulation when they allowed at least 100 points.
James understands that the Wizards are capable of breaking out in Game 2.
"They are not going to continue to miss those open looks," James said.
