Caron Butler went through another strong practice yesterday and afterwards both Wizards coach Eddie Jordan and Butler said that the two-time All-Star will probably play tomorrow night when the Cleveland Cavaliers come to town.
Butler, who has missed 16 straight games and 19 since Jan. 27 with a small labral tear in his left hip socket, said that after not practicing since Feb. 18 that he feels ready to go. Butler, who after practice beat rookie Oleksiy Pecherov in a game of Around-the-World, said that he hasn't felt any symptoms of the injury in about "five or six days" and that his confidence is high.
Excerpts from interviews after todays practice follow:
Jordan on Butler
"Caron looked good today. He did everything everyone else did, and we'll see how he looks tomorrow. I really think he's probable, which is an upgrade. If he's ready to go, he's fair game and [LeBron James] would be the matchup for him."
Butler on Butler
"Went through a full practice again, felt pretty good. I went through the shootaround before the game yesterday, felt no symptoms, just a little tightness in the groin area. After today's practice, after beating up on Pech a little bit, went in the back, got a little treatment and still feel good. If I wake up tomorrow and feel the same way, I'll definitely be on the court."
On if he has the confidence to attack a guarded rim during a game
"I will. I will flush it. I will go up and attack. But we'll just see how I feel tomorrow morning. Hopefully I feel the same way I do right now."
On not changing his style because of the hip injury
"If I'm injured or whatever the case may be, I've played with injuries. I've played three weeks after having my knee scoped and I was still out there, dunking and running around crazy. That's just my style of play. I'm gonna be tough, hard nosed, that's what the fans come to see. That's my style and my niche and how I got my name in this league."
Notes -- Gilbert Arenas was back in practice after missing Monday's session with soreness in his surgically-repaired left knee. ... Pecherov also practiced after sitting out last night's game with a sprained left foot. Antawn Jamison (back strain), Antonio Daniels (sprained thumb) and DeShawn Stevenson (sore knee) didn't practice yesterday. ...
Jamison, Daniels, Stevenson and Pecherov all are probable for tomorrow night's game. Still no timetable for return to game action Arenas, or center Etan Thomas, who hasn't missed a practice since resuming full-contact work last week.
