Wizards look to get healthy for playoff run
Mostly, the Wizards are hoping to make good health contagious. Arenas is rounding into form and Jamison is expected to be back soon, so the Wizards should be at full strength -- something they haven't experienced since November -- when the playoffs begin.
"We want to be a tough out," O'Koren said. "We're trying to get healthy and sometimes that works to a disadvantage in a sense because you have guys coming in that haven't played all year. It's hard for me to say that considering Gilbert averages 30 points and is an all-pro. Obviously, Caron has missed some time and now Antawn is missing some time.
"We'll put it all together. We'll worry about that when the time comes. We're just looking for seeding right now. We're very happy to be in the playoffs. We're looking to make up ground and maybe get home-court advantage. There's still some season left."
Butler took it a step further. Regardless of their seed, he believes the Wizards are the team no one wants to face in the first round of the playoffs.
"If I was on an opposing team and I look at this squad and look at the personnel, I'd be scared because we can cause a lot of matchup problems," he said.
With the rash of injuries, some youngsters on the Wizards roster have gotten heavier minutes than expected and have produced. Forward Andray Blatche and guards Roger Mason Jr. and Nick Young have stepped up, as has starting center Brendan Haywood, who is averaging a career-high 10.6 points and 7.2 rebounds.
"Right now, we're just focusing on every game, taking it one game at a time, because we're in a playoff battle for positioning with Philadelphia and Toronto," Haywood said. "If guys are healthy, they're healthy. If not, we have to continue to push through and get victories until they get healthy."
At the moment, Washington would be matched against the Cavaliers in the first round. That would be just fine with the Wizards players because they would like another shot at Cleveland at full strength after getting swept in the first round a year ago without Arenas (knee) and Butler (fractured hand).
"We'll definitely be out there come playoff time," Butler said. "We'll all be healthy, hopefully."
John Jackson is the NBA columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times.
