Caron Butler News: Pro Sports Daily

Butler injured as Wizards stumble on road

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October 31

Washington Times

"For about four minutes Friday night, it appeared the wizardry Flip Saunders and Co. performed in Washington's season-opening victory at Dallas would carry over into a matchup with the Atlanta Hawks. But efficiency and a double-digit lead quickly were replaced by sloppiness and a double-digit deficit. The Wizards never fully recovered and fell 100-89. To make matters worse, forward Caron Butler bruised his left knee while diving for a loose ball, left in the second quarter and did not return. His status for Saturday's home opener against the New Jersey Nets is in doubt. Butler, who scored five quick points in the opening minutes but then went cold, left the game with seven minutes left in ..."

Wizards lose on a couple of counts

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October 31

Washington Post

"The Washington Wizards, just two games into their season, are already having their mettle tested. After losing to the Atlanta Hawks, 100-89, on Friday night at Philips Arena, the Wizards will arrive at Verizon Center for their home opener against New Jersey on Saturday with a 1-1 record and perhaps short another all-star forward. Caron Butler was limited to just 17 minutes and didn't play in the second half after suffering a bruised left knee. Butler did not speak with reporters after the game, but Wizards Coach Flip Saunders said Butler might have injured himself late in the first period, when he dove to the floor to corral a rebound after Gilbert Arenas missed layup. Butler finished ..."

Slimmed-down Butler focuses on his defense

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October 3

Washington Times

"Two-time All-Star Caron Butler, coming off a season in which he averaged a career-high 20.8 points, is expected to be a key cog in the Wizards' offense this season, even with the return of franchise point guard Gilbert Arenas. When Butler reported to training camp at Virginia Commonwealth University this week, however, learning the offense wasn't in his thoughts. That would come as he spent time with the playbook. Instead, Butler aimed to dedicate most of his efforts to "becoming the best defensive player I can be." Butler first thought of setting that goal just after the team's dismal 2008-09 season had ended. Then in came coach Flip Saunders, who laid down the gauntlet for the 6-foot-7 ..."

Wizards' Butler Happily Goes on the Defensive

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October 3

Washington Post

"Caron Butler was like a child eagerly anticipating the first day of school this week. He woke up early for the first day of training camp on Tuesday, hung his practice jersey over a chair and stared. While describing his enthusiasm for his eighth NBA season -- and fifth with the Washington Wizards -- Butler used phrases like "a new beginning" and "something beautiful." The Butler who arrived in Richmond this week was a noticeably sleeker model, having lost 10 pounds after eschewing Mountain Dew in April and changing his diet to include eating breakfast more frequently. But Butler, a two-time all-star, also plans to be a different player this season, taking a personal challenge and a ..."

Butler to talk title with Wes in China

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August 28

Washington Examiner

"There are no exhibition games scheduled during the Wizards' ten-day trip to China next month -- Caron Butler and Randy Foye are the only two players among the traveling party, after all -- but Butler expects the journey to have an effect on the court. "Just build momentum," said the All-Star forward when asked what he hopes to get out of the trip. "Take that experience, come back and talk about the old championship days and their legacy and what we're trying to do. We're trying to do something special. I think it should be safe, and people shouldn't be scared of mentioning championship." Butler hopes to glean as much insight as possible during the trip from Wes Unseld Sr., who led the ..."

Butler Ready to Look Ahead

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April 10

Washington Post

"Caron Butler and LeBron James are the only players in the NBA averaging at least 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists this season. But Butler won't place that feather in the black, curly "W," Washington Nationals cap he regularly adjusted while discussing what could go down as the worst season in Wizards franchise history. Butler had taken so much for granted in his first three years in Washington -- the playoffs, the all-star appearances -- that this season made him more appreciative of "cherishable" moments. Those moments include the night against Indiana when he overcame the flu to score the Wizards' final 15 points, including a buzzer-beating jumper as he slid backward into the front ..."

Butler's injury not severe

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March 17

Washington Times

"Washington Wizards guard/forward Caron Butler said an MRI done Monday on his left hamstring showed some inflammation, and the official word from the team was that its second-leading scorer is day-to-day. The good news for the Wizards and Butler is that the injury, which has caused him to miss four games in the past three weeks, isn't of a serious variety, such as a tear. Getty Images Caron Butler has missed four games in the past three weeks with a left hamstring injury. But unfortunately for the 16-51 Wizards, Butler - who is averaging 20.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and a team-high 4.5 assists - could be sidelined for at least half, if not all, of their four-game Western Conference road trip ..."

Butler Hamstrung on Wizards' Trip

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March 17

Washington Post

"Caron Butler is with the Washington Wizards as they open a four-game road trip tonight against the Utah Jazz, but the two-time all-star continues to be bothered by tightness in his left hamstring and is day-to-day. Butler, who sat out Sunday's home win over Sacramento, underwent an MRI exam yesterday that revealed no new information. He is not sure when he will play again but did not rule out playing before the trip concludes at Phoenix on Saturday night. "That will be a medical decision," interim coach Ed Tapscott said of Butler's status. "Whatever makes sense, that's what we'll go with." If Butler doesn't play tonight, the Wizards (16-51) will again play without four projected ..."

Butler Hopes He Can Play Against Spurs

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March 5

Washington Post

"Caron Butler was forced to miss his second consecutive game with a left hamstring injury, but said he hopes that the pain will subside enough for him to be available when the Washington Wizards face the San Antonio Spurs on Friday. Butler, who had an MRI exam on Tuesday that revealed some inflammation in his left leg, said he first felt complications during the Wizards' victory over Chicago on Friday. He added that he played through the pain because the Wizards were home and President Obama was in attendance. "Otherwise, I would've been like, 'Aw heck with that,' " said Butler, who worked out pregame with head athletic trainer Eric Water, stretching with resistance bands. "I felt a little ..."

Butler's Hamstring Has Him Day-to-Day

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March 4

Washington Post

"Second-leading scorer Caron Butler did not practice yesterday and remains day-to-day with a hamstring problem that kept him out of Monday's home loss to Atlanta. Butler's absence led interim coach Ed Tapscott to go with his 13th starting lineup of the season as Dominic McGuire shifted to Butler's spot alongside Mike James, Antawn Jamison, Darius Songaila and Andray Blatche. Unfortunately for the Wizards, the latest lineup worked about as well as the previous 12, as the Hawks kept the Wizards winless in the Southeast Division. The most successful unit so far has been James and Butler in the back court, McGuire and Jamison at forward and Songaila at center. That starting lineup is 5-9."

Ailing Butler sits in loss to Hawks

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March 3

Washington Times

"As they prepared to play host to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night, the Washington Wizards knew they would need to catch a break to snap a three-game losing streak against the Eastern Conference's fourth-ranked team. And at first it looked as if they would get it. With winter weather pounding the Atlantic Coast, the Hawks not only were coming off of a heartbreaking loss Sunday night to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but they also had their flight out of Atlanta delayed and didn't reach the District until 6 a.m. Monday. But in keeping with the theme of this season, it again didn't work out for the long-suffering Wizards. Just before the game, the Wizards learned that they would be without ..."

Trio of scorers gives Wizards some hope

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February 10

Washington Times

"When the Washington Wizards learned in September that Gilbert Arenas would have to undergo a third knee surgery, the need arose for a third scorer to complement Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler. Gone was guard Roger Mason Jr., who helped carry the scoring load last season but signed with San Antonio in the summer. Hobbled was shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson, who opened the year with awful numbers before finally giving in to a pinched nerve in his back."

In Win, Butler Plays Like a Star

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February 10

Washington Post

"Caron Butler has been good all season, but on Sunday he was great. The two-time all-star helped snap a three-game losing streak by scoring Washington's final 15 points and making a game-winning jumper to wrap up a sorely needed 119-117 win over Indiana. That Butler hasn't appeared much this season and it's one of the reasons why he, along with Antawn Jamison, was passed over as a reserve for the Eastern Conference all-star squad. The Wizards (11-40) have won consecutive games only once all season and own the fewest wins in the league along with the Sacramento Kings, a team that also does not have an all-star representative. "Like I've said, I know I'm an all-star," said Butler, who has ..."

Butler Is Working To Dump His Slump

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January 15

Washington Post

"Washington Wizards guard Caron Butler has struggled in seven games since returning from a sprained left ankle on Jan. 2. Entering Wednesday night's game against the New York Knicks, Butler was averaging just 14 points, shooting 35.7 percent and had failed to reach double figures three times in January. Butler admitted before the game that he probably returned from his injury earlier than he should have, but he wouldn't use it as an excuse for his slump. Butler blamed his January struggles mostly on teams loading up on him defensively and taking away his first and second options. "I got to assert myself early," Butler said. "Sometimes, you're like, 'Hell, I'm going to try to stick it in ..."

Butler, Jamison Say Travel Call Correct

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January 6

Washington Post

"The Wizards won Sunday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in part because referee Bill Spooner whistled LeBron James for traveling on a key play down the stretch. After the game, James defended the move by saying he had used a "crab dribble" before taking two steps towards the basket. "I watched it 10 times after the game and it was clearly a good play, so you live with it," James said. What's a crab dribble? Wizards forward Caron Butler, who was defending James on the play, thinks he knows. "Yeah, a crab dribble is when you travel," Butler said with a grin yesterday. "That's my boy and that's the hottest thing on the market now, the crab dribble travel. . . . I couldn't do it in ..."

Butler Hopes Victory Gets the Ball Rolling

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January 5

Washington Post

"It was just one win, but Washington Wizards forward Caron Butler said he hopes that the 80-77 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers yesterday could be "the win" to finally get the team moving in the right direction. Butler said he hasn't ruled out the possibility of turning around this miserable campaign. "To get a game like this, you hope that it gives you a little momentum, shows us that we have what it takes in this locker room in order to stay scrappy," Butler said. "Hopefully, we go to Orlando and get a quality win down there. That's our goal, you know? Every three-game segment to go 2-1 and that will put us at .500 eventually at the end of the season and hopefully, Gilbert Arenas ..."

Butler's return gives the Wizards optimism

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January 2

Washington Times

"The Washington Wizards started the new year on a positive note Thursday by practicing with rigor after a day off, and back with them was leading scorer Caron Butler. The All-Star swingman, who this season is averaging 21 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists, had missed the last three games after he sprained his left ankle Christmas Day at Cleveland. He tested the ankle out before each of the last two games but couldn't put any weight on it or change directions. After an additional day off, Butler again tested the ankle, and it responded positively. He participated in the Wizards' entire 90-minute practice session Thursday with little limitation. "It felt decent. A little stiff, a little ..."

Butler Anticipates Playing Against Celtics

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January 2

Washington Post

"After missing the last three games because of a sprained left ankle, Wizards forward Caron Butler expects to play tonight when Washington visits Boston. Butler is the team's leading scorer (21 points per game) and is the only player in the league other than Cleveland's LeBron James averaging at least 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, so his value can't be overestimated against a Celtics team that drilled the Wizards, 122-88, at Verizon Center on Dec. 11. The Wizards (6-24) have shown signs of life with recent solid performances against playoff contenders Cleveland, Houston and New Orleans, but face a brutal stretch that includes games against Boston (28-5), Cleveland (26-5) and Orlando ..."

Wizards' Butler shelved by ankle injury

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December 28

Boston Globe

"Washington Wizards forward Caron Butler, who leads the team in scoring with 21 points per game, missed last night's matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a left ankle injury. It's the first game Butler has missed this season. Interim coach Ed Tapscott said Butler, who missed 24 games with a variety of injuries last season, tweaked his ankle in Thursday's loss in Cleveland. Nick Young started in Butler's place . . . Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng could miss up to a week with a sprained left ankle, although he did not appear to be limping when he was held out last night against the Atlanta Hawks. Deng hurt the ankle while attempting to grab a rebound Friday night at Miami. An MRI ..."

Butler Explains His Sideline Outburst

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December 23

Washington Post

"Caron Butler said his sideline rant at the end of Sunday's loss to the Dallas Mavericks wasn't directed at any particular teammate or issue. The two-time all-star said he simply lost his cool after watching the Wizards (4-21) squander yet another winnable game with yet another poor fourth quarter performance. "There are no Cleos around here," said Butler in reference to the fortune teller whose ads used to run all over late-night television. "Even [Miss] Cleo couldn't dictate this. It's just one of those situations where it's 'Man, this is not okay.' Somebody has to say something. This is not okay. It's not okay to continue to lose games like this. And I know that everyone feels that way ..."

Butler Sporting Eye Protection

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November 12

Washington Post

"Caron Butler went through a few sets of protective eye goggles before settling on a pair from Oakley during practice yesterday. They were stylish, but that's not the reason for Butler's new look. During the first half of Saturday's loss in Orlando, Butler butted heads with Magic guard Mickael Pietrus and suffered a gruesome cut just above his left eye. The cut led to severe swelling and bled into Butler's eye. Doctors closed the cut with glue. He doesn't expect it to be a major problem tonight against the Utah Jazz as the Wizards look for their first win of the season. "It was a different look with the goggles and everything but I found a pair that works and I'm good to go," said Butler, ..."

With Spotlight on Him, Butler Is Ready to Shine

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October 17

Washington Post

"Caron Butler was hardly noticed as he and his wife, Andrea, strolled through a downtown shopping district Thursday afternoon here in one of Europe's most cosmopolitan cities. One overzealous shopkeeper, correctly assuming that Butler was an NBA player, worked hard to persuade Andrea to purchase a fur-lined coat. But for the most part, the couple could have been any tourists. When he was politely interrupted and asked to autograph a Wizards jersey during his lunch of bratwurst -- remember, Butler is from Racine, Wis. -- he cordially penned his name on a Gilbert Arenas jersey and posed for a photo. Butler has never been to Barcelona before, but he does remember an image of his childhood ..."