Swamigp’s Weblog

Caron Butler had to step it up even more with the absence of star Gilbert Arenas. He did just that, scoring 32 points, including the game winning lay-up past Lebron James with 3.9 seconds left to stave off elimination. Down by one, 87-86, Butler got the ball at the top of the key, confessing after the game that he was going to take a jump shot over Lebron. He decided against it, as he saw James backpeddling, driving down the lane for a tough bank shot, sending his teammates into a jubilant celebration. The game wasn’t over yet though, with time still remaining on the clock. Lebron got the ball and immediately drived to the hoop. He went right by Deshawn Stevenson, drawing incidental contact by forward Darius Songalia. His shot off the backboard was too strong, creating a game 6 in Washington D.C..

If Butler wasn’t scoring he was contributing in other ways as he grabbed 9 rebounds, dished 5 assists, and collected 2 steals. After a see-saw battle late in the 4th quarter, Cleveland pulled away, grabbing a 5 point lead, 87-82, on a three-point play by Delonte West, with 1:47. That was the last scoring for the Cavaliers, as the Wizards battled back. After Lebron missed a three pointer with the shot clock running down, Butler made a lay-up to cut Cleveland’s lead to three. Cleveland once again came up empty on their next trip, as Daniel Gibson missed a three of his own. Antonio Daniels grabbed the rebound and was fouled by Cleveland forward Joe Smith. He made both free-throws, dwindling the lead to one. On the Cavaliers next possession, Joe Smith missed a three foot jumper with 15 seconds left. Zydrunas Ilgauskas grabbed the offensive rebound, but missed the tip in, giving Butler and Washington one last chance.

Butler scored 14 points in the first quarter as the Wizards jumped out to a 7 point, 23-16, lead after one. Cleveland came back with a strong second quarter, decreasing Washington’s lead to two, 45-43 at halftime. Deshawn Stevenson chipped in 17 points and 5 rebounds behind Butler’s effort. Antawn Jamison, the teams leading scorer during the year at 21 points a game, struggled in this contest, scoring just 8 points on 3-10 shooting. He did grab 11 rebounds and block 2 shots, making timely contributions other than on the offensive end.

Lebron James finished with 34 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists, but faltered down the stretch as his team couldn’t put the Wiz away. He shot only 8-21 from the floor, but made 15-18 free throws, using his 6′8” 250 frame to his advantage, outmuscling his defenders on countless possessions to get to the line. Ilgauskas added 19 points and 6 rebounds, shooting 8-11 from the field, but the Cav’s didn’t get much else. Both teams’ had prolific scorers go to work in this game, which led to their respective dominance when they had the ball. Both teams only had three players score in double figures, Antonio Daniels for Washington and Delonte West for Cleveland rounding out the positive input offnesively.

Caron Butler, walking down the court with Lebron before the final Cav’s posession, tried to psych him out by saying: “miss this shot, make it interesting and let’s take this thing back to D.C.” Whether Lebron wanted to listen or not, it worked. Game 6 in Washington everyone.