Wizards getting healthy

This time last season, the Washington Wizards found themselves in almost a hopeless situation.

They had just lost leading scorer Gilbert Arenas for the season because of a torn meniscus in his left knee. Then they lost second-leading scorer Caron Butler to a broken hand.

The team began April five games above .500, but the injuries led to a 3-8 slide, and the Wizards limped into the playoffs with a 41-41 record as the seventh seed in the East.

“Last year was tough, knowing that you weren’t going to have Gilbert and Caron,” team captain Antawn Jamison recalled. “We were in a situation that we had never been before. We were in the water with hammerhead sharks, white tigers, whatever. We did everything possible to stay afloat, and in the playoffs we competed, but I think mentally we still weren’t there.”

Suddenly Jamison had to lead a cast of players who had been called upon on only a limited basis as the Wizards faced the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs. Jamison tried to shoulder the load, averaging 32 points and 9.8 rebounds, but the Cavaliers swept the Wizards.

This time around the Wizards find themselves in an improved situation.

After enduring a season in which Arenas missed 66 games with a second knee surgery, Butler missed 19 games with a hip injury and Jamison missed two games with a sprained shoulder, Washington appears to be getting healthy at just the right time.

Arenas returned last week and averaged 15 points and five assists in two games despite the team’s medical staff limiting him to 20 minutes an outing. Butler recaptured his All-Star form, averaging 20.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists in his last five games. Jamison participated in two strenuous practices this week and said his shoulder feels great after a four-day rest.

For only the second time since Nov. 16, the Wizards expect to have a full arsenal when they kick off the final five-game leg of their regular season tonight at home against the league-leading Boston Celtics. The Wizards hold the fifth spot in the playoffs with a 40-37 record and stand two games back of Cleveland for fourth, which would mean home-court advantage.

As far as the rest of the Wizards go, last year’s unproven cast is now a seasoned unit after playing key roles with Arenas and Butler out so much this season

“This year to have gone through what we went through with the injuries, guys staying upbeat and keeping their heads up, young guys getting the opportunity to play and make a difference, it says a lot,” Jamison said. “I think a lot of teams wouldn’t have found a way to get it done with two of their All-Stars out for a significant time. And for us to withstand that and still have a chance to be a four-seed and have home court advantage in the first round, it really says a lot.”

With the Wizards having clinched their fourth straight playoff berth and healthy for the first time in 2008, coach Eddie Jordan is focusing on re-enforcing the chemistry and flow his team had for the first three-fourths of the 2006-07 season — the last time they were healthy.

“We’re trying to get our rotation guys,” Jordan said. “We had eight guys, nine guys all year and we had a good flow. But now we have Gil coming back into the flow, so I will play those guys together in as many different lineups as possible.”

Teams like Boston, Detroit and Orlando, by contrast, are now trying to find ways to rest their key players for the playoffs. On Saturday, the Celtics didn’t play All-Stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen but still beat Charlotte by 23 points. They also could see limited action tonight.

“It’s exciting to know that we’re finally getting healthy and that we’ve already clinched a playoff spot,” Jordan said. “Not to say that we’re satisfied. … We’re still working and trying to improve our positioning.”