As a result, the Wizards are stumbling to the finish of what was a very promising season only two months ago. They lost back-to-back games Tuesday and Wednesday to the lottery-bound Bobcats and have fallen behind the Miami Heat in the race for the Southeast Division title.

"That team had a chance to contend, and to lose their most crucial guy at the most pivotal time ... it really destroys the whole season, everything they did," Heat coach Pat Riley said before his team's game at Cleveland.

The Wizards began the season confidently, declaring the Eastern Conference finals as their goal. When Butler went down, they still hoped to rally around Arenas -- even though they are 2-9 this season when Butler doesn't play.

"It's very difficult, to lead a conference and be the best team, and then all of a sudden injuries kind of plague the team," captain Antawn Jamison said. "But it's basketball. It's not the first time this has ever happened. It's just difficult for us because we were on the brink of doing something special as far as contending for the best record and really making some noise. Not to say that is too far-fetched now, but the identity of the team is totally different."

With Arenas gone, Antonio Daniels will run the team like a true point guard, and Jamison, Stevenson, Etan Thomas, Jarvis Hayes, Darius Songaila and others will have to find ways to compensate for the 47.5 points combined averaged by Arenas and Butler -- both of whom also played nearly 40 minutes per game.

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