http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basketball/heat/ sfl-heatnotes26apr26,0,2541338.story?coll=sfla-sports-heat Caron is on: Butler racks up numbers By Steve Gorten Staff Writer Posted April 26 2004 MIAMI -- The Heat's leader in points, rebounds and steals through three games of this first-round playoff series against the Hornets isn't who you might expect. While Lamar Odom and Dwyane Wade have garnered most of the attention, Caron Butler is tops in all three categories, averaging 18 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.3 steals. With 24 points and a career-high 15 rebounds in Game 3 on Saturday, Butler became the first player in franchise history to record 20 points and 15 rebounds in a playoff game. He had "mixed emotions" about the feat because it came in a 77-71 loss. "I think what they've done is they've tried to really use their [small forward] to help on our pick-and-roll game, to help on Lamar, to help on Dwyane," said Heat coach Stan Van Gundy. "And I think they've been willing, at least at this point in the series, to live with Caron getting some points if they can take our three leading scorers out." Said Hornets forward P.J. Brown: "We'll stay with our defensive philosophy, and if he does it again, more power to him." Although guard Baron Davis said the Hornets "have to start paying attention to [Butler]," Butler's play in this series has contributed to Van Gundy's decision to use a limited rotation. Reserve Rasual Butler, who did not play in Game 3, has seen five minutes of action in this series, one fewer than Malik Allen. "We were basically at eight guys anyway, and then we haven't played Rasual a lot, and that's been more a factor of the quality of Caron's play," Van Gundy said. "He's able to handle big minutes. He's playing great. I want to try to keep him on the floor." Davis said: "Their two main weapons in this series have been Caron and Lamar, to me, just because of the energy Caron Butler brings." Caron Butler didn't practice Sunday because of swelling and tightness in his right Achilles', injured in Game 3, and might sit out today, but said he will play Tuesday "no matter what." EYE ON ODOM Odom practiced a day after getting six stitches over his left eye -- the result of an inadvertent elbow from Davis. Odom said he felt little pain from the injury Saturday night. "It was cool. I just kept some ice on it, relaxed and went to sleep," he said, adding that he doesn't plan on wearing protective eyewear for Tuesday's Game 4. "If [the Hornets] hit it again, then I'll just be out of luck, but I don't think they'll hit it again." CHANGE OF SCENERY Caron Butler welcomed the return to Miami between Games 3 and 4 in New Orleans, instead of staying at the site of Saturday's loss and "hearing how good [the Hornets] are" for three days. "You get back home, get back to work here and then go back out to New Orleans again to try to get a victory," Butler said. THIS AND THAT The Heat has held the Hornets to 219 points combined in the first three games (73.0 ppg.) and an opponent under 80 three consecutive games for the first time in the Heat's playoff history. ... Butler and Odom attempted 10 free throws each in Game 3, the first time that has been done by two Miami players in the playoffs since 1997. ... Miami would tie another playoff record established that year if it holds New Orleans under 40 percent shooting for the third consecutive game Tuesday. ... Despite a size disadvantage, the Heat has outrebounded the Hornets in all three games, the opposite of the teams' last playoff meeting in 2001. Steve Gorten can be reached at [email protected]. Copyright c 2004, South Florida Sun-Sentinel --

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