Don't overlook Caron Butler against Memphis

Anybody who scanned the box score of the opener Wednesday
against Charlotte saw that Caron Butler played 34 minutes and shot 5-of-16 from
the field. He had 13 points, four assists and three turnovers.
 
Not exactly eye popping.
 
However, it’s worth noting that Butler also had to
guard Gerald Wallace a lot and that Wallace only had 16 points on 5-of-14
shooting. Butler also had seven of his points in the first eight minutes of the
game, when the Mavericks were building a 17-point lead.
 
“If he was playing 38 or 39 minutes like he was at
Washington last year, he’d be an 18 to 22 point scorer,’’
coach Rick Carlisle said. “That’s where things are different in our
culture this year. We just got to approach this as, how do we get this win.’’
 
Shawn Marion and Butler both fit into that description of
just doing things that won the opener. Marion had seven rebounds in 26 minutes,
but added a game-clinching dunk.
 
Butler had too good of a preseason to simply dismiss him
after one off shooting night. It would not be shocking at all to see him come
back with a big-time offensive night Friday against the Grizzlies.