<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It's over. That's the best thing that can be said about the Washington Wizards' just-completed five-game road trip. The Wizards never were blown out and held a halftime lead in all five games, but they finished strong only once, at the end of last Wednesday's 108-106 win in Seattle when Gilbert Arenas scored the game-winner on a layup as time expired. They finished the trip 1-4 following Monday's 103-97 loss at Utah. The trip dropped the Wizards (37-32) into sixth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind the third-place Miami Heat (38-32), going into tonight's game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Verizon Center. Overtaking the Heat for the Southeast Division title would guarantee that the Wizards would be no lower than the fourth seed and would have home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Had the regular season ended last night, the Wizards would face the Heat in the first round. Playing at home, where the Wizards are 25-9, should provide one boost; the expected return of all-star forward Caron Butler should provide another. Butler missed the entire trip with a left knee contusion, and the Wizards are 2-7 without his services this season. He officially is listed as a game-time decision. "Overall, I feel great," said Butler, who worked out on his own while the team was on the road. "Mentally and physically, I feel good. I went through some drills [yesterday] and we'll see how I feel [tonight]. I am just anxious to get back on the court."</div> Link Tonight's game is a great opportunity for the Wizards to get back on the winning track with Caron Butler coming back. I think we still have a chance at winning the division with the way our schedule looks and that we have 1 more game with Miami Heat. It will all go down to how healthy our roster looks.
