The reasons for the drop-off are numerous, beginning with an injury to all-star forward Caron Butler, who has missed six straight and nine of the last 11 games with a strained left hip flexor.

• 关于防守下降的原因林林总总不胜枚举，从全明星前锋巴特勒的受伤开始，由于左髋屈肌的扭伤他已经连续缺席了六场比赛，并且在过去的11场比赛缺阵9场。