duncan228
02-21-2009, 11:23 PM
Week in review/preview: Spurs not alone battling the injury bug (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Week_in_reviewpreview_Spurs_not_alone_battling_the _injury_bug.html)
Douglas Pils - Express-News
With the NBA season more than 50 games old now, the injured list is filling up with current, former and future All-Stars. Houston losing Tracy McGrady wasn’t a surprise, but Manu Ginobili having a problem with his right leg was. A look at who’s out, how each team will adapt and which team hurts the most — we’ll ignore McGrady since he’s always hurt:
Spurs guard Manu Ginobili
- How long? Two to three weeks
- Who steps up? George Hill, Roger Mason Jr., Michael Finley. The Spurs were 6-6 when Ginobili missed the first 12 games of the season and they are 2-1 so far this time around. Hill and Mason did a good job the first time around. Hill averaged 10.1 points and 3.1 assists in the first 10 games he played in the NBA, which included two 20-point nights just before Ginobili returned. Mason was even better, averaging 15.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in those 12 games.
- Long-range impact: It stands to reason that the Southwest Division leader will find way to still be that leader when Ginobili returns. However, chasing Lakers for the West’s top seed is out of the question.
Celtics forward Kevin Garnett
- How long? Two to three weeks with a strained right knee
- Who steps up? Logically, Boston leans on Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, but even the Spurs look to others when a member of their Big Three goes down. Kendrick Perkins made all six shots he took and had 11 rebounds Thursday when Garnett went down. Point guard Rajon Rondo (11.3 ppg) is a better choice when it comes to picking up scoring slack.
- Long-range impact: Is this the opening the Cavaliers need to secure the top seed in the East?
Trail Blazers center Greg Oden
- How long? At least three games entering today with a sore left knee/chipped patella
- Who steps up? A Blazers team that cratered last season turns to underwhelming Joel Przybilla to start where Oden had been planted since Nov. 24.
- Long-range impact: Currently fourth the West, Portland will have to learn from last year’s mistakes. The next injury listed should help keep the Blazers playoff bound even if Oden is out longer.
Suns forward Amare Stoudemire
- How long? Eight weeks after retina surgery, possibly ending his season
- Who steps up? Shaquille O’Neal may have just lost some of those nights off he’s been getting when the Suns play back-to-back games. It’s time to see if time off kept his legs fresh for a run at the playoffs. Leandro Barbosa scored 41 Friday night in Stoudemire’s place, but the guard always has been inconsistent.
- Long-range impact: There are only nine teams capable of making the playoffs in the West. Trouble is, the Suns currently are the ninth team. Factor in Carlos Boozer getting close to his return in Utah — the eighth-place team — and playoff odds just got longer in Phoenix.
Douglas Pils - Express-News
With the NBA season more than 50 games old now, the injured list is filling up with current, former and future All-Stars. Houston losing Tracy McGrady wasn’t a surprise, but Manu Ginobili having a problem with his right leg was. A look at who’s out, how each team will adapt and which team hurts the most — we’ll ignore McGrady since he’s always hurt:
Spurs guard Manu Ginobili
- How long? Two to three weeks
- Who steps up? George Hill, Roger Mason Jr., Michael Finley. The Spurs were 6-6 when Ginobili missed the first 12 games of the season and they are 2-1 so far this time around. Hill and Mason did a good job the first time around. Hill averaged 10.1 points and 3.1 assists in the first 10 games he played in the NBA, which included two 20-point nights just before Ginobili returned. Mason was even better, averaging 15.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in those 12 games.
- Long-range impact: It stands to reason that the Southwest Division leader will find way to still be that leader when Ginobili returns. However, chasing Lakers for the West’s top seed is out of the question.
Celtics forward Kevin Garnett
- How long? Two to three weeks with a strained right knee
- Who steps up? Logically, Boston leans on Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, but even the Spurs look to others when a member of their Big Three goes down. Kendrick Perkins made all six shots he took and had 11 rebounds Thursday when Garnett went down. Point guard Rajon Rondo (11.3 ppg) is a better choice when it comes to picking up scoring slack.
- Long-range impact: Is this the opening the Cavaliers need to secure the top seed in the East?
Trail Blazers center Greg Oden
- How long? At least three games entering today with a sore left knee/chipped patella
- Who steps up? A Blazers team that cratered last season turns to underwhelming Joel Przybilla to start where Oden had been planted since Nov. 24.
- Long-range impact: Currently fourth the West, Portland will have to learn from last year’s mistakes. The next injury listed should help keep the Blazers playoff bound even if Oden is out longer.
Suns forward Amare Stoudemire
- How long? Eight weeks after retina surgery, possibly ending his season
- Who steps up? Shaquille O’Neal may have just lost some of those nights off he’s been getting when the Suns play back-to-back games. It’s time to see if time off kept his legs fresh for a run at the playoffs. Leandro Barbosa scored 41 Friday night in Stoudemire’s place, but the guard always has been inconsistent.
- Long-range impact: There are only nine teams capable of making the playoffs in the West. Trouble is, the Suns currently are the ninth team. Factor in Carlos Boozer getting close to his return in Utah — the eighth-place team — and playoff odds just got longer in Phoenix.