Injury: RJ Out for New Orleans game

[alchemist]

Already missing center Matt Bonner (broken hand) and guard Michael Finley (sprained left ankle), the Spurs will also be without starting forward Richard Jefferson, who will sit with a lower back injury.

http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ssf/2010/01/new_orleans_hornets-san_antoni.html

I see a couple of you popping champagne bottles.

[VBM]

I see a couple of you popping champagne bottles.

Wonder if this will get Haislip some extended PT...

[ajballer4]

Bonner is back today

[timvp]

When did he get hurt? I seem to remember him holding his back but I can't remember the play.

Well that sucks. Durability was one of his best traits. Hopefully it's nothing long term.

[alchemist]

Bonner is back today
:toast hope he hasn't lost his hot 3pt shooting

[lurker23]

Starting lineup?

Parker/Mason/Bogans/Duncan/Blair

That leaves Manu and Hill as swingman reserves. Very little if any small ball.

[ajballer4]

Hill is going to get the start next to Tony and Bogans i would guess

[Manu20]

RJ is out with back spasms.

[duncan228]

Jefferson out against Hornets (http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/2010/01/jefferson-out-a.html)
By Jeff McDonald

The injury carousel keeps on turning for the Spurs heading into this afternoon's game at New Orleans

The short version: Antonio McDyess is back from neck spasms. Matt Bonner is back from a fractured hand. Richard Jefferson is out with back spasms.

The injury has been bothering Jefferson for a few days -- and helps explain his 0-for-6 performance at Memphis on Saturday -- but he apparently kept the pain to himself until recently.

"He finally owned up to it," coach Gregg Popovich said.

As such, Jefferson -- who played a full 82 games each of the past two seasons -- will miss his first game since March 6, 2007 while with the Nets. His absence will break a string of 223 consecutive starts and games played.

The Spurs briefly toyed with the notion of recalling Malik Hairston from Austin to take Jefferson's place on the active roster. Hairston, sent to the D-League on Thursday, is in New Orleans Arena today as a potential insurance policy, but Popovich has decided against activating him.

Had Hairston been active, it would have counted as his second call-up of the season. Teams are allowed to recall players only three times throughout the course of a campaign.

Instead, Popovich decided to activate Bonner, who has been out since fracturing his hand against Indiana on Dec. 19. It is uncertain whether Bonner will get in the game against the Hornets, but he will be available if Popovich needs him.

[alchemist]

When did he get hurt? I seem to remember him holding his back but I can't remember the play.

Well that sucks. Durability was one of his best traits. Hopefully it's nothing long term.
I don't even remember seeing him hold his back, wish I recorded that game. I'll have to take advantage of the free online league pass.

[murpjf88]

So much for Mr. durability.

[loveforthegame]

Hope Jefferson isn't out for long. That's all we need. More minutes piled on for Ginobli who already looks gassed lately.

[ajballer4]

Tough loss here, I was interested to see how he responded to Pop calling him soft

[murpjf88]

Whatever happened to Finley? Isn't he suppose to be back?

[Bukefal]

Jefferson out against Hornets (http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/2010/01/jefferson-out-a.html)
His absence will break a string of 223 consecutive starts and games played.



Damn, and that just needed to happen when he is with us. Nice, very nice.

Hopefully it's a very short term thing.

[lurker23]

Parker/Bogans/Bonner/Duncan/Blair

:stirpot:

In all seriousness, I doubt Bonner will get more than 10 minutes, unless his shot is really hitting.

[urunobili]

Time to see some Haislip extended time :stirpot:

[siraulo23]

RJ banging with those PF too MUCH

this is pop's fault

[blkroadrunners]

Tough loss.

[z0sa]

Law of averages - NBA players of his type/quality (or any, really) rarely spend multiple consecutive seasons without injury.

[Chieflion]

Figures. That was why he only played 21 minutes against the Grizzlies, and you people said he sucked.

[Spurs Brazil]

Hill starting in RJ place

[murpjf88]

Figures. That was why he only played 21 minutes against the Grizzlies, and you people said he sucked.

I don't critique a player's performance based on one game.

[Chieflion]

I don't critique a player's performance based on one game.
Did I hit a sore spot on something?

[superjames1992]

Bonner is back today
That's good news.

I just hope his finger doesn't hurt what he does best: shoot the ball.

[murpjf88]

Did I hit a sore spot on something?

Nope. Just stating the facts. I didn't call him out based on his performance in Memphis. By the way, I don't ever recall using the word "suck".

[timtonymanu]

that sucks. there goes rj's streak for playing all games.

[baseline bum]

Man, fuck this season. :pctoss

[Agloco]

RJ is out with back spasms.

Might explain why he's been stinking it up of late.

[boutons_deux]

LJ, why does if have to an in-game injury?

People get lumbar cramps bending over to brush their teeth.

[Chieflion]

LJ, why does if have to an in-game injury?

People get lumbar cramps bending over to brush their teeth.
There is reason to believe RJ got injured in the Grizzlies game as he only played 21 minutes, which is the season low for him, he usually plays about 30 minutes.

[weebo]

Let's hope he doesn't lose that all star intensity he was playing with before he got hurt.





yeah right....

[phxspurfan]

I was going to say how gay but that wouldve been too easy

[pjjrfan]

Figures. That was why he only played 21 minutes against the Grizzlies, and you people said he sucked.

what was his excuse for the other 38 games?

[Chieflion]

what was his excuse for the other 38 games?
I maintain my prediction that he will score 14 ppg max in San Antonio. So far, no suprises and he played like I thought he will. This is what happens when you hype a player too much and get disappointed. He played well when one or two of the big three out so he definitely needs more touches.

[temujin]

Too bad.

PS. For the Hornets.

[crc21209]

Damn...well that has to explain the egg he laid the other night against Memphis. Hopefully it's only a short-term thing..

[greyforest]

he complained about his back about a week ago in a postgame audio interview when he was asked about playing PF

that's one way to prevent small ball...!

[HarlemHeat37]

It's not easy to avoid injuries when you have to guard big PFs like Lamarcus Aldridge and Zach Randolph in the post..

[pjjrfan]

I maintain my prediction that he will score 14 ppg max in San Antonio. So far, no suprises and he played like I thought he will. This is what happens when you hype a player too much and get disappointed. He played well when one or two of the big three out so he definitely needs more touches.

don't get me wrong, I want the same thing. I'm just a little frustrated waiting.

[The Truth #6]

I didn't know about the injury. When I heard he wasn't playing I at first thought of a potential trade in the works...and then I came to my senses.

[TJastal]

It's not easy to avoid injuries when you have to guard big PFs like Lamarcus Aldridge and Zach Randolph in the post..

Bingo. Pop's love for shortened rotations in a 5 games in 7 days stretch and playing 1/3 of those games using small ball w/ Jefferson as the PF is probably putting some major physical stress on the guy.

Once again spurstalk noobs blame player when the coach is most responsible.

[The Truth #6]

I wouldn't go overboard blaming Pop for this one. Pop has his share of mistakes but RJ was supposed to be durable. It's not like he plays 40 mins a night.

[024]

jefferson has logged the most minutes on the spurs. and yeah, guarding all those power forwards probably had something to do with it even if he does play soft defense.