LaMarcus Aldridge Says Pinkie Still Sore

[BillMc]

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2016/04/15/lamarcus-aldridge-says-pinkie-finger-is-still-sore-as-playoffs-approach/

But he'll be alright!:tu

Article by Melissa Rohlin.

LaMarcus Aldridge acknowledged that his right pinky finger, which was dislocated during a game against the Golden State Warriors on April 7, remains sore as the Spurs prepare to host the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of the teams’ first round playoff series on Sunday at AT&T Center.
“It’s okay,” Aldridge said after Spurs’ practice Friday. “Just trying to get used to my new tape job. I’ll be okay.”

Spurs’ trainer Will Sevening experimented with taping Aldridge’s finger in a new way Friday in an attempt to increase the finger’s range of motion.

“He did, trying to make it where I can flex it more, and just feel more comfortable out there,” Aldridge said. “I’m trying it out now.”

Right before Aldridge walked over to talk to the media, he made a 28-foot jumper. He was then asked if the finger is still sore.

“It is, but I’ll be okay,” Aldridge said. “It’s a lot better than it was the other day.”

Aldridge averaged 18 points on a career-high 51.3% shooting from the field and 8.5 rebounds a game for the Spurs during the regular season. The Spurs finished with a franchise-best record of 67-15.

Manu Ginobili said Aldridge’s injury is concerning, but added that the team can’t use that as an excuse come Game 1 on Sunday.

“We need him to be healthy and feeling confident,” Ginobili said. “He’s sore and I don’t know how he’s going to feel for the game. But again, we have to find answers, because if we look for that as an excuse, we are in bad shape because they are playing with [Marc] Gasol, without [Mike] Conley, without [Mario] Chalmers. So if we have to play without somebody, or with somebody limping or hurting, we have to face it and find a way.”

[Dex]

Could truly be a non-issue if Pop had rested him against the Warriors instead of trying to wreck their 73-win season. :pctoss

Now our Option 1A, mid-range shooting big man is gonna be shooting with a busted hand. And you just know other teams are gonna be slapping at that tape job.

[BillMc]

Could truly be a non-issue if Pop had rested him against the Warriors instead of trying to wreck their 73-win season. :pctoss

Now our Option 1A, mid-range shooting big man is gonna be shooting with a busted hand. And you just know other teams are gonna be slapping at that tape job.

That's why I actually said we should rest him Game 1 or 2 against Memphis and let it fully heal. Bet you we can beat the Grizz with Timmy and West manning the frontcourt.

But Pop won't do this, so it is irrelevant.

[Spur|n|Austin]

It could have been a lot worse.

At least we know LA is tougher than Tiago Charmin Splitter - would have been a career ender for him.

[Leetonidas]

He played through a torn ligament before iirc. I'm sure he'll be alright in a few days. probably just soreness that needs to clear up and I don't think resting is the way to go. better to play on it and keep it loose

[Mugen]

It could have been a lot worse.

At least we know LA is tougher than Tiago Charmin Splitter - would have been a career ender for him.

The Golden God has a ring tbh.

[808]

And you just know other teams are gonna be slapping at that tape job.

Good thing there's no Zaza in the first round. You know he'd find a way to chop that thing off :madrun

[Kidd K]

That's why I actually said we should rest him Game 1 or 2 against Memphis and let it fully heal. Bet you we can beat the Grizz with Timmy and West manning the frontcourt.

But Pop won't do this, so it is irrelevant.

No Diaw though. His injury is worse and can't be played with without exacerbating it badly. LMA technically could. But I agree, we probably could but don't forget 2011. Rested Manu game 1, we lost, then lost the series. The Grizz were better that year and more healthy but one loss can sometimes start a downward spiral. Tbh this feels just like 2008 and. . .and 2011. . .and 2000 really. Injuries at end of season then fucked in the playoffs because of it. The injuries this year aren't as bad as those seasons but it feels like deja vu all over again with this team.

But I'll stay cheerful. If Diaw fully recovers soon I think we can survive the LMA finger til it gets better.

[Spur|n|Austin]

The Golden God has a ring tbh.

Bonner has 2 to tbqh.

[Mugen]

Bonner has 2 to tbqh.

http://i.imgur.com/hxdCpt2.gif

[I. Hustle]

Two in the pink, one in the stink.

[SAGirl]

No Diaw though. His injury is worse and can't be played with without exacerbating it badly. LMA technically could. But I agree, we probably could but don't forget 2011. Rested Manu game 1, we lost, then lost the series. The Grizz were better that year and more healthy but one loss can sometimes start a downward spiral. Tbh this feels just like 2008 and. . .and 2011. . .and 2000 really. Injuries at end of season then fucked in the playoffs because of it. The injuries this year aren't as bad as those seasons but it feels like deja vu all over again with this team.

But I'll stay cheerful. If Diaw fully recovers soon I think we can survive the LMA finger til it gets better.
Diaw played two nights ago against the Mavs, 20 minutes. He's ready.

[.G.]

I wonder how a bad pinkie affects a shot. As far as fingers are concerned, it seems like you mostly use your thumb thru ring fingers to get a shot off while the pinkie just flairs out a bit. Maybe it affects rotation/back spin? Seems negligible.

[spurs10]

Diaw played two nights ago against the Mavs, 20 minutes. He's ready. Thanks! I was afraid something had happened I didn't know about!

[spurs10]

I thought Gasol was out? He's back?

[SpursforSix]

Two in the pink, one in the stink.

shit...is that right????? That would explain a lot. I thought it was the other way around.

[SpursforSix]

I wonder how a bad pinkie affects a shot. As far as fingers are concerned, it seems like you mostly use your thumb thru ring fingers to get a shot off while the pinkie just flairs out a bit. Maybe it affects rotation/back spin? Seems negligible.

It would have been better if it was his ring finger. The pinkie provides the outside support on the shot.

[Dex]

I thought Gasol was out? He's back?

Looking at the context, pretty sure that's just a typo in the article...Rohlin wrote with instead of without.

[.G.]

It would have been better if it was his ring finger. The pinkie provides the outside support on the shot.

Yeah, I figured it provided some support, not as much as the thumb, but I never thought the pinkie was that important. I guess I've never paid that much attention to it when I get my shots off.

[hater]

The Golden God has a ring tbh.

:tu

[SupremeGuy]

Could truly be a non-issue if Pop had rested him against the Warriors instead of trying to wreck their 73-win season. :pctoss

Now our Option 1A, mid-range shooting big man is gonna be shooting with a busted hand. And you just know other teams are gonna be slapping at that tape job.It still hurts. I was seriously ready to choke a midget when I saw his finger... :bang

Reminds me of two years ago when someone tried to take Tim's knee out and I thought there fucking goes everything.

[Silver&Black]

And you just know other teams are gonna be slapping at that tape job.

Tru Dat.

:pctoss

[Cane]

More funky left handed hook shots, woo

[spurs10]

Looking at the context, pretty sure that's just a typo in the article...Rohlin wrote with instead of without. Thinking you're right! Rohlin f*ckin' with Spurs fans!

[tholdren]

My daughter had a hang nail once.

[TheGreatYacht]

Tough ass SOB.

Kiwi once missed a game because he went to the dentist the same day

[Dex]

Tough ass SOB.

Kiwi once missed a game because he went to the dentist the same day

Yeah, LaMarcus has, and will, play through worse.

But still wish he was 100% going into the playoffs. Frankly, I don't expect him to be the same :lma we saw in the last few months...and that's a problem for the Spurs imo.

Hopefully, the Spurs can glide through the first round and LMA has a chance to get back to form but....Memphis is notoriously physical. And Matt Barnes is a fucking bitch.

Spurs will win...but I don't expect it to be a clean ride.

[TheGreatYacht]

Yeah, LaMarcus has, and will, play through worse.

But still wish he was 100% going into the playoffs. Frankly, I don't expect him to be the same :lma we saw in the last few months...and that's a problem for the Spurs imo.

Hopefully, the Spurs can glide through the first round and LMA has a chance to get back to form but....Memphis is notoriously physical. And Matt Barnes is a fucking bitch.

Spurs will win...but I don't expect it to be a clean ride.
Agreed. That's a physical ass team, especially down low.

Luckily they are short-handed and Spurs should be able to sweep them easily. If it was up to me I'd rest him the first two home games, Spurs are going to need him at 100% later against Ibaka and Draymond

[HarlemHeat37]

At least the Grizz are a D-league team, right now:lol..don't want a repeat of Z-Bo pushing his shit back like last year's playoffs, tbh..

[LkrFan]

Two in the pink, one in the stink.

:rollin :lmao :rollin

[LkrFan]

At least the Grizz are a D-league team, right now:lol..don't want a repeat of Z-Bo pushing his shit back like last year's playoffs, tbh..

You know they gonna try to mangle that finger. He should have kept his mouth shut tbh.

[gambit1990]

it was odd, can't remember seeing someone get injured like that. i thought he had broken a finger.

he got hurt like, right when he had been putting up his best numbers of the season too. hoping for a speedy recovery. and for it not to get reinjured.

[HarlemHeat37]

You know they gonna try to mangle that finger. He should have kept his mouth shut tbh.

Grizzlies have some crazy niggas on the team, but none of them are "dirty" IMO, not even Tony Allen..

If the Spurs were playing Dallas, there's a 99% chance that Zaza Pachulia would have tried some shit, tbh:lol..probably would have tried to bite the pinky off..

[313]

He'll be fine. More importantly, what's the status of bobo?

[spurs10]

He'll be fine. More importantly, what's the status of bobo? He played last night!

[313]

He played last night!
Good to hear. He wasn't limping or anything was he?

[SouthernFried]

Thing is...he didn't need to play in any of those games after he hurt his finger. They were meaningless.

Regardless of how "tough" LMA is, all they succeeded in doing was prolonging his recovery time. Just dumb.

[Kawhitstorm]

At least the Grizz are a D-league team, right now:lol..don't want a repeat of Z-Bo pushing his shit back like last year's playoffs, tbh..

If there is a series that Tim/West/Boban/(Bonner:lol) should play a bunch of minutes then it's none other than against the Grizz.

Unlike LMA, D-West loves ground & pound basketball so this is the series for him. (Diaw also can rest & let Boban get his shine on)

[kobyz]

Can't be calm with this, we really don't need somthing like this to be bothering Aldridge and his game, and the way it happened, right before the playoff, against the Warriors and Pop might make the situation worse by not let him rest it, just feel like the type of stuff that is a sign for our bad destiny coming again...

[Chris]

We could probably rest LMA the whole series, and still sweep. :lol

[james evans]

That's why I actually said we should rest him Game 1 or 2 against Memphis and let it fully heal. Bet you we can beat the Grizz with Timmy and West manning the frontcourt.

But Pop won't do this, so it is irrelevant.
we aint got time for that resting shit during the playoffs. This aint regular season

[GSH]

we aint got time for that resting shit during the playoffs. This aint regular season


First round against Memphis is a PERFECT time to do that.

I guess there's no way to convince people who don't understand - yes, the pinkie affects shooting. And a bad jam on a finger that has been dislocated and not totally healed, can become a serious problem. Between bullet passes, hands swatting at the ball, and general contact, there are a BUNCH of ways to get a finger jammed. The Spurs better hope none of them happen to that pinkie.

Could he still play if that happened? Sure - and he would. But I'd rather be without him at the beginning of Round 1 against the Griz, than have him be 80% effective the rest of the way. "Playing through it" may sound brave and all that, but the Spurs are going to need 100% to get past GSW.

[Spur|n|Austin]

Yeah, I figured it provided some support, not as much as the thumb, but I never thought the pinkie was that important. I guess I've never paid that much attention to it when I get my shots off.

It's also important in the gripping of the ball. We've seen a couple of handles get swapped away from him that wouldn't usually occur.

[GSH]

It's also important in the gripping of the ball. We've seen a couple of handles get swapped away from him that wouldn't usually occur.


That's a really good point. Try gripping a basketball with only 3 fingers on one hand, and see just how important that pinkie is.

[dbreiden83080]

We could probably rest LMA the whole series, and still sweep. :lol

Lets not go nuts..

[.G.]

It's also important in the gripping of the ball. We've seen a couple of handles get swapped away from him that wouldn't usually occur.

Totally agree on its importance for gripping the ball. I was out back shooting the ball and yeah, that lil nigga does play a role in terms of 'feel' when str:lolking it. I guess everything counts in small amounts.

[BillMc]

We could probably rest LMA the whole series, and still sweep. :lol

Agreed. Rest him in the first two home games, then give him the two away to get back in shape. Won't happen though.

[GSH]

I thought Pop could have rested LMA in the first game, or even two. And it was obvious several times that his finger was hurting. But early in the game, they really did need him out there. The last thing you want to do is give the other team any hope that they could win the game. The Griz came out playing hard, and kept it close. If they had put up a bit of a lead instead, they might not have wilted so easily in the second half.

The could have won without Aldridge. But I don't think they could have gotten to rest their starters as much, or let the Griz know that they don't have a prayer.

[daslicer]

I thought Pop could have rested LMA in the first game, or even two. And it was obvious several times that his finger was hurting. But early in the game, they really did need him out there. The last thing you want to do is give the other team any hope that they could win the game. The Griz came out playing hard, and kept it close. If they had put up a bit of a lead instead, they might not have wilted so easily in the second half.

The could have won without Aldridge. But I don't think they could have gotten to rest their starters as much, or let the Griz know that they don't have a prayer.

I felt earlier in the game he was bothered by the finger but as the game progressed he started to comfortably hit shots.

[DMC]

Lillard on phone with LMA: "Man you let mufuckin Kawhi mufuckin Leonard outscore you in the mufuckin' playoffs?"

LMA: "Yeah.. fuck Leonard"

[BillMc]

Lillard on phone with LMA: "Man you let Leonard outscore you in the fuckin' playoffs?"

LMA: "Yeah.. fuck Leonard"

I'm guessing LMA doesn't even take Lillard's calls these days. :lol

[GSH]

I felt earlier in the game he was bothered by the finger but as the game progressed he started to comfortably hit shots.

He was grimacing, and holding his finger. Looking at it when he went to the bench. But he played physical, and was big on D, plus went 8-15. He didn't let their bigs get too cocky.

I'm glad Pop had him in there in the first half, even though I'd hate to see that finger get hurt worse.

[BillMc]

He was grimacing, and holding his finger. Looking at it when he went to the bench. But he played physical, and was big on D, plus went 8-15. He didn't let their bigs get too cocky.

I'm glad Pop had him in there in the first half, even though I'd hate to see that finger get hurt worse.

He showed guts by swatting that shot with the injured hand.

Sweep the Grizz and then let it heal before OKC. You know Adams and Ibaka will be swatting at it if its still an issue.

[cutewizard]

medical science with its limits, huh.....

[NameLess Scrub]

Idk, they need to figure out the balance between healing, helping the team and staying in rhythm.
And he needs to avoid telling it hurts.

[TheDoctor]

I took a deep breath when :lma had that monster block on Z-Bo.

[SpursforSix]

I took a deep breath when :lma had that monster block on Z-Bo.

I took a deep breath when he was going for a reverse (identical to the one that injured him). Turned out it was Diaw.

[TheDoctor]

I took a deep breath when he was going for a reverse (identical to the one that injured him). Turned out it was Diaw.


:lol

[spurs10]

I took a deep breath when :lma had that monster block on Z-Bo. Yeah I hear you...but was glad to see him aggressive and thought he must be getting better.

[Gervin44Silas13]

No Diaw though. His injury is worse and can't be played with without exacerbating it badly. LMA technically could. But I agree, we probably could but don't forget 2011. Rested Manu game 1, we lost, then lost the series. The Grizz were better that year and more healthy but one loss can sometimes start a downward spiral. Tbh this feels just like 2008 and. . .and 2011. . .and 2000 really. Injuries at end of season then fucked in the playoffs because of it. The injuries this year aren't as bad as those seasons but it feels like deja vu all over again with this team.

But I'll stay cheerful. If Diaw fully recovers soon I think we can survive the LMA finger til it gets better.

and we had No vale Dick Jefferson too

[BillMc]

I took a deep breath when :lma had that monster block on Z-Bo.

Me too.

[Beaverfuzz]

he's fine, quit being a bunch of Grizzlies (pussies)

[cutewizard]

i think LMA can rest for the next two games.....

what do you think guys?

[daslicer]

he's fine, quit being a bunch of Grizzlies (pussies)

I think it's not really much of an issues but I don't feel he's 100 percent yet. He's missed quiet a few bunnies that he would normally convert.

[AZK619]

i think LMA can rest for the next two games.....

what do you think guys?
Yes, no need to play him. Need him at full strength next series.

[cutewizard]

hope Pop sees the light then.......rest LMA and prepare for the real playoffs, round 2

[SpursforSix]

hope Pop sees the light then.......rest LMA and prepare for the real playoffs, round 2

IDK. They look like shit. If they were all hitting shots and making it look good, maybe rest them some. But their offense still looks like crap.

[DesignatedT]

If the Spurs end this on Sunday they can potentially get a week off before round 2.

[Gutter92]

Me too.

Your sig..."SI's Surefire Finals Pick: Cavs vs Thunder"

:lol

[DPG21920]

With the SL offense not clicking, LMA needs the reps. Play him.

[Spurs 4 The Win]

IDK. They look like shit. If they were all hitting shots and making it look good, maybe rest them some. But their offense still looks like crap.

The grizzlies dont suck on defense. They definitely play better D than OKC

[Dre_7]

With the SL offense not clicking, LMA needs the reps. Play him.

What is SL offense if you don't mind me asking? I have seen it said a few times here today but don't know what it means.

[DPG21920]

What is SL offense if you don't mind me asking? I have seen it said a few times here today but don't know what it means.

No worries - Starting Lineup Offense

[Dre_7]

No worries - Starting Lineup Offense

Sweet, thanks! I don't know how I didn't figure that out haha

[BillMc]

Your sig..."SI's Surefire Finals Pick: Cavs vs Thunder"

:lol

Yeah. :lol Can't see that happening. No way the Thunder get by both us and Dubs. They're doomed.

[Beaverfuzz]

I think it's not really much of an issues but I don't feel he's 100 percent yet. He's missed quiet a few bunnies that he would normally convert.

The only bunnies LMA is missing are playboy. :bobo