E-N: NBA: Big Men, Big Worries

**duncan228** · 03-28-2009

NBA: Big men, big worries
Mike Monroe

Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett didn’t play in Boston’s victory at Atlanta on Friday night, and the Boston Globe reports Garnett has ongoing discomfort and tightness in the knee he injured a month ago. The “Big Ticket” is apt to sit quite a few more games before the playoffs begin.

Garnett isn’t the only big man on one of the legitimate NBA le contenders who is ailing as the playoffs approach. Postseason advancement may well depend on the relative health of some of the game’s most influential post players.

Here is a look at some of the big men with big, and not so big, injury issues and potential playoff consequences:

KEVIN GARNETT

Celtics power forward

- Injury: Strained right knee

- Injury incurred: Feb. 19

- Games missed: 14

- Latest prognosis: Sat out Friday vs. Atlanta to rest the knee. Sources tell Boston Globe that Garnett has experienced ongoing tightness and discomfort in the joint.

- Playoff prospects: Boston coach Doc Rivers said if Friday’s game had been a playoff game, Garnett would have played. Most likely, he will get quite a few more days off before playoffs and be able to go in all postseason games.

ANDREW BYNUM

Lakers center

- Injury: Dislocated left kneecap

- Injury incurred: Jan. 31

- Games missed: 26

- Latest prognosis: Lakers coach Phil Jackson said last week Bynum is unlikely to return before season’s end.

- Playoff prospects: Jackson also commented on the difficulty of working a player back into a lineup during the postseason, when minutes “are precious.” Look for Bynum to get a few warmup games before the regular season ends. Jackson will hope for a couple of first-round blowout wins to get him ready for the second round.

TYSON CHANDLER

Hornets center

- Injury: Sprained left ankle

- Injury incurred: Jan. 19, reinjured on March 16.

- Games missed: 21 (16 in January-February, five since reinjury)

- Latest prognosis: Chandler was fitted Thursday for a walking boot to immobilize the ankle and is expected to be out one to two weeks.

- Playoff prospects: The Hornets aren’t going far in the playoffs without their best rebounder and post defender, which is the reason they’re being careful with him now. But his minutes and effectiveness likely will be curtailed in the postseason.

BEN WALLACE

Cavaliers center

- Injury: Broken right leg

- Injury incurred: Feb. 26

- Games missed: 16

- Latest prognosis: Initially expected to miss four to six weeks, Wallace reported on Friday that his leg is feeling better, but he is still far from getting on the practice court.

- Playoff prospects: While he hopes to get in a game or two before the end of the regular season, the Cavs are in no hurry to rush him back, especially since they’re 15-1 without him.

TIM DUNCAN

Spurs power forward

- Injury: Right quadriceps tendonosis

- Injury incurred: Chronic, first game missed Feb. 24.

- Games missed: Five (with this injury)

- Latest prognosis: Gregg Popovich has held Duncan out of games he has believed he could have played, most recently Wednesday in Atlanta.

- Playoff prospects: Expect Duncan to miss at least one more regular-season game for precautionary reasons, but none of the Spurs’ playoff games unless his injury takes a major turn for the worse.

**Supergirl** · 03-28-2009

well looking at Duncan in this lineup I'd say Pop is making the right choice by being cautious with TD, and the Spurs are solidly and easily in the best position out of all these teams.