Russel Westbrook has Knee Surgery - Out for the Playoffs

[Mugen]

Wow.

Some random thoughts:

1. I didn't know it was physically possible for Thunder players to get injured. I think their team missed a combine two games due to injury this year, tnbh.

2. I think Westbrook will be back at some point. After the procedure, most players report the pain is gone almost immediately. Many athletes have returned in the same week. So Westbrook shouldn't even be counted out for returning in the first round series. By the WCF, I can't imagine he'll be out unless there is more damage than isn't being reported.

3. The bigger impact for Westbrook will be the length of his career. A player like him who relies on athleticism will have trouble playing through the arthritic knee that will develop due to lack of meniscus. He should be okay for a handful of years but he could fall off a cliff at around 28 or 29.

4. This might work out well for OKC now that I think about it. They are going to have to ride Kevin Durant more than ever. But, honestly, they don't ride him enough as it is. If he explodes for some 40-50+ point games and then Westbrook comes back looking to pass more, they may be even tougher. As it is, the easiest way to beat OKC is to hope Westbrook goes cold and implodes with dumb shot after dumb shot.

I agree with #1 & #3 but i think you're way off with #2 & #4 tbh.

[024]

Lol what? People need to stfu with the "realist" . If the Spurs can't beat the Heat then nobody can. What do you want Spurs management to do about a superteam forming.

So you'd rather the Spurs blow it up and start rebuilding the last few years . Like they could get back to this level of compe ion no problem.

keep burying your head in the sand, crossing your fingers hoping players from opposing teams gets injured. That's a wonderful strategy. One down, one more from the Heat to go. The Spurs have failed building a championship team the last 5 years. That is proven by the 0 championships they won the last 5 years. Why can't I criticize that?

[hooperflash]

Now who was the one saying he was just being dramatic?

[DesignatedT]

keep burying your head in the sand, crossing your fingers hoping players from opposing teams gets injured. That's a wonderful strategy. One down, one more from the Heat to go. The Spurs have failed building a championship team the last 5 years. That is proven by the 0 championships they won the last 5 years. Why can't I criticize that?

Never said you couldn't. but "LOL Lebrons ACLs have to explode" isn't criticizing anything. It's being a moron.

[Sportcamper]

Spurs have a long way to go to start thinking about OKC. They have to beat the Lakers

Rumor has it that Stern is imposing T-Ball mercy rule & end the Lakers season after tonight's game...

[Mugen]

-No way Presti doesn't shut him down for the rest of the playoffs IMO. He's 1/2 of their franchise for the next 10-15 years. It'd be ridiculous to risk his career for a chance to get stomped by Miami again tbh.

-Durant is an amazing player but the loss of Harden/Westbrook is just too much to overcome tbh. You can deal with Durant going off for 30-40 but now Russ isn't there to put up the same amount.

[Man In Black]

Rumor has it, that it's a meniscus tear. Simply put, he has some frayed cartilage. If they tried to do a repair, he's out for 6 weeks minimally. I don't think he'll go that route. I think the surgeon will shave off the frayed parts so his cartilage is lessened but clear so there won't be any serious lingering pain. I've been in training rooms where a HS QB has Surgery to clear the frayed parts on Saturday, and he's back on the field by Friday the same week.

Having said that, we can use MWP as a model to show you it's possible that an athlete could come back sooner than expected but...even MWP admits his lateral quickness isn't there yet and I would expect the same from Westbrook. But, for him to have the surgery early means that Presti is rolling the dice that his team can still advance AND that Westbrook will be back in the playoffs at some point barring them getting eliminated prematurely.

Spurs-Eyes on the Prize-Focus only on TEAM!

[phxspurfan]

4. This might work out well for OKC now that I think about it. They are going to have to ride Kevin Durant more than ever. But, honestly, they don't ride him enough as it is. If he explodes for some 40-50+ point games and then Westbrook comes back looking to pass more, they may be even tougher. As it is, the easiest way to beat OKC is to hope Westbrook goes cold and implodes with dumb shot after dumb shot.

This is along the lines of what I first thought. I have always thought the Thunder was one Westbrook trade away from realizing what they really have in Durant. For instance, if they traded Westbrook instead of Harden, they'd probably be right there with Miami in the stratosphere of unbeatable-ness. Imagine Durant with a PG that is more pass-friendly and still takes pressure off him and spaces the floor. Dude would average Wilt numbers.

[Mugen]

Rumor has it, that it's a meniscus tear. Simply put, he has some frayed cartilage. If they tried to do a repair, he's out for 6 weeks minimally. I don't think he'll go that route. I think the surgeon will shave off the frayed parts so his cartilage is lessened but clear so there won't be any serious lingering pain. I've been in training rooms where a HS QB has Surgery to clear the frayed parts on Saturday, and he's back on the field by Friday the same week.

Having said that, we can use MWP as a model to show you it's possible that an athlete could come back sooner than expected but...even MWP admits his lateral quickness isn't there yet and I would expect the same from Westbrook. But, for him to have the surgery early means that Presti is rolling the dice that his team can still advance AND that Westbrook will be back in the playoffs at some point barring them getting eliminated prematurely.

Spurs-Eyes on the Prize-Focus only on TEAM!

Wasn't Brandon Roy coming back so shortly from his meniscus tear a big part of why he's out of the league now? I know he had major knee issues before but surely playing that soon couldnt have helped.

[loveforthegame]

OKC is still a dangerous team should Westbrook be out for the playoffs.

[Man In Black]

True Brandon Roy has cartilage issues, but is main problem is that, in addition to the cartilage issues, he also has CHRONIC DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS.
In essence, his body is failing him even if he gets the surgery to clean up his cartilage. There is only so much until you are bone on bone. Then it's time to think about your family and such.
http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba...-in-his-knees/

[SpurPadre]

Unless Westbrook pulls an Artest and comes back in 2 weeks. Which I could definitely see.

Unless he turns out to be a pussy like Derrick Rose, who was cleared to play over a month ago and has practiced several times since but still won't suit up for the Bulls, who have players dinged up and still playing.

[dbestpro]

Well, I guess this is what they signed Fisher for.

[bklynspursfan]

Pop sat Duncan for the 2000 playoffs with this injury, despite Tim saying he was ready to go. (running sprints and all) With someone of WB's importance to OKC & their future, wouldn't be out of the question to shut him down for the rest of the playoffs.

[dbreiden83080]

Unless he turns out to be a pussy like Derrick Rose, who was cleared to play over a month ago and has practiced several times since but still won't suit up for the Bulls, who have players dinged up and still playing.

WTF is Rose problem? Someone give him Tim Duncan's number and he can tell Rose about playing on a bad knee for years and still manning up.. Rose is a punk..

[superjames1992]

If it is serious, that just means more minutes for Spurs-killer Derek Fisher. Yuck. Yes, he's ancient, but he still manages to drill a million threes every time he plays the Spurs.

[lefty]

Can Lebron or Wade have an injury too? Hmmm

I can make it happen :


Lebron and Wade will never get inured again !!!!!!!

[SpurPadre]

If Westbrook is indeed out for the season, in a en eventual OKC - Spurs match up I still see OKC being a very difficult team. They're more experienced than last year, especially having HCA. I wouldn't say it's done deal for Spurs, at all.

Good point and if we thought Durant was a monster before, imagine him taking an additional 10 shots now. And as much as people give old man Fisher, he still loves to torture us and this will just give him more opportunities to hit annoying threes on us. Still, I'd rather play them at full strength and get fair revenge on them.

[Venti Quattro]

Did I use the word "INTENTIONAL" anywhere in my ing post? No, I never said it was ing intentional, NBA athletes have enough respect for each other to not try and purposefully injure their peers; unless they're a ing nutjob like Artest.

What I said was it was a " ING STUPID DIRTY PLAY" and is the exact reason why you don't barrel through someone trying to steal the ball when you know they're about to call a timeout; I can understand it was an honest hustle play in the playoffs trying to make a difference, but you just don't ing do it. You're not going to steal the ball before the ref awards a timeout, and the player is defenseless against contact; plus it negates any foul that may happen. It's the same ing thing of hitting a player in the air from behind or under them; you just don't ing do it. Of course a ing no name punk ass rookie like Beverley wouldn't know any better; nor any of these lame ass es on here who haven't stepped on a hardwood court in their life.

[SpurPadre]

WTF is Rose problem? Someone give him Tim Duncan's number and he can tell Rose about playing on a bad knee for years and still manning up.. Rose is a punk..

He's basically stealing money from the Bulls now, too.

[will_spurs]

Rumor has it, that it's a meniscus tear. Simply put, he has some frayed cartilage. If they tried to do a repair, he's out for 6 weeks minimally. I don't think he'll go that route. I think the surgeon will shave off the frayed parts so his cartilage is lessened but clear so there won't be any serious lingering pain. I've been in training rooms where a HS QB has Surgery to clear the frayed parts on Saturday, and he's back on the field by Friday the same week.

I really value your expertise on this (always great to read your takes) but the current reporting says he's going to go full repair, which could take him out of a while:

RT @WojYahooNBA: Hard to compare Westbrook/World Peace recoveries, b/c RW plays so much faster, more stress on knee. Strong chance Westbrook gets full repair
RT @Monroe_SA: Re. Westbrook injury relative to MWP, Metta's meniscus was removed, rather than repaired; he's back, but has NOT been the real MWP yet
RT @JMcDonald_SAEN: From what I understand, Metta had his damaged meniscus removed entirely, not repaired.

[hater]

Spurs have a long way to go to start thinking about OKC. They have to beat the Lakers and then a very good Denver or GS team. By the time all that is done Westbrick may be on the way back anyway. He is still young and will recover fast.

shhh how dare you bring sensibility and logic in here. Don't you know spursfan already celebrating Spurs - Heat finals?

[rascal]

I have been saying all along the Spurs only shot at a le is injuries to the top teams. Expect a major injury in Miami now and the Spurs get their final le.

[diego]

Okc has never had to adapt their lineups and rotations before

And even if he comes back, Westbrook has never had to deal w/ the psychological aspect of recovering / playing injured.

this definitely weakens okc, not necessarily fatal but definitely weakens them

[rascal]

Good point and if we thought Durant was a monster before, imagine him taking an additional 10 shots now. And as much as people give old man Fisher, he still loves to torture us and this will just give him more opportunities to hit annoying threes on us. Still, I'd rather play them at full strength and get fair revenge on them.

The Clippers are advancing to the WCF this year, OK City is finished this year.