http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblog...ned-ankle.html
Sprained ankle, part deaux, no blessing for Parker
By Jeff McDonald on Jan 28, 10 03:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) Save & Share Yahoo! BuzzYahoo! Newsvine del.icio.us Facebook Google Reddit Fark
Official word coming out of Spurs Central today is that Tony Parker's left ankle sprain is a mild one, set to keep him out of action for at least the next two games but perhaps not more than that.
There are some who seem to think the forced time off might be a blessing in disguise for him. After all, it it guaranteed to keep him off his plantar fasciitis-ravaged left foot for a few games, something he could not be persuaded to do on his own.
One group who doesn't seem to go along with this line of thinking: Parker's doctors.
They have told Parker he needs about two months of solid rest for the plantar fasciitis to fully dissipate. He's been told that a piecemeal approach, a skipped game here or there, is unlikely to have any affect whatsoever.
That is why neither he nor coach Gregg Popovich have been too keen on sitting him while he deals with the condition. He needs 30 games off, not two or three, and in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, there's no way Popovich can give it to him. If he's well enough to walk, Parker figured, he's well enough to play.
Well, today Parker is no longer well enough to play after spraining his left ankle against the Hawks for the second time this season. He will be forced to to take some time off, though how much is uncertain. The guess here is that all the rest will do to Parker is to throw him off the good groove that he, at long last, seemed to be finding.
Parker had posted four consecutive 20-point games before limping off the floor Wednesday. With 10 points in the third quarter against the Hawks, Parker had an outside shot of making it five in a row. He also had eight assists, meaning had he not been injured, he was likely to post his second double-double in three games.
Now, Parker's out, and when he comes back, he's likely to find himself in the same situation he was coming off the last ankle sprain -- looking to to find that elusive rhythm.
That is no blessing, anyway you slice it.
The one blessing for the Spurs, perhaps, is that Parker's injury-addled season might be enough to convince him to skip the FIBA World Championships this summer.
Parker, more than Manu Ginobili, has always been driven by his place in the NBA. He was proud of his three career All-Star berths and last season's All-NBA selection. Unable to physically reproduce it this season, Parker will be motivated to do whatever it takes to return to that level.
Let's hope so. NT play is effecting many of the International players as seen with both TP and Gasol to name a few. I wont go into detail about NT vs. NBA play since this has been discussed in other threads but sooner or later something will give.
Anyway it would be nice to see all of the Big 3 well rested coming into a season rather than one or more recovering from summer injuries/fatigue.
"Part Deaux"
I prefer to hear that Parker is going to miss 2 games rather than 2 months, regardless of any "blessing in disguise". And I think McD got that right: Parker is very concerned (and motivated) by his status in the NBA, I think he got a bit hungry thinking maybe he could get away with playing at the highest level both in the NBA and for the FNT, but now that injuries are piling up I'm pretty sure he's going to take the whole summer off. The tough time will be at the end of summer when NBA is still one month away, he will be feeling healthy again and it's going to be hard to resist going to the World Champs, even though he might say the contrary at the beginning of summer.
Thanks for darkening the silver lining, Jeff.
Unfortunately, he's about right. If what he's reporting about the doctor's estimate is accurate, then it looks like we're probably not going to have a healthy Parker anytime this season, and it's going to take Parker another period of time to find his rhythm yet again.
Typical McDonald error, misspelled deux.
Is McDonald from Louisiana?
Another injury-riddled, sub-par season for one of the Big Three.Thanks for darkening the silver lining, Jeff.
Unfortunately, he's about right. If what he's reporting about the doctor's estimate is accurate, then it looks like we're probably not going to have a healthy Parker anytime this season, and it's going to take Parker another period of time to find his rhythm yet again.
another cutesy le from macdonald. not gonna read it i said.
Get some rest TP.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
