Pop: Duncan to miss "4 or 5 games"

[Uriel]

Duncan to miss "4 or 5 games"
Jeff McDonald

Though the Spurs have released no official timetable on Tim Duncan’s return from a sprained left ankle, coach Gregg Popovich said Wednesday he expects to have the two-time MVP back in time for the start of the playoffs.


The initial best guess on Duncan’s return, offered by Spurs TV analyst Sean Elliott an hour or so after Duncan sprained the ankle Monday against Golden State, was approximately two weeks.


“I’m hoping it won’t be that long,” Popovich said. “A good four or five games for sure. Beyond that, I won’t really know until we get back.”


Duncan did not accompany the team on the three-game road trip opening tonight in Denver, instead remaining home in San Antonio in a walking boot. An MRI taken Tuesday revealed no structural damage in the ankle.


“Once he gets back on the court in a couple of days, we’ll be able to tell more,” Popovich said. “But four or five games for sure.”


Asked again before tonight’s game if team doctors had given him any indication Duncan might not be ready for the start of the playoffs, Popovich was adamant.


“No, no, no,” he said.


Rookie Tiago Splitter will earn his second start of the season tonight as Duncan’s replacement.


http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...-4-or-5-games/

Edit: This was posted earlier in another thread, but I thought it deserved one of its own.

[20beastie45]

yippee!!!

[chazley]

awesome.

[polandprzem]

Kinda okay

[DieHardSpursFan1537]

Great to know. We'll need him badly for playoffs.

[SsKSpurs21]

@DEN - 3/23
@Por
@MEM
POR
BOS - 3/31
@HOU 4/1

4 games out, looks like it will be vs Boston...hopefully Tim can be back in time for that...

[polandprzem]

More like Suns game, then skip both last b2b games

[Rummpd]

I need to PX some of this foire grass or whatever Parker and Duncan have taken to my patients - they heal like Lazarus it seems!

[polandprzem]

Jeezaz

[DeadlyDynasty]

Both good and bad news, imo. It's good to see that the injury wasn't severe and he should be fine for the playoffs. However, the Spurs w/o Duncan are good enough to hold onto a 6 game lead with 11 games left, so there's no need for him to be rushed back in 4-5 games. Besides, his return will cut into valuable playing time for Splitter.

[ElNono]

FWIW, what I heard Pop say was that he would definitely be out 4-5 games... which I took to mean "at least" 4-5 games... I don't think Pop's gonna rush anything...

[phxspurfan]

I think they may try to get him back asap on the low end of any timetable) since they have little confidence we can keep our HCA lead. Of course that has possible consequences but we've been going all out all year anyway.

[mexicanjunior]

FWIW, what I heard Pop say was that he would definitely be out 4-5 games... which I took to mean "at least" 4-5 games... I don't think Pop's gonna rush anything...

Agreed...this just means 4-5 games minimum...

[shorttotry]

Both good and bad news, imo. It's good to see that the injury wasn't severe and he should be fine for the playoffs. However, the Spurs w/o Duncan are good enough to hold onto a 6 game lead with 11 games left, so there's no need for him to be rushed back in 4-5 games. Besides, his return will cut into valuable playing time for Splitter.

I agree. But the main thing I take away from this announcement is that Duncan COULD be back in 4-5 according to Pop. Just knowing that means the injury is definitely not serious. I think Pop will give him several more games rest, giving Tiago plenty of time. Kind of a win - win to me.