It seems like more and more teams are being defined by their injuries than they are by their records. There are several theories as to why that is, with the predominant hypothesis being that today's athletes are so much more physical that they get injured more often. Players are running faster, jumping higher, and pushing the stress limits of the human body like never before. It makes for a very entertaining brand of basketball . . .when players are healthy.
Yi Jianlian is one of the latest rash of significant injuries, striking a New Jersey Nets team that is also going to be without point guard Devin Harris for a while due to a hamstring injury. Yi sprained his knee last game, a devastating blow-out at the hands of the Charlotte Bobcats. The Nets managed just seven points in the third quarter (when they lost Yi) and 68 overall last night, and things don't look to get better quickly as injuries mount. Yi is schedule to have a scan done today to determine the severity of his injury, but the team is hopeful that it's just a sprain.
Speaking of knees, Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Redd is out again with a knee injury. Redd hurt his dreaded left knee while dunking in a game on Saturday and is expected to be out for at least two weeks with an injury that has been diagnosed as a strain of the patella tendon. The Bucks were hoping Redd and Andrew Bogut would finally be healthy for a while, and Redd is particularly important in light of the trade that sent Richard Jefferson - and most of the Bucks' offense - to San Antonio.
The injury bug hasn't spared the defending champs, either, as the news out of the Los Angeles Lakers' camp is that forward Pau Gasol could be out for a couple of more weeks nursing his sore hamstring. Gasol has emerged as an All-Star caliber player with L.A., and his presence will be sorely missed.
In Charlotte Raja Bell has elected to play through his damaged wrist, opting to postpone surgery on a torn tendon until - hopefully - the end of the season. It remains to be seen whether or not that's a good decision, especially after watching Bell struggle through a 1-for-8 outing against the Nets last night.
These are just the more recent injuries. Teams like Houston (Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady), Phoenix (Robin Lopez), Orlando (Vince Carter), Minnesota (Kevin Love) and the L.A. Clippers (Blake Griffin) are all missing starters due to a rash of injuries. If the issue is, indeed, that today's athlete has evolved beyond the body's ability to sustain itself physically, perhaps it is time for the NBA to consider shortening the season, as has been suggested more than one. A large majority of players can't seem to take the pounding of an 82-game season.
For more on the nagging injuries and who is expected to play in tonight's game, see First Look below!
Don't Panic, Toronto
It's amazing how quickly the sky starts to fall sometimes. The Toronto Raptors started the 2009-10 season with a bang, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers, but are 0-2 since then after losses to Orlando and Memphis. An early scapegoat seems to be rookie shooting guard DeMar DeRozan, who has been starting and is averaging just 7.3 points per game. Some wonder if the Raptors would be better off starting Antoine Wright, just back from an ankle injury, who was a regular starter for the Dallas Mavericks last season. Raptors head coach Jay Triano isn't ready to consider a lineup change.
"Not for a second," Triano told the Toronto Sun. "I think the rookie (DeRozan) has been very good in limited minutes and we're happy with where he is right now. ... Antoine is going to get his minutes. I would rather have Antoine playing at the end of the game and getting stops then than at the beginning of the game."
The bigger issue actually appears to be stopping opposing teams from penetrating. Orlando's Jameer Nelson scored 30 points and got to the line 10 times in Toronto's last game; Grizzlies point guard recorded 10 points and 10 assists while getting anywhere he wanted to in the paint. Rather than shifting the shooting guard lineup, Triano prefers to focus on the defensive mishaps that are leading to easy baskets for opponents.
"I don't want to abandon what we are doing," he said. "In years past, we have had a defensive philosophy and we would get to this point and decide: 'This is hurting us. Let's abandon it and do something different.'
Meanwhile, DeRozan will continue to start, and given that he's shooting better than 50% from the field, showing a knack for rebounding, and has committed just one turnover in three games, that's probably a sound decision going forward.
First Look At Tonight's Action
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers: Two marquee names go head-to-head tonight as LeBron leads his Cavaliers against Gilbert Arenas' Wizards. Arenas has been stunningly good, and looks like he never missed a beat. No new injuries in Cleveland, and the Wizards are expecting Caron Butler to play despite injuring his knee last time out. Cavs head coach Mike Brown says Delonte West isn't ready to start yet, so expect him to be the sixth man again tonight.
Denver Nuggets @ Indiana Pacers: As if the Pacers didn't have enough injuries to worry about, they will now be without center Jeff Foster for several weeks while he nurses a sprained ankle. Anyone else think maybe Canseco Field House has some kind of injury curse? The Nuggets continue to play without JR Smith, who is serving a seven-game suspension, but haven't missed a beat at 3-0.
Boston Celtics @ Philadelphia 76ers: Rajon Rondo is listed as "questionable" tonight with an ankle injury, though it's hard to imagine he'd sit out, as well as he's been playing. The 4-0 Celtics are one of five remaining unbeaten teams, so everyone will be watching to see who knocks them off first. A tall order for a Sixers team that is still very much trying to learn Eddie Jordan's system.
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons: The Magic spent their summer adding depth, and it's already paying huge dividends, with the team 3-0 despite losing Rashard Lewis (suspension), Vince Carter (ankle) and even Mikael Pietrus (flu). Carter and Pietrus are listed as "questionable" for tonight's game. On the Pistons' side, Rip Hamilton is also nursing an ankle injury as is "doubtful" for tonight.
Phoenix Suns @ Miami HEAT: The Suns face their first real challenge of the season, having feasted on non-playoff teams en route to a 3-0 record. The HEAT promise to be much more difficult, as they are also undefeated. Miami has only seen one playoff team themselves, beating the Chicago Bulls last time out. No new injuries to report on either side, though Jermaine O'Neal's nose has him listed as "questionable."
Milwaukee Bucks @ Chicago Bulls: After a promising win over the San Antonio Spurs, the Bulls have faltered out of the gate, now just 1-2 on the season. The Bucks have had nice play from rookie Brandon Jennings, but lost Michael Redd yet again due to a knee injury. Jennings struggled to find his shot in preseason, but in two regular season games he's averaging 20.5 points, 6.0 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting over 50% from inside and outside the three-point arch. He's playing far better than Derrick Rose, who is playing through his injury, but managing just 10.3 points and shooting 37% from the field. His team is struggling right along with him, but should be able to polish off a Bucks team that's missing Redd.
Los Angeles Lakers @ Oklahoma City Thunder: The Thunder got off to an impressive start, but now the big boys pay a call. They lost to Portland on Sunday night and have their work cut out for them handling the Lakers. Pau Gasol continues to sit with a hamstring injury, with the next two games listed as "doubtful." The word is he could be out for up to two weeks, but the Lakers have plenty of depth to ride out Gasol's absence with Ron Artest in the mix. Expect to see a lot more of Lamar Odom at the four. The Thunder are healthy now that Nick Collison is back, and looking to build on their early-season success. Still, Scott Brooks knows they're a long way from where they want to be. For more on that, LINK HERE!
Utah Jazz @ Dallas Mavericks: The Jazz are scratching their heads, wondering how they managed to get blown out in their own building by the injury-decimated Houston Rockets. It certainly doesn't bode well for their visit to Dallas, where the Mavericks are fresh off a sweep of the LA teams and looking to build some momentum. Tim Thomas has returned to practice, but is still a ways off from playing. Josh Howard is making slow but steady progress with his ankle. Drew Gooden is "questionable" tonight with hurt ribs.
Atlanta Hawks @ Portland Trail Blazers: The Blazers lost LaMarcus Aldridge in OKC after a collision with Jeff Green, but there's a good chance he'll play tonight. They'll certainly need him against a Hawks team that is already playing some very good basketball. Aldridge's second-half absence highlighted Portland's need for a back-up power forward, though Nate McMillan was able to take advantage of some mismatches by playing Martell Webster and Travis Outlaw together. No other new injuries to report - this might be the best game of the night.
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