NBA Injury Report

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It’s been a tough year for a lot of people in many ways. That’s why we can all use some good-news stories around the holidays. In the case of an NBA-themed article, that means NBA players helping less fortunate folks. Here are a few recent examples:

O.J. Mayo(notes) recently donated 500 turkeys and 500 hams to 1,000 families in the Huntington, West Virginia area so that they could have a proper Thanksgiving dinner. (Mayo was born in Huntington and went to Huntington High his senior year after playing elsewhere his first three years.)

The Detroit Pistons recently ran a Pistons Care Telethon to raise enough food for 8,000 families in the Detroit area. You read that correctly. 8,000! It took 20 semi-trucks to haul the food to a local church. Good times.

Finally, Shaquille O’Neal(notes), who goes by Shaq-A-Claus this time of year due to his many charitable endeavors, led a raid of Toys-“R”-Us recently. He started by handing $1,000 cash to a cashier as a donation to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. Then he preceded to buy thousands of dollars worth of toys – karaoke machines, board games, remote-control cars – that were to be donated to the Cuyahoa County Department of Children and Family Services near Cleveland.

Goodwill has spread across the NBA in just another example of how many people become truly unselfish when they see others are in need. And with that, we’ll delve into this week’s injuries, with explanations from Houston-based David Braunreiter, M.D.:

KEY INJURIES

Mike Miller(notes) (SG/SF, WAS)
Injury: Right calf tear
Likely return: Late December/early January

Status: While he was already battling an ailing left shoulder sprain, Miller ripped his calf on Nov. 21 and was ruled out for 4-6 weeks.

Doctor’s note: The injury to the right calf is likely a tear of the gastrocnemius. This is the major muscle of the calf, and its main functions are to stabilize the lower leg and knee when planting the foot and to flex the foot to push off while walking, running or jumping. The mechanism of a medial gastrocnemius strain is a forcible push-off from a stance in which the knee and foot are fully extended. Muscle strains are rated grade 1 (stretch without a visible tear), grade 2 (partial thickness tear) and grade 3 (full thickness tear). Recovery from this injury requires early rehabilitation and the body’s ability to create a favorable scar. If there is obvious tearing, scar tissue replaces the additional time to rehab and may be a source of continued soreness or increased risk of re-injury. The worst case scenario is a full thickness tear that does not heal fully due to fluid swelling that creates interference with the torn ends fusing. Typical recovery time can be anywhere form 1-2 weeks for mild grade 1 injuries to 12 weeks for severe grade 3 injuries. Being that Miller’s reported timetable is 4-6 weeks, his injury is maybe a moderate level of severity.

Stack’s fantasy prescription: Miller’s 9.8 points per game are eminently replaceable. His balky shoulder made him more inconsistent than usual, so your search for a substitute shouldn’t be too difficult. Somehow, Anthony Morrow(notes) is owned in just 55 percent of Yahoo! leagues. People, he put up a 27/9/5 on Nov. 24 and had 23 points and six boards the game before that. He’s legit. Oh, and he has 14 three’s in his past four games. If he’s not available, owners with a need for long-range action should find comfort in Steve Blake(notes) (28 3’s in 16 games; 19 percent owned in Yahoo!) or Anthony Parker(notes) (28 3’s in 14 games; 30 percent owned).

Andrew Bogut(notes) (C, MIL)
Injury: Left calf strain and contusion
Likely return: Mid-to-late December

Status: Bogut was kicked in the left leg Nov. 18 and suffered a contusion to the outside part of his calf as well as a ligament strain. An MRI confirmed the results, and he was placed on a timetable of 2-4 weeks from Nov. 20.

Doctor’s note: In medical jargon, strains are injuries to muscles and tendons, while sprains are injuries to ligaments. If he was kicked in the calf and his outer (lateral) ligament was sprained, then he must have been kicked in the inside (medial) part of his calf and then stretched the lateral collateral ligament of the knee. This ligament is a skinnier version of the medial collateral ligament (MCL). As long as there are no other ligament injuries of the knee, this injury heals well, along the same lines of the MCL injury.

Stack’s fantasy prescription: You can look to Bogut’s teammate, Ersan Ilyasova(notes), as a competent replacement. He’s only owned in 28 percent of Yahoo! leagues despite averaging 15 points over his last seven games and 8.5 rebounds in his last eight contests. That nearly completely replaces Bogut’s 16.1 point and 9.2 rebound averages, so there isn’t a good reason why Ilyasova shouldn’t be immediately picked up.

Luke Walton(notes) (SF, LAL)
Injury: Pinched nerve in back
Likely return: January

Status: Walton was ruled out at least six weeks from Nov. 17 after the discovery of the pinched nerve. He underwent a surgical procedure Nov. 19, called facet rhizotomy, in which an electrode is inserted next to the inflamed nerve and the tip is heated to deaden the nerve signal in that spot of the spine. Needless to say, it’s not a fun time.

Doctor’s note: The facet joints are little joints on the vertebra bones of the spine. These joints allow for the complex movements of the spine in multiple planes. In a repetitive impact-loading sport such as basketball, these joints may be subject to wear and tear and may become painful. Treatment can include cortisone injection, medication, physical therapy, and in difficult cases, rhizotomy by radio frequency. This is a therapeutic procedure designed to decrease and/or eliminate pain symptoms arising from those degenerative facet joints within the spine. By destroying the nerves, the communication link that signal pain from the spine to the brain can be broken. Recovery is not universally successful, with quotes of 30-40 percent in some case studies, and anecdotally some report up to 80 percent improvement. Before returning to play, the area treated needs to heal (probably two weeks or so) and subsequently the athlete participates in core strengthening rehabilitation and conditioning. Full return to play is determined by symptom resolution or tolerance.

Stack’s fantasy prescription: Given that Walton is owned in all of one-percent of Yahoo! leagues, this injury doesn’t force owners to make an adjustment. But it’s important to note the severity of back injuries. If one of your players suffers a back ailment, it’s wise to go the conservative route and assume the player will be out for the long end of the recovery timetable.

MISSING IN ACTION

Short term: Caron Butler(notes) sat out Washington’s Nov. 24 game due to right ankle soreness. He’ll possibly suit up Nov. 27 vs. Miami … Shawn Marion(notes) (left ankle sprain) missed his third consecutive game Nov. 24 and is questionable for Dallas’ Nov. 25 contest against Houston … Mike Bibby(notes) suffered a left ankle sprain Nov. 21 while chasing down a loose ball and should be viewed as questionable for Atlanta’s Thanksgiving Day match vs. Orlando … Corey Maggette(notes) sat out G-State’s Nov. 24 game with a left hamstring strain and is questionable for Nov. 25 vs. San Antonio … Elton Brand(notes) (right hamstring soreness) left Philly’s Nov. 24 game early … Shane Battier(notes) missed practice on Nov. 23, instead receiving an MRI for his ailing left foot. He was still in good spirits as he joked about getting a manicure while fellow MRI recipient McGrady received a facial on the side-by-side MRI machines … Luc Richard Mbah a Moute(notes) sat out his fourth consecutive contest Nov. 23 with a left foot sprain … Quentin Richardson(notes) (lower back strain) has missed two straight games and is questionable Nov. 25 vs. Orlando … DeAndre Jordan(notes) suffered an ankle sprain during Nov. 22 practice and is questionable for Nov. 25 vs. Indiana … Kevin Ollie(notes) (sore right knee) will undergo an MRI on Nov. 25. He claims his knee, which has been bothering him for a few weeks, hurts when he accelerates but is fine when he runs … Ahh, the Eddy Curry(notes) update. He exited New York’s Nov. 24 game vs. the Lakers after bumping knees with Andrew Bynum(notes). He’s questionable for Nov. 25 against Sacramento.

Long term: Chris Paul(notes) (left ankle sprain) said he doesn’t know how long he’ll be out, but Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reported that a league source said it would still be “two weeks or so” before Paul returns even though he’s had his walking boot removed. Pick up Darren Collison(notes) now … Shaq still won’t reveal which of his shoulders is injured, but he is closing in on a return. He hurt his shoulder trying to block a Michael Beasley(notes) shot Nov. 12 and has a rotator cuff strain. He is hopeful to play Nov. 25 … Tracy McGrady(notes) practiced Nov. 23 for the first time since his February microfracture knee surgery. No determination has been made on when he’ll play in a game … Jameer Nelson(notes) revealed that the cartilage tear in his left knee is more severe than he initially thought. However, he’s begun electrical stimulation treatment on the joint and remains under the same 4-6 week timetable (late December to early January) … Richard Hamilton(notes) (right ankle sprain) and Tayshaun Prince(notes) (small disk rupture in lower back) still have unclear timetables … Mike Dunleavy has been cleared to play and is looking to return Nov. 25 against the Clippers – the team coached by his father … Speaking of the Clips, Eric Gordon(notes) (left groin strain) is questionable for his Nov. 25 homecoming against Indiana. Dunleavy (the coach) raved about Gordon in their Nov. 23 practice, so look to insert the sharpshooter into your lineup upon his return … Andris Biedrins(notes) (lower back strain) rejoined Golden State on their current road trip to do rehab work … C.J. Miles(notes) has gone through shooting drills for his surgically-repaired left thumb. He’ll practice next week, his final step before returning to game action … Tony Allen(notes) (right ankle arthroscopic surgery) is practicing consistently and aiming for a return during Boston’s upcoming road trip, which begins Nov. 29 at Miami … Erick Dampier’s(notes) mystery illness hasn’t been revealed (he’s missed five straight games), but he’s still not ready to play anytime soon … Kyle Korver(notes), who had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Oct. 28, said his knee was “really sore” after Nov. 23 practice, according to the Salt Lake City Tribune. It’s apparently a good soreness, though, so he’s nearing a return.

BACK IN ACTION

Michael Redd(notes) (left knee patella tendon strain) returned Nov. 23 and promptly went 1-for-3 from the field and 1-for-6 from the foul line in 11 minutes. It might take him a few games to regain his shooting stroke … Brook Lopez(notes) sprained his right ankle in practice Nov. 23 but manned up and played Nov. 24. Every Nets fan just took an extended deep breath … On a more positive note for Nets fans, Courtney Lee(notes) (left groin strain) finally returned Nov. 24 and played 22 minutes … Marcus Camby(notes) has been playing with a lower back bruise … Jeff Foster(notes) returned Nov. 22 for a brief time, then played 21 minutes Nov. 24 … Marco Belinelli(notes) returned Nov. 24 for 27 minutes and 11 points after missing one game with left groin soreness. Teammate Antoine Wright(notes) (flu) came back Nov. 24 after a three-game absence.

Bizzare Health Issue of the Week: This isn’t a health issue so much as it is a recommendation. From Steve Nash(notes). The shaggy health nut revealed his dietary preferences on his Facebook account recently – a diet that teammates Grant Hill(notes) and Jared Dudley(notes) have taken up. Though not surprising (you can find these same tips basically everywhere), here they are:

• Eat organic food whenever possible.
• Consume fish and poultry (go to town on Turkey this weekend!).
• Down fruits and vegetables and avoid processed food, bad sugars and fats.
• Nash downs green tea and eats six meals per day.

Of course, who eats smart around holiday time? Have a Happy Thanksgiving and try to remember to cap your meal off with a glass of Nash-recommended green tea.

Note about the Doctor’s notes: David Braunreiter, MD holds a private practice in the Houston, Texas area. He is board certified in primary care sports medicine and family medicine and is also certified as an ImPACT concussion consultant. Braunreiter has served as a team physician for the Houston Dynamo MLS club, professional football, as a consultant for many local high schools and has worked in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers, in the WNBA with the former Houston Comets and in the NCAA with the University of Houston football, baseball and basketball teams.

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Kyle is staying away from the exercise and medicine balls in the weight room this week. No need to break any kind of radius bone. Feel free to e-mail Kyle at kylestack@rotoexperts.com.