15-Footer 1/17/12: Injuries For Everyone!
Injuries galore is the theme for this season, it seems. Each of the seven matchups for tonight features at least one rotation player who is questionable at best and Corey Maggette at worst.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho
Moving on up on the one hand, stagnation on the other (Warriors at Cavs, 7:00 PM EST)
Things have fallen apart on the Warriors rather quickly this season. Sure, they bested the Miami Heat, but they lost Kwame Brown for at least three months, and they are, of course, without their star point guard, Stephen Curry. Monta Ellis has performed admirably with Curry out, but this team is at its best when it has both playmakers available.
Speaking of playmakers, Kyrie Irving is already the leader of this Cleveland team, sparking the offense, taking care of the ball and developing a decent chemistry with his teammates (yes, even Antawn Jamison). Injuries robbed us of a duel between he and Curry, but Irving alone is well worth the price of admission.
Obliteration in the Magic Kingdom (Bobcats at Magic, 7:00 PM EST)
The Bobcats will be without Corey Maggette, still recovering from a strained left hamstring, and DeSagana Diop may or may not play after sitting out Monday night’s game against the Cavs. That’s not necessarily a bad thing (both players are posting negative Win Shares/48 minutes on the season), but it limits Charlotte’s depth and gives them fewer fouls to use against Dwight Howard.
Orlando is one of the healthiest teams in the league, save Jason Richardson, whose position in the starting rotation is being handled rather well by J.J. Redick. Redick’s improved ability to handle the ball and create shots for himself and his teammates is one of my favorite stories on the year.
Rumors of my demise are greatly exaggerated (Spurs at Heat, 7:30 PM EST, NBATV)
Put your shovels away, NBA fans; the San Antonio Spurs aren’t quite dead yet. They have the second best record in the Western Conference, Timmy D is still alive and kicking, and Kawhi Leonard is filling in admirably for the injured Manu Ginobili.
The Heat will likely be without Dwyane Wade yet again, who should take all the time he needs in resting his injured ankle. As Chris Bosh said, ”He needs to just chill out right now, get better and we’ll hold it down until he can come back.” Part of holding it down might mean losses to teams like the Spurs in the regular season, but it’ll be worth it in the long run. For Miami, the season really doesn’t start until the playoffs.
Slow ride, take it easy (Suns at Bulls, 8:00 PM EST)
Remember the days when Phoenix could be counted on to drive the pace and make for an electric game?
Yeah, not so much anymore. Both of these teams are in the bottom third of the league in pace, and the Bulls might be without Derrick Rose, who missed Chicago’s loss to Memphis on Monday. There’s no inclination yet that Steve Nash will sit out this game, as well, but after being a late scratch on Friday against New Jersey (along with Grant Hill, who played 23 minutes on Sunday but scored only four points), one never knows when the Suns will choose to rest their aging star – especially against a team that figures to trounce them like Chicago.
Stretching the definition of “rotation” (Pistons at Rockets, 8:00 PM EST)
With apologies to Pistons and Rockets fans, the game least impacted by injuries* might be the least entertaining. Sure, Kyle Lowry will be Kyle Lowry. Watching KLOE blossom before the watchful eye of NBA fans has been a ton of fun and given Houston a bright spot in the post-Yao years. And sure, Greg Monroe is going supernova on the offensive end, with a hook shot that actually looks like it’s been developed over years instead of the usual afterthought it seems to be for so many big men. The average NBA fan, however, probably isn’t tuning into this game for very long, if at all, and that’s a shame. Houston deserves better than ignorance, and Detroit, well – Detroit deserves better than all of this, whatever it is.
*Will Bynum and Damien Wilkins are the most likely players to miss this game; both average less than 20 minutes per game.
Home, sweet home (Nuggets at Bucks, 8:00 PM EST)
Andrew Bogut seems to be back to health after a concussion scare forced him to miss Friday’s game against Dallas, but the Bucks are still without Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. He’s not been ruled completely out of the game yet, but his presence would be a (welcome) surprise for Milwaukee.
Rudy Fernandez left Denver’s win on Sunday with a strained right Achilles; he’s day-to-day and likely will not play on Tuesday. The Nuggets look to hand the Bucks their first home defeat of the season; as well as Denver is playing, it seems…
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvxbZTP6-ak
Lobster surprise (Clippers at Jazz, 9:00 PM EST)
It’s kosher, Clips – I know that you don’t want to be called “Lob City.” As long as Chris Paul is out, I guarantee you that I won’t call you that. Paul’s strained hamstring shouldn’t keep him out too long, but he sat on Monday, and another day of rest couldn’t hurt.
If Paul doesn’t play, it’ll mark another opportunity for Utah to take advantage of a team that’s not at full strength. All you can do is play the opponents that are placed before you, though, so I’m not going to discount the Jazz’s quick start. At the very least, they’re a lot of fun, and Al Jefferson loves everyone.
