NBA FanHouse

Nets' Douglas-Roberts Has H1N1 Virus

Tom Ziller — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:15:00 EST

H1N1 has hit the NBA. The Nets announced Saturday afternoon that starting two-guard Chris Douglas-Roberts has come down with the dangerous virus, putting the player out of action and the rest of the team at risk.

Though the Nets have stunk, Douglas-Roberts has had a solid start to the season, a follow-up on a disappointing rookie campaign in which the University of Memphis product got little opportunity for New Jersey. CD-R missed Friday's game at Philadelphia with flu-like symptoms ... a rather prophetic diagnosis.

The Nets are limited to eight or nine players due to injury (Courtney Lee tweaked his groin Friday), so the team can't exactly afford to lose any others to illness. There have been no reports of the virus spreading in Nets locker room, and Nets PR says every precaution has been taken.

Later in the evening, Douglas-Roberts tweeted that he was in good spirits as the Nets hosted the Celtics: Let's go Netttsss!!! Cheering from the bed. I'm the flyest person who will ever have Swine Flu.

Nets' Douglas-Roberts Has H1N1 Virus originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bulls' Thomas Breaks Arm Lifting Weights

Matt Watson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:45:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, NBA Injuries

Tyrus Thomas will miss the next four to six weeks after breaking his arm in a weightlifting accident, the Chicago Bulls reported Friday afternoon. X-rays confirmed that he suffered a fractured radius in his left forearm, and he's scheduled to undergo surgery Saturday.

It's unclear what exactly happened, but on the surface it sounds like a fluke injury that could have happened to anyone. That said, it's oddly fitting that it happened to Thomas, who's recently suffered through a frustrating string of setbacks, including his team's decision not to offer an extension, inconsistent playing time, alleged arguments with the coaching staff and allegations by the local media that he faked the flu. When it rains, it pours.

Bulls' Thomas Breaks Arm Lifting Weights originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kevin Martin Sidelined Indefinitely

Tom Ziller — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:13:00 EST

Filed under: Kings, NBA Injuries

What a night for Kevin Martin. The dynamic guard for the Kings -- and currently the league's No. 3 scorer -- learned Thursday morning his sore wrist was actually a fractured navicular bone, a pretty brutal injury in terms of risk and recovery. Sources tell FanHouse Martin was strongly recommended by at least two doctors (including Sacramento's team doctor and a separate hand specialist) to undergo reparative surgery or to put the in a cast for 6-8 weeks. The franchise, however, left the decision to Martin, who kept a third option -- play through it wearing a soft cast -- open temporarily.

Martin told reporters he'd sleep on it and make a decision Friday. Sanity has prevailed over machismo, and Martin told the Sacramento Bee's Sam Amick today that playing with a soft cast has been ruled out. Martin will either put a hard cast on the arm, or undergo surgery.

A league insider with specific knowledge of Martin's injury tells FanHouse that doctors told Martin a navicular bone fracture which doesn't heal properly can lead to early onset arthritis, which tends to be problematic to a professional basketball player. Martin is signed with Sacramento through 2012. The Kings, currently 1-4, aren't expected to challenge for anything more notable than the No. 1 pick in the draft this season.

Martin suffered the fracture in Monday's home opener against Memphis. He finished that game with 48 points, and followed it up Wednesday with a 28-point, 11-rebound performance in a losing effort to Atlanta. That Martin played so well before knowing the severity of the injury likely contributed to the guard's consideration of putting off rehab and/or surgery.

Coach Paul Westphal has not announced who will start in place of Martin. The Kings signed Ime Udoka Wednesday, before Martin's MRI. Udoka, 32, has primarily played the two forward positions through his brief NBA career, but is sized like a two-guard. Westphal has attempted to feature rookie starting point guard Tyreke Evans in line-ups with Evans's predecessor Beno Udrih early this season, and that remains a possibility as well. The other option is rookie small forward Omri Casspi, who started in place of Martin for two preseason games.

Martin's actual backup -- fifth-year pro Francisco Garcia -- broke his shooting wrist in a freak exercise ball catastrophe during the preseason. Garcia isn't expected back on the court until February.

Kevin Martin Sidelined Indefinitely originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bynum Joins Gasol on Injured List

Brett Pollakoff — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:54:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, NBA Injuries

One of the things that makes the Lakers one of the league's best teams is the size and skill of their two biggest frontcourt players, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. But Gasol has yet to play a game for the team in this young season, and now it looks like Bynum will miss some time as well with an elbow injury.

Both players are listed as doubtful for Friday night's game against Memphis, and if neither ends up being able to go, the Lakers will be forced to use some rather interesting lineups.

D.J. Mbenga or Josh Powell will be inserted into the starting lineup, and while both of those guys usually bring a lot of energy, they'll be hard-pressed combined to make up for what Bynum has provided on the stat sheet through the team's first five games.

Bynum has averaged 20 points and over 10 rebounds per game, and neither Powell nor Mbenga can really be expected to to match those numbers individually -- especially offensively. That just means that even more of the scoring load will fall on the shoulders of Kobe Bryant, who's already had to put up 41 and 31 in consecutive overtime games just to see his team barely come out of them with wins.

Thankfully for L.A., neither player is expected to be out for very long. Gasol was medically cleared by both the Lakers' doctors and his personal medical team in Spain to play before Wednesday's game, so he could be back as early as Sunday.

Bynum's injury was one to his elbow on the final play of his team's win in Houston on Wednesday, but an MRI didn't reveal any serious damage. It's officially being called a "strain," and he's listed as day-to-day, but will likely sit out the game against the Grizzlies.

And considering that both of Bynum's serious knee injuries in the last two seasons coincidentally came while playing against this same Memphis team, he's probably not all that broken up about missing this one.

Bynum Joins Gasol on Injured List originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kings Swap Out Mason for Ime Udoka

Tom Ziller — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST

Filed under: Kings, NBA Injuries, NBA Police Blotter, NBA Transactions

The Kings, seeking a defensive veteran for the small forward position, took on Desmond Mason in advance of training camp. That didn't turn out so well: Mason has been beyond awful on offense (surprising no one who has watched Mason play at any point over the past four years) and didn't make much of a difference for the league's 29th ranked defense.

Five games was enough for the Sacramento front office, as the team waived Mason a day after signing former Blazer and Spur Ime Udoka to a non-guaranteed minimum salary contract. Like Mason, Udoka is known for his defensive skill, having been signed as a sort of Bruce Bowen replacement two summers ago. That didn't really work out, and Udoka was left teamless for opening day after Portland waived the swingman at the end of the preseason.

Mason started Sacramento's first four games before Paul Westphal elevated Andres Nocioni to the spot Wednesday. Nocioni has created another problem: the Argentine veteran was arrested on suspicion of DUI in downtown Sacramento early Thursday morning. He has a court date Monday, and can expect a compulsory two-game suspension by the NBA at some point in the future (though potentially not until the start of next season).

Udoka is a year younger than Mason, which is to say Udoka is still a bit too old for the tastes of this Kings fan. The Kings boast a young roster, with three starters and five rotation players under the age of 23. Team star Kevin Martin is only 26, and Nocioni is the elder statesman of the starting five at 29.

Udoka does have a solid defensive reputation, and in his best pro season (2006-07 with Portland) he shot well from the corners. Martin (who was found to have a hairline fracture in his non-shooting wrist today, and as such could miss a few weeks) has really stepped up his defense this season, but the Kings continue to allow easy shots in the paint and too many open threes. Hopefully Udoka can help there.

Kings Swap Out Mason for Ime Udoka originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mike Miller Is Tougher Than He Looks

Brett Pollakoff — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:24:00 EST

Filed under: Wizards, NBA Injuries, NBA Videos

Mike Miller may not look all that manly to most these days, given his unfortunate choice of hair styles. But after the way he competed in Wednesday night's close loss to the Miami Heat, there's certainly no questioning his toughness.

Miller came out of the game early in the third with an injured left shoulder, and headed to the locker room for some treatment. It was considered a mild sprain at the time, and since it was his non-shooting shoulder, he re-entered the game late in the period.

Miller played through until early in the fourth, when he hit the deck on a drive to the basket, and landed on the already injured shoulder. The man was in visible agony, but as you'll see in the following video, he managed to stay in the game long enough to make the highlights.

After picking himself up off the deck and hitting the free throw, Miller had to stay in the game, because it was Miami's possession. But even after the Heat's turn on offense, the Wizards didn't call a timeout to get Miller out of the game. So, with his one good arm, he catches a pass on the wing, dribbles to the top of the arc, and zips a one-handed pass into the hands of Andray Blatche for an easy two points.

The action begins at the 52-second mark:

That would have been a great play if Miller was a hundred percent; it's an amazing play given the circumstances. The Heat called a timeout immediately after the play, and Miller was done for the night.

In case you're wondering just how painful a shoulder injury like this might be, consider the tears and infamous wheelchair we saw when Dwyane Wade's popped out back in 2007. And after this one, Flip Saunders told the media that Miller would miss the next seven-to-ten days with the injury.

Mike Miller Is Tougher Than He Looks originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Manu Ginobili Getting Up More Shots ... All Over His Body

Rob Peterson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Kings, Spurs, NBA Injuries

When it comes to protecting yourself from rabies, it seems as if hand sanitizer won't cut it.

San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili -- three-time NBA champ, Olympic gold medalist, NBA All-Star, exterminator extraordinaire and scourge of PETA -- has been required to get shots for rabies, the San Antonio Express-News reports, because of his quick reflexes and a chance encounter with a bat on Saturday night:

Ginobili took four shots Monday in the hip and arm, and he is scheduled for four more such sessions over the next month. "It was pretty funny at the time," Ginobili told the San Antonio Express-News. "Now it's not. I got like a million shots for rabies."

If you haevn't been living in a (bat) cave, you know by now a bat flew into the AT&T Center during the Spurs-Kings contest, causing a slight delay and more than a couple of freak-outs. Ginobili, in one of his best on-court moments since finding Robert Horry all alone at the 3-point line in overtime of Game 5 of the 2005 NBA Finals, swatted the bat to the court, scooped up his prey and handed it to a clearly skittish security guard.

What happened next was a matter of debate.

PETA thought it was dead, and they let the world know that Ginobili should have taken pity on the poor creature. But Ginobili didn't kill the bat. Turns out, he stunned it (and the crowd, who gave him a standing O for his Manu-a-mano defense), which is the reason he was getting precautionary rabies vaccinations.

Because someone released the bat into the wilds of central Texas, no one could do a test on the bat to see if it was carrying the disease. Hence, Ginobili will be subjected to series of shots for the next month. On Monday, he sported bandages covering the vaccinations.

"It wasn't so much fun," Ginobili told the Express-News. "But the bat survived. I'm fine. I'm not going to have rabies."

Phew! Though the thought of a rabid off guard caught the Spurs, well, off guard.

"Everybody was worried about H1N1," said Richard Jefferson to the Express-News. "Now you've got rabies to worry about."

Don't worry about swine flu, Richard. You have plenty of hand sanitizer for that.

Manu Ginobili Getting Up More Shots ... All Over His Body originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vince Carter Sprains Left Ankle in His Return to New Jersey

Tim Povtak — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:12:00 EST

Filed under: Magic, Nets, NBA Injuries

Vince Carter was about to deliver one of those "don't-you-wish-I-was-still-here" games Friday night in New Jersey, when he fell to the floor clutching his left ankle midway in the second quarter.

Carter, traded by the Nets to the Orlando Magic this summer, had 16 points in his first 15 minutes before he left with a sprained ankle. X-rays were negative and he told reporters that "hopefully,'' he could play Sunday in Toronto.

His mother, who was there, described it to the Orlando Sentinel as a "mild sprain.'' It happened on a drive to the basket when he stepped awkwardly on the foot of New Jersey guard Devin Harris.

Coach Stan Van Gundy, in his post-game press conference, told reporters there was considerable swelling, but did not guess how long it would keep Carter on the sideline. After sitting on the bench for a brief time, Carter limped to the locker room and never returned.

"I was ready to sit back and enjoy one of those great shows because he was rolling,'' Van Gundy said. "It's too bad. We had to find another way to win.''

Carter had hit six of his eight shots. He opened the game against his former team with an emphatic dunk when he blew past Nets guard Courtney Lee, who was sent from Orlando to New Jersey in the trade of Carter.

The Magic, with the deepest team in franchise history, had no problem dominating the Nets, even without Carter, the eight-time All-Star. The game just proved how good the Magic are.

Dwight Howard did as he pleased with 20 points and 22 rebounds - the 24th 20-20 game of his career. The Magic got a big game from second-year forward Ryan Anderson, who came with Carter from New Jersey in the trade that cost the Magic, Lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie.

Anderson, who is starting in place of Rashard Lewis (serving a 10-game NBA suspension), had 16 points for the second consecutive game.

His mother, who was there, described it to the Orlando Sentinel as a "mild sprain.'' It happened on a drive to the basket when he stepped awkwardly on the foot of New Jersey guard Devin Harris.

Coach Stan Van Gundy, in his post-game press conference, told reporters there was considerable swelling, but did not guess how long it would keep Carter on the sideline. After sitting on the bench for a brief time, Carter limped to the locker room and never returned.

"I was ready to sit back and enjoy one of those great shows because he was rolling,'' Van Gundy said. "It's too bad. We had to find another way to win.''

Carter had hit six of his eight shots. He opened the game against his former team with an emphatic dunk when he blew past Nets' guard Courtney Lee, who was sent from Orlando to New Jersey in the trade of Carter.

The Magic, with the deepest team in franchise history, had no problem dominating the Nets, even without Carter, their eight-time All-Star. The game just proved how good the Magic are.

Dwight Howard did as he pleased with 20 points and 22 rebounds - the 24th 20-20 game of his career. The Magic got a big game from second-year forward Ryan Anderson, who came with Carter from New Jersey in the trade that cost the Magic Lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie.

Anderson, who is starting in place of Rashard Lewis (a 10-game NBA suspension) had 16 points for the second consecutive game.

Vince Carter Sprains Left Ankle in His Return to New Jersey originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Harpring's Fate Unknown Until December

Chris Tomasson — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:30:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz, NBA Injuries

DENVER -- The Matt Harpring watch has been extended. But Utah officials aren't ready to give up on him.

In late September, just before the start of training camp, the team announced the status of the injured forward would be re-evaluated in six weeks. Now, Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor says that, with Harpring not available any time soon, the plan is for medical officials to evaluate him and make a decision around mid-December.

"If not by mid-December, it would difficult for him to get back into any kind of shape for the season,'' O'Connor said Wednesday night in an interview with FanHouse before Utah's game at Denver.

So that pretty much has been established as the drop-dead date as to whether Harpring can return this season or might have to retire due to knee and ankle problems. O'Connor said Harpring is back in his hometown of Atlanta doing rehabilitation and won't return to Salt Lake City until "sometime in December.''

Harpring has had two microfracture surgeries on his right knee and has counted more than 10 surgeries on both ankles. In a September interview with FanHouse, Harpring said he wants to continue playing.

"It doesn't matter whether he wants to play. He's got to do it himself,'' said O'Connor, who said Harpring has to get to the point where joints "don't swell up on him.''

O'Connor said Harpring's knees and ankles are both significant concerns. He said caution must be taken because there is a risk of an injury that could affect Harpring after his career if he continues to play.

"It's not like a broken bone,'' said O'Connor, not wanting to elaborate on specifics about long-term possible risk.

O'Connor said Jazz officials would like to have Harpring back this season. But he said they have to be realistic, calling his return "up in the air.''

"We'd like to think (Harpring will play this season), but every time you look at it and you say..., 'We're a month into (the season) already,''' O'Connor said. "And it will be December before we check it out. But I don't want to pinpoint anything. He's got to be healthy.''

Harpring, making $6.5 million in the final year of his contract, has played 11 NBA seasons, the past seven with Utah. He's the team's second-longest tenured player after forward Andrei Kirilenko, entering his ninth Jazz season.

"Maybe if we make the playoffs, he'll be available,'' Kirilenko said of Harpring. "We all know he's a quality player. You want to always have a player like that on the team with his experience. He knows how to play the game. And he's a tough guy.''

It remains to be seen if Harpring's toughness will be enough to bounce back from this adversity.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com.

Harpring's Fate Unknown Until December originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Glen Davis Could Miss Two Months, Faces Team Suspension

Matt Watson — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Celtics, NBA Injuries

Glen "Big Baby" Davis won't miss the entire season with his thumb injury, as initially thought possible. But he'll still sit for the six to eight weeks, according to Yahoo!'s Marc Spears, who spoke with Davis on Tuesday after the third-year forward underwent surgery earlier in the day.

While missing two months is certainly better than the entire year, it doesn't mean the Celtics are any more pleased about the injury, which Davis admits occurred when he threw a punch at a long-time friend after an argument escalated over the weekend.

From Spears:

Davis said the incident happened early Sunday morning when Davis' girlfriend, Jenna Gomez, one of her girlfriends and one of his high school friends were returning to his West Boston home after celebrating Gomez's birthday. Davis said he and his high school friend got into a heated debate over some "personal issues," and the friend, who was driving their vehicle, threw a punch at Davis. Davis retaliated by throwing a punch back that broke his hand.

The entire incident -- not only throwing a punch, but throwing a punch at someone behind the wheel of a vehicle -- reflects poorly on Davis, and Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck is understandably annoyed. From the Boston Globe:

"I've had enough of 'Big Baby,' so I'm going to start calling him Glen," Grousbeck told the Globe. "It certainly seems like there's going to be a suspension here."

While Davis could contest the suspension, standard language in player contracts allows for teams to take disciplinary action against a player for for fighting.

Any suspension would presumably occur while Davis was sidelined -- it wouldn't make any sense at all to leave the Celtics short-handed longer than they have to be. (Although, considering Davis' ample physique, you have to wonder just how long it'll take him to get into game shape once he is finally ready to return, although, with a hand injury, there's no reason he can't wear out the tread mill in the interim.)

Fortunately, it's not like the Celtics can't shoulder the load in his absence -- even though Davis was a productive starter by the end of last year's playoff run, a healthy Kevin Garnett and the presence of Rasheed Wallace means Davis will be little more than the second big off the bench on most nights.

But still, it's not the immediate future the Celtics need to be worried about -- it's the cumulative effect of Garnett and Wallace playing extra minutes early in the year that may cause problems down the road. That type of wear and tear completely sidelined Garnett for last year's playoff run, just as it's reduced Wallace's effectiveness in the playoffs the last several years for Detroit.

Glen Davis Could Miss Two Months, Faces Team Suspension originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blake Griffin Could Miss Six Weeks

Matt Watson — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:10:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, NBA Injuries

On the eve of yet another rebuilding season, the Los Angeles Clippers revealed on Monday night that Blake Griffin's knee injury was far more serious than initially feared: he's been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his left kneecap (the patella, to be precise) and could be sidelined up to six weeks. He suffered the injury in the team's final preseason game.

The timing of the announcement is a bit curious -- and potentially embarrassing for the Clippers' training staff. Earlier in the day following Monday's practice, Mike Dunleavy told reporters that Griffin merely had a bone bruise, but added that Griffin was seeking a second opinion. Presumably, it's the second opinion that revealed the more serious ailment.

While the timing certainly puts a black cloud over the team before the season even starts, the silver lining is that the injury was discovered now, before Griffin had a chance to cause further harm by playing through the pain. In the meantime, figuring out the rotation just got easier: Kevin Arnovitz of ClipperBlog predicts DeAndre Jordan to pick up more playing time, with Al Thornton and Rasual Butler also seeing more time together.

Povtak: Griffin's a Casualty of Too-Long Preseason
Fantasy Impact: Replacements for Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin Could Miss Six Weeks originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Glen Davis Could Miss Season

Brett Pollakoff — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:50:00 EST

Filed under: Celtics, NBA Injuries

Update 9/27: After undergoing surgery on his thumb, Glen Davis will miss six-to-eight weeks.

Injuries, for professional basketball players, are sometimes just an unfortunate part of the business. You can't help it if an injury is sustained in practice, or even during a preseason game, if you're going out and giving maximum effort for the team that pays you millions of dollars to do so.

But what about off the court, when a player isn't doing anything related to basketball? That's when some personal discretion might come into play, and apparently, the Celtics' Glen Davis doesn't have any. Because he reportedly sustained a "non-basketball" injury, which, according to at least one report, just might keep him out for the entire season.

The Boston Herald has some vague details on what caused Davis' thumb injury, the extent of which is unknown:

According to sources, this was a non-basketball injury. It happened Sunday night when he got into an altercation with a friend, a former teammate, who was visiting from Louisiana.

Davis was reportedly defending himself.

David Aldridge, writing for NBA.com, reports the possibility that this could be something that causes Davis to miss significant time.

The Celtics were also waiting on Monday for results of a second opinion on the right thumb injury suffered by backup center Glen Davis, who reportedly suffered the injury in an off-court altercation with a former teammate of his Sunday. "It doesn't look good," said a league source. The Celtics were hopeful that Davis hasn't fractured his thumb; if he did, surgery would be required and Davis would likely miss several months, if not the entire season.

This comes down to a maturity issue with Davis, doesn't it? As a professional athlete, whether he was engaged in some good-natured horsing around with an old friend, or something more serious -- like, maybe, fighting over that all-important last slice of pizza -- Davis shouldn't be involved in anything physical away from the court that could jeopardize his ability to play.

Hopefully for the Celtics, the injury will only keep Davis out for the first part of the season, and it will give the newly-acquired Shelden Williams the opportunity to get some quality, regular season minutes in his new system.

That's the best case scenario. Worst case is, Davis is out for the season, and a team with championship aspirations loses some valuable frontcourt depth, all because of a lack of judgment.

The "Big Baby" nickname seems especially appropriate right about now, doesn't it?

Report: Glen Davis Could Miss Season originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Antawn Jamison to Miss 3-5 Weeks

Matt Watson — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:05:00 EST

Filed under: Wizards, NBA Injuries

The Wizards confirmed today what many already suspected: Antawn Jamison will open the season on the sidelines. Jamison injured his right shoulder in a preason game on Oct. 14 while attempting to block a shot. After being re-evaluated, the original diagnosis of a subluxation was confirmed, which is the technical way of saying his shoulder briefly popped out of its socket. In addition to the time he's already missed, he's expected to miss another three-to-five weeks.

It's a fluke injury and one that shouldn't pose any long-term effects, but it's certainly disappointing news for the Wizards, who are hoping to get back into the playoffs after a dismal 19-win season last year. Ironically enough, Jamison was one of the few players who escaped major injury last season, appearing in 81 games.

Fortunately, though, the Wizards have reinforcements to help shoulder the load this time around: despite some minor nicks and illnesses in training camp, Gilbert Arenas (who missed 80 games last year), Brendan Haywood (76) and Caron Butler (15) should start the regular season healthy and ready to play.

Antawn Jamison to Miss 3-5 Weeks originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dwight Howard Might Have to Wear an Eye Patch for Halloween

Tim Povtak — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Magic, NBA Injuries, NBA Preseason

Magic center Dwight Howard may have decided Wednesday night on what costume he will wear Halloween night.

He might be the biggest pirate ever to go trick-or-treating.

Howard got poked in the right eye by Solomon Jones late in Wednesday night's victory over the Indiana Pacers, giving the Magic a brief scare until his vision cleared.

Howard remained in the game for three more minutes, but his eye was bloodshot in the locker room after the game.

"I might have to wear a patch. Call me `Patch Howard,''' he said, adding in a pirate voice, "Arrrrrgh, matey.''

Howard also suggested he might start wearing goggles, like former Magic player Bo Outlaw, or even a facemask like the one worn last season by former Magic player Courtney Lee.

Howard assured everyone after the game that his right eye wasn't as bad as it looked, but he also told reporters that he couldn't see for a brief time on the court.

"It was pretty bad for awhile. It was blacking out while I was on the court,'' he said. "I was trying to tell coach I couldn't see, but I wanted to finish out until he could get a sub in the game.''

"I'll be fine,'' he said.

Dwight Howard Might Have to Wear an Eye Patch for Halloween originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Timberwolves Not Worried About Al Jefferson's Latest Injury

Chris Tomasson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:15:00 EST

Filed under: Timberwolves, NBA Injuries

DENVER -- Big Al's health is no big concern.

At least that's the word from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Minnesota star center Al Jefferson missed Tuesday night's 129-100 preseason loss to Denver at the Pepsi Center. But Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis said the primary reason was Jefferson being under the weather rather than the sore left Achilles that kept him out of practice Monday.

"Yes, he would of if this was an important game,'' Rambis said when asked if Jefferson would have been able to play Tuesday had he not taken ill and been left at the team hotel in Denver.

Fantasy Spin: Injured Love and Big Al | Play Fantasy Basketball

Rambis said there's a good chance Jefferson, whose health is being watched carefully after he was lost for the season last February due to a torn right ACL, will be play again in the preseason. The Timberwolves close with games Thursday at Detroit and Friday against Toronto in Sioux Falls, S.D.

"I anticipate yes, but I don't know how sick he is or how sick he will become,'' said Rambis, whose Timberwolves got 23 points Tuesday from guard Corey Brewer while forward Carmelo Anthony led the Nuggets with 24.

Rambis called Jefferson's ailment flu-like symptoms while Minnesota president David Kahn dubbed it a cold. Kahn does not anticipate Jefferson's Achilles problem or his sickness keeping him out of Minnesota's regular-season opener Oct. 28 against New Jersey.

"No,'' Kahn said in an interview with FanHouse. "I think we were lucky to this point that he hasn't had any kind of minor setback. (The Achilles problem) is a minor setback, and, until he misses a regular-season game, I'm not going to worry about it.

"His Achilles is not on his knee side (on the leg opposite of his knee injury). It's been tender. So it's a precaution. He's resting. He also had a terrible cold, so he's at the hotel resting. He's fine.''

Rambis said Jefferson's sore Achilles could be but is "not necessarily'' related to his knee problem. Taking precautions due to Jefferson's recovery from knee surgery, the Timberwolves have limited Jefferson in the preseason, sometimes not using him in the second half of games.

In the meantime, the Timberwolves are quite thin up front. Power forward Kevin Love underwent surgery Tuesday on his broken left hand and is out six to eight weeks.

Minnesota on Tuesday acquired center Nathan Jawai from Dallas for a conditional 2012 second-round pick. But Rambis said that deal was being discussed before Love got hurt.

Rambis considers Jawai a project so it's unlikely he'll be used much anyhow. Because the Mavericks wanted to shed the salary of Jawai, who played 19 minutes in six games last season as a Toronto rookie, all they took back was a pick protected through the 55th draft spot. So it's highly unlikely Dallas, which also sent the Timberwolves cash in the deal, ever will receive anything for Jawai.

No D-League for White

In the event James "Flight'' White gets cut by Denver, he's not planning on any flights back to the D-League.

"I would probably go overseas,'' said White, a forward who averaged 25.9 points last season for the Anaheim Arsenal. "I'm not going back to the D-League. It's more financially. It's a not a good thing (financially). If I haven't proven myself from the D-League and (an NBA) team doesn't like me from being in the D-League last year, I don't think I can improve my status from the D-League. I played great last year in the D-League, and did all I can do. My best bet is to go overseas.''

The Nuggets will complete final cuts as soon as Wednesday, and it's not looking good for White, who has a non-guaranteed contract and played just 42 minutes while getting into three of Denver's first six preseason games. He didn't play Tuesday.

The Nuggets might start the season with the NBA minimum of 13 players, with swingman Joey Graham all but certain to make the opening-night roster on a non-guaranteed contract. Locks to be cut by Denver are center Kurt Looby and guard Dontaye Draper, which gets them down to 14 players..

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com.

Timberwolves Not Worried About Al Jefferson's Latest Injury originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Al Jefferson Out Indefinitely

Brett Pollakoff — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Timberwolves, NBA Injuries

Things went from bad to worse for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, when Al Jefferson joined Kevin Love on the sidelines due to an injury. Jefferson sat out practice with a sore Achilles' tendon, which limited him to just six minutes during the second half of the team's preseason game against the Bucks on Saturday.

While Love's broken hand is expected to have him back in six to eight weeks, there's no timetable yet for Jefferson, and you can bet the team is going to be extremely cautious when it comes to green-lighting his return to the court.

Fantasy Spin: Injured Love and Big Al | Play Fantasy Basketball

Jefferson suffered a torn ACL last season, which caused him to miss his team's final 32 games. While the sore tendon has nothing to do with the recovery from the knee injury, the fact is it could be a sign of something worse if not taken seriously. This likely means that Big Al will be on the sidelines until everyone is absolutely certain that he's in no danger of once again suffering an injury that could take him down for the season.

As for how the injury bug is affecting new head coach Kurt Rambis, he's decided to focus on the players he has available, and not the ones who are on the sidelines. Still, he has to account for absences as large as the ones of Jefferson and Love, and when asked who was going to step up to fill those voids, well, let's just say Rambis is expecting a collective effort.

"Everybody. Whoever's left," Rambis said.

Now optimistically speaking, Jefferson did travel with the team to Denver for their next preseason game, so "indefinitely" could obviously just be a few days, if the soreness should go away relatively quickly. But the fact that the team is reportedly going to acquire Nathan Jawai from Dallas might mean they expect this to be something that lasts at least a little bit longer.

Al Jefferson Out Indefinitely originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Down Goes Kevin Love: Broken Hand, Out 6-8 Weeks

Tom Ziller — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: Timberwolves, NBA Injuries

Minnesota figured to struggle this season. The roster is young, the coach (Kurt Rambis) is new, and there are plenty of holes through the roster. But there's always an extra challenge in 'Sota, and this year that extra challenge comes in the form of a fracture of the fourth metacarpal bone in the left hand of Kevin Love that will reportedly sideline the power forward for 6-8 weeks.

According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Love's hand smacked against the elbow of teammate ~~Stewie Griffin~~ Oleksiy Pecherov as Love collected a rebound. Fitting, that the injury would happen on a rebound, considering Love is one of the league's brightest young board hoarders. His absence will force cohort Al Jefferson to be even more of a vacuum on the glass.

No word on how Rambis will tweak the line-up heading into the opening month or so of the season with Love missing. Given the roster's relative depth, you might expect Jefferson (a center next to Love but otherwise a power forward through his career) to end up at the four, with Ryan Hollins and Pecherov splitting center duties. Alternately, Jefferson could stay at center and Rambis could slot Ryan Gomes (a more talented -- but smaller -- offensive player in comparison with Hollins and Pecherov) at the power forward position.

All of those three scenarios are not optimal. But Jefferson's season-killing ACL tear last year wasn't optimal. Nor were injuries to previous Wolves lottery picks Randy Foye, Rashad McCants and Corey Brewer. (All three were injured pretty seriously in their second season with the Wolves. Transport Jonny Flynn in bubble wrap next year, please.)

Down Goes Kevin Love: Broken Hand, Out 6-8 Weeks originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LeBron Does Not Have Swine Flu, Is Not Stuck in a Helium Balloon

Tom Ziller — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:24:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, NBA Injuries

If not for the Balloon Boy's fantastical helium ride through the brisk Colorado skies on Thursday, the news that LeBron James, King of the Free World, had possibly contracted swine flu (!) would have broken the internet. (As it were, the internet was basically broken by Balloon Boy, leaving the Bron Flu as a Hot Trends footnote.)

But fear not for LeBron's health. Just as the worry/excitement over Balloon Boy's jaunt ended up wasted as Falcon Heene spent the balloon chase chilling in his garage, the concern over the H1N1 virus tearing through the MVP is unfounded. LeBron does have the flu, but NBA.com's David Aldridge reports that James is not sick with the swine flu. Whew.

Coby Karl and Darnell Jackson also have the seasonal flu, and Aldridge reports three other Cavaliers were tested for H1N1. In case you've been hiding in a box in the attic for the past six months, H1N1 is a specific mutated strain of the flu which experts say could rip through the world this year and cause a pandemic. The seasonal flu itself is deadly. But standard flu vaccines can't stop H1N1, making it all the more scary.

James actually received a flu vaccine earlier this fall, according to Aldridge's story. And of course, like a good American who pays more attention to urban legend than fact, James claims the vaccine gave him the flu. That's a theory about as well-developed as the idea Balloon Boy's family set up the fake escapade for publicity.

Oh, wait ...

LeBron Does Not Have Swine Flu, Is Not Stuck in a Helium Balloon originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Francisco Garcia's Ball Pops, Causes Broken Arm and a 4-Month Absence

Tom Ziller — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:50:00 EST

Filed under: Kings, NBA Injuries

The Kings, as the myths go, are cursed. There's a tale locally that ARCO Arena was built on an Indian burial ground, but the same could probably be said for any number of Costcos or housing developments in the area and you don't see stuff like this happened to anyone outside the Purple and White jerseys.

By "stuff like this," of course, I mean "wrist fractures when the exercise ball you're lifting weights on explodes." That's what will cause Kings wing Francisco Garcia to miss the next four months of action.

The first word Friday had Garcia with a fractured arm after a weightlifting mishap. Then the Kings reported that there was an equipment failure. And then it went public that the equipment which malfunctioned was an exercise ball. Garcia had been lifting hand weights (with a spotter, the Kings insist) while laying on the exercise ball. You see this commonly at civilian gyms -- balancing on the ball helps keep the core muscles of the midsection tense during the lifts.

But there's a secret danger, as Garcia has learned. Eddy Curry had a similar experience last fall, though the Knick's situation could be termed "user error" as Curry's ball popped as soon as he sat on it. Curry suffered only a scrape. Garcia was not so lucky.

There's no word on whether Garcia's ball was properly inflated, how old it was, or whether the Kings will investigate legal action against the (heretofore unknown) manufacturer. Garcia's $30-million, five-year contract goes into effect this season. Garcia missed a portion of last season with a torn wrist ligament. He also broke his finger late in the season, but played through the injury. He then re-aggravated the finger injury during the FIBA Americas Championship in August, causing Garcia to miss two vital games for his Dominican Republic team. The D.R. just missed out on qualifying for the 2010 FIBA World Championships.

Garcia has started at small forward in both of Sacramento's preseason games, and was expected to compete with Desmond Mason for the job in the regular season. With this injury, it seems likely that Mason will be the starter, with Andres Nocioni backing up both forward positions and either Omri Casspi and Donte Greene rounding out the small forward rotation. Garcia had also been considered the primary back-up for shooting guard Kevin Martin. You can expect some double point guard line-ups with Beno Udrih and rookie starter Tyreke Evans in Garcia's stead.

Garcia is the team's best deep threat other than Martin, and a valuable ball-handler. Garcia's point guard skills (which he displayed in a Final Four run for Louisville in 2005) would have been particularly helpful for Evans, who has a lot on his plate this season.

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NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 10: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dunks in front of Marcus Thornton #5 New Orleans Hornets during a pre-season game on October 10, 2009 at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Russell Westbrook;Marcus Thornton

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Phoenix Suns' Louis Amundson, right, shoots as Golden State Warriors' Andris Biedrins defends during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Indian Wells, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Francis Specker)

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) and teammate Shaun Pruitt (55) grab the rebound away from Phoenix Suns' Goran Dragic during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Indian Wells, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Francis Specker)

Golden State Warriors' Anthony Morrow, left, pushes off Phoenix Suns' Leandro Barbosa during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Indian Wells, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Francis Specker)

Phoenix Suns' Steve Nash, right, drives to the basket past Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Indian Wells, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. The game is being played outdoors at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. (AP Photo/Francis Specker)

Spectators watch the Golden State Warriors play the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Indian Wells, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. The game is being played outdoors at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. (AP Photo/Francis Specker)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Charlie Bell and center Andrew Bogut joke around in the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. Milwaukee won 98-86. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Hakim Warrick, top, gets caught up with Chicago Bulls defends while going after a rebound in the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. Milwaukee won 98-86. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson, right, shoot over Milwaukee Bucks forward Hakim Warrick in the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. Milwaukee won 98-86. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich (12) shoot over the defense of Milwaukee Bucks center Kurt Thomas (40) and guard Luke Ridnour (13) in the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. Milwaukee won 98-86. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (12) tries to defend Chicago Bulls forward Derrick Byars (7) in the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. Milwaukee won 98-86. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Francisco Garcia's Ball Pops, Causes Broken Arm and a 4-Month Absence originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Knicks on Eddy Curry: 'Not Ready'

Tom Ziller — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Knicks, NBA Injuries

Man, Eddy Curry spends his entire summer working the Stairmaster and eating like a vegan caveman and he still can't get fit enough for his Knickerbocker bosses. Curry tweaked his calf within the first days of training camp, and that (plus ongoing fitness issues) had Knicks prez Donnie Walsh telling reporters things like "When he can get out here and do it without pulling something, we'll bring him back."

Walsh is rarely this direct; you'd never see the Knicks discuss Danilo Gallinari's back injury (which plagued the 2008-09 season) in this fashion. But Curry's reported lack of effort in the gym prior to this summer hasn't earned the big fellow the right of indignation, I suppose.

In the foreseeable absence of Curry, the Knicks will roll with various levels of David Lee, Darko Milicic and rookie Jordan Hill at center.

Knicks on Eddy Curry: 'Not Ready' originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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