Over four months after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the league into hiatus, the NBA is set to return July 30 with 22 teams taking the court in Orlando, Florida. The virus has forced some players out of the restart while the extended break has allowed other injured players additional time to recuperate, paving the way for them to return as contributors. Inspired by the Lowe Post podcast series “So, Where in the Hell Were We? from ESPN’s Zach Lowe, InStreetClothes.com will do a team-by-team look in a series we are calling “So, Where in the Health Were We?.” Here we will examine each squad’s overall team health as they enter the Disney Bubble, starting with the Eastern Conference.
Milwaukee Bucks
Open Injuries at the Start of the Pandemic: 3
Injuries Added During the Hiatus: 0
When last we saw the Bucks, they sat atop the Eastern Conference with a 53-12 record. The team had survived a handful of injuries, including a fibula fracture for Eric Bledsoe and a thigh contusion for Khris Middleton. While none of their injuries were particularly costly, as no Bucks player had missed more than nine consecutive games due to injury or illness, there was one considerable injury concern lingering. On March 6, five days before league play was suspended, league-MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a knee injury after landing awkwardly following a dunk. The injury was diagnosed as a “minor joint capsule sprain” and Antetokounmpo did not play in Milwaukee’s final two games. Fortunately, head coach Mike Budenholzer recently told ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan that Antetokounmpo is now “completely and totally healthy.” Minor injuries for Eric Bledsoe and George Hill also appear to have improved and the Bucks remain a title favorite.
Toronto Raptors
Open Injuries at the Start of the Pandemic: 3
Injuries Added During the Hiatus: 0
The title defense for the reigning champs has been anything but easy as the Raptors lost over 200 man-games to injury or illness in their 64 games played. The total is a big jump for a medical team that has emerged as one of the NBA’s best and surrendered just 127 games lost to injury for the entire 2018-19 season. Fortunately, extended absences from Marc Gasol (hamstring), Serge Ibaka (ankle), and Pascal Siakam (groin) have not prevented Toronto from racking up wins as the team remains the second-seed in the Eastern Conference. Fred VanVleet had been a spectator for the six games leading into the hiatus with a lingering shoulder injury. Reports seem to indicate VanVleet will be set to return when the Raptors resume play.
Boston Celtics
Open Injuries at the Start of the Pandemic: 1
Injuries Added During the Hiatus: 0
In early March the Celtics had placed themselves in prime positioning for homecourt advantage in the first-round of the postseason, sitting three games back of the Raptors and 2.5 games up on the fourth-place Heat. Unfortunately, homecourt advantage won’t mean quite as much when the league resumes, meaning Boston could use the eight seeding games more as a tune up for the impending postseason. The time off was particularly beneficial for Kemba Walker who had been struggling with his historically problematic knee. Walker’s left knee has been an issue since his days at UConn and has required three surgeries since his rookie season in the NBA. Walker did not play in nine of the 17 games prior to the shutdown due to soreness in the joint but admitted the break was beneficial. Jaylen Brown was in street clothes in Boston’s last four games due to a hamstring strain but he too appears healthy. Marcus Smart did test positive for COVID-19 just after the shutdown but told his Twitter followers he feels no lingering complications from his bout with the virus and will be ready when games resume.
Miami Heat
Open Injuries at the Start of the Pandemic: 3
Injuries Added During the Hiatus: 0
In late December the Heat had emerged as a true Eastern Conference contenders. After a thrilling overtime win over Philadelphia, Miami was riding a five-game winning streak and their 24-8 record placed them second in the East. However, things changed when the calendar turned to 2020 and the Heat complied a 17-16 record in the following 23 games. As a result, they will enter the “seeding” games hoping to catch either Toronto or Boston and avoid a second-round matchup with the Bucks. Team leader Jimmy Butler was able to recover from a mild toe injury during the hiatus while Meyers Leonard was able to recuperate from his severely sprained ankle. The break may also have aided rookie Tyler Herro who had just returned from an ankle injury of his own. The team has dealt with multiple cases of COVID-19, mostly notable Derrick Jones Jr., though it appears it will not be an issue when the season restarts.
Indiana Pacers
Open Injuries at the Start of the Pandemic: 3
Injuries Added During the Hiatus: 1
The Pacers reshaped their team in the offseason and hoped the midseason return of Victor Oladipo would further bolster their improved roster. Unfortunately, this didn’t occur as seamless as possible as Oladipo’s recovery from a torn quadriceps tendon lasted until late-January. The Pacers backcourt remained injury-free for just eight games as Oladipo suffered back spasms and Jeremy Lamb was lost for the year with a horrific knee injury. Shortly after that Malcolm Brogdon tore the rectus femoris in his quad and was unable to play in Indiana’s three games leading into the shutdown. The time off did allow Brogdon’s injury to improve and he should be back in action despite contracting the coronavirus in late June. However, the time off did disrupt Oladipo’s rehab schedule and he will not partake in the restart, citing a fear of re-injury. His fears are not unwarranted as prolonged period of inactivity or restricted activity can increase a player’s inherent injury risk, particularly for soft tissue injuries. Biomechanical properties like tendon elasticity or muscle mass can quickly change when activity drops, opening the door for injuries. Oladipo’s tendon is likely back to full strength but the risk of an injury somewhere else along the kinetic chain looms. The team will now once again turn to All-Star Domantas Sabonis to carry the load and help them avoid a fifth straight first-round exit.
Philadelphia 76ers
Open Injuries at the Start of the Pandemic: 1
Injuries Added During the Hiatus: 1
Philadelphia’s roller coaster season was in the middle of a downward fall when league halted play. The team had lost five of 10 games after the All-Star break and Ben Simmons was ruled out for an indefinite amount of time with impingement in his back. Still the Sixers’ ceiling remains high and will only be bolstered by the return of a healthy Simmons. Furthermore, center Joel Embiid drew the praise of coach Brett Brown for his approach to his overall fitness and conditioning during the break, meaning the Sixers should have their top two players ready to go when they kick off the remainder of the season. Second-year guard Zhaire Smith continues to battle injury woes and will not be available in Orlando after suffering a bone contusion to his left knee.
Brooklyn Nets
Open Injuries at the Start of the Pandemic: 4
Injuries Added During the Hiatus: 4
Brooklyn was the NBA team hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic as at least four players, including Kevin Durant, DeAndre Jordan, and Spencer Dinwiddie tested positive for the illness. Additionally, rookie big man Nic Claxton went under the knife to repair a labral tear in his shoulder and was ruled out for the remainder of the year. While Durant was not expected to return as he continues to work his way back from last year’s Achilles tear, the absences of Kyrie Irving, Jordan, Dinwiddie and Wilson Chandler guarantees Brooklyn will look significantly different when they start league play.
Jordan’s decision to not play following his COVID diagnosis is unsurprising given his history of respiratory illness. Jordan has battled asthma throughout his career and missed time with pneumonia multiple times during his playing career. The Nets hit the free agent market for substitutes, signing veterans Jamal Crawford and Michael Beasley as well as Donta Hall, but Brooklyn’s grasp on a playoff spot appears tenuous at best.
Orlando Magic
Open Injuries at the Start of the Pandemic: 3
Injuries Added During the Hiatus: 0
At 30-35, the Magic held a firm grasp on the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference prior to the league lockdown. In the proverbial medical tent, forward Jonathan Isaac was continuing to rehab from a posterolateral corner injury and a medial bone contusion to his knee while guard Evan Fournier was battling a UCL sprain of his right elbow that was slated to keep him out of action for several weeks. Lastly, forward Al-Farouq Aminu – much like Isaac – was recovering from a knee injury as well.
As the NBA restart approaches later this month in the Magic’s own backyard, little has changed from an injury standpoint. Isaac and Aminu both continue to work their way back from their respective knee injuries, despite the long layoff. Fortunately, Fournier has declared himself “fully healed” as he joins his teammates in the NBA bubble. While Aminu and Isaac’s status for rejoining the Magic in the NBA restart remains unclear at this juncture, the return of Fournier to the starting lineup should bolster Orlando’s chances of making the playoffs and may allow them to catch Brooklyn for the #7 seed, in hopes of avoiding a tough first-round matchup with Giannis and the Bucks.
Contributor: Lucas Spence, PA-C
Washington Wizards
Open Injuries at the Start of the Pandemic: 3
Injuries Added During the Hiatus: 1
When the NBA season halted on March 11th, the Wizards’ record sat at 24-40, a distant 5.5 games behind Orlando for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. While franchise guard John Wall continued to rehab from his Achilles’ surgery, the Wizards overall were quite healthy as a unit otherwise, managing injuries to point guard Ish Smith (hamstring) and guard Isaac Bonga (groin) at the time of the NBA stoppage.
Now, this Wizards team bizarrely finds itself in a completely different situation on the injury report. All-Star Bradley Beal will not play in the restart, choosing instead to focus on the offseason and rehab a rotator cuff injury that reportedly dates back to November. Wall continues to focus on his rehab, but will not be cleared to join the team. Forward Davis Bertans has electively decided not to play in the restart, choosing instead to focus on his upcoming free agency. Additionally, center Thomas Bryant, fully recovered from a nagging foot injury, and reserve guard Gary Payton II both tested positive for COVID-19, leaving doubt as to if or when they will join the team in Orlando. Severely outmanned without their star shooting guard and several other key contributors, Washington will be hard pressed to catch the Magic for the final playoff spot.
Contributor: Lucas Spence, PA-C