After a grueling 82 game season the stage is set for the 2013-14 NBA postseason. Yet the toll of the regular season will have a carryover effect as injuries promise to play a factor into the crowing of the eventual champion. Here’s a look at five injury situations I’m closely monitoring as the playoffs begin.
Andrew Bogut, Golden State Warriors
The Aussie center had what has to be considered a successful season, playing in 67 games this year, his highest total since the 2009-10 season. He still suffered a variety of ailments including a knee contusion, ankle inflammation, a pelvic contusion, and a left shoulder injury that was complicated by a bad reaction to a cortisone injection. However his latest injury is the most significant, as he has been ruled out indefinitely after fracturing the fifth rib on the right side of his ribcage.
The rib cage is made up of 24 ribs (12 on each side), the sternum (better known as the breastbone), the thoracic vertebrae, and a type of connective tissue known as costal cartilage. The costal cartilages of ribs 1 through 7 allow these pairs to attach directly to the sternum and create an area of protection for the internal organs underneath. However the proximity of Bogut’s fracture to his lungs complicates things. If Bogut were to play through the injury, another direct blow to the area could result in the break displacing and potentially puncturing his lungs. Therefore, the Warriors will be forced to treat their big man conservatively. If he is able to return, the team will likely fit Bogut with protective padding to reduce the impact of any collisions. One potential option could be a specially designed Kevlar-infused shirt created by UnEqual Technology, though its use in basketball may require approval. Several athletes in other sports, including Tony Romo and Michael Vick, have had success with the material following rib fractures of their own.
Unfortunately time isn’t on their side as the frontline of the Clippers stand between the Warriors and the second round. The two teams split their four regular season games, with Bogut playing in all four games. His scoring average was consistent in the wins and the losses but he made a noticeable difference on the glass. In Golden State’s wins he averaged 15.5 rebounds while in the losses the average drops to 6.0 a game. Additionally Bogut is the anchor of a Golden State defense that ranks in the upper echelon of the league. His absence would be free things up for the Clippers frontcourt as well as guards like Chris Paul and Darren Collison.
Without Bogut on the court, the Warriors will turn to often-injured Jermaine O’Neal and a less than 100 percent David Lee. These two will have to elevate their level of play if the Warriors are to extend this series and give Bogut a chance to return.
Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets
Howard’s health has been on the rise since he suffered back and shoulder injuries that limited his final year with Orlando and his brief stint with Los Angeles. However he missed 11 games down the stretch this year due to a cyst in his left ankle. The injury was initially listed as strain causing a bit of confusion. A cyst is a collection of cells that can contain a variety of things including fluid or air. One particular type of fluid can be synovial fluid, a viscous liquid that lubricates and reduces friction in the joints of the body. A synovial cyst can easily develop if a tendon, like the ones located in the ankle joint, is subjected to trauma resulting in a strain. The Rockets have never called Howard’s injury a synovial cyst but it remains the most likely option given the available information. Howard underwent a minor procedure to excise the cyst and has received several anti-inflammatory injections. However cysts can return following removal and the Rockets will be keeping a close eye on the area. The Rockets can ill-afford to lose Howard for an extended period of time, especially against Portland and a potential second-round series against San Antonio.
Shaun Livingston, Brooklyn Nets
Livingston may not garner the headline as the other players on this list but his importance to the Nets shouldn’t be understated. Livingston’s return from a horrific knee injury has been well-chronicled with his comeback reaching its peak this year in Brooklyn. He played in 76 games this season, missing a late February game with a tailbone contusion and the final five with a sprained big toe. While the team has downplayed the severity of the ailment, injuries of this nature can linger and are often very limiting.
The big toe is a key component in weight bearing particularly during forward movement. The big toe is often subjected to forces ranging from 70 to 100 percent of the body’s weight. A sprain of the ligaments that stabilize the area is often referred to as turf toe. As previously mentioned turf toe is extremely painful and limiting and inhibits an athlete’s ability to accelerate and push off the injured foot. For a player with Livingston’s style of play, turf toe would be an issue on both ends of the court.
Offensively, Livingston ability to attack the rim would be negatively effected; a big problem for a player second on the team in drives to the basket. Furthermore, and perhaps more importantly, the injury would be problem defensively as his ability to stay in front of opposing guards would be hampered. Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry has scorched the Brooklyn backcourt in their regular season meeting. However the length of Livingston does appear to limit Lowry’s ability to drive. Lowry attempted two fewer drives when being defended by Livingston than when Deron Williams covered him, despite Livingston drawing the assignment him for nine additional minutes.
Livingston plans on playing in Game 1 against Toronto but it has yet to be seen if the toe injury is completely behind him. If he is at all limited, the Raptors may gain an advantage that could help swing one of the more competitive series of the first round.
Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
Parker’s recent facet sprain has already been analyzed here at InStreetClothes.com Since the breakdown, the Spurs point guard has returned to action, playing in the team’s final three games. He looked good averaging 13.3 points per game on 49 percent shooting. However back injuries are notoriously problematic and easily aggravated. Parker has had a down year by his standard with his scoring and assist averages at their lowest since the 2009-10. His decision to play in for the French national team over the summer after an extended playoff run that ended in Game 7 of the Finals may be a reason his productivity is down. He missed 13 games to injury and received an additional game off to rest. He was bothered by a myriad of injuries including a right ankle sprain, a right shin contusion, and a left hand sprain. And though the Spurs still managed to win a league best 62 games this season, the team needs a healthy, energetic Parker if they are to make another run at a title.
The impact of Tony Parker’s hamstring strain in last year’s Finals has been understated and overshadowed by the ending of Game 6. He was averaging a career-high 22.9 points and 7.1 assist entering Game 3 of the Finals. The Spurs would win the game by 36 and take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series but Parker strained his hamstring and did not play in the fourth quarter. He struggled in the next four games, particularly in Games 6 and 7. In those decisive games he shot a combined 9-of-35 from the field (26 percent) and admitted he wouldn’t have played had the championship not been at stake.
Now with the Spurs facing a familiar foe in the Mavericks, head athletic trainer Will Sevening will be tasked with insuring their starting point guard avoids any setback. If he is successful then San Antonio will be in a good position to atone for last year’s heart-breaking loss.
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
Wade’s inclusion on this list is a season in the making as the Heat elected to coddle the minutes of the former All-Star since the starting of training camp. In all Wade missed 28 games, 13 of those attributed to designed days of rest. The remaining games were due to various injuries including a case of drop foot in his left foot as well as Achilles and hamstring strains. The primary concern with these ailments is that they all occurred on his left leg. Each joint of the lower extremity can be considered interconnected. When one joint, or link in what is known as the kinetic chain, is injured or imbalanced, the chain is weakened and other injuries can develop as the body adjusts for the weak link. While Wade’s injuries occurred at different times, it is likely the Achilles injury played a role in his hamstring problem. Furthermore his left knee has been one of the more troublesome areas for Wade, requiring multiple surgeries and shockwave treatments. Any problems with the musculature of the left leg could cause these issues to resurface.
It gets worse as a disrupted kinetic chain can have a crossover effect, leading to problems on the opposite extremity. Wade’s history once again comes into play as his right leg, particularly his right knee, has been an issue for years and is same knee that cost him a game during last year’s postseason.
Now the Heat is fully aware of all these factors and that is precisely the reason for their season-long minutes restriction. However with the stakes elevating, Wade will be counted on to play every game and only time will tell if the plan worked. The risk of something occurring is too high to ignore and could factor in to Miami’s bid for a third straight title.