NBA Takes…with Teresa: Injuries, protests, and Blazers troubles
This week in the NBA, the Denver Nuggets second-leading scorer tears his ACL; the Timberwolves postpone a game in protest, and I have so much news there will be an extended “This and That.”
This was another amazing week in the NBA. Good news, bad news, and records breaking. Will Adam Silver put an end to buyouts and requests for transfers? When will the league address these crazy ref calls? Unfortunately, this week there are more injuries to report. The Lakers came to New York and shook things up. Let’s go!
Injuries
This month there were serious injuries in the league. What follows is a list of the most serious.
- Jamal Murray, Nuggets: torn ACL – out for the season.
- James Wiseman, GSW: torn meniscus – out indefinitely.
- Donovan Mitchell, Jazz: ankle – out for several games.
- Eric Gordon, Rockets: groin strain – expected to miss four weeks.
- Patrick Beverley, Clippers: fractured hand – out three to four weeks.
- James Harden, Nets: right hamstring – will be re-evaluated in 10 days.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC – foot – will be re-evaluated in mid-April.
- George Hill, Sixers: thumb – no timetable for return.
- Fred VanVleet, Raptors: hip – no timetable for return.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Another unarmed Black man was shot and killed at a traffic stop in Minnesota. Duante Wright was 20-years-old and a father. The Timberwolves/Brooklyn, Twins, and Wild games were postponed in his honor.
Coaches Greg Popovich and Doc Rivers were very outspoken about the killing.
Portland Trail Blazers
What is going on in Portland? Monday night’s game against the Boston Celtics was another loss to a top ten team. The fact they lost by one point was heart-wrenching. The Portland Trail Blazers scoring was sorry. Damian Lillard looks tired, but how can they sit him? When will he get a chance for more rest for something other than a hamstring strain? Lillard, CJ McCollum, and Norman Powell combined for 64 points in that game. One shining light was, of course, Carmelo Anthony. Melo scored 25 points and was second only to Dame, who had 28.
Hard questions must be asked and answered. Is it the locker room? Is it the coach? It can’t be up to Lillard all the time. What will happen is the Blazers will find themselves out in the first round. Currently sitting at six in the Western Conference, the team is only 2.5 games out of seven.
This and that
- Stephen Curry passed Wilt Chamberlain as the Golden State Warrior with the most points. I recently saw an old Curry interview where he said he really wanted the Knicks to draft him. If you thought you heard a woman screaming, you were right. It was me.
- Some folks around the league were very critical of Luka Doncic‘s remarks regarding the league’s new play-in format. The Maverick had just lost to the Sixers Monday night. “I don’t understand the idea of a play-in. You play 72 games to get into the playoffs, then maybe you lose two in a row, and you’re out of the playoffs. So I don’t see the point of that.” I don’t see what was so wrong in what he said. The Mavs currently sit at seventh in the west and are in the play-in. I understand what he’s saying as the Trail Blazers sit right above them at six. Both teams have lost their last two games, and the Blazers could drop into the play-in if they don’t reverse their course.
- Good news for LakerNation! The team has announced that Anthony Davis will be back in two weeks and LeBron James in three.
- Al Horford was on the injury list, but he’s not injured. It says that the OKC organization will not be playing him for the remainder of the season because they want to work with their younger players. That stinks. They should look around at other re-building teams using vets to play with and mentor their younger teammates. The Knicks are looking pretty good, and Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson have been perfect for the young players. Oh well, to each his own.
Related Story: Damian Lillard is gassed
So that is what’s going on in the NBA. Until next week, stay healthy and safe!