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Injuries in the NBA can be both a blessing in disguise and somewhat of a curse. For example, during the 1996-97 season, “The Admiral” David Robinson played in only 6 games due to back problems and then a broken foot.
As a result, San Antonio Spurs limped to a 20-62 record that season. If that injury was a curse, the blessing was immediately received in June of 1997 when the Spurs drafted 1st overall Tim Duncan.
This led to the Spurs becoming NBA Champions just two years later in 1999. The same San Antonio Spurs were forced to trade their superstar Kawhi Leonard this past offseason due to a perceived mishandling of his injury troubles last year that cost him 73 games.
The Boston Celtics made huge roster upgrades two offseasons ago when they traded for Kyrie Irving and added former Utah Jazz Star Gordon Hayward to their roster.
They lost Hayward last season 5 minutes into the first game to a gruesome leg and ankle injury. In March of last year, the Celtics lost Irving to a knee injury. However, the blessing was they discovered just how good their young talent and depth was as they proceeded to push a LeBron James led Cleveland Cavaliers to a 6 game Eastern Conference Final.
Injuries have ended or shortened careers of many players who had hopes and dreams of being an NBA superstar or champion. Players like Derrick Rose was just a few years ago considered a perennial MVP candidate.
There is a long list of players past and present that fans can look back and wonder what would have been had a certain player not lost games or seasons to injury.
Here's a look at 5 injuries that will impact the NBA playoffs in 2019:
#5 Victor Oladipo
Indiana Pacers were hoping to prove to everybody that they belong in conversation with the top teams in the Eastern Conference. In fact, they currently have a better record than everyone’s favourites the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Pacers’ hopes and expectations may have to be put on hold for the time being. On Wednesday night in Indiana, the Pacers beat the Toronto Raptors 110-106 but lost the NBA’s MIP from last season to a right knee injury. Victor Oladipo's season has ended now.
Earlier this season Oladipo missed 11 games to a right knee bone bruise. The Pacers were 7-4 during that time. However, the Pacers knew Oladipo was coming back. He isn’t after this injury though.
It's hard to continue playing at the same pace the Pacers are when you have to play your 2nd and 3rd string players for extended periods of time. Eleven games without Oladipo, in the early season is one thing, but 35 games as teams are jockeying for playoff position is another.
The Pacers will definitely have to lean on veteran Tyreke Evans to fill in for Oladipo.
#4 Dwight Howard
When examining the disappointment that has been the Washington Wizards 2018-19 season, many may point to the loss of John Wall. They will note that Wall has been out of the lineup since December 28th, 2018 due to heel surgery and is done for the season.
They may see this as a huge blow to the playoff hopes of the Wizards. Actually, they might be wrong. When Wall was ruled unfit to play, the Wizards were 13-22 and already out of the playoff picture. The Wizards have also gone 7-5 since his departure.
In fact, the Wizards' management was considering blowing up the roster due to poor play. They were considering that as early as November which was long before the Wall injury. The Wizards are an aggressive team defensively.
They are very active on the perimeter. They force 7.9 spg for 19th in the NBA and average 14.4f bppg as a result. The Wizards also average 4.8 bpg. However, the Wizards give up 116 ppg which is three more than they score and it can be attributed to the fact that they allow opponents an NBA 2nd worst 11.6 offensive rebounds per game.
This is where the second back injury requiring surgery in Dwight Howard’s career has kept the Wizards out of the playoff picture this season. The 33-year-old center was meant to replace the dwindling stats of Marcin Gortat who the Wizards traded for Austin Rivers in the summer.
The Wizards then signed Howard who had been waived by the New Jersey Nets. However, the 7’0 Howard who, even though his stats have been plummeting for several seasons, remains a double-double threat scoring and rebounding wise. He can block shots as well.
His dominance on the backboards and rim protection would win the Wizards at least two-three more defensive possessions a game and could translate into more winning.
He has only played in 9 games this season for the Wizards and is not expected back until late February or early March. His return will be too late to really help a Wizards push for a playoff spot.
#3 DeMarcus Cousins
DeMarcus Cousins tore his Achilles heel in January of 2018 while playing for the New Orleans Pelicans. While the Pelicans were having a successful season last year in large part to the play of Anthony Davis and Cousins, Cousins was also looking for a new contract when tragedy struck.
The Pelicans did make the playoffs getting swept out in the second round by the Golden State Warriors. Cousins did not get a rich new deal. However, the Golden State Warriors did come calling and on July 6th, 2018 he signed a 1-year deal worth $5.3 million dollars.
The Warriors who are reigning NBA Champions and expected to be so again this year have looked stagnant or uninterested for most of the season. The Warriors have also had internal drama stemming for a dispute that played out on the court between teammates Draymond Green and Kevin Durant back in November of 2018.
However, recent weeks have seen the Warriors ascend back to top spot in the Western Conference. DeMarcus Cousins made his debut for the Warriors on January 18th, 2019 scoring 14 points in 15 minutes.
His injury was a blessing for the capped out Warriors. Cousins gives them the dominant big man in the middle who has to be guarded. This takes the pressure off, of the plethora of great perimeter shooters and scorers they possess. Cousins provides the Warriors with an inside out game.
#2 LeBron James
This past off-season the Los Angeles Lakers won the LeBron James lottery in free agency. The Lakers are a weak team without James and were not a participant in last season’s playoffs.
Expectations were high for this season with James and he was delivering for the Lakers’ faithful. The Lakers were 5th in the Western Conference on Christmas Day, just one month ago, when during a blowout victory of the Golden State Warriors, LeBron James pulled his groin. Since then, the Lakers have gone 5-10 and slipped back to 9th overall in the Western Conference.
It hasn’t helped that point guard Rajon Rondo has been out of the lineup although Rondo returned to the Lakers Thursday night. In the meantime, there was hope LeBron James would have returned last week but he missed contests against the Thunder and Rockets.
He has now missed Monday’s contest against the Warriors and Thursday night’s loss to the Timberwolves. James has missed 15 straight games to this injury and it’s the longest injury hiatus of his career.
Groin injuries are difficult in that a pull can become a tear if not allowed to heal fully. James could be out long term and, in the process, the Lakers hopes of a playoff run disappear.
#1 Clint Capela
The Houston Rockets are on a wild ride this season. After dominating the regular season last year with 65 wins, the Rockets pushed Golden State to a 7 game Western Conference Final game before bowing out to the eventual NBA Champions.
This season started miserably and while the Rockets are now 27-20 and 5th overall in the Western Conference, thanks to some incredible MVP efforts by James Harden, their place in the playoff standings could be in jeopardy. The Rockets could also be a dangerous back end of the playoff bracket opponent.
Just after Christmas, the Rockets lost Chris Paul to a hamstring injury which he may return from quite soon. Eric Gordon was also out for a while with knee trouble. In the meantime, James Harden has been extremely great in carrying the Rockets through this rough time.
However, Clint Capela went down to due to damage on his right thumb. As of January 18th, 2019, he is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Capela had been averaging 17.6ppg, 12.6rpg, and 1.8bpg. Capela is the Rockets' anchor defensively and a rim protector. His backups, at the center spot, Nene and Gary Clark will not be able to make up for his loss.
The Rockets will continue to score at will but now the question is can they stop opponents from scoring? There are rumours that the Bulls want to part ways with Robin Lopez. If that’s true, the Rockets may want to consider a deal with the Bulls in order to secure their playoff ranking.
