NBA Injury Analysis: 2014-15 All-Scar Team

The NBA All-Star Game was a huge success in New York City with the league's top talent taking center stage. The All-Star break has been expanded to an entire week, providing players with extra time to rest and recuperate. In the meantime, I'm pleased (disappointed?) to present the fourth annual NBA All-Scar team, two squads comprised of players whose injuries have been more noteworthy than what they've accomplished on the court.

WESTERN CONFERENCE ALL-SCAR TEAM

Backcourt

Kobe Bryant: The Lakers' stalwart makes his second straight All-Scar appearance. Last season he missed time recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon before fracturing the tibial plateau in his knee. The former MVP returned this year while receiving regular rest to protect his problematic legs. Unfortunately, an upper extremity injury occurred when Bryant tore his right rotator cuff while dunking. Surgery was necessary and Kobe will miss the Lakers' final 39 games.

Ricky Rubio: Rubio makes his second All-Scar team after having previously been a part of the 2013 squad. The flashy point guard missed 42 games after spraining his left ankle in early November. The injury was classified as a high ankle sprain and it was later revealed he also tore a tendon in his foot. He's back in action but missed another game as part of his recovery plan.

Frontcourt

Kevin Durant: The problems for the reigning MVP started in the preseason when a stress fracture in his right fifth metatarsal was discovered. Surgery was required and Durant was sidelined for Oklahoma City's first 17 games. He would later sprain his right ankle and sit six more times. Most recently, a sprained big toe on his left foot has been the issue, forcing him out of four additional games. He's been productive when he has played, but his 27 missed games this year are 12 more than he missed in his first seven seasons in the NBA.

Kawhi Leonard: The Spurs forward entered the season fresh off of being named Finals MVP and was expected to elevate his game to another level. A nasty eye infection slowed him during preseason before a right hand injury forced him out of 17 games. Originally ruled a contusion, it was later revealed Leonard suffered a torn ligament in his hand. His absence was costly to fantasy owners but also had a trickle down affect on other members of the Spurs, impacting multiple fantasy teams.

Dwight Howard: Howard has his fantasy faults, including a significant negative impact on free-throw percentage. However, his troublesome right knee has prevented him from helping fantasy owners who drafted him for his contributions in rebounds and field goal percentage. He received platelet-rich plasma injections in late November and missed 11 games. A sprained right ankle cost him two games before the inflammation in the knee became a considerable issue again. He has since undergone more aggressive treatment, this time utilizing bone marrow aspirate injections. Howard is expected to miss at least three more weeks and his recovery could extend beyond that if the knee has not noticeably improved.

Reserves

Terrence Jones and Blake Griffin: Jones entered the 2014-15 season highly ranked based on the belief he would be a key component of the high-scoring Houston offense. However, a nerve contusion in his leg cost him 42 straight outings. While sidelined, the Rockets signed Josh Smith, and Jones is now fighting for court time.

As for Griffin, he's currently sidelined with a staph infection in his right elbow. He's only missed three outings thus far, but the timing of the injury and his ADP makes the injury particularly impactful.

EASTERN CONFERENCE ALL-SCAR TEAM

Backcourt

DeMar DeRozan: DeRozan was a top-50 player last season and was leading a red-hot Raptors team before a very specific groin injury occurred. DeRozan tore the tendon of his adductor longus muscle and missed 21 games. After a rough patch in mid-January, the former All-Star appears to be rounding into form.

Kemba Walker: Walker was building on his 2014-15 success, putting together an impressive campaign. Unfortunately, a cyst developed in his left knee and began to slow him down. It was determined that a small tear in his lateral meniscus, sustained in college, was the root of the problem and Walker underwent surgery to remove the damaged cartilage. He's missed 10 games already and isn't expected back for at least another month.

Frontcourt

Carmelo Anthony: After returning to the Knicks on a five-year max contract, there was hope Anthony would be the focal point of the newly-implemented triangle offense. Sadly, the Knicks never gained traction, largely in part to injuries. Anthony yo-yoed in-and-out of the lineup with back spasms and lingering soreness in his left knee. Anthony has missed 11 games to injury and two more to designed rest. Unfortunately, things are likely to get worse before they get better, with Melo expected to undergo season-ending surgery in the near future.

Paul George: PG-13's devastating leg fracture occurred during Team USA play and did not have a major impact in one-year leagues. However, fantasy owners in keeper leagues lost a top talent, and while George could return in mid-March, there is no guarantee he will be able to return to an elite level.

Anderson Varejao:LeBron James' return to Cleveland didn't change Varejao's injury luck. Entering the season, the Brazilian center had missed at least 41 games in three of the last four years. A torn Achilles tendon ensured those numbers jumped to four out of five years, as Varejao will miss a total of 56 games this season.

Reserves

Jabari Parker and Brandon Jennings: The Eastern Conference reserves are made up of an emerging star and a player who was suddenly playing up to expectations. In Milwaukee, Parker's rookie season came to an end when he suffered a torn ACL. History suggests Parker is young enough to overcome the injury but it's an obvious setback for the second overall selection.

In Detroit, Josh Smith's departure allowed Jennings to become a major fantasy force. He averaged 19.8 points and 7.0 assists in the 16 games after Smith was dismissed, but he suffered a torn Achilles in a loss to the Bucks. He will miss the remainder of the season and faces a difficult road back.