This article is part of our NBA Injury Analysis series.
J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert
The Knicks backcourt is suddenly a bit thin after both Smith and Shumpert suffered significant injuries. Smith was dealing with a heel issue and testing performed over the weekend revealed the source of the problem. He has a partial tear of the plantar fascia in his left foot. The plantar fascia is a thick, fibrous band of connective tissue that runs from the heel to the base of the toes. It provides support for the arch of the foot and is specifically designed to withstand the increased forces that come with weight-bearing activities like walking, jumping, or running. Unfortunately, excessive force or repetitive activity can cause the plantar fascia to become inflamed, resulting in plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is a chronic and painful injury that can severely limit an athlete. If the condition is severe enough, a plantar fasciotomy in which the tension is surgically relieved may be warranted.
However, a tear to the plantar fascia is handled differently. A complete tear of the fascia mimics the fasciotomy as the tear releases the tension. The subsequent treatment involves managing the associated symptoms like pain and swelling while insuring the developing scar tissue is properly aligned. This can take a substantial amount of time, as evidenced by the six-to-eight weeks Pacers center Ian Mahinmi is expected to miss after tearing his plantar fascia just a week ago.
A partial tear is a bit more problematic. Tension in the plantar fascia remains, and the symptoms of plantar
J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert
The Knicks backcourt is suddenly a bit thin after both Smith and Shumpert suffered significant injuries. Smith was dealing with a heel issue and testing performed over the weekend revealed the source of the problem. He has a partial tear of the plantar fascia in his left foot. The plantar fascia is a thick, fibrous band of connective tissue that runs from the heel to the base of the toes. It provides support for the arch of the foot and is specifically designed to withstand the increased forces that come with weight-bearing activities like walking, jumping, or running. Unfortunately, excessive force or repetitive activity can cause the plantar fascia to become inflamed, resulting in plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is a chronic and painful injury that can severely limit an athlete. If the condition is severe enough, a plantar fasciotomy in which the tension is surgically relieved may be warranted.
However, a tear to the plantar fascia is handled differently. A complete tear of the fascia mimics the fasciotomy as the tear releases the tension. The subsequent treatment involves managing the associated symptoms like pain and swelling while insuring the developing scar tissue is properly aligned. This can take a substantial amount of time, as evidenced by the six-to-eight weeks Pacers center Ian Mahinmi is expected to miss after tearing his plantar fascia just a week ago.
A partial tear is a bit more problematic. Tension in the plantar fascia remains, and the symptoms of plantar fasciitis are likely to persist. Rest remains the best non-surgical treatment and a fasciotomy may still be necessary. Even if Smith is able to return within the next few games, the condition will linger, and he will be vulnerable to re-injury. Fantasy owners will have to decide if the associated risk with Smith outweighs his modest productivity. Personally, I would sell my shares if I were invested in Smith.
Shumpert's injury is a bit more straightforward. He suffered a dislocation of his left shoulder and is expected to miss three weeks. When Shumpert collided with Boston's Jeff Green, the head of his upper arm bone displaced from its normal position in the glenohumeral joint. Since the injury is being referred to as a dislocation and not a subluxation, it means the supportive structures surrounding the joint were unable to keep it aligned or force it back into position. When this occurs, trained medical personnel are often needed to reduce the dislocated joint and return it to its normal alignment. An injury of this magnitude is often accompanied by a disruption of ligaments and the surrounding soft tissue structures. Fortunately, Shumpert's MRI seems to indicate the damage is minimal, and surgery will not be necessary to repair the labrum. Instead, he will rehab the area and reevaluate the stability of the shoulder in three weeks. Strengthening the musculature around the joint will help fortify the joint, but he will be more likely to suffer a dislocation down the road.
In the meantime, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Pablo Prigioni will likely see a bump in minutes. Shane Larkin may also resume a steady role in the rotation after yo-yoing in and out of games. Hardaway seems like the most likely to earn fantasy relevance.
Fast Breaks
Andrew Bogut: Bogut has missed three straight games with knee tendinitis. Patellar tendinitis is a manageable ailment that occurs when the tendon of the quadriceps muscle group becomes inflamed. It's a common injury in basketball and one that a player can normally play through. However, Bogut's condition appears to be a bit more serious as he needed to have fluid drained from the joint. It's not an encouraging situation, and a quick recovery seems unlikely. The Warriors play just twice this week, and he should be benched for the immediate future.
Chris Bosh: Miami's leader in scoring missed Sunday's game with a calf injury. Media reports have varied on the severity of the injury, but Bosh's quotes stating the team is afraid it could "tear away from the bone" if he continued to play, indicate it's more significant than a minor strain. The Heat appears to be taking the conservative approach here, and Bosh seems poised to miss at least a few more games. With Josh McRoberts and Chris Andersen also nursing injuries, Shawne Williams is the most likely to benefit from Bosh's absence.
Anthony Davis: Davis has missed the majority of the last two games with a chest contusion. The number one player in fantasy hoops spent time in a local hospital but has since been medically cleared to play. However, the symptoms have persisted, and Davis's availability moving forward is cloudy at best. Consider him day-to-day, and hope he's feeling better by Tuesday when the Pelicans host the Jazz.
Doug McDermott: The Bulls' rookie forward will be out for an extended period of time after it was discovered that his lingering knee soreness was due to a small meniscus tear. The injury was "repaired" surgically. though the estimated timeline of six-to-eight weeks indicates the procedure likely involved removing the frayed piece. Reports have said the tear was tiny. and McDermott's long-term outlook remains good.
Chandler Parsons: The Mavericks forward missed his first game of the season over the weekend with a sore back. Parsons doesn't have a lengthy history of back injuries, but he did miss two games last season with a similar problem. He practiced Sunday and hopes to play Tuesday against the Knicks. Even if he misses just one more outing, Dallas only has three games scheduled this week, putting those in weekly leagues in a precarious position. Consider all your options here before starting Parsons.
Marcus Smart: The Celtics rookie did not travel with the team to Philadelphia for Monday's game against the Sixers after suffering a strained left Achilles. The injury is on the same side as the ankle sprain that kept him out for 10 games earlier in the season. It's fairly common for a player to suffer a calf or Achilles strain following an ankle sprain, as the steps to immobilize and protect the ankle can weaken the area and make it susceptible to injury. It appears to be a minor strain, and the team is optimistic he can play Wednesday against the Magic. However, given his limited productivity since returning from the initial injury, it's probably wise to look elsewhere.
