This article is part of our NBA Injury Analysis series.
Deron Williams
The Brooklyn point guard has been somewhat of an enigma this season. After addressing his long-standing ankle problems with offseason surgery, Williams appeared to be his old self, averaging 17.1 points and 6.4 assists in the team's first 20 games of the season. However, things have drastically changed over the last 12 games, and the former All-Star is averaging a pedestrian 8.7 points per game on 31 percent shooting. His assists remain around the 6.0 per game mark despite being relegated to a bench role.
Part of his problems can be linked to injury. He's missed five games, including three of Brooklyn's last four, due to injury. A mild calf strain sidelined him for two games in late December, and he now sits with a rib injury, recently discovered following additional testing on his sore left side. The injury is a somewhat unique as the fracture detected isn't located in the bone but in the connective cartilage instead.
The rib cage is made up of 12 pairs of ribs, the sternum (more commonly known as the breastbone), the 12 thoracic vertebrae of the spine, and a specialized type of connective tissue known as costal cartilage. The costal cartilages of ribs 1 through 7 allow these bones to attach directly to the sternum. Ribs 8 through 10 are known as the false ribs and attach to the costal cartilage of the ribs directly above them. The remaining two ribs, 11 and 12, do not attach to the sternum but
Deron Williams
The Brooklyn point guard has been somewhat of an enigma this season. After addressing his long-standing ankle problems with offseason surgery, Williams appeared to be his old self, averaging 17.1 points and 6.4 assists in the team's first 20 games of the season. However, things have drastically changed over the last 12 games, and the former All-Star is averaging a pedestrian 8.7 points per game on 31 percent shooting. His assists remain around the 6.0 per game mark despite being relegated to a bench role.
Part of his problems can be linked to injury. He's missed five games, including three of Brooklyn's last four, due to injury. A mild calf strain sidelined him for two games in late December, and he now sits with a rib injury, recently discovered following additional testing on his sore left side. The injury is a somewhat unique as the fracture detected isn't located in the bone but in the connective cartilage instead.
The rib cage is made up of 12 pairs of ribs, the sternum (more commonly known as the breastbone), the 12 thoracic vertebrae of the spine, and a specialized type of connective tissue known as costal cartilage. The costal cartilages of ribs 1 through 7 allow these bones to attach directly to the sternum. Ribs 8 through 10 are known as the false ribs and attach to the costal cartilage of the ribs directly above them. The remaining two ribs, 11 and 12, do not attach to the sternum but do have associated cartilage in the area and remain connected to the spine.
Most costal cartilage injuries occur to the upper ribs, generally closer to the chest. For example, Jets quarterback Michael Vick missed multiple weeks with the Eagles when he cracked the costal cartilages of ribs 2 and 3 near the sternum. Chostochondral injuries are less common in the NBA, but players like Portland's Steve Blake and former Bulls guard Devin Brown have previously suffered injuries to the area.
Individuals that experience these types of rib injuries often experience sharp pain with activity that worsens with breathing and trunk movement. Some affected individuals may report a stabbing pain for several days after the initial injury occurred. Unfortunately for the Nets, a cartilage injury is a significant injury and could potentially take longer to heal than a normal fracture.
However, a quick look at recent rib injuries in the NBA, including rib and cartilage fractures, reveals that on average isolated rib injuries sideline a player for roughly six games (10-to-14 days). This number includes extreme cases like Gerald Wallace, who not only fractured a rib but also suffered a collapsed lung at the time of his injury. Internal organ damage is common with Williams' injury, a fractured 12th rib, but it does appear he has avoided any damage to the lungs, spleen, liver, or diaphragm.
Williams will be re-evaluated at some point this week. If the area has healed enough to allow for him to return to action, expect D-Will to return to the court wearing some kind of protective padding to reduce the impact of any potential collisions. Multiple options are available and should not be overly constructing.
In the meantime, point guard Jarrett Jack will continue to see heavy minutes for the Nets and is a must add in all formats. However, the Nets face a daunting schedule over the next few weeks, and Jack's productivity may take a step back. The injury remains an obvious setback for fantasy owners, but Williams' absence may not be as long as the initial injury report suggests.
Fast Breaks
Manu Ginobili: The Spurs sixth man is battling back spasms and did not play Saturday against the Timberwolves. Ginobili has already missed one game this season with a lower back contusion, and his status for Tuesday's contest against the Wizards remains unknown. Consider him day-to-day, but fantasy owners may want to err on the side of caution here. Patty Mills is the wing player that could benefit the most from a prolonged Manu absence with forward Marco Belinelli nursing a groin strain.
LeBron James: The under-achieving Cavaliers will get a shot in the arm from the impending return of the King. James, sidelined for the longest stretch of his career with back and knee strains, is expected to return to action Tuesday in Phoenix. James' return during the team's five-game West Coast road trip was by design as the warmer conditions positively affect his injuries. Any long-term concerns regarding LeBron's overall health remain minimal, but fantasy owners should anticipate an occasional day of rest throughout the remainder of the season.
Enes Kanter: The Jazz big man returned from his sprained right ankle but did so in a limited fashion. He played 21 minutes off the bench, scoring 16 points to go along with six rebounds. Kanter is a serviceable big man, but teammate Rudy Gobert is a more promising fantasy pick up.
Shabazz Muhammad: The second-year forward was finally beginning to emerge, providing a steady stream of points and solid percentages. However, an abdominal injury kept him out of the lineup Saturday and could cost him an additional game or two. The injury was initially called a groin strain, suggesting the area is in the lower portion of the abdomen. There could be some concern about a potential sports hernia given the area in question, but the Timberwolves have not even hinted at the possibility. Look for Muhammad's value to take an obvious step back for the immediate future with his long-term status taking an additional hit with the impending return of Kevin Martin.
Derrick Rose: The Bulls point guard was inactive over the weekend after experiencing soreness in his left knee. His left knee is the joint in which he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), opposite his right knee that required a meniscus repair. Rose is a high-risk, high-reward player given his injury history, and anyone who opted to rely on the former MVP shouldn't be too surprised to see him in street clothes. He will visit with team physicians and could undergo an MRI to determine the underlying cause of the soreness. Until then, keep him on your bench and hope the issue is a minor inconvenience and not something serious.
