This article is part of our NBA Injury Analysis series.
The fantasy basketball playoffs have arrived in many leagues and just around the corner for others. While the injury rate for the 2014-15 season hasn't been nearly as bad as last season, a multitude of injuries will impact the final standings in all leagues of all formats.
Mike Conley
The Grizzlies' point guard is a question mark entering the week as he manages a problematic right ankle sprain. When the injury initially occurred, it looked as though Conley had suffered a much more serious ailment. As he attempted to stop, his right ankle rolled and the knee of the same leg was subjected to a high degree of valgus force, a common mechanism of a medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain. Although Conley was carried off the floor, he would later return to the game. He has since missed Memphis' last two contests and the team is unsure of his availability for this week's slate of games.
This marks the third time this season Conley has sprained this particular ankle and it's the same joint that forced him out of seven consecutive games last season following a Grade 2 sprain. While the latest injury does not appear to be as severe, the Grizzlies understand how important it is for Conley to enter the postseason without a limitation. The time off rehabbing the ankle injury is also providing the All-Star with time to rest his sore neck and back. With all these factors considered, it wouldn't be surprising to see Conley sit
The fantasy basketball playoffs have arrived in many leagues and just around the corner for others. While the injury rate for the 2014-15 season hasn't been nearly as bad as last season, a multitude of injuries will impact the final standings in all leagues of all formats.
Mike Conley
The Grizzlies' point guard is a question mark entering the week as he manages a problematic right ankle sprain. When the injury initially occurred, it looked as though Conley had suffered a much more serious ailment. As he attempted to stop, his right ankle rolled and the knee of the same leg was subjected to a high degree of valgus force, a common mechanism of a medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain. Although Conley was carried off the floor, he would later return to the game. He has since missed Memphis' last two contests and the team is unsure of his availability for this week's slate of games.
This marks the third time this season Conley has sprained this particular ankle and it's the same joint that forced him out of seven consecutive games last season following a Grade 2 sprain. While the latest injury does not appear to be as severe, the Grizzlies understand how important it is for Conley to enter the postseason without a limitation. The time off rehabbing the ankle injury is also providing the All-Star with time to rest his sore neck and back. With all these factors considered, it wouldn't be surprising to see Conley sit for an additional game or two. Beno Udrih will continue to start if Conley is unable to play.
Kevin Durant
Durant continues to progress through his rehab for a second procedure on his surgically-repaired right foot. After undergoing surgery to repair a fractured fifth metatarsal, the reigning MVP required a second surgery aimed to address a hardware issue. The surgical screw used was rubbing against an adjacent bone and was causing Durant some lingering soreness. I spoke with a person who specializes in surgical hardware who confirmed that this type of problem is much less significant than a true hardware failure. As long as the healing bone tissue remains intact, and by all accounts it is, then KD should be fine once the effects of the second surgery have dissipated. Durant appears to be nearing his return and has begun to participate in basketball-related activities, including 3-on-3. He still remains a week to 10 days away from returning but an end does at long-last appear in sight.
Rudy Gay
Gay is another player who's status remains up in the air but could be influenced by his past. The Sacramento forward missed the team's loss to the Wizards over the weekend after straining his left patellar tendon. The patellar tendon is the conjoined tendon of the quadriceps muscle group. It attaches just below the patella (kneecap) at the tibia. The patella is actually embedded within the tendon itself.
While the strain hasn't been assigned a high grade, Gay did have left knee issues earlier this season, missing a game in early January with a left capsule sprain. He is considered questionable for Monday's matchup with the Hawks. Keep a close eye on this situation before setting your roster in weekly formats. Normally a four-game week would make a missed game or two easier to swallow but 26 teams play four times this week and opting to use a player from one of those rosters may be the safer play. The Bulls, Lakers, Rockets and Suns are the only teams to play three games this week.
Isaiah Thomas
The Celtics' acquisition of Thomas has been a hit for fantasy owners as the diminutive point guard is suddenly his old self again. However, a hard fall against Miami left Thomas with a bruised elbow and bruised tailbone. The latter injury appears to be the bigger cause for concern and continues to be very sore. Thomas has not played in Boston's last three outings but has been targeting a Monday return. Tailbone injuries can be painful and slow to heal, and fantasy owners may want to scale back their expectations in Thomas' first few games back. His return would negatively affect Phil Pressey, who has filled in admirably during this short stretch.
Fast Breaks
Ryan Anderson
Anderson has yet to resume basketball-related activities following his MCL sprain a few weeks ago. He has reported an improvement in range of motion and pain level. However, a return to the court won't occur until he can move laterally without any problems. The fact that he has yet to begin basketball-specific exercises suggests he remains a week or two away from returning.
Manu Ginobili
The former All-Star is expected to miss a week to 10 days after spraining his right ankle against the Timberwolves on Sunday. Ginobili's minutes have already been lower than fantasy owners would like and this setback gives them reason to outright drop him. Marco Belinelli may be worth a speculative add, though the threat of Gregg Popovich resting his key players down the stretch is always a risk.
Dwight Howard
Howard may be telling reporters his explosiveness is back, but the All-Star center remains a week or two from returning to the court. Howard has not played since receiving a bone marrow injection in his problematic right knee. Even when he does return, the Rockets will likely ease him back into the lineup, limiting his workload and availability on the second night of back-to-backs. Looking ahead, Houston has a stretch of four games in five nights right around the time Howard could be returning. As a result, the big man's fantasy value appears to be surprisingly low for the remainder of the season and it may be best to look elsewhere.
Serge Ibaka
The Thunder has not had Ibaka in the lineup for two straight games as the center deals with lingering soreness in his knee. It's hard to predict an outcome without a true injury diagnosis, so consider him day-to-day moving forward.
Al Jefferson
Jefferson was originally diagnosed with a strained calf following an incident in which he described hearing a pop. However, the injury was later determined to be a right knee sprain, though the severity of the injury is thankfully low. That's particularly good news for a player who has previously torn his right ACL. Jefferson was back at practice Sunday and has been upgraded to questionable for Monday's game against the Jazz.
Nikola Pekovic
The chronic inflammation in Pekovic's right ankle continues to be an issue and the chances of him finishing out the year are looking slimmer and slimmer. It's hard to imagine this problem resolving very quickly, minimizing his already low value.
