This article is part of our NBA Injury Analysis series.
Cleveland Cavaliers Guards
The Cavaliers got a boost from the return of Kyrie Irving but continue to battle injuries to the backcourt. To start, point guard Mo Williams has missed back-to-back games with a right thumb sprain initially injured against the Celtics. Normally mild finger injuries aren't overly alarming but Williams' injury history escalates the severity of the situation. Williams has undergone surgery to repair a ligament on his right thumb, not once, but twice since the 2008 season. The most recent operation occurred during the 2012-13 season, costing him 32 games. While the current injury doesn't appear to be as severe, the overall integrity of the ligament remains a concern. After a strong start to the season, Williams has struggled since returning from a sore right knee in late November. The thumb injury will only hinder his productivity and the veteran guard has minimal value at this point.
With Williams struggling, the Cavs would like to turn to Irving and Iman Shumpert, but both have injuries of their own. Shumpert, who missed the first 20 games of the season recovering from surgery to repair a ruptured extensor carpi ulnaris sheath in his right wrist, is also playing through a mild groin strain. Groin injuries hamper an athlete's lateral movement and would slow Shumpert down on the defensive end. As Shumpert is mainly an option in deeper formats, those in standard leagues or daily games should look elsewhere until he's put together a stretch of sustained health.
Irving, the
Cleveland Cavaliers Guards
The Cavaliers got a boost from the return of Kyrie Irving but continue to battle injuries to the backcourt. To start, point guard Mo Williams has missed back-to-back games with a right thumb sprain initially injured against the Celtics. Normally mild finger injuries aren't overly alarming but Williams' injury history escalates the severity of the situation. Williams has undergone surgery to repair a ligament on his right thumb, not once, but twice since the 2008 season. The most recent operation occurred during the 2012-13 season, costing him 32 games. While the current injury doesn't appear to be as severe, the overall integrity of the ligament remains a concern. After a strong start to the season, Williams has struggled since returning from a sore right knee in late November. The thumb injury will only hinder his productivity and the veteran guard has minimal value at this point.
With Williams struggling, the Cavs would like to turn to Irving and Iman Shumpert, but both have injuries of their own. Shumpert, who missed the first 20 games of the season recovering from surgery to repair a ruptured extensor carpi ulnaris sheath in his right wrist, is also playing through a mild groin strain. Groin injuries hamper an athlete's lateral movement and would slow Shumpert down on the defensive end. As Shumpert is mainly an option in deeper formats, those in standard leagues or daily games should look elsewhere until he's put together a stretch of sustained health.
Irving, the most valuable member of all the Cleveland guards, looked rusty in his first game since Game 1 of the 2015 NBA Finals, scoring 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting. The All-Star guard suffered a fractured patella in Cleveland's failed championship bid and underwent surgery in early June. While it was initially believed he would miss three to four months, the Cavaliers took a conservative approach to recovery and provided him additional time to heal. It's a wise move, as the biomechanics of the knee can delay the healing process of injuries directly to the patella. As a result, it should help Irving minimize any complications and avoid any significant setbacks. The team will likely reinforce this conservative approach by limiting his workload and minutes early on. He played 17 on Sunday and could sit out a game in any upcoming back-to-backs. The first test will come later this week when the team travels for a Finals rematch with the Warriors on Christmas and then take on the Trail Blazers the following night. If Irving does indeed sit for one of those two games, he will be limited to just two outings this week, making him a bit of a gamble for those in weekly formats. Irving owners must simply exhibit patience for the time being and understand this strategy makes it more probable he will be available when it matters most.
Portland Trail Blazers Guards
While Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum aren't facing injuries as daunting as Cleveland's guards, the Portland duo limped off the court following Sunday's loss to the Heat. Lillard is dealing with a sprained left ankle and a case of plantar fasciitis on the same foot and was noticeably limping throughout the game. A sprained ankle can be problematic but Lillard owners should be more concerned about the plantar fasciitis.
The plantar fascia is a bundle of connective tissue situated on the bottom of the foot that supports the arch of the foot. Excessive repetitive motion at the area can cause the plantar fascia to become inflamed in a condition causing plantar fasciitis. The condition often becomes a chronic injury that is very painful and even harder to manage, and as a result, the best treatment is often extended rest. There's been no indication that Portland is planning on shutting Lillard down but expectations regarding his productivity should be scaled back for the immediate future.
McCollum is also dealing with a sprained left ankle, though his plantar fascia remains unaffected. McCollum appeared to suffer the injury in a collision with Miami's Dwyane Wade, and his availability for Monday remains uncertain. Gerald Henderson and Allen Crabbe could see an increase in playing time if either Lillard or McCollum sit and either player could be a sneaky play in daily fantasy leagues.
Brandon Jennings
The Pistons are expected to welcome Jennings back for the first time since he tore his Achilles on Jan. 24. The explosive guard appeared in a rehabilitation game with the Grand Rapids Drive of the NBA Development League, finishing with 11 points and 12 assists in 27 minutes. While the numbers are encouraging, Jennings returns to a reestablished pecking order in Detroit. Reggie Jackson has taken Jennings' starting role and veteran Steve Blake is entrenched as the backup point guard. Jennings will most likely move past Blake on the depth chart but faces an uphill battle in the process. Achilles repairs often sap an individual of their speed and athleticism, a bigger problem for Jennings than Mavericks guard Wesley Matthews or Cleveland's Anderson Varejao. Jennings will have to learn to trust his surgically repaired limb, and he's already admitted to being a bit hesitant when planting and pushing off the left side. That's reason enough to avoid over-investing in Jennings, and monitoring his recovery remains a prudent move.
Fast Breaks
Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Greek Freak did not play Sunday because of a mild case of tendinitis is his left knee. He isn't expected to miss a lengthy period of time and is considered day-to-day. O.J. Mayo replaced Antetokounmpo in the starting lineup and scored 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting.
Kobe Bryant
After rolling back the clock and throwing down a dunk against the Rockets, Bryant was unable to play in LA's following game. He reported experiencing soreness in his surgically repaired shoulder after the loss to Houston though he expects to play Tuesday against the Nuggets. Bryant's been much improved lately, averaging 20.3 points per game on 51 percent shooting in the four games prior to the injury.
Austin Rivers
The Clippers reserve suffered a "moderate" ankle sprain in the team's loss to the Rockets and is considered doubtful for Monday's game against the Thunder. Rivers has a history of right ankle injuries, including multiple sprains and surgery in the summer of 2012 to remove bone spurs from the area. I'm guessing Rivers misses multiple games with the injury, giving Jamal Crawford and Pablo Prigioni a chance at extra minutes.
