This article is part of our NBA Injury Analysis series.
The Celtics diminutive point guard suffered a strained right groin early last week but initially was expected to miss minimal time. However, general manager Danny Ainge later revealed Thomas underwent a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in the area in hopes of better facilitating the healing process.
In a standard PRP treatment, a sample of the injured athlete's blood is collected and placed into a specialized machine known as a centrifuge. The centrifuge spins the sample at such a high speed, the various components of blood separate. One of these layers is a protein-rich mixture that is then extracted and injected back into the athlete at the injury site. The PRP mixture is filled with platelets, the primary component of blood responsible for clotting. By increasing the platelet count, the body's natural healing response gets a boost and is able to work more efficiently.
Time still is a necessary component of the treatment, and players who have opted for in-season PRP injections in recent years have missed an average of roughly 12 games (approximately three weeks). However, the length of time missed does appear to be influenced by the reason for the PRP injection as well, adding a layer of variability to the recovery process. PRP has most commonly been used for knee injuries, though Pau Gasol is a notable example. Gasol missed seven games during the 2013-14 season after utilizing a round of PRP on a groin strain. Thomas is optimistic he will be able to return earlier
The Celtics diminutive point guard suffered a strained right groin early last week but initially was expected to miss minimal time. However, general manager Danny Ainge later revealed Thomas underwent a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in the area in hopes of better facilitating the healing process.
In a standard PRP treatment, a sample of the injured athlete's blood is collected and placed into a specialized machine known as a centrifuge. The centrifuge spins the sample at such a high speed, the various components of blood separate. One of these layers is a protein-rich mixture that is then extracted and injected back into the athlete at the injury site. The PRP mixture is filled with platelets, the primary component of blood responsible for clotting. By increasing the platelet count, the body's natural healing response gets a boost and is able to work more efficiently.
Time still is a necessary component of the treatment, and players who have opted for in-season PRP injections in recent years have missed an average of roughly 12 games (approximately three weeks). However, the length of time missed does appear to be influenced by the reason for the PRP injection as well, adding a layer of variability to the recovery process. PRP has most commonly been used for knee injuries, though Pau Gasol is a notable example. Gasol missed seven games during the 2013-14 season after utilizing a round of PRP on a groin strain. Thomas is optimistic he will be able to return earlier than that and has targeted a Wednesday return against San Antonio. Despite the fact that the Celtics don't play until that game and will still manage a three-game week, Thomas will be a risky play in weekly formats. Keep an eye on his participation in practices leading up to Wednesday to get a better idea of whether he's worth using in daily leagues.
Joel Embiid, Nerlens Noel, and Jahlil Okafor
"The Process" has helped Philadelphia land three young big men. Unfortunately, injuries have prevented the trio from taking the floor together this season. Noel missed the team's first 23 games recovering from preseason surgery to remove an inflamed plica in his left knee. He returned to action Sunday, but Embiid was noticeably absent as he sat with inflammation in his right elbow. The team downplayed the severity of Embiid's injury, saying his absence was purely precautionary. It shouldn't alter the team's conservative plan to manage his minutes following his previous foot surgeries. In fact, the mapped out gameplan for his foot should allow Embiid's elbow to improve quicker with routine days off. However, when Embiid does return, there's no telling who will be available to join him in the front court. Noel sprained his left ankle on Sunday and will be a question mark moving forward. Okafor should be available but he's battled a nasty stomach bug over the last week and has previously been allotted rest days of his own. Investing in any of these three is a test of patience as the Sixers have the long-game in mind moving forward. Consider each one a game-time decision on a nightly basis.
Fast Breaks
Andrew Bogut: The Mavericks center is expected to miss at least one more week after suffering a bone contusion on his right knee. The injury is similar to the one that cost him the final two games of last year's Finals but in the opposite knee. Last week I detailed bone contusions and the complications that come with the injury. The same facts hold true for Bogut now, and it won't be surprising to see his recovery extend beyond the initial seven- to 10-day estimate. Salah Mejri has replaced Bogut in the starting lineup with Dwight Powell seeing an increase in usage.
Blake Griffin: The Clippers forward missed 42 regular season games due to injury last year. While the fractured hand he sustained in an altercation with a member of the team's equipment staff grabbed headlines, it was the quadriceps injury that initially was the problem and ultimately would end his year during the postseason. Griffin underwent a bone marrow aspirate injection in the offseason on the partial torn quadriceps tendon and has appeared unencumbered so far this season. However, he missed Saturday's game with soreness in his opposite knee. The Clippers haven't revealed any more specifics regarding the nature of the soreness, though it's a situation that they will closely monitor. Extra precautionary steps will be taken to insure this latest development doesn't have a cascade effect on his previously injured leg. This isn't an overly alarming situation, yet, but Griffin's long-term value will depend on how he progresses over the next few weeks.
Jrue Holiday: The Pelicans point guard missed three games last week after hyperextending his big toe. The condition is commonly referred to as turf toe and involves the ligaments surrounding the capsule of the joint. Holiday was back in action Sunday and logged 40 minutes, a good sign that his toe has improved with the time off. However, turf toe tends to be a nagging injury and he'll carry an elevated level of risk for the immediate future.
Jeremy Lin: Brooklyn is expected to welcome back Linsanity Monday. Lin has appeared in just five games this season after straining his hamstring in early November. He likely will be eased back into things, and a minutes restriction seems unavoidable. Like Holiday, Lin will play with a higher amount of risk for the next several weeks, but feel free to use him as normal.
Victor Oladipo: The Oklahoma City guard suffered a sprained wrist in a scary fall in Sunday's win over Boston. He bit on a Jonas Jerebko pump fake and was undercut as Jerebko attempted to drive to the basket. Oladipo braced his fall with both hands creating a mechanism of injury known as a FOOSH (fall on outstretched hand). FOOSH injuries often result in fractures, though Oladipo's injury appears to be purely ligamentous in nature. Look for the Thunder to spend Monday evaluating the severity of the injury and consider him questionable for Tuesday against the Trail Blazers.
