NBA.com: Mavericks to be without Howard indefinitely

[xraided199]

Make what you want of it, but just wanted to post it. Sucks.

http://www.nba.com/2008/news/12/09/h....ap/index.html

DALLAS (AP) -- Josh Howard put his problematic left ankle into a walking boot Tuesday, and the Dallas Mavericks don't know how long they'll be without their second-leading scorer and rebounder.

The former All-Star had missed eight straight games because of the injury. The frustrating part for the Mavericks was that every time he seemed close to returning, the ankle would swell and get sore again.


"You're talking about a dynamic athlete that needs to be up to near full capacity physically to do the things he does," coach Rick Carlisle said. "So you can't put him out there unless he is pain-free and swelling-free and right now he's not."


Multiple MRIs have shown no structural damage and nothing requiring surgery; Carlisle described it as "nothing that's out of the ordinary." Thus, the best option was to mobilize the ankle in hopes that a long rest is all he needs.


"He's made progress, but he isn't there yet so we're going to shut him down for a little bit," Carlisle said. "He's made a great effort to get back, but there's a yo-yo effect going on with the swelling. Right now, this is the right thing to do. Rather than get into a speculative amount of time, we're just going to say it's for a while."


Howard averages 20.3 points and 8.2 rebounds, both trailing only Dirk Nowitzki. The swingman also is among the club's best defenders, able to cover guards and forwards.


Since Howard got hurt, Dallas was 7-1 going into Tuesday night's game against San Antonio, but Carlisle stressed "we're much better with him." The Mavericks lost both games Howard missed earlier this season with a sprained wrist.


Jerry Stackhouse is not among the likely replacements because of a foot problem that's sidelined him since mid-November.


"There's something there that's still being addressed," Carlisle said.


Without Stackhouse or Howard, Carlisle has continued a season-long juggling of his lineup. Devean George was expected to start his fourth straight game Tuesday night, with Dallas also relying more on a three-guard lineup featuring Jason Kidd, J.J. Barea and Jason Terry. Shawne Williams has earned extra minutes lately, too.


"Until we can talk about (Howard) being ready to go, we'll have to just keep doing it by committee," Carlisle said. "Without him out there, we're not the team that we need to be."

[chumdawg]

Jerry Stackhouse is not among the likely replacements because of a foot problem that's sidelined him since mid-November.


"There's something there that's still being addressed," Carlisle said.

LOLZ

[Flacolaco]

This sucks. This really sucks. They need him back. /rational realistic thought process

OR


OMG [insert crazy conspiracy trade scenario here] /moron response.

[Bayliss]

Josh Howard is a wuss. I don't give a damn how good of a player he is on the court, if you can't count on him to get his lazy @ss out on the court then you can't trust him on your team.

[Murphy3]

...How long would it have taken Dirk to get back?

Just asking...

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Murphy3

...How long would it have taken Dirk to get back?

Just asking...

Dirk would have recovered from his injury a day before it happened...

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by Murphy3

...How long would it have taken Dirk to get back?

Just asking...

I'm frustrated too, but as Carlisle pointed out, you can't really compare this to Dirk. Dirk's style of play allows him to play on stiff ankles.

Josh's game is completely dependant on his athleticism and his ability to cut. Unless you want him standing around shooting jumpshots?

Josh has had his share of ankle rolls in his career and he's never seemed to take excessivly long to come back so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

[Murphy3]

I don't buy it.
Sorry Thiggy.

He hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt about anything...

[Dim499]

Originally Posted by Murphy3

...How long would it have taken Dirk to get back?

Just asking...

Well thats not a fair comparison, is it. With all his ankle injuries Dirk has missed 27 games in the last 10 seasons. Josh 57 games I think, in the last 5. They are just different like that.

[Bayliss]

But at some point you've got to tape it up and get the hell out there and play, bad ankle and all.

[Murphy3]

Originally Posted by Dim499

Well thats not a fair comparison, is it. With all his ankle injuries Dirk has missed 27 games in the last 10 seasons. Josh 57 games I think, in the last 5. They are just different like that.

Yeah.. Howard's a vagina.

[Flacolaco]

I don't question Josh here. You don't become a professional athlete by being a wuss and not caring. I'm quite certain he would much rather be out on the court with his team that sitting at the end of the bench.

[chumdawg]

Word to the wise..."soft" often goes along with "selfish."

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by Murphy3

I don't buy it.
Sorry Thiggy.

He hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt about anything...

That's an odd statement. As I said, Josh has had several ankle injuries in his career (remember all the hubub about him landing on ankles?). He's always come back in a timely manner.

Not sure I understand the angst. Are you suggesting he doesn't want to get back as soon as possible?

From what they've reported, it sounds like he was pushing himself so hard to get back that he may have made it somewhat worse. I dont' get the idea that he's dogging it.

[chumdawg]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

You don't become a professional athlete by being a wuss and not caring.

Becoming a professional athlete is one thing. And typically it depends on "caring" about yourself.

Now, BEing a professional athlete, of the kind that we admire, is another thing altogether...

[BGMaverick9]

I got the idea there was zero stability with the healing process. He'd be ok one day and practice and then swelling would come right after it. If that's the case, you just need to "shut it down" for a bit.

[Flacolaco]

Or you need to fire your trainers like the Stars did after they complete messed up several players injuries last year.

[BGMaverick9]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

Or you need to fire your trainers like the Stars did after they complete messed up several players injuries last year.

Whatever gets him healthy quickest, lol.

[Murphy3]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

I don't question Josh here. You don't become a professional athlete by being a wuss and not caring. I'm quite certain he would much rather be out on the court with his team that sitting at the end of the bench.

You don't become a professional athlete by being a wuss and not caring... hmm, there are alot of ways to become professional athletes... Sometimes it's almost solely on God given ability.. sometimes it's based almost solely on other things such as being freakishly tall.. Caring is usually involved in becoming a professional athlete. However, that does not mean that you can't be a 'wuss'. It also doesn't mean that money can't change certain things about you and your game. I think we've seen alot of obvious changes in Josh's game since coming into the NBA..some of which aren't good changes. But, hey, those changes wouldn't have occurred if he truly 'cared'.

Flaco, it's not that black and white. You're smarter than that. If it were about 'caring', why in the world did Plaxico Burress carry an unregistered gun into a night club? Was it because he cared so deeply about his profession and his teammates? No, probably not. Does he have some level of care about his profession and his teammates? Obviously there is some level.. but obviously, it's not the same with every athlete. Hey, sometimes athletes don't really care all that much from the beginning. With some, it changes once they get paid... But hey, don't bring 'caring' into the equation.. especially with Josh Howard and the crap he pulled in the playoffs and off season last year.

[MavsWiLLHaVeRinGs]

It's pretty obvious, they're trading him for a 2nd round pick in 2012.

[Murphy3]

at the very least, he's a mental vagina.

[sike]

I don't by Josh being a wuss.

A dunce? No question.

A wuss? I just don't see it.

[sike]

Originally Posted by Murphy3

at the very least, he's a mental vagina.

do your best not to make a mental picture...

[DavidDaMonkey]

I don't have any points that haven't been made, but I just want to ask "are we really having this conversation?"

Josh seemed to have put his troubles and crappy play behind him when the season started. He became a very valuable player to this team, especially when Dirk wasn't playing so hot. Now we are so quick to just turn our backs again? Im not saying that lack of motivation isnt a possibility, but I do say that the benefit of the doubt is the least he deserves.

I guess what I'm really tryng to say is:

LEAVE JOSH ALONE!!!!

[dirno2000]

I don't understand why anyone would question the severity of his injury outside of dislike for Josh. He's not a janitor, he plays basketball for a living. Why wouldn't he want to do that? I could maybe see it if he was in Winston Salem or Jamaica but he's not. He's with the team rehabbing and sitting on the bench during games. Who the hell would rather watch somebody play then play themselves? When you get past Jerome James I doubt there's a player in the league who would rather sit than play if he can be effective.

[Murphy3]

vagina

[antoinewalker]

is josh howard soft?

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by Murphy3

at the very least, he's a mental vagina.

Every one of your posts in here = nonsense. Obviously you do not like Jho, but you know jack about his injury!

[Underdog]

Josh Howard is suffering from mental vaginitis?

I thought it was his ankle...