Injuries Update - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

shaw-xx · 03-13-2006, 02:53 AM

Mavs want Harris ready for playoffs

Johnson not even sure five weeks are enough to get guard healthy

01:00 AM CST on Monday, March 13, 2006

By EDDIE SEFKO / Staff Writer

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Mavericks took every precaution they could think of with Devin Harris' left thigh injury.

"Yeah," coach Avery Johnson said, "but I guess it wasn't cautious enough."

Harris aggravated the injury Saturday night in Utah, and the problem is serious enough that Johnson's only concern is to have the hard-driving point guard back before the playoffs start.

And he's not sure Harris will be full strength by then. But he will be given every chance to recuperate in the five-plus weeks before the postseason.

"He's our guy who penetrates and gets to the basket," Johnson said. "We definitely don't want any hesitancy there. The goal is to get him as healthy as we can for the playoffs."

Harris continued to walk with a limp Sunday. He will have an MRI exam when the team returns to Dallas today. There is no timetable for his return. But the Mavericks don't want a repeat of the injury.

"We don't know where we went wrong," Johnson said. "We thought the rehab was solid. Casey [Smith, the Mavericks' trainer] does a great job. But we'll just have to take an even slower pace with him next time. We need some more meat on those bones. But that's an off-season project."

Just one of many: The injury list is as crowded as it's been all season.

"It's an infirmary in there right now," Johnson said. "It's just part of the whole process. Some teams have escaped it. Some teams have been bitten by it quite a bit. We're probably somewhere in between."

Adrian Griffin missed Sunday's game with a strained left hamstring. He will be re-evaluated before Tuesday's game against Cleveland.

"I don't know how long it's going to be," Griffin said. "For now, it's just day-to-day."

Keith Van Horn remains out with a left knee injury.

If that weren't enough, Josh Howard left Sunday's game in the first half with a strained left hamstring.

Owner Mark Cuban conferred with the coaching staff after the game and agreed that, pending the results of tests on Harris and Howard today, the Mavericks might try to acquire a free agent to help them through this rough spot.

orangedays · 03-13-2006, 03:08 AM

f*ck.

mavsfan1000 · 03-13-2006, 03:19 AM

orangedays · 03-13-2006, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mavsfan1000

There is no emoticon for what I am feeling!

mavsfan1000 · 03-13-2006, 04:09 AM

Well it sounds like they don't know how serious the Harris injury is yet so hopefully it is not as bad as what they are leading on.

kriD · 03-13-2006, 05:43 AM

MAVERICKS NOTES

Injuries confounding Mavs

By ART GARCIA
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Glancing over to the locker room, Mavericks coach Avery Johnson put the team's injury woes in perspective.

"It's an infirmary in there right now," he said.

The short-handed Mavs finished their three-game road trip with Sunday night's 85-80 loss to Sacramento at Arco Arena, and with Devin Harris, Adrian Griffin, Josh Howard and Keith Van Horn in sick bay.

Harris aggravated his strained left quadriceps, and Griffin strained his left hamstring in Saturday's win at Utah. Howard's tender left hamstring flared up in the first half against the Kings, and he left the game and didn't return.

Harris could be out for an extended period. He'll have an MRI today in Dallas. Howard will be evaluated today; Griffin is day-to-day; and Van Horn (sprained knee ligament) is out indefinitely.

Howard had missed the four games before starting and playing 13 minutes against Sacramento. The Mavs made a point of not rushing Howard back.

A similar approach was taken with Harris, who has missed four games with the thigh problem. He played two games without incident, logging more than 30 minutes in two games against Portland last week.

The quad strain returned early against the Jazz and, after trying to play through it, Harris checked out with 5:56 left in the first period. He was still walking gingerly Sunday.

Johnson wondered if anything could have been done differently with Harris' treatment.

"I guess it wasn't cautious enough," Johnson said. "We don't know where we went wrong. We thought the rehab was solid."

Stiff competition

Facing teams in the playoff hunt, such as Sacramento and Utah over the weekend, offer the kinds of challenges for the Mavs that the Portlands of the league just cannot.

"I love it," Avery Johnson said. "I wish we can play the last 20 games like this, because I really want to try going into the playoffs playing at a high level. And you can't play at a high level when you're playing against teams that don't really have anything to play for."

Both the Kings and Jazz battled Dallas for 48 minutes with playoff-type intensity.

"When you're playing against teams like this, the physicality is a lot higher, which I like," Johnson said. "I like it this way, because even if it can expose certain things about us that we need to continue to improve on, that's even better."

Bracket busters

Jason Terry (Arizona) and Devin Harris (Wisconsin) have a healthy wager on the NCAA Tournament matchup between their schools.

Adrian Griffin has mixed emotions on the Wichita State-Seton Hall game. "I'm from Wichita, but I have to pull for Seton Hall," his school, he said.

orangedays · 03-13-2006, 06:50 AM

I love the kid, and not to knee-jerk but...

=

?

u2sarajevo · 03-13-2006, 06:58 AM

We have been skating pretty well through this season with injuries. The fact that now, in the waning twilight of the season they are now taking a toll on the scoreboard..... I think we are a bit lucky to be honest.

Backup PG and starting SF gone due to injury(not to mention Backup PF which is causing Dirk to play more, which in my opinion may not spell good things for the playoffs)..... I know we are deep, but let that sink in.

3 of the last 7 games are losses. That pill is difficult to swallow. But when you look at the facts, the writings been on the wall.... we just chose not to read it.

Locked_Up_Tonight · 03-13-2006, 07:03 AM

And who could Dallas get as a point guard or shooting guard to alleviate the problem this year?

Carolina Blue · 03-13-2006, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locked_Up_Tonight

And who could Dallas get as a point guard or shooting guard to alleviate the problem this year?

Two words: Antoine Rigaudeau

Locked_Up_Tonight · 03-13-2006, 08:33 AM

Sprewell

Sprewell

Sprewell

I wouldn't be surprised.

Drbio · 03-13-2006, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carolina Blue

Two words: Antoine Rigaudeau

Genius. Freaking genius.

Edit -> Spreewell isn't a bad suggestion at this point. But I hate him.

endtroducing MASKED · 03-13-2006, 09:34 AM

SPREEEEEEEEE

DubOverdose · 03-13-2006, 10:16 AM

Gotta be Spree although I don't like him.

kg_veteran · 03-13-2006, 10:32 AM

Sprewell? Huh?

Are you guys nuts?

orangedays · 03-13-2006, 10:34 AM

Even if we sign a player now, I think it's too late in the season for them to be eligible to play in the playoffs?

orangedays · 03-13-2006, 10:38 AM

Yeah, just did the Google thing, I think players have to be signed by March 1 in order to be eligible for the playoffs. That's why the Suns sped things up with Tim Thomas.

*edit: though we could still sign Spree for the regular season. He's probably really out of shape though. And yes, I hate his punk*ss too.

bernardos70 · 03-13-2006, 10:48 AM

Well, he has to feed his kids, so why not? Doesn't USD360,000 feed his kids?

kriD · 03-13-2006, 10:50 AM

From the DMN on March 10:

Quote:

Mavs assistant general manager Keith Grant said players who were waived before March 1, or who have not been on a roster this season, are eligible to be picked up and would be eligible for the playoff roster. One such player is Fred Hoiberg. But the Mavericks apparently have no interest in such a pickup.

orangedays · 03-13-2006, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bernardos70

Well, he has to feed his kids, so why not? Doesn't USD360,000 feed his kids?

USD360,000 would probably only feed 12 of them. We're talking NBA players here bernie, why can't you be more understanding? Get with the picture!

orangedays · 03-13-2006, 10:52 AM

Ah good call kriD, I guess the 3/1 thing only applies to active players.

diop it like its hot · 03-13-2006, 11:05 AM

None of these injuries are that serious. We'll be fine.

orangedays · 03-13-2006, 11:09 AM

Yo, diop.

Have you seen this?

Same yanks from the Chronicles remake.

DubOverdose · 03-13-2006, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangedays

Even if we sign a player now, I think it's too late in the season for them to be eligible to play in the playoffs?

Wrong, that is the cut deadline. A player must be cut by his previous team by 3/1 in order for him to be eligible for the playoffs if he signs with another team. There is an add deadline that is approaching, but that was a drop deadline. Say we drop DA now, teams can pick him up, but he can't play in the playoffs for them.

orangedays · 03-13-2006, 11:27 AM

kriD already cleared that up.

Dirkenstien · 03-13-2006, 05:23 PM

Sign Spree. Sad, but it has come down to this.

sixeightmkw · 03-13-2006, 05:28 PM

They will have to release a player if they sign him, unless the NBA gives them special disposition.

Dtownsfinest · 03-13-2006, 05:28 PM

Sprewell and Stackhouse as our 2's? OHHHHHH HELLLLLLLL NOOOO!! Is Jon Barry hurt or can he just not go anymore? I'd be leaning towards a guard of that type. Wouldn't mind Jimmy Jackson had the Lakers not signed him.

EricaLubarsky · 03-13-2006, 05:42 PM

Jon Barry can suck my giant, nonexistant...

Dirkenstien · 03-13-2006, 05:56 PM

There is no way in heck I would ever want Jon Barry on the Dallas Mavericks. Did you even watch the playoffs last season? My goodness, ...I don't think I could dislike a player anymore than I did then.

sixeightmkw · 03-13-2006, 06:00 PM

if he did join the mavs, then every mav player would have to get 10 mins to woop his ass, then the fans would get 10 mins to woop his ass. then everybody left over would get 10 mins to woop his ass. then mabye he could join the mavs.

MavsFanFinley · 03-13-2006, 06:24 PM

I thought Jon Barry was going to retire? There was an article on realgm about it.

Spreewell still wants the MLE and multi-year deal the last I heard. I would guess that's why he's still sitting at home.

Hoiberg worked out with Detroit last week. I thought he was going to sign but someone on the LMF board said the Pistons want to wait till summer. Some questions about his health.

Spurstalk has brought up Glen Robinson but what if the Mavs stepped in first?

Wesley Person? Erik Strickland?

dude1394 · 03-13-2006, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixeightmkw

if he did join the mavs, then every mav player would have to get 10 mins to woop his ass, then the fans would get 10 mins to woop his ass. then everybody left over would get 10 mins to woop his ass. then mabye he could join the mavs.

me first,me first

Captain Disaster · 03-13-2006, 06:46 PM

How about Walt Williams?

dude1394 · 03-13-2006, 06:49 PM

Jim Jackson might be an option, but the mavs really needs a point guard almost more than anything.

Oops...forgot he's with the lakers...

Nemesis · 03-13-2006, 07:29 PM

I think its time for a groan, moan, and scream thread!!

Nemesis · 03-13-2006, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Disaster

How about Walt Williams?

Genius.

mavsfan1000 · 03-13-2006, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blab's Nemesis

I think its time for a groan, moan, and scream thread!!

Agreed. ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

Dirkenstien · 03-13-2006, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Disaster

How about Walt Williams?

Whatever happened to the old fella? Good memories.

shaw-xx · 03-13-2006, 10:23 PM

No Jon Barry please! I just hate the guy!