OFFICIAL 2022 Playoffs round 1 Jazz and Mavs

[G-Man]

Originally Posted by FreshJive

Kevin Durant says hi

As I recall, Kevin Durant was coming back from a calf strain when he blew out his Achilles. So I am preparing myself for a Luka-less playoff run. I'd much rather lose to Utah in 4 than have Luka be gimpy into the next season.

And I say that as a person who was in the stands the night in 2003 when Dirk hurt his knee. That was before we knew he was bionic.

I found this when I Googled Durant calf and achilles injury.

"Durant had been dealing with a calf injury, on the same leg, for a few weeks before this Achilles injury. He missed several games because of the calf injury and was in his first game back in action...The calf and Achilles tendon are so interrelated that most times when one has a problem so does the other.

Hoping the NBA would overturn that tech has taught me, again, to be careful what you wish for.

[Zeus]

Originally Posted by G-Man

As I recall, Kevin Durant was coming back from a calf strain when he blew out his Achilles. So I am preparing myself for a Luka-less playoff run. I'd much rather lose to Utah in 4 than have Luka be gimpy into the next season.

And I say that as a person who was in the stands the night in 2003 when Dirk hurt his knee. That was before we knew he was bionic.

I found this when I Googled Durant calf and achilles injury.

"Durant had been dealing with a calf injury, on the same leg, for a few weeks before this Achilles injury. He missed several games because of the calf injury and was in his first game back in action...The calf and Achilles tendon are so interrelated that most times when one has a problem so does the other.

Hoping the NBA would overturn that tech has taught me, again, to be careful what you wish for.

Most orthopedic surgeons have said those 2 events were unrelated except by timing proximity. Just because A happened doesn't mean B was the result.

[FreshJive]

Originally Posted by Zeus

Most orthopedic surgeons have said those 2 events were unrelated except by timing proximity. Just because A happened doesn't mean B was the result.

A quick google search gives tons of orthopedic surgeons warning about the link between Achilles tears and calf strains.

Brad Botkin
@bradbotkincbs
Dr. Alan Beyer of the @HoagOrthopedic Institute said this to CBS Sports before Kevin Durant returned for Game 5: "With a weakened calf, you're worried about significant re-injury and even tearing the Achilles tendon further down."

“Strains of any sort are small tears in muscles that can vary in severity. The calf itself is made up of three main muscles (gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris), as well as the achilles tendon. Generally, strains in this area come with an Optimal Recovery Time anywhere from three to six weeks depending on the severity, which isn’t great news for the Mavericks with the playoffs set to begin the Saturday.

Calf strains are incredibly tricky injuries that are notoriously slow to heal and easy to aggravated. When a player returns too soon, they are at a High Risk of suffering a more significant calf strain or related injury such as a ruptured Achilles. Those calf muscles meet at the Achilles tendon, so when the muscle is damaged it makes the connecting tendon more vulnerable. That’s exactly what happened to Kevin Durant a few years ago.”

[Lestat_1795]

It would be such a shame to not see Luka in this years playoffs. He seems to be made for the playoffs. Not many players can step up their game in the postseason. He seems to have a different poise in the playoffs. The most frightening player in the whole league. Easy walking 40 points triple double.
And I hate the media talking heads with them saying he can‘t get out of the first round and needs to proof himself. What a joke. He took prime KL&PG to 7 games practically by himself.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by FreshJive

A quick google search gives tons of orthopedic surgeons warning about the link between Achilles tears and calf strains.

Brad Botkin
@bradbotkincbs
Dr. Alan Beyer of the @HoagOrthopedic Institute said this to CBS Sports before Kevin Durant returned for Game 5: "With a weakened calf, you're worried about significant re-injury and even tearing the Achilles tendon further down."

“Strains of any sort are small tears in muscles that can vary in severity. The calf itself is made up of three main muscles (gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris), as well as the achilles tendon. Generally, strains in this area come with an Optimal Recovery Time anywhere from three to six weeks depending on the severity, which isn’t great news for the Mavericks with the playoffs set to begin the Saturday.

Calf strains are incredibly tricky injuries that are notoriously slow to heal and easy to aggravated. When a player returns too soon, they are at a High Risk of suffering a more significant calf strain or related injury such as a ruptured Achilles. Those calf muscles meet at the Achilles tendon, so when the muscle is damaged it makes the connecting tendon more vulnerable. That’s exactly what happened to Kevin Durant a few years ago.”

Jeez, I had no idea calf strains were that bad. In that case, I'd rather Luka sit out the whole playoffs, as much as that pains me to say. If putting him out there in his current condition means he's at a higher than normal risk of tearing his achilles, then it's just not worth it.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

Jeez, I had no idea calf strains were that bad. In that case, I'd rather Luka sit out the whole playoffs, as much as that pains me to say. If putting him out there in his current condition means he's at a higher than normal risk of tearing his achilles, then it's just not worth it.

It's still a balancing act either way. Guys like Kawaii and KP are babied to death with their injury concerns and they still get hurt. Sometimes you have to make tough decisions that might impact a player's health. If this was next season and Mavs were serious contenders do you still bench him no matter what?

I also don't want to jeopardize Luka's long term health, but we are pretty much in the dark about how bad his injury is. Based on his progression, it doesn't look THAT bad. He seems to be ramping up to eventually play.

[Dallas41]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

It's still a balancing act either way. Guys like Kawaii and KP are babied to death with their injury concerns and they still get hurt. Sometimes you have to make tough decisions that might impact a player's health. If this was next season and Mavs were serious contenders do you still bench him no matter what?

I also don't want to jeopardize Luka's long term health, but we are pretty much in the dark about how bad his injury is. Based on his progression, it doesn't look THAT bad. He seems to be ramping up to eventually play.

I think game 4 should be the target

that puts him close to 2 weeks out before his return.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

It's still a balancing act either way. Guys like Kawaii and KP are babied to death with their injury concerns and they still get hurt. Sometimes you have to make tough decisions that might impact a player's health. If this was next season and Mavs were serious contenders do you still bench him no matter what?

I also don't want to jeopardize Luka's long term health, but we are pretty much in the dark about how bad his injury is. Based on his progression, it doesn't look THAT bad. He seems to be ramping up to eventually play.

I don't think this is like Kawhi or KP though. Those guys are incredibly injury prone no matter what. This is about protecting Luka from a very specific injury under a very specific set of circumstances. You do NOT fuck around with an achilles.

Now if this were next season and the Mavs were serious contenders for the title, then I probably would have him play. A championship is worth a high risk. But that's not relevant. It isn't next season, and the Mavs are not serious title contenders at the moment. A first round victory against Utah just for the chance to lose to Phoenix is not worth risking an injury to Luka that could derail his entire career.

At the end of the day though, amateur opinions don't matter. The team doctors are the only people whose opinions actually mean anything. If they say Luka can play then that's enough.

[mac222b]

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

I don't think this is like Kawhi or KP though. Those guys are incredibly injury prone no matter what. This is about protecting Luka from a very specific injury under a very specific set of circumstances. You do NOT fuck around with an achilles.

Now if this were next season and the Mavs were serious contenders for the title, then I probably would have him play. A championship is worth a high risk. But that's not relevant. It isn't next season, and the Mavs are not serious title contenders at the moment. A first round victory against Utah just for the chance to lose to Phoenix is not worth risking an injury to Luka that could derail his entire career.

At the end of the day though, amateur opinions don't matter. The team doctors are the only people whose opinions actually mean anything. If they say Luka can play then that's enough.

I’m with you on this. No rush to see him back. We should have our eyes on a bigger prize than winning a first round series against the Jazz. I think this should be slow played and to be honest Luka sort of made his bed here. He’s at least partly responsible on some level for playing meaningless minutes in a meaningless game. I hope he learns from this.

No way we are getting past a healthy Suns team and then GS and then Boston, Brooklyn, Philly, Miami or a Milwaukee in the East. If Luka comes back our best case is we win round 1 against a Utah and he doesn’t get injured any further. Worst case I don’t even want to ponder.