Injuries Highlighting NBA Playoffs

A year that definitely had its fair share of action has suddenly turned into a contest. Not a contest to see who hoists the Larry O’Brien trophy, but a contest to see who can be the last man standing…literally. Injuries have plagued quite a few, if not every team that is in the playoffs. Some players have been able to come back, while others have sadly exited the season for good and will most likely not be back next season either. There have been freak accidents, as there always are, but you also have to wonder if the condensed schedule doesn’t somehow contribute to all these casualties. Playing five games in one week (with every team having to fight through a stretch of three games in three nights) can definitely take a toll on anybody regardless of age or stamina. The playoffs were looking bright at the beginning, but here’s a look at the injuries that have slowly brought down the teams that have a goal to win it all.


Derrick Rose: Easily the biggest story of the playoffs so far. The 23 year-old phenom suffered a torn ACL in the first game against the Sixers and is expected to be out at least six to nine months. Rose’s left knee buckled awkwardly on a jump stop late in the fourth quarter, sending the point guard to the ground, grimacing in pain. Some say that the Bulls will lose in the first round without Rose, others say they’ll advance to the second round only to fall to either the Hawks or Celtics. If you ask me, the Bulls have every bit of a chance to make it back to the Eastern Conference Finals. They have proved time and time again that they can win without Derrick Rose and, with the depth they have, they have more than enough players that can step up. Don’t count the Bulls out yet.

Iman Shumpert: A kid that was only really a name because of his withdrawal from the dunk contest has suddenly become a big part of the Knicks late-season run. Yet all of that came crashing down when Shumpert crumpled to the floor with, you guessed it, a torn ACL. One of the best perimeter defenders in the league will not be making an appearance for the rest of the playoffs and will be confined to the seat next to the Knicks other injured point guard Jeremy Lin. The Knicks are in deep trouble being down 0-2 and will miss Shumpert’s ability to defend. Yet with the perk of heading back to the Garden for the next three games, hopes can be high for New York fans seeing as the Heat are not a very good team on the road. None the less, it does nothing but dampen the spirit in the locker room to see two promising young players who can do nothing but watch.

Caron Butler: He’s been around the league for quite some time, but has never been a big-time name. Yet the loss of Caron Butler is one that stings just as much as any other injury. With a broken hand, the Clippers lose a reliable shooting guard who contributed twelve points a game. And with the young talent they have, Butler was able to play a leadership role on the floor. He’s not the first Clipper to be sidelined since Chauncey Billups is battling an achilles injury, but with two of the most experienced players unavailable, it’s up to Chris Paul to really take the weight on his shoulders and lead this team.

Amar’e Stoudemire: Now you can call the previous injuries freak accidents and strokes of bad luck, but Amar’e Stoudemire’s actions last night prove to be that of ignorance and instinct. After losing another battle to the Heat, Stoudemire took his anger out on the glass fire extinguisher case in the locker room. Giving the glass window a solid punch, the 29 year-old power forward lacerated his hand, resulting in a call to the paramedics as well as a hefty amount of stitches. I can understand the anger he was feeling, I’ve been there myself so I would not be justified to rip the guy for what he did. All I will say is that, when the frustration is at its peak, that’s the time to be a leader. Don’t allow your teammates to see you act in that manner. Again, I’m not saying it’s bad to be that upset because I think it shows how much he wants to win and how much he cares. But all the same, stop and think about the repercussions.

The lockout made the summer very tough on everyone involved with the NBA. Players came back out of shape, coaches couldn’t stay in contact with players, and fans were continually kept waiting to see the next “Breaking News” on SportsCenter. Yet here we are, on the first of May, and the playoffs are well underway. It’s sad to see how the fatigue has begun to catch up with some of the players, especially with the four listed above. But let’s not forget some of the injuries that I didn’t go into detail on such as LaMarcus Aldridge, Ray Allen, Brandon Roy, Al Horford, Dwight Howard, Manu Ginobli, Kobe Bryant, Rip Hamilton, Carmelo Anthony, Ricky Rubio, Stephen Curry, and so on. I know that I left out some names, but you understand the wear and tear these athletes have suffered. It’s been a rough season for everybody, but we can now appreciate in depth just how tough these teams have to be mentally and physically.