That's what I thought of. Meniscus, as Rad said, are variable but in long term they can escalate and sap a player of their athleticism. It's not a good thing for a big man.
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2023-2024 General NBA Season Thread
- Thread starter BigSoxFan
- Start date
I wonder how much of an effect this will have on Embiid however as he relies on his skill and not so much his athleticism.
I dunno. Big, lumbering players lean less on explosive athleticism, it's true. But they also put a lot more stress on their big, lumbering frames, so this feels like a wash. Embiid also needs good lift from his knees for his mid-range jumper— if his efficiency slips and teams start giving him this shot to wall off the paint, he won't be nearly as effective. Edit: not to mention his lateral quickness being targeted by opposing offenses in the playoffs.
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Also, there's a cumulative effect to all these injuries. Embiid has had at least one per season, and he carries a lot more weight on his frame than he did when he entered the NBA.
Maxey finishes with 51 pts, 2 rebounds, 1 assist. Great work. Harkens back to former Ainge favorites and perpetual Almost-Celtic greats like Kevin Martin and Monta Ellis.
Sort of agree? He's not a high-flyer but part of what makes him unique and impactful is his ability to range around the court much more than most 7 footers. if he can't comfortably go out to 3pt line and drive at offensive end, and cover stretch bigs defensively, he loses some real impact on the court. Part of why he's so hard to guard is he's about 7-2 and can move around anyone his height---if he loses the second part, it does matter. I agree his shooting and passing and rebounding are all high-skills and he'll be impactful. If he loses mobility and quickness he just will look more like a traditional center than he does today---but he'll be a very, very good traditional center when he does play
Yeah, if he loses quickness, guys will just get into his body to take away the jumper, without the fear that he'll drive by them. It would definitely impact him significantly on both ends.
His size, skill and shooting ability aren't going anywhere so he can still be an effective player for along time, at least as long as he can physically stay on the court. That said, it's not unreasonable to think that [sadly] we've already seen the best of Embiid.
Sorry if this is posted in another thread but salary cap is only increasinh 3.6% next year rather than projected 10%. Means cap will be $141M, not the $142M projected.
Also means JB is NOT a $300MM person; his contract will be $280MM-ish, assuming future years increase by 10%.
https://www.thestreet.com/sports/the-nba-unexpected-salary-cap-changes-player-contracts
Also means JB is NOT a $300MM person; his contract will be $280MM-ish, assuming future years increase by 10%.
https://www.thestreet.com/sports/the-nba-unexpected-salary-cap-changes-player-contracts
I wonder if we get more pearl clutching pieces from NBA types arguing that the games played criteria is responsible for this outcome. They are always good for an amusing lack-of-perspective take.
I feel like I'm more informed, but have no clue about the most important question (from a fan standpoint): How long will he be out? I understand the answer might differ depending on whether he opts for rest or surgery, but what would the recovery timeline look like for both options?
If he aggravated his existing knee injury because he came back early in an attempt to qualify for the 65 game threshold (or because he was shamed into coming back early by people accusing him of ducking Denver), it's a worthwhile discussion to have. I know this was a contact injury and maybe if Kuminga had fallen on his knee when it was 100% he'd be in the exact same situation right now, but maybe since he was already hurt he was more prone to a major injury. Regardless of exactly how/why this happened, the Sixers organization looks like the biggest assholes here (not having Embiid on the injury list prior to Denver opened him up to a tremendous amount of criticism when he bailed, and not keeping him out against the Warriors when it was clear he was struggling is a terrible look).
FTR I'm 1000% in favor of the 65 game minimum for end of year honors, and thankfully much of the media has been speaking out in favor of it. We haven't heard much from the players in favor of it (likely because it would feel like bashing of Embiid/Haliburton), but I know that at least a couple of stars (Tatum/Edwards) have spoken about the importance of playing as often as possible in the past.
Philly is in an interesting place because more so than any other contender, their cap is wide open after this year. Amazingly, Embiid is currently the only guaranteed contract on the 2024/2025 books for Philly (Reed is on a non-guaranteed deal and they have a team option on Springer, and obviously they will extend Maxey at big money). I don't know if they'd have the balls to be sellers (Brooklyn couldn't do it last year after they traded away Durant/Kyrie), but anyone they don't want to bring back next year really should be available if Embiid is done for the season. Veterans like Harris, Oubre, Batum and Covington could all bring back minor draft assets that would be useful going forward.
Morey has been pretty transparent about creating cap space for a "third" star so they'd have to find other expiring contracts to match as none of the contenders I would assume have cap space. So not as easy as one might think.
The shade on their decision to go with Tobias Harris over Jimmy Butler is just fantastic.
Yeah it's definitely not easy. It's been 5 years (summer of 2019) since cap space meant you could sign a contender in free agency, cap space alone isn't gonna do it even when you're already a really good team. The best free agents this summer are Siakam (seems like he'll re-sign with Indy) and DeRozan. There are a couple of interesting guys with POs that may or may not be available on the open market (Paul George, Jrue Holiday, Lebron) but can't count on those.
Displaced flap tear is not great news for Embiid.
If it's new and clearly cause of his symptoms, a non-surgical rehab is unlikely to be of much benefit and he likely have knee issues all season.
Surgically, they can either:
-- resect the displaced flap (maybe 4-6 week recovery), though if it's a big chunk his risk for progressive arthritis is pretty high (likely what happened with Timelord)
-- try to put humpty back together again and repair it by suturing the torn flap back in place. In this case, given we are already in February, he is probably out for the rest of the year.
If it's new and clearly cause of his symptoms, a non-surgical rehab is unlikely to be of much benefit and he likely have knee issues all season.
Surgically, they can either:
-- resect the displaced flap (maybe 4-6 week recovery), though if it's a big chunk his risk for progressive arthritis is pretty high (likely what happened with Timelord)
-- try to put humpty back together again and repair it by suturing the torn flap back in place. In this case, given we are already in February, he is probably out for the rest of the year.
Thanks. That's sobering. Not an Embiid fan; his act is a bit much for me. But fandom doesn't matter. He's a great player and would suck if this was debilitating in ways that seem possible.
Wow, was not expecting this information. Is this the kind of thing that gets progressively worse as one plays on it or is it the kind of thing that occurs when something traumatic (like player falling on the knee) occurs?
Thanks for posting the information.
Seems like one or both of PHI/Embiid has (have) not been doing enough to keep Embiid healthy - do you agree or don't agree (from what you know)?
While it's fun to characterize it Harris over Butler, it was more Simmons over Butler and that was maybe a worse decision.
I don't follow PHI all too much from what I've seen, Harris has been perfectly cromulent in his role this year and last. Other than PG if he's available, I don't know who PHI is going to get that is (i) available and (ii) a massive upgrade over Harris (as Euclis points out).
When he got Hart and then Brunson back to back, even I had to scream.
It was a breathtaking sequence.
Also, Austin Reaves continues to be extremely annoying.
The Knicks have some key absences but the Lakers feel like they are figuring things out over the last few weeks. They may make some noise in the WC playoffs - maybe not win it but perhaps knock off a higher seed - if they can play like they have of late.
I would agree with this if Jarred Vanderbilt is not out for the season, but it sounds like he might be.
I'd also like to see the Lakers string together a few good wins before I really worry about them in the playoffs. It's been two months since they won 3 straight games.
Much appreciated.
Given that, if I'm Embiid, I'm opting for the sutures and out for the year. He has many years of career left and risking that all - on a team that probably isn't winning anything significant - just doesn't seem like the right bet. This isn't (say) Curt Schilling doing a franken-procedure that is grotesque but will let him pitch the crucial playoff game, and the next one, without risking anything long-term. His knees are the ticking clock on his career, he has to take utmost care with them.
Lots going on tonight, Nets beat Philly, Lakers beat the Knicks and the Cavs win, so Cavs move into the 3rd slot in the East and Philly back to 5. Who saw that coming a couple weeks ago? Bucks beat the Mavs by 12 after trailing by 24 in the first (love to see Kyrie in the lottery for a 2nd straight year). Chi and Dallas both losing is good for the C's 2nd round picks, love to see both of those end up in the 30's.
He's got skills but they are hardly irreplaceable imo. They may find rotational help at the deadline too.
As for them stringing wins together, fair point but the Lakers fully healthy can beat just about any team in a series. Reaves has evolved into a reliable third guy and they have some other pieces who can hurt you in DLo and Prince.
Maybe they end up being an easy out - if they even make the playoffs. I just see a team that can win tough games in a variety of ways if they have all their weapons.
If he has a new symptomatic displaced meniscus flap tear, it’s likely just bad luck and nothing they could have done to prevent it.
Hard to say if playing on it will make it worse.
Not all of these displaced flap tears are repairable. Sometimes they are in a bad spot and trimming it out is the only reasonable option.
If it is repairable, that might make the most long term sense, but a lot depends on the size/location.
Some injuries like ACL and Achilles tears tend to be more binary... if its fully torn (as it often is), you just have to get surgery. A lot more gray area with meniscus tears, hence the multiple opinions.
Number of NBA players who scored 60+ points in a game and lost:
1980s: 2
1990s: 1
2000s: 0
2010s: 3
Last 13 days: 3
Golden State is just too small. Atlanta won that game because pretty much whenever Atlanta wanted, they could run a pick-and-roll with Trae/Murray and Capela/Okongwu and get a basket. Capela/Okongwu combined for 39 points and 31 rebounds on 16 for 23 shooting from the floor. Golden State did at least punish Atlanta by forcing those guys to guard Curry on the perimeter (which went very poorly) but even with Curry completely obliterating that matchup, it wasn't enough to get the win.
Atlanta have won four in a row and Jalen Johnson is playing really great basketball right now. We all know Trae Young is one of the worst defenders in the league, but he has to be one of the most frustrating players for other teams to guard, with his shooting range, playmaking ability and ability to manipulate contact on drives. He tortured Golden State with his skill-set.
Atlanta have won four in a row and Jalen Johnson is playing really great basketball right now. We all know Trae Young is one of the worst defenders in the league, but he has to be one of the most frustrating players for other teams to guard, with his shooting range, playmaking ability and ability to manipulate contact on drives. He tortured Golden State with his skill-set.
Trae has gone from overrated to very underrated. He’s one of the 5 best offensive players in the league, IMO.
Jalen is a stud, and just turned 22.
Trae is hard to discuss because he has a lot going against him; he's a lousy defender, he dominates the ball, he isn't that efficient and his team isn't very good. That being said, as Celtics fan saw during the playoffs last year, even with all those strikes against Trae, you really don't want to see him on the opposing side of the court. He can carry an entire offense by himself, he can make pretty limited offensive players like Capela and Okongwu into real weapons on that end of the court, and he has a flair for the big moment. He is probably the biggest All Star snub this year.
People talk about players warping defenses, and Trae is definitely up there when it comes to that.
I don’t know if I’d want him here lol, because of the stuff you mentioned, but fans have gone way too far the other way with him.
I haven’t watched a lot of Hawks this year and none recently but worth noting that JJ Redick, on his pod, questioned his guest (current NBA player, I forget who it was) if it was him or has Trae taken big steps in his defensive game. The guest immediately agreed with Redick.
Don’t sleep on these Suns when The Big Three is healthy…..averaging 1.25 ppp when on floor together. Beal dominating on both ends today in his return to DC. They are really coming together and w Nurkic and Grayson falling into their roles. Their bench is really really thin but as we know those can be limited minutes those guys play in the postseason.
Did anyone see the Donovan Mitchell / Zach Collins confrontation last night?
Cleveland were up plenty with a minute remaining, & Mitchell drains a 3. As San Antonio come back the other end of the court to run their offence; Collins throws an elbow as he's setting a pick on Mitchell. Mitchell gets back up, & a melee ensues.
Collins (rightfully) got ejected, but so did Mitchell.
View: https://youtu.be/yZCBPVWgXuw?si=B1bhh0U8w3jt9xu5
Cleveland were up plenty with a minute remaining, & Mitchell drains a 3. As San Antonio come back the other end of the court to run their offence; Collins throws an elbow as he's setting a pick on Mitchell. Mitchell gets back up, & a melee ensues.
Collins (rightfully) got ejected, but so did Mitchell.
View: https://youtu.be/yZCBPVWgXuw?si=B1bhh0U8w3jt9xu5
Uh yeah, they will unleash into a 7-man rotation before he’s unleashed. Keep saving those min contract checks big guy.
Next incremental news bit of the Embiid saga... he will get a "procedure".
View: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1754308875895865365?t=Ydpy-AltGtFatzQ0umPJ-Q&s=19
View: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1754308875895865365?t=Ydpy-AltGtFatzQ0umPJ-Q&s=19
