Knee injury - torn ACL

[tpakrac]

My bad.
www.nba.com/history was the first page I should have checked about Lanier's injury.

Also, GARY WASHBURN of Seattle Post-Intelligencer wrote about it and I somehow missed it. I posted the complete article yesterday.

TOP 5 PLAYERS TO RECOVER FROM ACL
Bernard King
Perhaps the most unappreciated player in NBA history because of his lack of a title, personal issues and stint with bad teams, King returned from nearly two seasons out of the game to play four more successful seasons, including a 28.4 scoring average for the Washington Bullets in 1990-91. Sonics coach Bob Hill urged the Bullets to sign King after his two-year rehabilitation.
Danny Manning
After his "Danny and Miracles" run with Kansas in 1988, Manning seemed destined for stardom, but he became known more as the first NBA player to return from ACL tears in each knee. In 1995 he tore the right one again. He was never the player many expected because of injuries, but Manning logged 883 games on bad knees and made two All-Star appearances.
Bob Lanier
There was a reason Lanier wore a brace on his knee, and it wasn't to look cool. Lanier was one of the first NBA players to return from an ACL injury and he came back to near top form for Detroit and Milwaukee. Lanier tore his ACL during the NCAA Tournament at St. Bonaventure in 1970 and underwent seven more knee surgeries in his career, but he finished with a 24-point career average.
Ron Harper
A superstar out of Miami of Ohio and early in his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Harper transformed from a speedy, dynamic scorer to a team-first, solid guard/forward for the Bulls when his knees robbed him of his explosion. He played 11 more seasons following ACL surgery.
Jamal Crawford
One for the locals and new schoolers, Crawford appears as nimble and fast as he was before tearing his left ACL prior to his second season with the Bulls. Because of Crawford's quick recovery and several high-scoring games, it's easy for fans to forget he suffered a major knee injury. It's a testament to modern technology.

[Robert Bradley]

here are the dates i've come up with for the ACL injuries to NBA players mentioned so far -

Billy Cunningham, PHI 5Dec75
Doug Collins, PHI 12Mar80
Toby Knight, NYK 23Sep80
Mitch Kupchak, LAL 19Dec81
Campy Russell, NYK 13Aug82
Michael Brooks, LAC 4Feb84
Walter Davis, PHO 9Oct84
Bernard King, NYK 23Mar85
Eddie Lee Wilkins, NYK 2Aug85
Derek Smith, GSW 13Nov85
Danny Manning, LAC 4Jan89
Larry Krystkowiak, MIL 14May89
Dave Corzine, SEA 8Nov89
Ron Harper, LAC 16Jan90
Johnny Dawkins, PHI 8Nov90
Roy Tarpley, DAL 9Nov90
Mark Price, CLE 30Nov90
Jack Haley, LAL Jul92
Terry Cummings, SAS 6Jul92
Sarunas Marciulionis, GSW 27Sep93
Tim Hardaway, GSW 21Oct93
Doc Rivers, NYK 16Dec93
Brent Price, WAS 19Jul94
Danny Manning, PHO 6Feb95
Tim Legler, WAS 17Apr96
Keith Jennings, DEN 16Oct96
Haywoode Workman, IND 9Nov96
Brent Price, HOU 25Feb97
Popeye Jones, TOR 30Nov97
Eric Williams, DEN 7Nov97
Danny Manning, PHO 7Apr98
Raef LaFrentz, DEN 25Feb99
Jerome James, SAC Jul99
Tom Gugliotta, PHO 10Mar00
Speedy Claxton, PHI 22Oct00
Bonzi Wells, POR 6Apr01
Jamal Crawford, CHI Jul01
Al Harrington, IND 23Jan02
Jared Jeffries, WAS 22Dec02
Vitaly Potapenko, BOS 17Apr02
Raul Lopez, UTH Aug02
Steven Hunter, ORL Aug02
Marcus Fizer, CHI 31Jan03
Jay Williams, CHI 19Jun03
Pat Garrity, ORL Jun03
Obinna Ekezie, ATL 16Oct03
Ben Handlogten, UTH 31Dec03
Alex Garcia, NOH 12Dec04
Willie Green, PHI Aug05
Nene, DEN 2Nov05
Robert Swift, SEA 25Oct06
Nenad Krstic, NJN 22Dec06
Tony Allen, BOS 10Jan07
Shaun Livingston, LAC 26Feb07
D.J. Mbenga, DAL 7Feb07
Adam Morrison, CHA 20Oct07
Mickael Gelabale, SEA 18Mar08
Jason Smith, PHI 6Aug08
Corey Brewer, MIN 29Nov08
Al Jefferson, MIN 8Feb09
Leon Powe, BOS 19Apr09
Kareem Rush, LAC 17Nov09
Michael Redd, MIL 10Jan10
Josh Howard, WAS 22Feb10
Kendrick Perkins, BOS 15Jun10
Jeff Pendergraph, POR 7Oct10
Gani Lawal, PHO 6Jan11

[tpakrac]

Impressive job as always, Robert.

[tpakrac]

In January 2009 Michael Redd suffered first ACL tear. A year later one more tear. To make matters worse, it was the same knee:

Redd's career in doubt
Bucks star hit by serious knee injuries again

By Charles F. Gardner and Tom Enlund of the Journal Sentinel

Jan. 11, 2010

One anterior cruciate ligament tear can be devastating to a professional basketball player.

But two?

Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Redd is facing career-threatening ACL and medial collateral ligament tears in his left knee after going down in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center.

It's the same injury he suffered - to the same knee - almost one year earlier in a home game against the Sacramento Kings.

"You don't know why," he said before the Bucks played the Phoenix Suns on Monday night at the US Airways Center in Phoenix. "I don't question why. My faith is in the Lord and I'm going to stay strong as best I can.

"I've gotten an incredible response from my teammates and the organization . . . comforted me and encouraged me and loved on me. But it's been a hard, hard day today. But I'll get through it."

Redd had labored through 18 games this season while trying to come back from last year's injury and a strained left patella tendon he suffered in the home opener on Oct. 31.

The patella injury sidelined him for 16 games, but he was playing in his 13th consecutive game Sunday.

Redd said he was trying to post up against Lakers star Kobe Bryant when the injury occurred.

"I heard a pop," Redd said. "I've been slashing and I've been driving and nothing (bad) has happened to that point. And then on a move that wasn't even dynamic, it happens.

"I cried. Just because you work so hard to get back to where I was and for it to happen again, it just hurts. I feel bad for the team and the organization and my fans who supported me."

Redd said he intends to keep playing despite suffering two serious injuries in less than 12 months.

"Something in my heart won't let me give up," he said.

Redd spoke with his teammates at the arena before taking a flight back to Milwaukee on Monday night.

"We as an organization feel badly for Michael," Bucks general manager John Hammond said in a phone interview from North Carolina, where he was scouting college basketball talent. "But we will continue to support him through this process as we have always done."

No details of plans for surgery were immediately available.

Redd's surgery for the previous ACL and MCL tears was performed on March 3 last year by Chicago Bulls team doctor Brian Cole.

Redd knows all too well the amount of work it will take for him to mount a comeback. He trained in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, throughout the summer while trying to strengthen his knee and get ready for the season.

Now he must do it all over again while entering the final year of the six-year, $91 million contract he signed with the Bucks in the summer of 2005, the richest deal in franchise history.

Redd has a player option worth $18 million for the 2010-'11 season, and it's far more than he could command on the free-agent market.

The 6-foot-6 shooting guard experienced wild swings this season, putting up solid numbers in certain games and failing to be a factor in others.

For example, he had just six points on 3-of-12 shooting in the Bucks' 25-point loss to Orlando in late December. But he bounced back with 27 points to help lead the Bucks to a 103-97 overtime victory against Oklahoma City on Jan. 2.

He scored nine points on 2-of-9 shooting against New Jersey a few days later but broke through with 24 points and played a key role as the Bucks held off the Chicago Bulls, 96-93, at the Bradley Center on Friday night.

Redd's numbers this season were far off his career averages, and he was shooting 35.2% from the field, a full 10 points off his career mark entering the season. He averaged 11.9 points and 3.0 rebounds while playing 27.3 minutes per game.

The Bucks fell out of the Eastern Conference playoff race when Redd and center Andrew Bogut suffered season-ending injuries a year ago.

Redd missed the final 35 games after being injured on Jan. 24 against the Kings. This season he will miss the final 48 games.

But Milwaukee has some options in Carlos Delfino, who has started 27 games at small forward and shooting guard, and veteran Charlie Bell, who has made 16 starts. Rookie Jodie Meeks also could gain playing time, and Luke Ridnour has played in tandem with point guard Brandon Jennings.

Bell filled the starting role against the Suns.

Hammond said the Bucks would not make an immediate move to replace Redd's roster spot.

Milwaukee is down to 13 players, two below the roster limit. Included among the 13 is forward Joe Alexander, who has yet to play this season due to a right hamstring injury but has been practicing in the past week.

"We've played almost half the season without Michael to this point," Hammond said, "and we didn't feel a knee-jerk reaction was necessary at this time."

Also, interesting read:

http://courtsideanalyst.wordpress.com/2 ... -own-fate/

[Robert Bradley]

a couple more common injuries -

MICROFRACTURE SURGERIES
John Stockton, UTH 14Oct97
Penny Hardaway, ORL 10Dec97
Kevin Johnson, PHO 12Dec97
Brian Grant, POR Jun99
Penny Hardaway, ORL 26May00
Kerry Kittles, NJN 15Jun00
Terrell Brandon, MIN 21Feb02
Eduardo Najera, DAL 6Dec02
Allan Houston, NYK 10Jun03
Chris Webber, SAC 10Jun03
Adrian Griffin, HOU 10Sep03
Jamal Mashburn, NOH 3Nov03
Matt Harpring, UTH 16Jan04
Pat Garrity, ORL 18Feb04
Karl Malone, LAL Jun04
Jason Kidd, NJN 1Jul04
Alvin Williams, TOR 22Oct04
Andrew DeClercq, ORL 2Mar05
Zach Randolph, POR 31Mar05
Matt Harpring, UTH 22Apr05
Bob Sura, HOU Mar05
Kenyon Martin, DEN 15May05
Amar'e Stoudemire, PHO 11Oct05
Bryon Russell, DEN 4Nov05
Dijon Thompson, GSW 13Mar06
Rashad McCants, MIN 16Jun06
Darius Miles, UFA 14Nov06
Kenyon Martin, DEN 15Nov06
Greg Oden, POR 13Sep07
Sean May, CHA 9Oct07
Mouhamed Sene, SEA 14Apr08
Tracy McGrady, HOU 24Feb09

PLAYERS WHO HAD STRESS FRACTURES IN THEIR FEET
Walt Frazier, CLE 1977-79
Bill Walton, POR/SD 1977-81
Lucius Allen, KCK 1978-79
Doug Collins, PHI 1978-79
Richard Washington, KCK 1978-79
Mark Aguirre, DAL 1981-82
Junior Bridgeman, MIL 1981-82
John Drew, ATL 1981-82
Paul Westphal, SEA 1981-82
Sam Williams, GSW 1981-82
Don Collins, WAS 1982-83
Jeff Judkins, POR 1982-83
Bill Cartwright, NYK 1984-86
Bobby Hansen, UTH 1984-85
Frank Johnson, WAS 1984-87
Darrell Griffith, UTH 1985-86
Charles Jones, PHO 1985-86
Michael Jordan, CHI 1985-86
Jerry Sichting, IND 1984-85
Andrew Toney, PHI 1985-88
Franklin Edwards, SAC 1986-87
Kevin McHale, BOS 1986-87
Rony Seikaly, MIA 1986-87
Bernard Thompson, PHO 1986-87
Bill Walton, BOS 1986-88
Bart Kofoed, UTAH 1987-88
Ronnie Murphy, POR 1987-88
Orlando Woolridge, NJN 1987-88
Michael Holton, CHH 1988-89
Bob Thornton, PHI 1988-89
Jay Vincent, DEN 1988-89
Kevin Willis, ATL 1988-89
Jeff Sanders, CHI 1989-90
Willie Anderson, SAS 1990-91
Keith Askins, NJN 1990-91
Charles Barkley, PHI 1990-91
Anthony Bonner, SAC 1990-91
Sean Higgins, SAS 1990-91
Bo Kimble, LAC 1991-92
John Salley, MIA 1991-92
Duane Causwell, SAC 1992-93
Cedric Ceballos, PHO 1992-94
Maurice Cheeks, NJN 1992-93
Tom Hammonds, DEN 1992-93
Rich King, SEA 1992-93
Oliver Miller, PHO 1992-93
Willie Burton, MIA 1993-94
Chris Dudley, POR 1993-94
Sean Rooks, DAL 1993-94
George Lynch, LAL 1994-95
Sedale Threatt, LAL 1994-95
John Coker, PHO 1995-96
Pooh Richardson, LAC 1995-96
Doug Smith, BOS 1995-96
Shandon Anderson, UTH 1996-97
Mark Bryant, PHO 1996-97
Derrick McKey, IND 1996-97
Greg Minor, BOS 1996-97
Brian Grant, POR 1997-98
Jerome Kersey, SEA 1997-98
Samaki Walker, DAL 1997-98
Zydrunas Ilgauskas, CLE 1998-01
Ansu Sesay, DAL 1998-99
Latrell Sprewell, NYK 1998-99
Lorenzo Williams, WAS 1998-99
Danny Fortson, BOS 1999-00
Ricky Davis, MIA 2000-01
Derek Fisher, LAL 2000-02
George Lynch, PHI 2000-01
Dion Glover, ATL 2000-01
Michael Doleac, CLE 2001-02
Eric Montross, TOR 2001-02
Eric Snow, PHI 2000-01
Tom Gugliotta, PHO 2001-02
Mike Bibby, SAC 2002-03
Curtis Borchardt, UTH 2002-03
Elton Brand, LAC 2002-03
Austin Croshere, IND 2002-03
Jerome James, SEA 2002-03
Nazr Mohammed, ATL 2002-03
Mamadou N’daiye, TOR 2002-03
Marc Jackson, PHI 2003-04
Erick Dampier, DAL 2004-05
Marko Jaric, LAC 2004-05
Marcus Banks, BOS 2005-06
Pavel Podkolzin, DAL 2005-06
Shavlik Randolph, PHI 2005-06
Kurt Thomas, PHO 2005-06
Josh Childress, ATL 2006-07
Chris Paul, NOH 2006-07
Paul Pierce, BOS 2006-07
Yao Ming, HOU 2007-08
Tyson Chandler, NOH 2008-09
Jermareo Davidson, GSW 2008-09
Martell Webster, POR 2008-09
Travis Outlaw, POR 2009-10

there are plenty of others who had ankle, knee and leg stress fractures.

[MCT]

I don't know when Bob Lanier tore his ACL, but he was an All-Star after the injury. He has a total of 7 All-Star selections with Detroit Pistons (1972-1975, 1977, 1978, 1979), and one with Milwaukee Bucks (1982).

Lanier suffered his ACL injury in the 1970 regional finals against Villanova while playing at St. Bonaventure. He still had the cast on his leg when he signed his rookie contract with Detroit after being the first pick overall in the NBA Draft - http://www.nba.com/history/players/lanier_bio.html

Interesting that he was still taken #1 overall even with the injury. Maybe ACL injuries weren't as well-known at the time, and didn't scare teams off as much as they would a decade or two later. In the early part of Lanier's pro career, at least, it looks like he didn't have any major problems with his knee. His first five seasons (1970-71 to 1974-75), he played in 82, 80, 81, 81 and 76 games.

For the next several years after that (1975-76 to 1980-81), he seemed to be constantly nagged by injuries, playing in 64, 64, 63, 53, 63 and 67 games. He last three years in the NBA would see two seasons where he played in 72 or more games (74 in 1981-82, 72 in 1983-84) and one where he played in only 39 (1982-83).

[MCT]

Raul Lopez tore the ACL in his right knee in November 2001. On 17 August 2002 the repaired ACL broke again during a friendly game with the national team.

Marty Burns, Sports Illustrated, Posted: Wednesday August 25, 2004
"Bauman offers the story of another of his clients, Jazz guard Raul Lopez, as a cautionary tale. The Spanish playmaker was drafted by Utah in '01 and was set to sign with the Jazz in the summer of '02. He had even just made a $1.6 million buyout to his club in Real Madrid. But while playing in an exhibition game for Spain's national team that summer, he tore his ACL for the second time in a year. With his Jazz deal not yet signed, he could have found himself in dire financial straits. Fortunately for Lopez, Utah signed him anyway and he was able to rehab the knee and eventually had a successful rookie season last year. When Spain came calling for Lopez this season, Bauman wasn't about to take any chances. "I told him, 'Your career is more important than playing in the Olympics.' I said, 'If you play, I'm prepared to resign as your agent.'" Lopez chose not to play for Spain this time around."

I'm struck that, in hindsight, Burns wrote the above when Lopez was at the absolute peak of his NBA career. He looked like an ACL comeback success story, and it seemed like the Jazz' decision to sign him, knowing that he wouldn't be able to play his first year there, had paid off. After sitting out the 2002-03 season while he rehabbed his knee, Lopez had played in all 82 games in 2003-04, at nearly 20 minutes a game, averging 7.0 ppg and 3.7 apg. Unfortunately, it was all downhill from there:

Later on, while in Utah, he had artroscopic surgery on the same knee in 2004 so he missed the start of the season. Then on 15 February 2005 he injured the "good" left knee in a game vs the Lakers and had to undergo artroscopic surgery on that left knee.

As a result of the above injuries, Lopez only played in 31 games in 2004-05. In August 2005 he was traded to the Grizzlies, who immediately bought out the final year of the four-year rookie contract he had signed with Utah in 2002. That was the end of his NBA career. He then went back to Europe; his wikipedia page indicates that he initially returned to Spain, where he played again from 2005-06 to 2008-09, then went to a team in Russia. meej's comments below suggest that problems with knee injuries continued to dog him:

Finally, in November 2008 he injured the meniscus in his right knee and required further surgery.

[meej]

I don't think he's had any other major knee issues since then. He is playing his second season with BC Khimki alongside Sergey Monya and Travis Hansen, and he replaced Calderón as the backup point guard in the national team to the World Championship last year.

I don't follow him regularly, but I am assuming he remains as he was while with Real Madrid: no major knee re-injuries, but he is not the player he once was and it is not hard to see that his game readiness is inconsistent. Sometimes the knee seems to be better and he can play aggressive, but other times he looks vulnerable and physically fragile on the court.

[rlee]

11/26/96 Davis, Emanual - Placed on IL, Torn ACL, right knee - out for season.

[Robert Bradley]

Here are several other star players who suffered major knee injuries resulting in surgery and significant missed time -

Elgin Baylor, LAL - Fractured kneecap - 3Apr65
Zelmo Beaty, STL - Cartilage - Nov66
Don Ohl, BAL - Cartilage - 12Jan67
Nate Thurmond, SFW - Ligaments - 19Jan68
Rick Barry, OAK - Ligament - 27Dec68
Connie Hawkins - Cartilage - 15Jan69
Gus Johnson, BAL - Ligament - 5Feb69
Wilt Chamberlain, LAL - Tendon - 7Nov69
Nate Thurmond, GSW - Cartilage - 16Jan70
Willis Reed, NYK - Tendon - 28Apr71
Gus Johnson, BAL - Cartilage - 5May71
Wes Unseld, BAL - Cartilage - 25May71
Geoff Petrie, POR - Cartilage - 12Aug71
Zelmo Beaty, UTS - Arthritic Knee - May72
Willis Reed, NYK - Cartilage - Dec73
Ernie DiGregorio, BUF - Cartilage - 29Oct74
Bill Walton, POR - Cartilage - 29May74
Cazzie Russell, GSW - Ligaments - 10Oct74
Billy Cunningham, PHI - ACL - 5Dec75
Kevin Porter, DET - Cartilage - 9Dec75
James Silas, SAS - Cartilage - 30Sep76
Geoff Petrie, ATL - Cartilage - 8Sep76
Pete Maravich, NOJ - Cartilage - 31Jan78
Bob Lanier, DET - Bone fragment - 24Mar78
Artis Gilmore, CHI - Cartilage - 13Oct79
Doug Collins, PHI - ACL - 12Mar80
Magic Johnson, LAL - Cartilage - 18Nov80
David Thompson, SEA - Ligaments - 10Mar84
Walter Davis, PHO - ACL - 9Oct84
Bernard King, NYK - ACL - 23Mar85
Norm Nixon, LAC - Tendon - 24Jul86
Ralph Sampson, HOU - Cartilage - 3Feb87
Sidney Moncrief, MIL - Kneecap bonespur - 20Oct87
Danny Manning, LAC - ACL - 5Jan89
Mark Price, CLE - ACL - 30Nov90
Terry Cummings, SAS - ACL - 6Jul92
Tim Hardaway, GSW - ACL - 21Oct93
Danny Manning, PHO - ACL - 6Feb95
Penny Hardaway, ORL - Microfracture - 10Dec97
Tom Gugliotta, PHO - ACL - 10Mar00
Penny Hardaway, ORL - Microfracture - 26May00
Terrell Brandon, MIN - Microfracture - Feb02
Allan Houston, NYK - Microfracture - 10Jun03
Chris Webber, SAC - Microfracture - 10Jun03
Jason Kidd, NJN - Microfracture - 1Jul04
Amar'e Stoudemire, PHO - Microfracture - 11Oct05
Shaquille O’Neal - Cartilage - 12Nov06
Greg Oden, POR - Microfracture - 13Sep07
Gilbert Arenas, WAS - MCL - 4Apr07
Michael Redd, MIL - ACL, MCL - 24Jan09
Tracy McGrady, HOU - Microfracture - 24Feb09
Michael Redd, MIL - ACL - 10Jan10
Chris Paul, NOH - Cartilage - 29Jan10
Brandon Roy, POR - Cartilage - 11Apr10

[tpakrac]

NBA season 2011/12, torn ACLs:

Eric Maynor, Oklahoma City - 7Jan2012
Derrick Rose, Chicago - 28Apr2012
Iman Shumpert, New York, 28Apr2012
Baron Davis, New York - 6May2012
Davis also tore MCL and patellar tendon.

Two players tearing ACL on the same day, I think that's unheard of.

Would you agree that of all players who have suffered torn ACLs Rose is the biggest superstar among them? Also, it's not the same if you suffer this injury near the end of your career (early or mid thirties) or in your prime, like Rose did.

[James Ryan]

Ricky Rubio tore his ACL March 9, 2012.

[tpakrac]

Ricky Rubio tore his ACL March 9, 2012.

Thanks for adding it. I only checked this seasons injuries for playoff teams, that's why I didn't include Rubio. Another injury involves Memphis forward Darrell Arthur, there are two reports in the media. First is that he tore his Achilles, and second that he tore his ACL. But torn Achilles is the correct injury.

From Commercial Appeal, December 20, 2011:

Arthur, a 6-9 reserve, had no previous problems with the right Achilles. He had just returned to practice Sunday after missing time with a sore left Achilles.

The injury happened while Arthur played defense against Randolph. Teammates initially thought that Arthur injured his ankle when he landed awkwardly.

[tpakrac]

November 2, 2012: Memphis @ Golden State, Brandon Rush torn ACL. I wonder, can NBA survive ACL free season?

[tpakrac]

Posted on December 20, source http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has waived forward/guard Josh Howard after an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) revealed he has a torn ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) in his right knee. The injury, which will sideline him for the remainder of the season, occurred in the second quarter of the Friday, Dec. 14 contest at New Orleans.

“It’s unfortunate to see Josh’s season come to an abrupt end due to injury,” said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. “Due to several injuries, we have an immediate need at the wing position, necessitating today’s transaction. Josh was a consummate professional and important contributor to our team in his short time with us and we wish him the best with his recovery.”

Signed by the Wolves as a free agent on November 16, Howard averaged 6.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 11 games this season for Minnesota.

[tpakrac]

Third ACL injury this season, published on January 19, 2013:

Lou Williams, the Atlanta Hawks' third-leading scorer, will miss the remainder of the season with a right knee injury.
The Hawks announced before Saturday night's game against San Antonio that Williams tore the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee in Friday night's loss at Brooklyn. The tear was found when Williams was examined Saturday by Dr. Michael Bernot in Atlanta.

[tpakrac]

http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/i ... go-surgery

Rondo out for season:
"Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo will have surgery to repair a torn ACL he suffered when he hyperextended his right knee Friday and will miss the rest of the season, the team said Sunday.
A date for the procedure has yet to be determined, and it was uncertain what Rondo's expected recovery time would be."

[tpakrac]

Barbosa is 10th ACL casualty in the last one year and one month:

http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/i ... s-torn-acl

Boston Celtics guard Leandro Barbosa has a torn left ACL and is out for the rest of the season, the team announced Tuesday.

Barbosa sustained the non-contact injury late in the third quarter of Monday's loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. An MRI performed Tuesday at New England Baptist Hospital confirmed the team's fear that Barbosa would miss the remainder of the season.

For Boston, this is the third season-ending injury in less than a three-week span. Rajon Rondo tore his right ACL on Jan. 25 in Atlanta and will soon undergo surgery to repair a partial tear. Rookie Jared Sullinger, in his second game after being elevated to the starting lineup, left in the first quarter of a game against Sacramento on Jan. 30 because of back spasms and underwent lumbar disk surgery the next day.

Boston expects both players to be ready for training camp next season. Barbosa is on a one-year deal and his future is less certain. He could be a buyout candidate if the Celtics need an additional roster spot moving forward this season.

The Celtics previously had two open roster spots and now have only 10 healthy bodies on their roster, one of which is rookie Fab Melo, who has been shuttling back and forth from the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League. Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has pledged to fill out the roster by month's end, but has left the team the flexibility to navigate leading up to the Feb. 21 trade deadline.

Boston has only three true guards on its roster, none of which are pure ball-handlers with the starting tandem of Avery Bradley and Courtney Lee and veteran reserve Jason Terry.

Barbosa, whose minutes had spiked since Rondo was injured, went to the ground in pain after planting awkwardly after a drive to the baseline late in the third quarter on Monday. Melo and team trainer Ed Lacerte carried Barbosa to the sideline and then to the locker room, the player apparently unable to put pressure on his injured leg. He left the arena under his own power, but he was limping.

Barbosa averaged eight points, 2.8 assists and 2.4 rebounds over 21.3 minutes per game in eight appearances since Rondo was lost. Barbosa really found his groove at the start of February, reaching double figures in scoring over three consecutive games while averaging 13.3 points per game, shooting 55 percent (16 of 29) and adding three assists per contest. Barbosa was a whopping plus-42 during that three-game stretch. He had cooled over his past three games (2.7 points on 17.6 percent shooting; minus-5), but good things happened more often than not when Barbosa was on the court.

The 30-year-old guard drew headlines last month when a report by ESPN Brazil suggested he desired to leave the team amidst a minimal role when Rondo was healthy and the team had depth at the guard spot. Barbosa denied the report, but gushed last week about his increased opportunity lately.

"I got my chance now," he said. "And I'm very happy to be on the court and help my teammates."

Now his teammates must solider on without him. Boston simply needs healthy bodies to drive down rising minutes, but with only one game remaining before the All-Star break -- Wednesday's visit from the Chicago Bulls -- Ainge has some time to ponder how Boston will proceed.

The Celtics could reach to team-affiliated Maine of the D-League to add a guard with NBA experience, such as Shelvin Mack, who has played on three 10-day contracts this season with the Wizards and 76ers. That would allow the team to maintain some flexibility as the trade deadline approaches while still getting an extra, low-cost body on the roster.

Boston's depth has been eroded so deeply because of injuries that it could be hard for them to facilitate a trade without leaving a void at another position.

The Celtics have leaned heavily on their veteran core helmed by Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, while trying to fight through the latest batch of adversity. Boston won a season-high seven straight after Rondo was lost for the season before falling to the Bobcats on Monday during the second night of a back-to-back (this coming off a triple-overtime thriller against Denver).

[tpakrac]

Danilo Gallinari, sixth NBA player with ACL tear this season:

http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_22 ... n-acl-tear

Nuggets' Danilo Gallinari out for season with ACL tear
Posted: 04/05/2013 01:49:49 PM MDT
Updated: 04/05/2013 02:21:34 PM MDT
By Christopher Dempsey
The Denver Post

Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari is officially out for the rest of the season with a torn left anterior cruciate ligament, the team announced Friday.

It is a grim confirmation of what most everyone expected would be the case after watching Gallinari get carried off the court Thursday night during the second quarter of the Nuggets' game against the Dallas Mavericks. The diagnosis was made Friday after a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test revealed the ACL tear but no other ligament or meniscus damage, the team said in a release.

He will miss the rest of this season, and a date for surgery will be set at a later time.

"Knowing his work ethic and commitment to getting back on the floor, we are confident he will come back stronger than ever next season," Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri said in the release.

Gallinari's loss is a big blow to a Nuggets team that hit its stride after the all-star break and has risen to third in the Western Conference. The Nuggets, who have clinched a playoff berth, are also without starting point guard Ty Lawson, who has a heel injury but is expected back near the end of the regular season. The Nuggets' final regular season game is April 17, against Phoenix.

The production hit is significant. Gallinari is the team's second-leading scorer at 16.2 points per game, the team's third-leading rebounder at 5.2 rebounds per game and, on a team that struggles to shoot free throws, is the Nuggets' second-most reliable free throw shooter, at .822.

"We're extremely disappointed for Gallo. He was having a career year in scoring and rebounding and was a huge reason for our success," Ujiri said. "We will obviously support him and be there for him throughout his recovery."

With Gallo out, reserve forward Wilson Chandler will likely start and get substantially more minutes. Making the decision to start Chandler should be easier given the play recently of rookie guard Evan Fournier. If there was any significant worry about a huge drop in perimeter production off the bench in moving Chandler into the starting lineup, Fournier could help cushion that.

While he didn't play particularly well against the Mavericks — his first experience playing the second game of a back-to-back — Fournier has averaged 13.3 points on 58 percent shooting from the field, 2.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. But most importantly, he's given the Nuggets another outstanding free throw shooter. While he's shooting just 72 percent from the line, that's up dramatically from earlier this season. Fournier has made his past 14 free throws.

Reserve forward Corey Brewer also figures to get more minutes.

Whichever way the Karl plans to go, his Nuggets have six games to pull everything together and make it work to a satisfactory level before the playoffs begin.

The Nuggets face Houston on Saturday in a game that could be a first-round playoff preview. The Rockets are one game behind Golden State for sixth in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Nuggets are trying to hold off both the L.A. Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies for third place in the conference.

[John Grasso]

One more torn ACL to add to the list - Trooper Thorn Grasso, my 190 pound St. Bernard.
He twisted his hind leg on the ice in our backyard on March 21st. He just came back from
the vet yesterday. He's able to walk fairly well now although he still favors the leg a little.
Of course, he's now half bald since he was shaved for the operation and his hair hasn't yet grown in.

[John Grasso]

One more torn ACL to add to the list - Trooper Thorn Grasso, my 190 pound St. Bernard.
He twisted his hind leg on the ice in our backyard on March 21st. .

Coach Tom Thibodeau says the Chicago Bulls have not set a deadline for Derrick Rose to return from his knee injury.

Rose tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during last year's playoff opener against the Philadelphia 76ers. His comeback remains the biggest story surrounding the team.

Thibodeau keeps saying Rose is close and there's "no drop-dead date," adding "whenever he's ready, he's ready."

Trooper's back to work already - he helps get the newspaper in the morning and mail in the afternoon.
One more reason why dogs are better than people.

[Robert Bradley]

he really is a Trooper!