The size of Goran Dragic‘s plantar fascia tear will determine whether he can return during the NBA Finals, a specialist tells Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Dragic, who suffered the injury in the series opener, and Bam Adebayo are both listed as doubtful for tonight’s Game 3.
“If it’s a relatively large tear, I would say he would be out for the series,” said Dr. Kenneth Jung, a foot and ankle consultant. “If it’s a larger tear, too, there’s a risk that it can go on to a complete rupture with playing on it. At the same time, even if it’s a small tear, if he attempts to play on it then he’s at risk of sustaining a full rupture. With a larger tear, I would expect that his symptoms are worse, too. So he probably wouldn’t feel that he would be able to get back as quickly.”
Jung added that rest is the best way to treat a plantar fascia injury and estimated that a complete rupture would sideline Dragic “for a couple of months or so.” A cortisone shot could reduce the pain, but Dragic would risk further injury by playing. Chiang notes that Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon suffered the same injury last season and had to miss 21 games, including eight in the postseason.
“You can try to play through it,” Jung said. “But he’s a guard, so everything is speed and quickness. It’s not like he’s a big and lumbering guy that just has to post up in the paint. He’s going to be pushing off, cutting, jumping, jump stops and stuff like that. That’s definitely going to put high stress on that area.”
There’s more on the Heat this morning:
- Although a decision won’t be made until later today, Adebayo told reporters Friday that he was optimistic he would be ready for Game 3. “Yes, I believe I’ll be in the lineup,” said Adebayo, who is sidelined with a shoulder and neck strain. “I’m feeling better. I believe I’ll play.”
- Now in his sixth straight NBA Finals, Andre Iguodala tells Ramona Shelburne of ESPN that he’s enjoying his time with the Heat, but misses his days with the Warriors. “I still talk to those guys every day,” Iguodala said of his former teammates. “Like, you’re not allowed to say anything bad about Steph (Curry) around me, or in general. … “I play for the Heat. So I’ll be caught in like these little internal battles. But it is part of the journey. So I’m going to just maximize these last however many days of my career I’ve got left, just try and enjoy it.”
- Sopan Deb of The New York Times examines how Udonis Haslem has adapted during his long career in Miami.
Looks like the lakers are backing into a championship with 2 of the 3 best Heat players out. I wish both teams were ta full health to see who is best. Just like last year a team with half their starting lineup out.
Terrible take. For half of game 1 heat had there full squad and were getting blown out. Bam is still to small and was relatively inefficient against ad and Dwight. 8 points in 28 minutes -20 rating for bam. It’s over instead of 5/6 games it looks like 4
True take 2 of the 5 starters are out. If you removed Davis and Kuzma against a full Heat team who would you say has the advantage? The heat of course.
No one on the Heat roster is comparable to Davis, that’s a terrible comparison.
Dragic was the leading scorer for the heat. Davis should be MVP of the series but watch them give it to LeBron because they think we should all be in love with him.
No, they think there should be some respect. AD is up for the MVP.
Not over in 4, try 5 (maybe).
Two consecutive Finals with the losing team missing a couple of their best players. You can’t feel sorry for the Warriors last year after they already won 3 titles, but the last time Miami won a title, LeBron was on their side. He started the whole super team concept there 10 years ago with his Decision, which has completely changed the landscape of the NBA.
Lakers need to thank the Clippers for the choke job they had. Some people think they need to reseed all the playoffs teams and combine both conferences. Some teams didn’t even deserve to make the playoffs.
No he didn’t. Super teams have existed as long as there has been an nba. Tell yourself something else to make yourself feel better.
So tell us which team before Miami had two top free agents sign there to join a 3rd elite player. Take your time.
I’m pretty indifferent about both teams but acting like the Lakers weren’t gonna win anyway, regardless of injuries to the Heat, is silly.
Heat are playing better without those two at the moment