Hornets forward Gordon Hayward, who broke the bone at the base of his right pinky finger last week, will be available for Charlotte’s regular season opener in Cleveland on Wednesday, he said today (Twitter link via team).
When Hayward’s injury was announced last Wednesday, a report indicated that the Hornets didn’t believe he’d require surgery and that he’d likely be able to return to action when he felt he could comfortably manage the pain and perform effectively. Apparently, it didn’t take long for the veteran forward to feel comfortable playing through the injury.
Here are a few more health updates from around the NBA:
- Celtics point guard Kemba Walker is still “a long way away,” head coach Brad Stevens said today (Twitter link via Tim Bontemps of ESPN). Walker, who is rehabbing a left knee injury, is still limited to 1-on-1 work with a coach, and the team won’t update his status until the first week of January. Stevens is hopeful that big man Tristan Thompson (hamstring) will be able to play in Boston’s opener on Wednesday, Bontemps adds (via Twitter).
- Magic swingman James Ennis will miss the first game of the season due to hamstring and calf injuries and his status beyond that game is questionable, head coach Steve Clifford said today (Twitter link via Roy Parry of The Orlando Sentinel).
- The Clippers have listed Marcus Morris as out for their regular season opener on Tuesday night due to right knee soreness (link via ESPN). Morris didn’t play in any of the club’s three preseason games.
Theis will be a better fit for the C’S. can somebody tell me besides offensive rebounding what does TT bring more than theis?
Might as well wait for real numbers now!
Agreed my friend!
TT is a better rebounder ( offensive and defensive) . A stronger body to defend bigger centers, better in pick and roll , and has championship experience. I think he will help the c’s. This way they have different plans for different opponents. Definitely needed him in the Miami series last playoffs.
Better pick and roll defender or on offense cause you can argue that theis is better(on offense) with him being able to pick and pop. Also championship experience is overrated to me especially when you have lebron on your team. Lebron was able to win a ring with Joel Anthony as his starting center.
Pick and roll on offense and defense. Not pick and pop Theis is better at that. You can’t compare TT with Joel. TT had a big role and is a better player .
I don’t think he’s bringing “more than Theis” — he isn’t replacing him… Theis is still on the roster and most likely is actually going to continue to start even when TT is fully healthy. I think the most important thing that Thompson is going to bring to the Celtics – particularly when they’re full healthy – is scoring off the bench and consistency in the middle even when Theis is out of the game. Last season when Theis was out their interior defense really struggled — or at least required significantly more ‘help defense’ from the wings to contain opposing teams Bigs. Now having both Theis and Thompson there should be more continuity throughout the course of the game for the Celtics lineups.
Phil Jackson on why the bulls carried 3 seven footers….”they each get 6 fouls”.