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A casual NBA fan's guide to key player injuries this season

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Dominic Menor, ABS-CBN News

<p>The last thing a team with playoff or even title aspirations wants to see is a vital player go down with a significant injury.</p><p>Some have struggled, while others have learned to cope. Here&#x27;s a quick look at how 4 limping lineups have fared:</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DbCRI7xR5pc?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0" width="560"></iframe></figure><h3><strong>Chris Paul, LA Clippers</strong> (<a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/18/17/thumb-surgery-to-sideline-clippers-paul-six-to-eight-weeks">left thumb</a>)</h3><p><strong>Statistics:</strong> 17.5 points, 9.7 assists, career-high 1.9 3-pointers made, season-best 2.2 steals</p><p>How the Clippers are doing: Struggling. As per NBA.com statistics, the Clippers are 4-7 since Paul went down on January 16, which isn&#x27;t a surprise given that he&#x27;s the engine that makes this team run.</p><p>Five of the Clippers&#x27; next 7 games are against playoff teams so the coming weeks could be a lot bumpier.</p><p>They held the <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/what-chris-pauls-injury-means-for-clippers-and-western-conference-playoff-race">best record</a> in the league in the first month of the season, but have now plummeted to a tie for 5th with the Memphis Grizzlies, a decline that can be attributed to injuries to Paul and Blake Griffin.</p><p>What the experts say: &quot;Between now and the time Paul’s projected return, the Clippers could play as many as 19 games against teams in the playoff picture. Thus, the season motto, until then, is: Stay the course. And after that? They hope it’s: Stay in contention.&quot; — from <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2017/01/24/can-la-clippers-qualify-title-contenders-when-fully-healthy-blake-griffin-chris" target="_blank">Shaun Powell</a>, NBA.com</p><p><strong>Target date for return:</strong> According to <a href="http://www.rotoworld.com/teams/injuries/nba/all" target="_blank">Rotoworld.com</a>, the Clippers are looking to play him on March 1.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lKeaoLMPk5Y?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0" width="560"></iframe></figure><h3><strong>Jabari Parker, Milwaukee Bucks</strong> (<a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2017/02/09/bucks-jabari-parker-suffers-torn-acl-left-knee" target="_blank">torn ACL</a>)</h3><p><strong>Statistics:</strong> Career-high averages of 20.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 36.5% 3-point shooting</p><p>How the Bucks are doing: Struggling even before the Parker injury. The Bucks had looked like they were ready to take the next step in mid-January but they hit a wall somehow losing 11 of their last 13 games.</p><p>The loss of Parker, who has played up to borderline All-Star level this season, is significant, but two factors could cushion the impact of his absence.</p><p>One is the return of Khris Middleton, who <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2017/2/8/14546686/khris-middleton-injury-status-return-bucks" target="_blank">returned</a> Wednesday after missing Milwaukee&#x27;s first 50 games because of a torn hamstring. And two the Bucks have one of the relatively easiest schedules the rest of the way, as per <a href="http://www.espn.com/nba/stats/rpi/_/sort/SOS" target="_blank">ESPN.com</a>.</p><p><strong>Target date for return: </strong>Parker could be back next year, as in 2018.</p><p>What the experts say: &quot;While Middleton’s return still looms large for Milwaukee’s playoff hopes, the balance of the season now becomes a salvage job rather than the possible coronation of a new NBA darling.&quot; — <a href="http://sportsillustrated.com.ph/US/nba/2017/02/09/jabari-parker-injury-acl-bucks-future-questions-giannis-antetokounmpo" target="_blank">Ben Golliver</a>, SI.com</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QcjLd0vptFQ?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0" width="560"></iframe></figure><h3><strong>Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics</strong> (Achilles)</h3><p><strong>Statistics:</strong> Career-high averages of 17.7 points and 40.9% 3-point shooting</p><p>How the Celtics are doing: <a href="http://boston.cbslocal.com/2017/02/08/celtics-avery-bradley-likely-out-until-after-all-star-break/" target="_blank">Thriving</a>. The Celtics have the 3rd-best record in the league since Bradley initially suffered the injury on January 6.</p><p>It&#x27;s not a knock on Bradley and Boston would much, much prefer to have him back. But with Isaiah Thomas playing <a href="http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/isaiah-thomas-enters-mvp-conversation-with-yet-another-stellar-performance-020217" target="_blank">out of his mind</a> in recent weeks, the Celtics have been able to cope and climbed to No. 2 in the East and within earshot of the Cleveland Cavaliers.</p><p><strong>Target date for return:</strong> All-Star break or thereabouts.</p><p>What Avery Bradley is saying: &quot;There was one year I felt like Derrick Rose played that way. Like, every time he got the ball it was like no one could stop him.&quot; — Bradley on <a href="http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2017/01/avery_bradley_boston_celtics_t_3.html" target="_blank">Thomas</a></p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Oq6kcigT7Uc?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0" width="560"></iframe></figure><h3><strong>Zach LaVine, Minnesota Timberwolves</strong> (torn ACL)</h3><p><strong>Statistics: </strong>Career-high averages of 18.9 points, 37.2 minutes</p><p>How the Wolves are doing: Stinking, even before LaVine blew out his ACL. This was the team some experts <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2016/10/19/the-thunder-will-miss-the-playoffs-and-nine-other-bold-nba-predictions/?utm_term=.6710ff63a223" target="_blank">projected</a> would make the playoffs. Instead, they&#x27;re lottery-bound again.</p><p><strong>Target date for return:</strong> Indefinite, but he&#x27;s definitely out for the season.</p><p>What the experts say: &quot;If anything, losing LaVine should take some pressure off the players and the organization to qualify for the playoffs this season.&quot; — <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2017/02/07/zach-lavine-injury-may-help-simplify-things-minnesota-timberwolves" target="_blank">NBA.com</a></p><div><strong>(Statistics courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com, NBA.com, ESPN.com)</strong></div><p><strong>For more sports coverage, visit the</strong> <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/" target="_blank"><strong>ABS-CBN Sports website</strong></a>.</p>

<p>Some teams have struggled, while others have learned to cope. Here's a quick look at how 4 limping lineups have fared.</p>

Some teams have struggled, while others have learned to cope. Here's a quick look at how 4 limping lineups have fared.

A casual NBA fan's guide to key player injuries this season

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A casual NBA fan's guide to key player injuries this season

Dominic Menor,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 10, 2017 07:59 PM PHT

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Updated Feb 10, 2017 08:11 PM PHT

Read More:

basketball

NBA

Chris Paul

Jabari Parker

Avery Bradley

Zach LaVine

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