Occupational Hazard: LeBron hurting
There's lots to cover and only so much space in which to cover it, so without further ado …
LeBron James, SF, Cle: James looked simply dashing in his blazer and turtleneck Wednesday night. I mean, let's face it, despite years of practice, George Steinbrenner never pulled off this style with James' aplomb. My only issue with the look -- aside from the fact that I expected James to pull out a calabash pipe at any moment -- was that he was wearing it during the second half of Wednesday night's game! James sat nattily on the sidelines as his team crumbled and his sprained left index finger lay taped to his middle finger. X-rays proved negative, as they always do with sprains, and LeBron is listed as day to day. The good news is that is was his off-hand that was affected. The bad news is that he still needs that hand to dribble. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that an MRI taken Thursday confirmed the sprain and that James will be a game-time decision for the Raptors game Friday.
Chris Bosh, PF/C, Tor: Just when it appeared Bosh was putting his injury issues behind him -- he was limited by a sore knee early in the season -- he strained his right groin in practice Tuesday. According to TSN.ca, Bosh missed Thursday's practice to have diagnostic testing performed on his groin. That the team timed the testing this way tells me we should expect the Raptors to play without Bosh on Friday, especially as this game is the front end of a back-to-back set. Look for Andrea Bargnani (more on him in a moment), Joey Graham and Jamario Moon to fill in up front. Strains respond best to rest, so Bosh could miss Saturday's game as well.
Andrea Bargnani, PF/C, Tor: The news is better for Bargnani. He at least practiced Thursday, although he was limited to non-contact drills and light shooting. Bargnani bruised his right knee banging into Stromile Swift on Wednesday and is sore. Still, given that this is a bruise and Bosh is likely to miss Friday's contest, I think Il Mago will suit up. If he cannot go, Rasho Nesterovic will see more time.
T.J. Ford, PG, Tor: Ford (stinger) returned to practice Thursday and stayed late to work on his shot, according to TSN.ca. This points to a Friday return for the point guard. Ford was glowing in his assessment of backup Jose Calderon and suggested that if he were to return Friday, he would be cool with backing up Calderon. Who starts won't matter much, since these two split their minutes anyhow. For the first two games, however, I expect Calderon to see more run than Ford. You might want to wait until next week to start Ford, because he remains a risk for a DNP on Friday and if he does play, he will play fewer minutes. Calderon owners should not bail on him when Ford returns. Ford remains injury-prone, and even before starting, Calderon was posting six assists per game.
Jorge Garbajosa, PF/C, Tor: To use the Polish expression, he's doneski. According to Toronto's Globe and Mail, Garbajosa met with Dr. Mark Myerson, a leading foot and ankle reconstruction expert, in Baltimore and was told he required further surgery. And you wonder why the Raptors were a little hesitant to let Garbajosa play for the Spanish national team this September. There has been intrigue aplenty about this injury, but as far as fantasy owners are concerned, this ordeal is over. If you are in a deeper league and were hoping Garbajosa would come back, you can give up that ghost of a dream and start looking elsewhere.
And now, in non-Raptors news …
Mehmet Okur, C, Uta: Okur could be another victim of the never-ending basketball season. Okur left Wednesday's game with tightness in his back and revealed to the Salt Lake Tribune that he has been feeling discomfort in his back since the playoffs in May. Following the playoffs, Okur returned to his native Turkey to train and play with Turkey's national team. Then came training camp and the pre-season. With a back injury that has lasted this many months, there is a good chance Okur will miss some time this season. His value already was depressed, but with this news, you will be hard pressed to get decent value for him.
Jermaine O'Neal, PF/C, Ind: It's been five games and counting since O'Neal last played. Indeed, it wasn't long after I declared him "for real" in another column that the full extent of O'Neal's injuries was revealed. As any dedicated reader of the Indianapolis Star can tell you -- and I have become one, thanks to Mr. O'Neal's woes -- he is sitting with continued soreness and swelling in his left knee and a slight tear in his left calf muscle. He practiced hard Tuesday and Wednesday, but coach Jim O'Brien doesn't want O'Neal back until he can contribute on both ends of the floor. When will that be? Don't look to the team for accurate information. The Pacers said over the past week that Sunday and Tuesday were likely return dates, and obviously, that was wrong. The practicing is a good sign, and I expect O'Neal back this weekend, Sunday at the latest.
Darko Milicic, PF/C, Mem: The Grizzlies are being deliberately unclear about the severity of Milicic's sprained left thumb. Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported that a Grizzlies coach told him the team is listing Milicic as day to day to force opposing coaches to game plan for him. Milicic hurt himself Nov. 16 and hasn't played since. Tillery also reported that the injury could linger through the rest of the season. If so, this probably will limit Milicic's minutes and permanently improve the value of Juan Carlos Navarro and Stromile Swift, both of whom have seen more opportunities since Darko went down.
Sam Cassell, PG, LAC: "Sam I am" is listed as day to day with a strained left calf and will miss Friday's game. However, he is aiming to return Sunday, according to the Los Angeles Times. Cassell is getting old and will miss games periodically throughout the year. Unfortunately for the Clippers, they signed the equally brittle Brevin Knight as his back-up, so there is little fantasy goodness to be found on the Clippers' bench. You will see a lot of Dan Dickau with both Cassell and Knight at less than 100 percent, and unless you are in a league deeper than 20,000 leagues under the sea, there is little cause for excitement with this news.
Nick Collison, PF/C, Sea: Collison has a broken nose and will miss at least this weekend's games. According to the Tacoma News Tribune, Collison is scheduled to have his nose re-examined Tuesday. Surgery is a possibility, and that would cost Collison a few weeks instead of a few games. Kurt Thomas would benefit the most and should be picked up by those in need of rebounding.
Marvin Williams, SF/PF, Atl: Williams missed Wednesday's game with a strained right hip and is listed as questionable for Friday, according the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. If he misses the game, rookie Mario West will start again, although Josh Childress will inherit more of Williams' shots. This doesn't appear too serious, and Williams should be back soon.
Guy Lake is a fantasy basketball analyst for ESPN.com.
