This topic contains 9 replies, has 3 voices, and was last updated by AvatarAvatar ItsVictorOladipo 13 years, 3 months ago.

  • Author
    Posts
  • #23393
    AvatarAvatar
    Platypus
    Participant

    MIAMI — An MRI exam Sunday confirmed that Udonis Haslem indeed has a torn ligament in his left foot, which will rob the Miami Heat of their ever-reliable power forward for at least six weeks and likely much longer.

    One source close to the situation told ESPN.com on Sunday night that there are fears Haslem will be sidelined until at least the All-Star break depending on whether he needs surgery.

     

    One source close to the situation told ESPN.com on Sunday night that there are fears Haslem will be sidelined much longer — potentially until the All-Star break — depending on whether he needs surgery.

    Haslem suffered the injury Saturday in the third quarter of Miami’s loss at Memphis after he collapsed while defending the Grizzlies’ Zach Randolph in the post. Teammates were told Haslem had a dislocated toe in addition to the torn ligament.

    The Heat announced that Haslem will see a specialist Monday before a treatment plan is finalized, but the recovery schedule is certain to drag well into 2011 if surgery is required.

    Heat president Pat Riley told NBC Miami on Sunday night: "We’re dealing with Superman here. & I doubt if he’ll miss the year, but let’s wait until tomorrow."

    Yet even if Haslem can avoid surgery, Miami has now lost two players for a matter of weeks — Haslem and swingman Mike Miller (thumb) — it was counting on heavily. The loss of Haslem, however, is even more daunting because of the Heat’s well-chronicled issues dealing with opposing big men through their first 13 games.

    The news could again prompt the Heat to make another roster move, after team president Pat Riley signed veteran Jerry Stackhouse in the wake of Miller’s thumb surgery.

    Even before losing Haslem, sources said, Miami has been reconsidering its October decision to pass on signing free-agent center Erick Dampier. The Heat talked to Dampier during training camp and worked him out before electing not to sign him, but the 35-year-old is still available after an expected deal with the Houston Rockets fell through.

    A source with knowledge of the talks told ESPN.com that the Heat have maintained a level of contract with Dampier since the collapse of the Houston talks.

    Haslem is the Heat’s leading rebounder and at 8.2 per game, leading all NBA reserves in the category. He also has been developing a chemistry with LeBron James on pick-and-roll plays on the offensive end, averaging 11.3 points on 63 percent shooting in his last four games before getting hurt.

    Dampier — who has also had talks with the Raptors, Suns and Bucks recently — averaged six points and 7.3 rebounds in 55 games with the Mavericks last season.

    The Heat will not be eligible to apply to the league for an injury exception worth half of Haslem’s $3.5 million salary to sign a replacement unless he is ruled out for the remainder of the season.

    Star guard Dwyane Wade, meanwhile, also had an MRI on Sunday on his left wrist, which he hurt Friday night. The test confirmed that Wade had a sprain — which forced him to miss the Memphis game — but the Heat are listing him as a day-to-day.

    Because it is so early in the season, Miami is expected to be conservative in bringing Wade back. The Heat host Indiana Monday night, but it’s believed Wade has his eyes on Wednesday, when Miami travels to Orlando to take on the Magic on ESPN.

    http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/news/story?id=5836434

    They gotta find Interior defense NOW

    0
  • #441813
    AvatarAvatar
    nateoak10
    Participant

     dampier

    0
  • #441823
    AvatarAvatar
    nateoak10
    Participant

     dampier

    0
  • #441832
    AvatarAvatar
    nateoak10
    Participant

     dampier

    0
  • #441822
    AvatarAvatar
    Platypus
    Participant

    Dampier would be great, but he hasn’t signed yet anywhere, so is there something up with him or what? his agent called Toronto for some reason as well

    0
  • #441833
    AvatarAvatar
    Platypus
    Participant

    Dampier would be great, but he hasn’t signed yet anywhere, so is there something up with him or what? his agent called Toronto for some reason as well

    0
  • #441840
    AvatarAvatar
    Platypus
    Participant

    Dampier would be great, but he hasn’t signed yet anywhere, so is there something up with him or what? his agent called Toronto for some reason as well

    0
  • #442970
    AvatarAvatar
    ItsVictorOladipo
    Participant
  • #442977
    AvatarAvatar
    ItsVictorOladipo
    Participant
  • #442995
    AvatarAvatar
    ItsVictorOladipo
    Participant

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login