It is, in fact, their job to risk their longterm health. Kind of like fisherman, loggers, roofers, construction workers, sanitation workers, truck drivers, farmers, miners, power lineman, cops, fireman, etc. Of course, those other jobs are also risking their lives for a fraction of the money.
Rose is as soft as they come. KD and RWB are ridiculously hungry for a championship. This may be their year. The injuries might end up being a blessing in disguise as to allow the role players on OKC to further develop and give the two some help during the regular season and playoffs.
Proper translation: a bunch of people on the internet are trying to make medical diagnoses without knowing any facts or data.
Yes, Rose should be respected for making guaranteed max dollars and not feeling the need to "rush back" to do the job he is being paid max dollars for.
[rQUOTEr]Thunder waive Sebastian Telfair ... But the most significant aspect of the move is its implications for injured stars Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. There is a growing belief that one or both could rejoin the lineup soon, perhaps as early as Friday against New York. They returned to practice this week and are scheduled to have their respective injuries evaluated over the Thanksgiving holiday. The Thunder’s decision to waive Telfair as opposed to apply for a third 10-day stint on Smith serves as confirmation that the team is confident that either Durant, Westbrook or rookie forward Mitch McGary will be available at some point over the next three games. Had the Thunder applied for and been granted a third consecutive 10-day stint on Smith under the league’s hardship rules, Durant and Westbrook would have been ineligible to play until those 10 days passed. ...[/rQUOTEr]
[rQUOTEr]Durant could return tomorrow ...It’s looking and sounding more and more like the reigning MVP is extremely close to making his season debut, perhaps as early as Tuesday at New Orleans. It’s not out of the question that Brooks will announce Durant as a game-time decision at the team’s Tuesday morning shootaround. Traditionally, the Thunder has preferred to see how players coming back from injuries respond to that light morning session before penciling them into the lineup. In rare cases, like Andre Roberson at Denver on Nov. 19, the Thunder will even wait for a player to go through a final pre-game workout before determining whether he will suit up that night. But in the case of Durant, all indications are that he’s set to return from a season long absence caused by a broken right foot. He appears to be so close that any game from here out could be the night. If he doesn’t take the court Tuesday night at New Orleans, it would be surprising if he doesn’t play Friday at Philadelphia. If he skips the Sixers game, we’d be shocked if he doesn’t make his debut Sunday at Detroit. The Thunder will have two more days between the Pelicans game and the Sixers game, and that’s just additional practice time and rest to ensure Durant is acclimated and ready if he doesn’t play Tuesday night. Both the signs and the Thunder’s schedule are lining up. Durant practiced again Monday, taking part in the entire session, according to Brooks. That’s now a full week of practices that Durant has under his belt since returning to the practice floor on Nov. 22. Durant’s last five practice sessions all have included contact. Meanwhile, he’s mixed in pre-game workouts that have grown more rigorous by the game, as well as post-practice individual work with assistant coaches. Not a single setback has been reported yet.[/rQUOTEr]
Hope for the sake of the NBA that Durant is 100%. It would suck to see a guy that talented be rushed back and ruin his career.
I think in baseball you may get one season to go for the title, and in the NFL more than likely the same, so tough to get there you may want to rush it for the one chance, but in the NBA, great teams like OKC generally get 3-4 chances. So I think you can definitely play it safe and not lose an opportunity. It takes about one year to completely regain your ability and confidence in football. I think in basketball it's generally accelerated to about 25 games. I'd say whatever day that Durant gives it a green light, the team should add another 2 weeks so that he has a little more bounce when he goes.
the dude battled back from two pretty bad new injuries that we've seen completely ruin or alter players careers. Rose is fine, we can see it's all mental at this point and he definitely has a shot to be that mvp level guy again.
both came back way sooner than expected so its actually not bad at all. with both wb and kd back, going 45-20 to get to 50 wins isn't that thin with a full roster for the regular season, not to mention their isn't much ground to catch up to the 8th seed as is right now.
I honestly think they can be 1-2-3 in the League in the future......as soon as the other 2 leave the Thunder.....How heartbreaking will that bne
