December seems to be a realistic return date for such a severe injury and surgery. Heck, even that may be a bit optimistic. These can take a year to recover from.
Yeah if Dwight's healthy, and the team is still rolling then I think its wise to stick to what is working. Jones seemed in a funk early on this year anyways, and likely will be coming off the bench when D-Mo is back anyways so we will see but I expect the small ball lineup to still start tomorrow or whenever they play again (stuck in airports for days now and am so out of the loop... ugh).
Which is why he is taking his time. Dwight admitted he came back to early and pretty sure he passed that message on to D-MO
His rehab videos look like he's ready... Looks like he's just strengthening his back and getting into game shape... I think he makes an impact as soon as he's back.
Heck why rush DMO...I'd wait til next Feb/March if possible..that's IF he's not fully ready yet. We had to watch Howard all last year with setbacks. If we get DMO back in the lineup before the playoffs that would be obviously HUGE. I personally think DMO is the X-Factor/Joke in the Deck of cards....difference between Houston loosing in 5 games last year along with Beverly out of the lineup.
I think Jones will start again soon, because playing Ariza out of position on defense for a long time is not a great thing. Look what it did when DMo had to play almost entire season at Center. Wasn't Ariza shooting horrible last year when he got to play 40 mins a game? he was. Defending bigger guys is similar to playing 40 min games.
effing stupid, much higher injury risk out there. He's coming back this month against New York Knicks aniway.
Does anyone really defend anyone early in games anymore? Unfortunately for the Jones Kill Squad, he's going to still have a role in this teams success one way or another. Starter or coming off the bench, he's still going to be relied on to contribute. We shouldn't be shocked either way, but I think since they have won four straight, and have gotten off to good offensive starts recently, I personally think he sticks with the small starting lineup, but I could be wrong. Either way Jones is playing so the crazies are going to have to deal with it. Jones will play, and McHale will be the coach.... go cry by yourself in your own little pity party corner.
The thing about Howard is that he's harder to rehab because of the muscle he has...when you load bad movement (like with weights), you set it in further into your muscle memory. It should be easier to correct DMo's movement, so I think he'll come around a lot sooner then Dwight. I also think his rehab should be a lot smoother, compared to Dwight's, who's was managed by three teams. Both actually had their surgeries on the last month of that season (April). Howard was back by training camp, so clearly that was too early. DMo is already 2 months past that. Thats probably why Dwight tore his labrum. Early that season.
Man I love the fact that you guys are so optimistic... But the fact is there are a couple of surgeries that it takes time to recover and time to get back to where you once were... Back surgery is that surgery... Now back surgery has come a long way from where it once was... but there's a difference between rehabbing to go back to a regular job and going back out on basketball court and playing against guys who get paid to wreck havoc underneath a basketball goal. Not only does DMo have to get in basketball shape, he also has to get over the mental aspect of trusting his back, along with guys banging against his back on a nightly basis... I wish and hope the best for DMo, but on a realistic level, it's going to take him a while to get back to where he once was and that's IF and I mean IF he doesn't have a set back. Unfortunately history is not on his side with athletes who deal with back injuries. T_Man
If Jones doesn't show something, I could see him being gone at the trade deadline but I'm not expecting it. If he can show that he brings more to the table than Harrell can (which thus far this year he has not) then he's safe. Now, there's almost no chance Jones is around after this season, but if they think he is valuable to the team, they won't risk hurting the team this season.
I'm just saying, Dwight isn't exactly the best example to compare DMo to, because he botched his rehab. That prolonged the process, physically and mentally.
