I don't want him risking long-term health. If there's no structural damage and it's just really sore, then yes, he should play through it. Even mortal Dwight is better than no Dwight. But otherwise, sit him if necessary. If they lose this series, so be it. But I'd rather have him healthy and ready to go in October than risk anything more serious that could jeopardize the 2015-16 season before it's even started.
We're on the doorstep right now. There aren't any guarantees of ever getting back here. If you can play you do. He can sit one out, but if he can go then we need him.
My definition of "can play" does not include endangering his career. If it's only a bruise, then yes, he needs to play, even if it's at 75% of his normal abilities. Otherwise, sit him for Game 2 and beyond if necessary.
D12 will be fine. The good news is, he came back before hitting the tunnel. Was able to to play some. Anything major, then returning and playing would be a big no.
I don't agree that a healthy Dwight would have made the difference. Dwight showed early in the game that he had not adjusted to playing against the faster swarming Warriors. TBH I suspect McHale saw this and allowed the medical staff to keep Dwight out because of the additional matchup problems that had become evident. Dwight had 3 problems. 1, he seemed so amped up that he was losing his concentration, e.g. fumbling passes. 2) the injury. 3) speed/alertness/making good decisions when doubled. 1 can be solved easily, 2 will heal, but 3 may turn out to be unfixable.
Dwight dominated the paint early. What game were you watching? Drew foul on Bogut. Had like 5 pts and 5 rebounds before he got injured.
If GS insists on playing Green on Dwight, the fact that he's giving up 4-5 inches in physical height and about 7,000 inches in vertical leap is bound to catch up with them. At least, that's the way that I see it. Obviously, the small line up was hugely successful for them last night. All the same, I'm a fan of beating them at their own game.
I have faith Dwight will be fine. He was jogging on the sideline and riding on the bike. If it was any structural damage or any tears, he would not have been able to do that. I think we are going to find out today that it is just a deep bruise. Hopefully he can take some of Bev's healing power and be anywhere from 80-100% on Thursday. Had Dwight been healthy and playing like he was before the injury, we would have won this game by 10-15. We can play with these guys and know it now. We just need Dwight.
The Lob on the Harden-Smith-Howard high screen play was there though,even against the small lineup. The problem was that it was Jones trying to finish in the second half which is about 22% as effective as a Dwight flush.
Why would this be unfixable? He has dealt with "swarming" defenses in the past 2 rounds, particularly in the Clippers series. if Dwight's injury is not bad at all, then he should be able to impose his will on this series.
It looked like an mcl or lcl sprain. He was walking and not in major pain so its not a tear. We have a pretty precautionary medical staff, they would not have let him back in the game if it was a tear. I'm guessing sprain and he's going to have to be fitted for a brace like the one Tim Duncan wears which means the alley oop dunks are gone but he should still be an effective defense and rebounding force. Just think about it, we were up 16 and stepping on the gas when he got hurt, if he would have continued we could have put that game out of reach and even if they had come back Dwight in that fourth qt would have sealed it. That building is a tough place to play we just need to steal the next one and we have a good shot to take this series
God I hope you are right, also the way Harden was playing in the 2nd half was also a very telling sign of things workout our favor health wise.
