Rockets forward Glen Rice has developed a sore right Achilles' tendon from compensating for the plantar fasciitis in his left foot. He said the Achilles' is not much of a problem and the plantar fasciitis problem that has limited his on-court work and training camp work had improved to "93 or 94 percent." Man I hope he is okay. I would hate for him to blow out his Achilles. Sound like Mo at the end of last year.
Rice is probably damaged goods. That foot problem is the same one that kept Penny out the whole yr. Its not something to be taken lightly. People thought les was crazy for getting dovtors to take a good look at the foot, but he was right. Once you have an strain like taylor did at the end of the season, if you keep playing it only gets worse, look at Ewing two yrs ago. This doesn't look good for the Rockets
The achilles won't be a problem as long as he learns to compensate more with his legs until his foot heals sufficiently. I say sit Rice down until the start of the season, and let him rock and roll with a full summer and preseason to rest. Besides Rice doesn't have a strained or pulled achilles, just a sore one.
Well thats good news. If he has plantar fascitis and achilles problems , thats trouble. Hopefully he'll be up to speed, but as optimistic as a fan can be, this still doesn't look good. Those lower leg problems are a b@#$%.
Rice and probably Mobley will not play till regular season. Keith Jones doesnt want to take any risks. Im not sure if Mobley will want to wait that long, but I dont see rice playing right now.
I guess I should clarify. I'm a junkie for "expert opinion." I'd like to hear a medical professional's opinion on how much (no matter how marginal) this might affect Rice's play, minutes, mentality, etc.
Only because Penny is the biggest wimp in the NBA. The same injury did not hamper or impede Mike Finley or countless other players in the NBA. The Achilles is more troublesome, but plantar facitis is typically just a nuisance.
I disagree about the plantar fascitis is a very serious injury. Even though penny is a wimp, thats the same thing that happened to Illgaskus in Cleveland. It has something to do with a ligament in the foot pulling apart from the bone. Achilles and that together are trouble. Unlike a team thats been together forever, the Rockets need their people together to get some kind of chemistry together. As soon as they get Jackson in camp, they need to have the people they're going to start the season with. A slow start will put the Rockets in the lotto again next year.
Relativist, Dallas Rocket here making a house call: looks to me like they are being very careful with Rice and easing him in to make sure he is ready for the season. He is a veteran and the preseason is not a s critical to him as it is for younger players. Rox know what they have in Rice, and he should learn the offensive and defensive schemes fairly readily. My read is that the plantar fasciitis, altho a nuisance and painful, should not really keep him out unless it's ultra severe and just has not responded at all to prolonged Rx. I think he'll be in the starting lineup when the regular season starts. Lots of NBA players live with it. Re. his Achilles tendonitis, I hadn't heard or read about it. Again, it's a pretty common problem among bball players. Will keep my eyes open. Dallas (Doc)Rocket
