WEll since both Davis and Lucas got cut I would assume that DA is close to returning. JOn Barry came back last night so DA shouldn't be to far behind. Go Rockets!!!
so our injured list is now down to yao, DA and sura. hopefully everyone is back by end of jan. and lets become the hottest team before allstar break just like last year!!!!!!!!!!
I did some research on this. Check it out: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=2125509&postcount=5 Derek Anderson Injury occurred on: Sunday, Dec. 11th at Portland (link) officially unplayable: Saturday, Dec. 17th (link) official expected return date: Tuesday, Jan. 3rd at Washington (link) speculated return date: ??? Injury: strained right calf. Anderson was kicked late in Sunday's game (Dec.11th) at Portland by center Joel Przybilla. "I got kicked on the inside at the end of the game in Portland," said Anderson, who played almost 19 minutes Wednesday (the 14th, at Golden State). "It was a bone bruise. It was real puffy and stiff, but the swelling has gone down a little bit. I never had one like this, on the inside." (link). The next day (Thursday, the 15th) Anderson returned to Houston to get an MRI on his knee (link). While he was in Houston, he missed the game against Seattle (listed as a right knee injury (link). Now here's where things get mysterious. After the next game that Anderson missed (at the Clippers), the Houston Chronicle reported that Anderson "sat out his second straight game with a strained right calf after missing Thursday's win at Seattle because of a sore right knee." (link). The Chronicle then reported on Sat. Dec. 17th that Anderson was "expected to miss two weeks with a strained right calf muscle suffered Sunday [the 11th against Portland]. (link). It is probable that the "knee bruise" was an impromptu, on-the-spot assessment and that the strained calf injury is the official, more thorough diagnosis. EDIT: the link that points to the ESPN injury page used to show that Anderson was expected back on Jan. 3rd. That web page has been changed and no longer shows Anderson's status.
Derek Anderson has now entered "The Twilight Zone"... http://www.csun.edu/~am75554/Group/twilight_zone1.jpg
There's no way DA could be so deep in the doghouse that Van Gundy would be playing NBDL rookies instead of him...
Thanks for the research. It's hard to fathom why he's been out so long and why there isn't any news about him whatsoever. No one's seen him around town, working out or anything? Too bizarre. Thanks for taking the time to do a little research. Much appreciated. It's like there's some kind of conspiracy when it comes to his injury.
The day the news broke that Yao was working out.... there was a shot of Anderson working out in the weight room with Yao. Not much... but the story (It was a fox pre/half/post game story) led you to believe that the video was shot that day. Not much, but it's something.
He was playing great on that west coast road trip until he got hurt. More importantly, we need DA back for his defense. Wesley was guarding Melo last night, and the Rockets can't get away with similar matchups in the coming weeks. The only other player capable of guarding swingmen is Bowen, and we know what a liability he is on offense.
I think people is expecting too much from this guy. He is getting paid for LLE (correct me if I am wrong). And he had been effective coming off the bench for quite a few games before he got hurt. One thing I noticed in those games was that he drew a lot of fouls and shot high percentage (at least 80%) FTs. To me, it shows he is a smart veteran. He can definetely back up TMac in the offense department. People should forget about his days before his injury in Spurs and just look at him as a LLE player. For that price, he had earned his money (except for the games at the beginning of this season).
It's not that we need Anderson to be a superstar. We need him to be an option. In other words, if Wesley isn't hitting his shot, we can send in Jon Barry.... or Derek Anderson. There's enough talent in those three that at least one of them will be able to have a good night. But with Barry and Anderson out, we don't have them as options.....so if Wesley isn't on, there's no alternative. It's their depth that we need.
I agree with that sentiment, but DA wasn't a viable option when he was healthy. I'm sorry, but 10 ppg from DA isn't and won't help this team get to any level. The Rockets need more from him, and obviously aren't getting that when his a$$ is on the bench....
