Do the Celtics have a problem diagnosing / treating ankle injuries?

[Roy H.]

I have no idea about this one, so I'm throwing it out there for debate.  Have the Celtics had more trouble than the average club with treating ankle injuries?

In recent years, we've had:

1) Wally Sczerbiak repeatedly sprained his ankles while here, leading many to speculate that the team was bringing him back before he was ready.  To my knowledge, Wally didn't have extensive ankle issues in Minnesota or Cleveland;

2) The team misdiagnosed Big Al's ankle injury, with some in the organization questioning his toughness.  It turns out he had bone chips which the medical staff missed.

3) Tony Allen had repeated ankle issues, which never seemed to heal on the timetable expected;

4) Avery Bradley has had ankle troubles, with Doc recently admitting that the team probably brought him back too quickly after surgery.

Is this all stuff that is normal, is it bad luck, or is it something to be concerned about?

[Assassin70]

Very good question....Eddie joo got some splanin to do!

[CelticHooligan3]

Very interesting topic Mr. Hobbs. I've also been wondering this for some time now. The Bradley story has been really bizzare. We got the kid in the draft. Immediatley put him under the knife so he'd be ready for the preseason. I couldn't tell you what the timetable is for such an injury and surgery but from what I read the team was being very conservitive and taking the added rest approach. Which I think is good. But now all of a sudden we rushed him back? What's the deal with that?

I think the real story here is how this team seems to mislead fans and media alike on injuries and their severity. Which pleases me none to say the least. Call it a sense of entitlement all you want but yes I do feel the team owes it to us as fans and the media to tell the truth about injuries. It gives us a better insight of what the players must overcome to get back on the court and what they must deal with on a nightly basis. This goes a long way in how they are perceived and treated. And to be fair to the fans media and players alike we need honest information to base our opinions on.

Our money through tickets concessions and the advertising we must endure is what pays for the players salaries and the team in general. I think it's fair for us to expect legitamite injury reports. Where I have questioned this team before was in the same topic but on the issue of the mysteries of all KG's injuries. He's the most glaring to me when it comes to the team giving us the run around, and being dishonest on the real severity of the injury. This policy needs to change. I don't know how we go about that. But it needs to change.

[GreenEnvy]

Well the most important ankles for the Celtics were Ray Allen's when he came here.

We haven't heard a word about them since the 2007-08 season tipped off.

It's hard to blame a team for bringing back a player too soon, as generally the player will either feel no pain or lie about feeling no pain. How long a player should continue to sit with no pain is something none of us are likely qualified to discuss.

Continually spraining your ankles probably has more to do with his sneakers/wraps than a previous sprain, but Wally was always injury prone anyway.

Timetables are a guide, and everyone heals differently, so it depends more on the player's body than the rehab/rest schedule.

[Chris]

Were the C's doctors also the Magic doctors when Grant Hill was there?

It is an interesting question, however, my inclination is that this is not something that we just see in Boston.  I think it is the nature of ankle injuries.  They are just hard to deal with, because there is so much going on down there, and they take such a beating.

I really think a lot of this comes down to the make up of the players, both with pain tolerance, as well as their own biological makeup. 

Szerbiak and Al have had injury problems everywhere they have gone, not just Boston.  Tony Allen had ankle problems, but also had a ton of other injuries that kept him out.  I think these guys might just be injury prone.