If you had a crystal ball...

[Roy H.]

Right now, one of the big concerns with KP is the risk of future injury.  It's a debate between going for it now, and protecting KP's health (and Wyc's investment) in future years.

My question, purely hypothetically, is:  what if we knew for absolute certain that KP playing would win us a championship this year, but would lead to consequences that limit the rest of his career?  Let's say he goes from near-All Star KP to Celtics-era Raef LaFrentz.  If he doesn't play, we get roughly the same level of play from KP that we saw this year:  20/7, good rim protection, but also 20+ missed games. 

Do you take the title and the hobbled KP going forward?  Or, do you sit him, hope the rest of the team is good enough to win, and hopefully have a healthy KP for a repeat next year?

[Kernewek]

Outside the scope of the question, but you'd be morally obligated to ask KP for his decision, right? Anyone with lingering/perpetual injuries could tell you that.

But if we're just talking about the on-the-court trolly problem, I'd say you take the guaranteed championship every time.

[celticinorlando]

Guaranteed title. He only has two more years on his contract so Boston could move off of him.

It?s been 16 years since our last title. And there is no way to know if he would be healthy going forward. He?s just always going to have leg issues. Absolutely you take the title this year.

[gift]

if KP knew he was continuing to contribute to the title in the next couple of games before the re-injury, i wonder if he might even choose the title. not counting the moral aspect, i choose the guaranteed title. understanding that KP is a person and not wanting him to be hurt, i don't know if i could ask for that.

[angryguy77]

I don't know if I could say give your health so I can see my team win it all. I can't ask someone to do that.

What I will say is regardless if we win without w/o him is that we're going to need to view him as a bonus rather than key piece to the team. Brad is going to have to figure out a good player that can come in and be serviceable when KP goes down. You just can't bank on him being healthy. As much as I like the guy, his body is made of glass.

[Roy H.]

I think I'd sit him.  I believe in the rest of the squad, so I'd gamble for the best possible outcome:  a title this year, and a healthy KP going forward.  I think that we can win 2 out of 5 without him.

In the real world, I don't know at what level of risk I'd be willing to play him.  1% risk of future injury?  Sure thing.  25% risk?  I don't know.  50% risk?  Definitely sit him, because I believe in our team.

[angryguy77]

I don't know if I could say give your health so I can see my team win it all. I can't ask someone to do that. I know it's hypothetical and I like the question, it's just a tough one.

What I will say is regardless if we win without w/o him is that we're going to need to view him as a bonus rather than key piece to the team. Brad is going to have to figure out a good player that can come in and be serviceable when KP goes down. You just can't bank on him being healthy. As much as I like the guy, his body is made of glass.

[footey]

I think I'd sit him.  I believe in the rest of the squad, so I'd gamble for the best possible outcome:  a title this year, and a healthy KP going forward.  I think that we can win 2 out of 5 without him.

In the real world, I don't know at what level of risk I'd be willing to play him.  1% risk of future injury?  Sure thing.  25% risk?  I don't know.  50% risk?  Definitely sit him, because I believe in our team.

I agree.

What if in your hypothetical, you knew that sitting him meant the Mavs would win the championship this year?  That makes it a more difficult question.  Even in that scenario, I would sit him. But a bet a lot of fans would not.

[green_bballers13]

This is purely hypothetical, because we have no idea if playing two (or more) basketball games will cripple KP for his career. I would think that the chances of that are less than 2% (based on nothing, but this is CS where we can just say things, even if they're not based in reality).

Play him, worry about the future later. I don't think this injury will ruin KP's career.

[Moranis]

If Boston can't win 2 out of 5 against the Mavs without  the Zinger then Boston doesn't deserve the title.

[SparzWizard]

He's never going to be healthy whether this year or next year or the year after. Most 7' + big men tend to have leg problems or injuries throughout their careers. Look at Yao for example...had to halt his career with all those injuries.

That being said, our last title was 16 years ago. He should help contribute to title 18. He wants a ring too, I bet.

But as Mo said, if Boston can't win 2 of their next 5 w/o Zingus then this was a colossal failure.

[BudweiserCeltic]

If he can play, and give us good minutes of something that resembles effective play I'd leave the decision to KP, I'm not comfortable taking this opportunity away from him. An opportunity he may never again have for the rest of his career. At the same time, it's not my money paying his salary.

[hpantazo]

I think I'd sit him.  I believe in the rest of the squad, so I'd gamble for the best possible outcome:  a title this year, and a healthy KP going forward.  I think that we can win 2 out of 5 without him.

In the real world, I don't know at what level of risk I'd be willing to play him.  1% risk of future injury?  Sure thing.  25% risk?  I don't know.  50% risk?  Definitely sit him, because I believe in our team.

Same here. We should be able to beat Dallas without him and have gone without him practically throughout the playoffs. Getting him healthy for the next few years while Horford declines will be key to competing for more banners. Rob Williams came back too quickly for the last finals vs GS and he hasn't been the same since.

[Sketch5]

Right now, one of the big concerns with KP is the risk of future injury.  It's a debate between going for it now, and protecting KP's health (and Wyc's investment) in future years.

My question, purely hypothetically, is:  what if we knew for absolute certain that KP playing would win us a championship this year, but would lead to consequences that limit the rest of his career?  Let's say he goes from near-All Star KP to Celtics-era Raef LaFrentz.  If he doesn't play, we get roughly the same level of play from KP that we saw this year:  20/7, good rim protection, but also 20+ missed games. 

Do you take the title and the hobbled KP going forward?  Or, do you sit him, hope the rest of the team is good enough to win, and hopefully have a healthy KP for a repeat next year?

I was listening to a doctor last night going over this injury. Usually this injury gets missed because they think it's just a sprain.

He said if its not server, the chances of it getting worse are slim, its just painful, and you don't have as much explosiveness out of that foot because of the pain. 

Now as my wife says"some one has to finish last in their class", and he could also be a Mavs fan and making it all up. lol

I say if the Docs don't think he can hurt it anymore, and can control the pain, and he wont be more of a liability. A 70% KP is better than nothing. But he most likely will need surjury after, the doc said you usually can just treat it.

[jpotter33]

Outside the scope of the question, but you'd be morally obligated to ask KP for his decision, right? Anyone with lingering/perpetual injuries could tell you that.

But if we're just talking about the on-the-court trolly problem, I'd say you take the guaranteed championship every time.

This.

Behind the obvious ethical considerations and KP?s wishes, you take the sure thing every day and twice on Sunday.