Since winning the title in 08, we've had the worst injury luck of any NBA team

[edwardjkasche]

sucks getting old...

It's not the 'old' guys getting injured, and age hsn't really been a factor in any of these injuries. 

KG suffered one terrible knee injury, which could happen at any age, but has been on the court and healthy otherwise.  Pierce has been relatively healthy his entire career.  Allen misses a rare game here or there, but is as healthy as they come.  JO and Shaq are old and were injured before we ever signed them.  That's entirely on Ainge.  But, that's not what killed this team.  It's the young guys going down with rare, freak injuries that has killed the Celts.  Marquis is barely 30 and suffered a freak spinal injury.  Pietrus is barely 30 and suffered a freak neck injury.  Perk is not even 30 and suffered a disastrous blown-out knee.  Rondo is not even 30 and suffered a disastrous dislocated elbow (that I blame entirely on Wade tackling him).  Green and Wilcox have potentially life-threatening heart conditions.  They should have never passed their physicals, but somehow did, and that affected how the team was constructed.  The team could have withstood one or two freak injuries here or there, but multiple ones year-in, year-out have killed this team.

I think Danny's biggest systematic mistake during the Big 3 era has been gambling on bench guys that are not likely to be durable. Better to sign lesser talent that can be counted on for a full season.

This I agree with, but it's easy to view in hindsight.  If those injury-prone vets stayed upright and healthy, this Celts squad could have three championship rings.  It's a crap shoot.  Look at Stiemsma.  Young and less talented than his peers, yet still injured.  He just happens to be playing with his injuries, much like Semih Erden last season.  Let's not forget Erden's shoulder brace.  And, Powe's knees. 

[Chris]

I don't think we have had the worst injury luck.  But I think we have had the weirdest injuries.

I actually think the fact that other than KGs knee (which has been amazingly stable since the surgery), the C's have had incredibly good luck injury-wise with their core players.  But, the other stuff has been pretty crazy.

[dlpin]

We've been injury-prone because we have a lot of old players (Big 3, JO, Sheed, Shaq, etc.), and have signed a lot of injury-prone younger players (Quis, Delonte). It's not all that surprising.

Honestly, I think Danny's biggest systematic mistake during the Big 3 era has been gambling on bench guys that are not likely to be durable. Better to sign lesser talent that can be counted on for a full season...

The Green and Wilcox ailments are a coincidence, I'll give you that.

Well, the thing when you are over the cap is that you can't really get top players easily. With only the MLE to spend, you can get:
a- mediocre players who don't really help; or
b- good players with some inherent degree of risk, either because of baggage or injury risk

Marquis, for example, was a 6'6 guy who was a career 10ppg guy who could play 3 positions. Only reason we could get him for the LLE was because he was such an injury risk
Same for JO and Sheed. With the MLE you can either get guys like Desagna Diop and Erik Dampier, who aren't good, or guys like Sheed and JO, who have some risk attached. If JO was consistently healthy, he'd never be available for the MLE.

[pearljammer10]

After last night we can add two more injuries to our worst luck list... its really amazing how bad our injury fortune has been.

[Celtics4ever]

When you get old guys this can happen but it has hit us accross the board not just the old guys.

[Moranis]

May I present the Los Angeles Clippers. 

2008-09 - Chris Kaman 31 games, Zach Randolph 39 games, Marcus Camby 62 games, Baron Davis 65 games

2009-10 - Blake Griffin 0 games, Eric Gordon 62 games, Deandre Jordan 70 games

2010-11 - Chris Kaman 32 games, Eric Gordon 56 games

2011-12 - Chauncey Billups 20 games


Amazing they have won as many games as they have with all the injuries to starters.

[vinnie]

I have read several places that Danny knew about the Wilcox heart condition before signing him, and this is the first time I have seen this. Does anyone have a link to back up this fact, or is this the same thing as people saying JO's contract is covered by insurance, even though no one has shown any proof of that?

[mgent]

Blazers. Timing is kind of irrelevant when 2 of your top 3 players are basically suffering career ending injuries. And, that's if you buy that Aldridge now is better than Roy or Odom 'could've been'..which I don't. Brandon Roy 2 years ago (or is it 3 now?) was better than Aldridge is now.

Eh, timing is somewhat relevant.  I think what he means is Oden kept going down at the start of the season so they had more than enough time to look for other players, and more importantly have guys that know what role they're playing and have the chemistry that comes from playing together for the whole season.  Same with Roy, they knew way ahead of time about his knees and actually predicted the decline of their leader.  They had the ability to slowly integrate Aldridge as the guy they run their offense through.

Celtics lost KG and Powe forcing Scals into the rotation part-way into the playoffs.  Next year both Perk and Ray in the 4th round and also Sheed's back in series prior.  Then Shaq re-injures himself in his first game back and continues to have setbacks for the next month and into the playoffs, while Rondo and JO both are held back with new injuries.  Portland's luck has longer lasting repercussions but I don't think you can say it was unarguably worse than ours.

[freshinthehouse]

Portland says hello.

This.

[RockinRyA]

Celtics fired Lucky the Leprechaun on Jan 30, 2009. KG injures knee on february 19,2009. Our injury problems started there.  

They should know better than mess with Leprechauns.

[LooseCannon]

I have read several places that Danny knew about the Wilcox heart condition before signing him, and this is the first time I have seen this.

Wilcox has a heart abnormality that has been known about for years.  He underwent monthly exams to check on it.  Something that wasn't present a month earlier was there on his most recent test.  The Celtics cardiologist, Fred Basilico, noticed something and recommended further tests.

I don't think any article has outright had to spell out that Ainge knew about Wilcox and his heart before signing him because he would obviously have to know, since you can't lie about or hide a medical condition like that which Wilcox has had for so long.  It may not be publicly disclosed, but if any Celtic suffers from some other ailment, such as diabetes, Ainge definitely knows.

[Greenbean]

Celtics fired Lucky the Leprechaun on Jan 30, 2009. KG injures knee on february 19,2009. Our injury problems started there.  

They should know better than mess with Leprechauns.

Ahhh!

I have never made this connection!

TP...

The new lucky kinda stinks too...

[Greenbean]

I have read several places that Danny knew about the Wilcox heart condition before signing him, and this is the first time I have seen this.

Wilcox has a heart abnormality that has been known about for years.  He underwent monthly exams to check on it.  Something that wasn't present a month earlier was there on his most recent test.  The Celtics cardiologist, Fred Basilico, noticed something and recommended further tests.

I don't think any article has outright had to spell out that Ainge knew about Wilcox and his heart before signing him because he would obviously have to know, since you can't lie about or hide a medical condition like that which Wilcox has had for so long.  It may not be publicly disclosed, but if any Celtic suffers from some other ailment, such as diabetes, Ainge definitely knows.

I visited Dr. Basilico for a full cardio workup when I was at Northeastern. I have a bad family history regarding heart conditions.

I was so excited that he worked with the Celtics that I abandoned sensitivities and made a major faux pas...I asked about Reggie Lewis.

It was really awkward after that.

[prov1ml34]

we have only 3 players who haven't been out with an injury this year and it's because they don't play... quis, JJJ, and moore!! Sad but true! Pavs, Dooling, Green, Cox, Ray, KG, PP, Pietrus, RR, Bradley, Bass, and Jo have all been out for an injury (most have missed multiple games)... I know I didn't mention Stiems but he would be out too if we didn't need him DESPERATELY, he is playing through a bad ankle and doing it very well!!

I am not doubting you one bit, but when did KG miss time and what was his injury?

[RockinRyA]

we have only 3 players who haven't been out with an injury this year and it's because they don't play... quis, JJJ, and moore!! Sad but true! Pavs, Dooling, Green, Cox, Ray, KG, PP, Pietrus, RR, Bradley, Bass, and Jo have all been out for an injury (most have missed multiple games)... I know I didn't mention Stiems but he would be out too if we didn't need him DESPERATELY, he is playing through a bad ankle and doing it very well!!

I am not doubting you one bit, but when did KG miss time and what was his injury?

KG missed a game or two this season I think but I thought it was because of family matters? Not too sure.