Interesting ESPN Article on IT's Hip Injury

[Dino Pitino]

Phew. It's coldhearted, but it still feels so good that Isaiah's hip is not going to be our problem. (And extra good that it'll be the Cavs' problem.)

I'm not disappointed that we won't have to worry about Thomas' hip. I am, on the other hand, concerned we'll have to worry about Irving missing 10-20 games a season.

I don't really mind if Kyrie misses 10 games. It'll keep him fresh. It would've royally sucked to have to deal with Isaiah's hip all season, a continuous stream of frustration.

[ThePaintedArea]

https://twitter.com/tomhaberstroh/status/905417693356011521

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/20595342/nba-cleveland-cavaliers-guard-isaiah-thomas-faces-uncertain-return-potentially-career-ending-hip-injury

This raises a few interesting questions, and I'm sure it'll appeal to the conspiracy theorists of the blog.

No need for a conspiracy theory here; there's plenty of difference of opinion in the medical community for this pathology regarding prognosis; and diagnosis, as the article suggests, is not so easy.

I'd take the article with a grain of salt, however. The reporter appears to be confused about the relationship between FAI and the labral tear; it appears that Thomas possibly has a structural deformity (that's the FAI) that made the labral tear more likely. That's important because there's a question of whether or not to do surgery to remove excess bone (Thomas refers to an extra bone, but it is rather extra bone growth on the femur itself, not an additional bone - called a cam deformity). That can occur by itself, or along with a socket deformity, which would make the whole thing more difficult - but the reports do not tell us one way or the other.

It's really hard to tell what to expect from news reports, and you have to wish that journalists would take more care to understand the issues involved.

I feel for the guy.  It looks like a good chance that we've already seen the best of him, if not the last of his beautiful, inspiring career.

 

[Bucketgetter]

Kinda belittles all the moaning and whining comparisons between Irving and IT.

Basically, I hope Irving turns out to be worth Zizic, the Nets pick, and whatever late 1st the Cs could have gotten for Crowder -- especially if Davis does become available (unlikely IMO), and those assets could've been used on him.

Sadly, Thomas seems more-likely-than-not to be virtuously worthless in this trade.

I will bet you anything IT ends up not being worthless in this trade. All my TPs, money, my life...

And since you think it’s more than likely, you should be willing to take that bet.

[The Oracle]

Does everyone remember the Dwyane Wade foul on I.T., it was March 9th 2015.  If you watch that play he falls directly on his right hip and makes it very clear that the pain is in that region. 

[The Oracle]

https://youtu.be/fEypFQD-XUs

Better video
http://stats.nba.com/events/#!/?flag=1&GameID=0021400940&GameEventID=479&Season=2014-15&title=Thomas Free Throw 1 of 1 (20 PTS)

[jambr380]

Kinda belittles all the moaning and whining comparisons between Irving and IT.

Basically, I hope Irving turns out to be worth Zizic, the Nets pick, and whatever late 1st the Cs could have gotten for Crowder -- especially if Davis does become available (unlikely IMO), and those assets could've been used on him.

Sadly, Thomas seems more-likely-than-not to be virtuously worthless in this trade.

I will bet you anything IT ends up not being worthless in this trade. All my TPs, money, my life...

And since you think it’s more than likely, you should be willing to take that bet.

Just because somebody has the opinion that something is 'more than likely,' it doesn't mean they are comfortable betting all of their money...or their life that it will happen.

And, while I disagree that this signals the end of IT's career, the statement isn't totally incorrect in regards to this trade, specifically. If IT doesn't return to form this year, then he is essentially worthless to the Cavs since they are 'unlikely' to re-sign him. But, no, I am not willing to bet my life on that. 

[jambr380]

Does everyone remember the Dwyane Wade foul on I.T., it was March 9th 2015.  If you watch that play he falls directly on his right hip and makes it very clear that the pain is in that region.

Oh, great, Dwyane Wade strikes again. The parallels between IT and Rondo become even more pronounced (All-Star PGs in their prime being traded after an injury, but before they hit FA - while their value is at an all-time low).

[The Oracle]

Does everyone remember the Dwyane Wade foul on I.T., it was March 9th 2015.  If you watch that play he falls directly on his right hip and makes it very clear that the pain is in that region.

Oh, great, Dwyane Wade strikes again. The parallels between IT and Rondo become even more pronounced (All-Star PGs in their prime being traded after an injury, but before they hit FA - while their value is at an all-time low).

I.T. is a warrior, dude got up hit his free throw and stayed in the game making a couple more buckets down the stretch to the win!  Missed 8 games after and was terribly ineffective the next 5 games when he did come back.

[Rosco917]

I have no doubt IT will try to fight his way through this injury, and may succeed to a degree. And I'm sure doctors have different opinions on his hip. But the fact remains I wouldn't bet 100 million dollars on.

Danny did what was right for the organization, yep, that big nasty Corporation thing. Because if he balked on the Irving deal, and waited IT's injury out, and then signed him to a Max deal for a 100 million or so, and IT needed surgery in that 1st or 2nd year, and came back at 80% we'd be calling for the head of Danny Ainge. The Celtics would be held hostage by IT and his contract for years to come.

[celticsclay]

I am really starting to think IT made a mistake not getting surgery after the ECF.

[Ilikesports17]

So the theory is that he played with a torn labrum since December, rather than March? And he played like an MVP?

If his treatment gets him at least until that level -- partially torn -- it sounds like he'll be fine. As the doctor noted, there are tons of guys playing with hip injuries:

Philippon says "a lot of players" come to see him for a hip tear but they don't fix it surgically, and no one hears about it.

Roy if IT misses the whole season do you still hate the trade?
If IT is not the same player do you still hate it?

Just genuinely curious. I hated the trade at first but it seems like I thought IT was going to be fine which now seems in doubt.

Under those circumstances I'd be okay with the deal.  But, I don't expect that to happen.

So you think IT will be able to return to 100% the player he was before?

Also, if we hold that he will recover to 100%, how many games would he have to miss and how long would it have to take before he reached 100% before you felt the trade was the right decision were OK with the trade?

[Ilikesports17]

I am really starting to think IT made a mistake not getting surgery after the ECF.

Yeah its tough to read. Over the course of maybe a month weve seen people say that IT will start day 1 and be 100% and weve seen others saying its a career-ender.

I dont think we can trust nearly any of these reports.

I trust Danny not to be a dumbass and if IT is good to go this trade was dumb imo, so I have to imagine that things arent great. Beyond that Ive got no clue.

[Diggles]

I have this same injury..... its been lingering for two years.  It hurts the most when I sleep at night or pivoting with the right leg.  You can play until the swelling is just to much.   

I think we made the right call.  That Nets pick though was the best asset we sent.   Jae is a bargain, and a healthy IT is a spark plus coming off the bench~  I hope he comes back..... and signs with us for 10 million for 3 years with a no trade clause for 30 million.   

[SparzWizard]

I am really starting to think IT made a mistake not getting surgery after the ECF.

Too busy boasting about getting paid, hiding his true injury pain that would have devalued him and here we are.

[SparzWizard]

Does everyone remember the Dwyane Wade foul on I.T., it was March 9th 2015.  If you watch that play he falls directly on his right hip and makes it very clear that the pain is in that region.

Hate that dirty thug DWade. Always intentionally injure other players.