clippers injury report

clippers injury report

The Impact of Injuries on the Los Angeles Clippers

1. Introduction

It is the NBA fanatic that I am addressing in this paper. I have been a fan of the game for a while and have followed it enough to see trends that come and go. Some of these trends have effects on teams and in turn affect trends in following years. One such trend that I have noticed is the effect of injuries on team performance. I am curious as to what and if there is a correlation between injuries to star players and subsequent poor performance. This is where the topic of my paper comes into play. I will be analyzing the effect of injuries to star players in three NBA teams and how those injuries correlate to team performance in the given season.

Basketball is a sport that has grown in popularity worldwide. It is seen almost everywhere. Though the audience for basketball is vast, the main fan base for the professional games is concentrated in the U.S. One of the most popular professional basketball leagues, considered to be the highest quality of basketball (barring the Olympics), is the National Basketball Association (NBA).

2. Overview of Clippers’ Injury Report

The “Impact of Injuries on the Los Angeles Clippers” draws upon various factors that have resulted in injuries, the types of injuries that have been obtained by the players of the Los Angeles Clippers, how the injuries affect the team’s performance, and if insufficient rest between games has resulted in a higher rate of injury. This essay compiles information from various sources new to the public and statistical data to present a concise analysis on whether or not the Los Angeles Clippers are being overworked. Due to the lack of an official statement reporting injuries of players, much of the information has had to be collected through general game reports and post-game reports. An accurate detailed account of each player’s injury and the type of injury they have is not possible, and some information may not be up to date.

3. Consequences of Player Injuries

Without the consistency of players due to injuries, the Clippers fell into a constant state of change. New players were coming in and old ones were going out; some players who only played for the club in the last two seasons. A revolving door situation if you will. Due to a lack of player chemistry, certain key players who have suffered injuries found themselves relied upon too heavily for their contributions. Two-time MVP award winner Karl Malone played only one season for the club before retiring, didn’t have much left in the tank because of an injured knee which required surgery in the winter that year. Elton Brand, who at that point was the franchise player, also had an Achilles injury which was a huge blow for the club because it was a career-changing injury. Brand would never be the same explosive player after surgery and soon after chose to opt out of his Clipper contract, leading to his departure as a free agent. Marking the end to what was a very promising stretch for the club and the city.

4. Strategies for Injury Prevention and Recovery

Injury prevention could be vital in impacting next season’s competitiveness. Prediction of injuries is impossible as Carlisle responds to criticism of how he treats his injured players: “I get pissed off at some things you guys say because nobody’s more careful with players than I am.” The first strategy would be to space out the games of key players to avoid injury. Carlisle played Corey Maggette heavy minutes this season as he is the team’s leading scorer. Because of his heavy contribution, Maggette was injured on and off the entire season with a sore hamstring. The injury prevented Maggette from effectively contributing to the team. Because Maggette was one of the main focal points, not having him at full strength was a big blow to the team. This strategy would be effective for injury prevention; current studies show that there is no correlation between fatigue and susceptibility to injury. However, corresponding research suggests that a high workload may increase the probability of injury happening. Hamstring injuries tend to reoccur unless fully recovered, and Maggette’s frequent attempts to play through his injury may have come from pressure to perform at his best for the team. Had he not done so, no doubt the aim to space his games would have kept him fresher and avoided the reoccurrence of injury. Step two would involve having a better medical team assessment of players and evaluation of the severity of injuries. Often this season, the Clippers have been burnt by players returning to play only to cause further damage. This season, Vladimir Radmanovic dislocated his shoulder in an away game against the Lakers. Statements were made before the All-Star break that he would sit out until he felt 100% to return. Radmanovic was anxious to play; for the first time in his career, he turned down an invitation to play for the Serbian National team in their Olympic qualifying bid, stating that he would rather rest and get ready for the second half of the NBA season. Radmanovic’s decision was overruled by the Clippers, who themselves declined to admit that they pressured him to play. Radmanovic returned on a January 8th game against Miami, but just 57 seconds into the game, his shoulder popped out again, causing him to miss another 26 games. The best method for an instance like this would be to take a more conservative approach. Radmanovic had received no doubt quality medical treatment. Had the possible consequences of worse injury been explained by medical staff to a coaching or managerial figure, they may have further relayed the information to the player and made the decision for the player to sit out. Finally, more severe injuries such as operations and dislocations should initiate consultation with independent surgeons and specialists for a second opinion to confirm treatment would be best for the player and situation.

5. Conclusion

The 2017-2018 season has come and gone for the Los Angeles Clippers organization, but the impact of the many players’ injuries will not be soon forgotten. Each player suffered a variety of injuries, but the loss of All-Star Power Forward, Blake Griffin, to a concussion and knee injury was the toughest to overcome. Due to the success in prior season play, the Clippers organization had implemented a 4-star insurance policy to provide coverage for 70% of players’ salaries due to illness or injury. Unfortunately, these policies do not cover injuries or illnesses from game or practice participation and they are not truly on detriment insurance policies. This hurt the Clippers who are reported to have lost a combined 531 games due to injury or illness over the past 3 seasons, 12 games more than any other team during this span. This is particularly hard on the fans as well as the players who have high expectations for what would eventually be a devastating season.