Davis injury cause for concern on several levels

The whole Ed Davis saga (we caught up with it here yesterday afternoon once it became clear exactly what had happened; no sense rumour-mongering until some facts were known) is a bit of a can of worms, isn’t it?

Kid goes out to run with the masses at some gym in Mississauga, suffers a knee injury playing and now no one’s entirely sure what the course of treatment is going to be or how long he’ll have to sit before starting his first NBA training camp.

And there are those in the organization who are worried the rookie big man might have to have a scope to find out just what’s going on inside that knee and while that’s not 100 per cent certain right now, I don’t think anyone should be entirely surprised if it happens.

Anyway, I guess the whole issue is whether Davis, and guys like DeMar DeRozan and Sonny Weems and Amir Johnson should be out in group Runs With Randoms hither and yon in the GTA.

I guess it’s good for their profiles and to a make a “connection” with the fans but the simple fact is, they get more than enough gym time in the Air Canada Centre, where there are first-class facilities, a better, softer court and, you know, staff around if something untoward happens.

Davis had already gone through a scrimmage in the practice gym before he struck out to the wilds of Mississauga and that pickup game and I wonder if that shouldn’t have been enough work for one day.

Now I also know that injuries happen anywhere and at any time, he could just have easily tweaked his knee in the Air Canada Centre as some gym out here in the boonies and this is little more than a bad break for what seems to be a good kid.

But there need to be some questions asked.

Does the league need to re-visit it’s off-season workout rules to allow for team supervision of these pre-camp runs?

Does the team need to make it clear that scrimmages need to take place in the team facility rather than some random gym? Is one run a day enough?

There are no easy answers; it’s just too bad the young fella had to get hurt.

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Mail’s almost done for the morning, which is good because I’ve got a soiree I believe I have to attend this evening but here’s one that got out of the bag early:  

Q: Hey Doug. Two near opposite questions today.

What do you think of the whole Omri Casspi hate crime incident? I am surprised the NBA hasn't come out and condemned it. Pretty disgusting.

With the blog and tweets and all you're showing your techie geek side - so I'm curious what kind of smartphone/PDA/slate/notebook you rock these days and if you are enjoying it/them. I’m in the market but having trouble pulling the trigger. Too many choices.

Be well

 

David W, Toronto

A: I’m as repulsed as any sane-thinking person would be about the Casspi incident (swastikas were painted over a mural of the first Israeli to play in the NBA a couple of times), it’s despicable and a whole bunch of stronger words. And I know the NBA shares my disgust and would condemn in the strongest possible terms if there was a request for comment. I presume there wasn’t one.

And, I use a good old Blackberry Curve; I’ve see all the other things out there and, frankly, I like the keyboard, I can do enough web stuff that it suits my needs and I’m such a Luddite I don’t thin I could handle many other bells and whistles.

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Oh, there is some good news on the Raptors injury front.

In conversations I’ve had with a few people over the last couple of days, it’s been made clear as a bell that Jose Calderon is healthy, happy and wise and will be ready to start training camp when it begins in just over a week.

Couple of people I spoke to ran into him over in Istanbul at the worlds and the little hamstring issue he had before the tournament began is all cleared up.

It’s as expected and not really news – it was never thought that it’d be a problem even when he hurt it in an exhibition game against the United States – but figured you might want to know.

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Joe Torre’s done?

Too bad.

Now, I’ve never had the opportunity to deal with him but he seems – by most media accounts I’ve read and the interaction I’ve seen him have with writers and broadcasters – to have had all the requisite traits I’d want in a coach or manager.

He treated the media with respect and patience, gave insightful and honest answers and was available.

That’d be the Holy Trinity of characteristics I’d want in a guy I covered every day.

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You know how teams are always bringing guys in for camp to have warm bodies for the regulars to, you know, beat up on?

Well, saw an interesting note here from Henry Abbott over a TrueHoop about a name you might recognize.

Russell Hicks is a Canadian, raised – I’m proud to say – in the Glorious Confines Of Niagara Falls (although Westlane over Stamford is an unfortunate educational background) and it’s nice to see him at least get a chance to hang out with the big boys for a couple of weeks.

And the other one?

I saw a note – it might even have been on that zany Twitter thing – that said Old Friend John Thomas is going to camp with the Minnesota Timberwolves, purely because he’s big and rugged and can bang with whoever they need him to bang with.

Thomas was, in a word, an original.

Great kid, great sense of humour and real sense of self-awareness. I remember he kind of walked away from the game for a little bit, travelled Europe with his then-girlfriend and kind of lived life.

Cool dude.

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Comments

[Ghasman]

Doug, just a random question. Do you live in Mississauga or Toronto?

[Striker 77]

Hey Doug,

What did you think about the Pat Burns story yesterday (about having died, even though he hadnt)? I was very disappointed to see how many news sources wrote about his death without getting any confirmation. Luckily, Pat Burns seems to be the type of guy to chuckle it off, but, its not funny at all in my opinion. Just a classy way to handle something by a classy guy, to respond to something which was not classy. Of course there were many apologies and corrections. Your thoughts? (sorry about the over use of the word "classy")

[Ovi R]

Hi Doug,

Would you hay Davis put some weight on him? I only see the picture from the raptors website where he looks a bit bulkier then the summer league. It was probably a priority for him given by the coaching staff.

[Sam]

It's resonable to think that davis was not being reckless when he got injured - and knowing an injury can happen at anytime - it's hard to fault the kid - But still I'm not sure it sends a terribly encouraging message to the great unwashed. Let's hope it's nothing serious -
I think what Weems, DD and Amir and Davis for that matter are doing is great PR for the team - mixing and mingling and hopefully selling the game, the team and the season. It's just too bad someone got hurt- - -

[jon]

Do you know what gym they played at in mississauga?

[d]

is there ever any positive news about the Raptors.?

Jose, out. Davis, out for a long time if its a serious knee issue. Botched trades. Lackluster signings.

Ouch. This season just got a whole lot worse, if that was even possible.

[Juan]

Doug
I saw the piece on Russell Hicks and it got me wondering why I've never heard him mentioned in the context of the national team. He's a big body and plays at a high enough level to get a camp invite from the NBA champs. Is there any reason you're aware of that he's not part of the program? Is he the 2nd coming of Mike Smrek?
Thanks

[doug]

to me the most humbling person i have witnessed is not a politician, or sports idol or a actor,musician, whoever....without a doubt the biggest heart i have ever witnessed, the biggest will to succeed, and the most inspiring person without a doubt is terry Fox...I am glad his place in history is in fact growing and not being diminshed with the passing of the years ....if people can only truly imagine one thing and one thing only if you don't get how special this young man was, ....imagine waking up everyday, and running a marathon everyday, thru all sorts of weather and terrain, then imagine doing it on one leg...words can't or won't ever describe the power this young man had, we truly need another Terry Fox (although there will only be one)...he made the world a better place, and i am so glad i woke up that day in London,ontario so many years ago and decided to go watch him in person, and clapped and cheered, it seemed so trivial on my part in comparison to what he was doing...but that moment has been my motivation in life and my guiding beacon,....so for him i just say thank-you..

[JHP]

Doug

It's still a week before training camp and the daily injury report has begun. Going to be one of those years. Hopefully it's not serious and the team can continue to work with the local fans.

[Isaac]

Glad you see no sense in spreading needless rumours without fact checking - you should share that sentiment and give a lesson to your colleague, the arrogant D.C.