Games Lost Related To Injuries

by Jeff Clark on Mar 31, 2009 8:06 AM EDT in Boston Celtics Articles

Yesterday, while discussing the lack of Gino time we've enjoyed this year, the subject of injuries was brought up often. One commenter (wahz) went so far as to blame most of the losses this year on injuries. I thought it might be a good subject to research and Roy Hobbes was kind enough to do the number crunching for me. Here's what he came up with.

1. November 1, 2008 (Pacers): No key players missed entire game.

2. November 14, 2008 (Nuggets): No key players missed entire game.

3. December 25, 2008 (Lakers): No key players missed entire game (but I remember Perk was banged up -- I think he hurt his shoulder during the game)

4. December 26, 2008 (Warriors): Perk missed the game

5. December 30, 2008 (Blazers): No key players missed entire game.

6. January 4, 2009 (Knicks): No key players missed entire game.

7. January 6, 2009 (Bobcats): No key players missed entire game.

8. January 7, 2009 (Rockets): No key players missed entire game.

9. January 9, 2009 (Cavaliers): No key players missed entire game.

10. February 5, 2009 (Lakers): Brian Scalabrine missed the game.

11. February 8, 2009 (Spurs): Brian Scalabrine missed the game.

12. February 19, 2009 (Jazz): Tony Allen missed the game; KG was injured in this game and missed the second half.

13. February 25, 2009 (Clippers): Kevin Garnett, Tony Allen, Brian Scalabrine missed the game.

14. March 1, 2009 (Pistons): Kevin Garnett, Tony Allen, Brian Scalabrine missed the game.

15. March 8, 2009 (Magic): Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen, Brian Scalabrine missed the game.

16. March 11, 2009 (Heat): Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Glen Davis, Tony Allen, Brian Scalabrine missed the game.

17. March 15, 2009 (Bucks): Kevin Garnett, Glen Davis, Tony Allen, Brian Scalabrine missed the game.

18. March 17, 2009 (Bulls): Kevin Garnett, Glen Davis, Tony Allen, Brian Scalabrine missed the game; Leon Powe got injured.

19. March 25, 2009 (Magic): Kevin Garnett, Leon Powe, Tony Allen, Brian Scalabrine missed the game.

By my count, that list includes 8 games lost with at least one starter out the whole game (usually KG or Perk) and 2 more losses that happened when either KG or Perk got hurt during the game.

Also, up until the Jazz game on Feb. 19, the Celtics really didn't have many good injury excuses to lose the frist 11 games. All teams lose a starter for a few games here or there. That's part of the game. However, the injury list ratchets up quite a bit in March.

Finally, one note of caution. Before we get too "woe-is-us" about injuries, we should consider that every contending team has had issues with injuries. The Magic lost Jameer Nelson for the year and the Cavs have gone stretches without Big Z and Ben Wallace among others. And as one sharebro (Google Reader) pointed out to me a few weeks back "Utah says give me a break." (Utah has had a total of 142 games missed because of injuries) So it could be worse.

Injuries do tell a good bit of the story, but they are part of the game. The prime directive for this team right now is to do what they can to get healthy and ready for the playoffs, where excuses won't matter much.

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Comments

Before the Lakers trolls point it out...

… Bynum missed a ton of time, too. San Antonio has been missing a number of players (particularly Manu), as well. Injuries are a part of the game, although it does seem unusual to be missing so many players at one position (PF) at one time. I’m glad BBD is stepping up.

All the negativity in this town sucks. It sucks, and it stinks, and it sucks. - Rick Pitino

by Roy_Hobbs on Mar 31, 2009 8:30 AM EDT reply actions

yup

I forgot to mention the Lakers and Spurs

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Mar 31, 2009 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Pretty sure Rondo

missed the game against the Magic on March 8th.

The PF thing is odd. It’d be interesting to know how many games other teams missed with 4 or 5 rotation players out at once.

Anyway I feel pretty good about how the team has done, 3rd or 4th best record.

by Berkcelt on Mar 31, 2009 9:26 AM EDT reply actions

Dec 25 till Jan 9

I think the entire team was pretty banged up exhausted in that bad stretch.

In any case, I want to see us take it easy for the entire main players not named moore or marbury until we get to the playoffs.

by aboubata on Mar 31, 2009 10:06 AM EDT reply actions

Right. This doesn't even come close to telling the tale

Perk was a mess until about mid January, so even counting 8-10 losses misses 3-4 games.
Not to mention we all saw KG dragging his leg around starting in late December.
After the bad stretch after xmas, with Perk gone or obviously favoring his shoulder, we caught everyone for hca by around the all star break. We were ahead of last years pace. Then KG and 1/3 of the team went down intermittently. Tony had injured his ankle in November, that wasn’t included either.

The original question was, I think, why aren’t there more blowouts. I am sticking with injuries and the effect of various starters and bench players being out.

by wahz on Mar 31, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Not particularly impressive

This has been a bad year for all the NBA in terms of injuries.

by cordobes on Mar 31, 2009 10:21 AM EDT reply actions

Dec 30th Game vs Blazers

We missed our 6th player on the court and lost because the Blazers didn’t (and cheated). Yes I’m still bitter about the game – more so because of the ridiculous Blazer trolls that came on here afterwards.

google reader sharebro is a fantastic term.

When Perk was asked what he thought of Howard winning the gold medal this summer, he responded: "What’s his impression of me after I won a ring?"

by Green17 on Mar 31, 2009 10:27 AM EDT reply actions

KG was coming back with the “flu” and the entire team had the flu bug in 2nd LA game

Very interesting, but it doesnt mean a whole lot to me, because theres underlying bumps/bruises/injuries in every single game we dont even know about.

by TheAncientRivalry on Mar 31, 2009 4:21 PM EDT reply actions