A number of prominent players will miss the opening of the 2009-10 NBA season, and the level of concern varies widely:
Blake Griffin
The dreams and nightmares of the Los Angeles Clippers collided in the team’s final preseason game when the No. 1 overall draft pick blocked a shot at one end of the court, then finished with a spectacular dunk in transition at the other, only to fracture a kneecap upon landing at the end of the play. He’s set to miss six weeks.
Concern level » If he’s back before Christmas, great. But if it looks like a curse, and feels like a curse …
Glen Davis
After fighting with his “best friend” Shawn Bridgewater inside an SUV, the Boston forward emerged with a bloody nose and more importantly, a broken right thumb that required surgery and will sideline Big Baby for six weeks.
Concern level » Thanks to Boston’s frontcourt depth, this is only a distraction from bigger issues, such as Kevin Garnett‘s surgically repaired knee and malcontent Rajon Rondo‘s decision to become a restricted free agent.
Delonte West
The late summer arrest for impersonating a Robert Rodriguez movie — carrying three loaded weapons in a guitar case — was uber strange. The domestic violence report last weekend is uber troubling. Who knows when he’ll play again.
Concern level » West’s future, on and off the court, has turned into a serious question mark. For now, in his place, Anthony Parker likely will show that he was a more important acquisition than Shaquille O’Neal.
