2 min read • February 23, 2022
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This year, even more so than in year's past, the NBA’s playoff landscape is being colored by a string of injuries to key cogs on contending teams.
Teams like the Nets, Lakers, and Nuggets have been slowed by key injuries, while the Suns, Bulls, and Grizzlies have been able to withstand absences from top players to stay at the top of their respective conferences.
As we step into the 2nd half of the season, here are the key health storylines to watch that will help decide who wins the title, who wins MVP, and who is back at home by regular season’s end.
Nets: Kevin Durant’s Knee, Joe Harris’ ankle, and Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons’ availability
The Nets, despite being baked in turmoil and losing 12 of their last 16 games, still have +600 odds to win the championship, based solely on the top-level talent of their stars that, at this point in time, are not on the floor.
Kevin Durant has been out since Jan. 16 with a left MCL sprain, but is trending towards a return soon, and is unlikely to be hampered by the injury going forward.
Kyrie Irving’s eligibility will be decided by the Nets’ playoff seed and matchups and whether or not the City of New York changes their vaccine mandates. Ben Simmons, meanwhile, should be game-ready by the playoffs – or even sooner – but will have little time to develop chemistry with his teammates.
The biggest confirmed absence for Brooklyn will be sharpshooter Joe Harris, who appears to be headed for a 2nd surgery on his ailing left ankle. A return this season and potential contributions do not look promising.
Will Chris Paul be back and ready for the playoffs?
After playing the Suns’ first 58 games of the season without any injuries or complications, leading them to a 48-10 record, the other shoe finally dropped for Chris Paul when he suffered an avulsion fracture on his right thumb.
The 36-year-old, who has now suffered 5 significant hand injuries in his extensive career, will be able to play with a small thumb splint and have little ill-effects. Paul played through torn ligaments in his right hand last playoffs, helping the Suns to the Finals, averaging 24.6 points with 8.1 assists on .573/.613/.733 shooting splits in the final 7 games.
Lakers: Will Anthony Davis return this season, and will LeBron James be hampered by his left knee swelling?
The Lakers are in a precarious position, going 6-12 since a 4-game winning streak in early January, dropping them to the No. 9 seed in the West and only a short losing streak away from missing even the play-in. They will have to crawl their way back into the playoff picture without star big man Anthony Davis, who is set to miss at least the next month with a grade 3 midfoot sprain, his 2nd significant injury this season and 3rd in the last 2 years.
Unfortunately, the Lisfranc injury is a fickle one, and it remains unlikely the soon-to-be 29-year-old can make his way back to the court for Los Angeles, leaving a massive load for LeBron James to take on his swollen left knee.
Warriors: Draymond Green’s Ailing Back, James Wiseman’s left knee, Klay Thompson’s return to form
As the Warriors’ core 3 ages into the twilight of their careers, injuries will be more and more a part of their story. That is true this season of Draymond Green, who has not played since Jan. 9 with a herniated disc in his back.
Golden State is 42-17 and No. 2 in the West, but are 13-9 without Green and have struggled to maintain their previously elite defensive efficiency.
The 32-year-old expressed optimism of a return in the next month during TNT’s All-Star game broadcast, but our ProBasketballDocs are still concerned about the potential setbacks or aggravations related to the disc. Further, there is still worry for a surgery in the future to address the issue.
Hopefully, he can successfully load manage through the home stretch and be sturdy enough for a playoff run.
His health would be helped greatly by the return of James Wiseman, who has recently ramped up to full-contact and 5-on-5 scrimmages as he finishes the rehab on his torn meniscus. He will, much like Green, need to manage his minutes and exertion this season at the very least, as he has probably developed wear-and-tear arthritis in the surgically-repaired knee.
Klay Thompson’s situation is unique, as he is not at a risk of re-injury, but is gradually getting back to the game shape needed to compete in a deep playoff run. He will miss back-to-backs this season, and will not be available to play huge minutes on any given night as his conditions and integration improves.
Can Joel Embiid stay healthy?
MVP favorite (at +145 on FanDuel Sportsbook) Joel Embiid is in line to play the most games in a season in his career, but is doing so while managing a right wrist issue. Embiid will thankfully be able to play through the injury, barring any more serious swelling, with tape and treatment.
The overarching question, however, is whether or not the soon-to-be 28-year-old will sustain another injury to derail his season. Embiid played through a torn meniscus last playoffs, missing only 1 game and helping the 76ers to within a made layup of the East Finals.
This is the only question we truly don't have an answer to, but hopefully Embiid can stay healthy and finish his career season on the floor.
The Joker's Wild: Will Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. contribute for the Nuggets?
Nikola Jokic has followed up his MVP season with another groundbreaking season as he has kept the Nuggets above water without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. for the entirety of the season.
It looks as if both Murray and Porter Jr. are prepping for a late-season return in time to make some noise in the playoffs, although neither will be 100% or even close until next season. Jokic can still make a push for another MVP, but Denver will be hard-pressed to compete with the Suns, Warriors, and Grizzlies without contributions from their 2 young stars.
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