Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Jeff Green joked that his left elbow is “still attached” after an awkward landing forced him from Friday’s game against the Miami Heat early in the fourth quarter and downplayed the severity of the injury while noting he should be able to play Saturday night in Orlando.
“Any time you hit a nerve, it feels numb down the whole arm,” said Green. “And it wouldn’t come back as fast I wanted to, because we were still playing. But I’m fine.”
Green spilled hard to the floor after a powerful driving dunk — one of three on the night — with 10:03 to play in the fourth quarter and, falling backward on the baseline, his elbow took the brunt of the tumble. He was wincing in pain on the bench as trainer Ed Lacerte put a shooting sleeve over the injury, but Green soon retreated to the locker room and did not return.
Green finished with a team-high 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting with eight rebounds and two assists over 36:25.
“Birdman [Chris Andersen], he tried to run off [and] I felt his feet undercut mine,” explained Green. “I know it wasn’t on purpose. It was just something, it was the first thing that hit. I’m cool, man.”
ESPN Boston – Green’s elbow fine after fall
I’d feel much better about Green’s elbow if he returned to play, but all signs point to this being a minor in jury. Doc Rivers said that he doubts an X-ray is needed.
Green’s spirits are fine, he tweeted this photo of his dunk over Andersen with the caption: “AND 1?…OH WERRDD!!!, add it to my list lol”
I would expect Green to sit out tonight’s game vs Orlando, but Doc might have a different plan.
Related links: Globe – Bruised elbow shouldn’t deter Green | CSNNE – Green’s elbow OK
In other earth-shattering news, it appears Kobe Bryant suffered a torn Achilles in last night’s Lakers win over Golden State.
“MRI, surgery and then recovery,” Bryant replied when asked what his next step is. “I was really tired, man. Just tired in the locker room and dejected and thinking about this mountain to overcome. I mean, this is a long process and wasn’t sure I could do it. Then your kids walk in and you’re like, ‘I need to set an example. Daddy is going to be fine.’ I can do it. Work hard and just go from there.”
Recovering from surgery to repair a torn Achilles can take anywhere from three months to a year. The Los Angeles Clippers‘ Chauncey Billups recently went through the process. Hall of Famer Charles Barkley‘s career came to an end because of it, as did the career of Bryant’s longtime teammate Shaquille O’Neal.
Wow. Talk about putting a rotten cherry on the crap sundae that is the Lakers season.
Prepare yourself for an insufferable amount of media coverage on Kobe’s comeback.
The rest of the links:
ESPN Boston – C’s hoping JET soars in playoffs | Rapid Reaction: Heat 109 Celtics 101 | CSNNE – Miami bench schools Celtics | C’s burned | Hotel is home, sweet home for Randolph, White | Globe – Heat defeat Celtics | Herald – Allen’s exit hurt Truth | Heat cruise | Ray Allen shows he’s still a big shot | WEEI – Hot Heat beat shorthanded Celtics
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