Hawes Achilles' sore, doubtful for tomorrow night
Two games after returning from an injury that kept him out for 10 games, center Spencer Hawes is hurting again.
Hawes Achilles' sore, doubtful for tomorrow night
Bob Cooney
The Sixers had a limited workout this morning at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, but starting center Spencer Hawes was not with them. Hawes stayed off the court as his strained left Achilles' was bothering him again.
After the practice the team announced that he is doubtful for tomorrow night against the San Antonio Spurs and that Hawes was going to get an MRI on his lower back to see if there is something going on there that could be leading to the pain in his Achilles'.
"His Achilles' is sore again, which is what I was worried about," said coach Doug Collins. "Whether he played 20 or 30 or whatever minutes, it wasn't about the minutes I was concerned about the wear and tear. It's (injuries) everywhere, every night. I sure don't want to be some kind of prophet looking at this season but you knew there was going to be a ton of injuries. And how you were going to be able to survive them and how much depth you had to be able to survive them. It's really become a battle of attrition right now of who can keep the healthiest bodies."
In other news:
*The Sixers have assigned Craig Brackins to the NBA Development League.
*Sixers great Charles Barkley will serve as GM for one of the teams in the NBA's revised All-Star Rising Stars Challenge.
At lunch I saw Spencer drive by in a white Range Rover at the corner of 6th and Chestnut. I waved and gave the "show ya luv" hand signal but I think he was more focused on the turn than acknowledging the recognition. Achilles injuries aren't fun -- he'll have it all season, my guess.— Leegles- it's possible that Cooney uploaded this from his iphone and the autotext took over -- it happens— Leegles
- Hawes will be back in the lineup by late April. We are saving him for the big game against the Bobcats.— Zeru
- Sorry for the multiple posts guys, the computer wasn't registering the comment as taken, so I kept hitting submit....@kr....bear was just asking my medical opinion since he knows I deal with these injuries all the time in my practice. I don't pretend to be an expert on the triangle offense but I do know sports medicine.— Mark1npt
- @mark...yes, I remember..that's why I shouted out on the baseball site for your medical backround info...Granted, the condensed season produces injuries for all teams, but this is more of a nagging ailment that won't really heal...similar to Iggy's tendinitis issues from last spring, unless he's out for extended time I'm afraid..This scenerio will go on all season.I'm glad LaVoy Allen is getting acclimated.— bearsfriend
- Nikki V. Is in the process of taking Hawes job anyway. Get him healthy and get something for him. I would hate too see him go but it is the smart move. Sixers didn't know how good of a player they drafted at #16, or at #50 for that matter. The dynamics of the team has changed since the beginning of the season and they have to reassess the needs of the team.— sixback
- Is Hawes anyway related to Jeff Ruland?— jimmymack
Comment removed.- The "Battle of nutrition" sounds like some reality cooking show. — bearsfriend
- Those many posters who are calling for Dwight Howard, do you believe he fits a Doug Collins system? Look at the two centers now on the Sixers roster. They are more comfortable in the high post, facilitators, primarily jump shooters, guys who Collins loves to run his offense through and guys who are good foul shooters. They do not intimidate, are not great back to the basket centers (a point recently made by Kareem Abdul Jabbar about most of the centers in today's NBA, more anxious to shoot threes than post up low). Now look at Dwight Howard, a low post presence, intimidates, cannot shoot from more than three feet, would clog up the lanes for the slashers on the Sixers, cannot shoot a foul to save his life. Collins almost certainly will want a hammer at the four, as Brand begins to slow down, and right now the jury is very much out on Lavoy Allen. When the Lakers ran the Twin Towers last night, Gasol and Bynum ran a high post low post, with Gasol, who can shoot from the outside, consistently hitting Bynum underneath, who was unstoppable; when the Sixers ran the Twin Towers last night, they looked more like a ranch home, and Hawes was clearly struggling. Second game back from a serious injury is almost always worst than the first game, when a player is running on adrenaline, just glad to be back playing. The problem, however, with Gasol and Bynum was obvious for Kobe, who ran into serious traffic when he drove late in the game; big guys like Bynum and Howard clog up the lane and too many NBA players lack a mid-range game, and are either slashing for which they need clear lanes, or shooting the three. Last night Lou Williams won the game, but Sixers will need consistent scoring against teams with length and more defense underneath. Imagine how good the Lakers would be with Odom!— chuckw
- Hawes is 7' but plays like 6'7". He has the vertical leap of a Ancient Roman statue. He lacks toughness and quickness and is, overall, a mere fraction above useless. Sadly, there's no market for a stiff like Hawes and no upside to anticipate. The Sixers need fire in the lane to be in the upper crust. With Hawes, they will do well until match ups in the middle do them in.— gentian
- Gnarly?? When did Valley Girls start reading the sports page?— Rawkus
- coaches adapt in the NBA to the talent they have. Only a clueless dolt would suggest that the Sixers would be worse off without Dwight Howard. Gotta be kidding me.— Rawkus
- Mark1Npt--
there's no doubt it's the back, you're right, why does it take doctor's so long to figure this out. I had a basketball injury diagnosed as an achilles problem for over three years before they figured out it was my back. he can get better in a few weeks with combination of anti-inflamatories and accupuncture.— Eastfalls1 - Eastfalls, I don't know if I'm right or not, I just know that if he were my patient I would have pulled a Dr. House on him the 1st day and checked both areas to see what the problem truly was. There are a number of tests you can do in the office without an MRI to make a definitive diagnosis. I feel sorry for Hawes and the team.— Mark1npt
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
