Posted: Friday, February 17, 2012, 12:46 PM | 13 comments |
 

Hawes out for longer period; Sixers host Mavericks tonight
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The news just keeps getting worse for the Sixers regarding starting center Spencer Hawes. At this morning's shootaround it was announced that Hawes is in a walking boot for his strained left Achilles' and that he would wear that for two more weeks. Hawes will also visit Dr. Richard Ferkel from the Southern California Orthopedic Institute during the All-Star break to get a second opinion.

"That's where it is," said coach Doug Collins. "It's been my experience that being around it as I have that when you put a boot on, for every day you have that boot on it's two more (to recover) once you get out. Because your leg will atrophy and you can't do the strength stuff. So they don't want him to do to much on it right now. When you immobilize something and you can't use it, especially as a professional athlete, the atrophy and how quickly things set in are really quick. If Spencer's in this boot for a week or ten days, I would expect him to be out a little while. In a year like this, especially with bigger guys, the healing time and the minute  you go play again, I was worried that this was what was going to happen."

Tonight, when the Sixers host the defending champion Dallas Mavericks, it will be the 17th game Hawes has missed this season after missing just one last year. The Sixers (20-10) are 8-8 without Hawes this season.

More on the Mavericks-Sixers matchup to come in a bit...
Posted by Bob Cooney @ 12:46 PM  Permalink | 13 comments
13
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:10 PM, 02/17/2012
    Bingo......he will not add anything meaningful to this team for the rest of the season in all likelihood. Dr. Ferkel is one of the best in the country. I have seen him lecture many times. The achilles cannot be rushed and takes a long time to get back to even beginning to run and play on again. It doesn't look good at all from where I am sitting, but of course I've been saying that for 4-6 weeks now...right bear?
    — Mark1npt
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:15 PM, 02/17/2012
    Maybe time for Rod Thorn to make a move for a big man. Chris Kaman?
    — 42Homestead
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:27 PM, 02/17/2012
    Put Battie in the starting lineup.
    — cosmic
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:34 PM, 02/17/2012
    Brutal. I swear, this team and centers is almost Shakespearean.
    — evolutionary
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:39 PM, 02/17/2012
    @42Homestead: I'm with you on swinging a deal for Chris Kaman. If The Sixers have aspirations of winning the Atlantic and surviving a playoff round, The Sixers need to go get a big. Kaman, who is in an expiring contract, makes around 14 million. Andres Nocioni and Spencer Hawes, who are both expiring, combine to make under 11 million. They could be the start of a package that lands Kaman. Something's got to be done. All of the sudden, The Knicks are in the rear view mirror.
    — Seeing Red
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:16 PM, 02/17/2012
    No more hemming and Hawesing. Get a center who doesn't need Disability Parking. The only decent one around is Kamen and it won't cost much. Maybe they can package a draft pick with Evan Turner and pick up another backcourt guy with Kamen, Even Gordon or Jack. Don't know if you don't ask. They have to do something. Lavoy Allen and Vucevic are about as raw as it gets in the middle.
    — gentian
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:29 PM, 02/17/2012
    its pretty evident that the Sixers arent looking to make a deal this year...Nd they shouldnt the way the young players will learn is by playing so dont put them on the bench...Sixers wont contend with or without Kaman who will leave after this year anyway... Just wait people as soon as a all star caliber player is available and he's up there in age everybody wants them like Webber,Brand and now Kaman even though its for one year nd we will give up players with potential for a dude like Kaman...WAIT SIXERS PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!
    — salis15
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:59 PM, 02/17/2012
    Evolutionary - you no doubt know this, but it goes all the way back to at least Chamberlain. I'm not old enough to remember Wilt in a Sixers uniform, but after over 25 years I'm still mad about that day in 1986 when in two separate transactions, we traded away Moses Malone and the rights to Brad Daugherty for a few bags of (injured) donuts.
    — Bobby G
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:03 PM, 02/17/2012
    My heart goes out to Spencer. My prayers go out to the sixers brass. Please don't sign Spence to a long term contract after this season. Hawes has to prove he can stay healthy!
    — reveugene
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:16 PM, 02/17/2012
    I have had this injury. I could not walk at all its so painful. Crutches for 2 weeks, boot for 2 weeks. night splints for another 4 weeks. It took me almost 6 months to get pain free. And the pain still comes and goes from time to time.
    — jeffpatti
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:17 PM, 02/17/2012
    Wow!!! Spence easily was the most improved player on Sixers. What a shame. They need to make a move or it's going to be 500 the rest of the way.
    — fla.eagle
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:23 PM, 02/17/2012
    Question will be whether they try to get a big upgrade like Paul Gasol that will cost them Iguodala plus, or whether they look to stopgaps like Kaman, Tyrus Thomas, Robin Lopez, etc.
    — JBP
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:43 PM, 02/17/2012
    Which team gets one first, Sixers and a steady center or Flyers and a decent goalie?
    — robynk


13 comments
About Bob Cooney
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.

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