NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/24/08

[Hache Man]

	Billups (hamstring) hopeful to play Saturday
	Chauncey Billups - G - DET - May. 8 - 2:49 p.m. ET
	Chauncey Billups is questionable to play against the Magic on Saturday, after leaving Wednesday's game with a hamstring injury. He will have a precautionary MRI on Thursday, and is officially listed as day-to-day. Pistons coach Flip Saunders was guardedly optimistic that Billups will be available, but the next 24 hours should determine his availability. If Billups isn't able to suit up, Rodney Stuckey would be the Pistons main point guard. Source: Detroit News

[Hache Man]

Manu Ginobili - G - Spurs

Manu Ginobili's sore left ankle is feeling much better, and he expects to be fine when the Spurs face the Hornets on Thursday night.
Only 13 of 211 teams have ever won a series after falling behind 2-0, so Ginobili wasn't exaggerating much when he referred to Thursday's Game 3 as a "Game 7" for the Spurs. Looking for ways to disrupt the Hornets offense, Tony Parker hinted that he might guard MVP runner-up Chris Paul. May. 8 - 3:39 p.m. ET
Source: San Antonio Express-News

[Hache Man]

	Billups still questionable for Saturday
	Chauncey Billups - G - DET - May. 9 - 2:05 p.m. ET
	Chauncey Billups' injured hamstring felt better on Friday morning, but his status for Saturday's game remains questionable. He will not fully test the leg until Saturday, so consider him a game-time decision. "It's a soft tissue injury and it's tough," Billups said. "It's very restrictive. Even when I just try to walk fast, it's restrictive." The Pistons strength and conditioning coach was encouraged when the injury failed to worsen overnight, and remains optimistic that Billups will play in Game 4. If he can't suit up, Rodney Stuckey will get the start. Source: Detroit News

[Hache Man]

	Cavaliers' Wallace doubtful to play in Game 3
	Ben Wallace - F/C - CLE - May. 9 - 6:47 p.m. ET
	Cavaliers center Ben Wallace is doubtful to play in Game 3 against Boston because of allergies and an inner ear infection. His condition could still improve, but the team described his status as "best case, 50-50". If Wallace can't play, Anderson Varejao will start alongside Zydrunas Ilgauskas, leaving few frontcourt options off the bench. Joe Smith should play increased minutes, but the Cavaliers don't have anybody capable of replacing Wallace's physical defense and rebounding. Source: Associated Press

[Hache Man]

	X-rays negative on Deron Williams' wrist
	Deron Williams - G - UTA - May. 10 - 2:33 p.m. ET
	Deron Williams suffered a right wrist injury during an awkward fall in Friday's Game 3 win over the Lakers, but X-rays were negative. "It definitely affected me. One time I missed a shot and slapped my hands together, which was not very bright," Williams said. "I just landed it on it wrong. X-rays are negative, so I'm good to go." Consider him probable for Sunday's Game 4. Source: Deseret News

[Hache Man]

Pistons' Billups won't play in Game 4 against Magic

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Detroit Pistons guard Chauncey Billups won't play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Orlando Magic on Saturday.
Pistons coach Flip Saunders says Billups wouldn't be effective because of a sore hamstring. The All-Star strained it on Thursday after getting tied up under the basket with an Orlando player.
With Billups out, the Pistons are activating guards Lindsey Hunter and Juan Dixon. Rookie Rodney Stuckey was effective in Game 3 and is expected to start in place of Billups, who is third in career playoff scoring for the franchise.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

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[Hache Man]

	Kobe will play in Game 5 despite bad back
	Kobe Bryant - G - LAK - May. 12 - 2:29 p.m. ET
	Kobe Bryant struggled through a back injury on Sunday, but said he will "definitely" be ready to play in Game 5. "Second play of the game....my back just caught," Bryant said. "I couldn't go to the basket...I tried to be a decoy." Phil Jackson was upset after the game, because he felt Kobe's teammates "bailed out" during overtime, standing around and watching as Kobe handled the ball against constant double-teams. Source: Los Angeles Daily News

[Hache Man]

Kobe Bryant - G - Lakers

Kobe Bryant met the media Monday with an electronic stimulating device hooked up to his sore lower back.
"It cuts down the pain," he said. How, I don't know." Bryant said he's lucky he didn't miss time in Game 4. "I don't know how I made it through the game, to be honest with you." Bryant said he will receive treatment around the clock, but we're guessing he'll play in Game 5 on Wednesday. May. 12 - 8:40 p.m. ET

[Hache Man]

Chauncey Billups - G - Pistons

Detroit point guard Chauncey Billups (hamstring) apparently is feeling better, but hasn't been cleared to play in Game 5 Tuesday against the Magic in Detroit.
Pistons strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander said Billups has not had any setbacks. "He's done a lot of cutting, rotating, pivoting...He's had no problem, no limitations," Kander said. "Chauncey said, "'We'll see in the morning [today]. I am feeling good, everything is great.' But we'll see where we are at." Coach Flip Saunders added that if Billups is cleared to play, he'll play. Regardless of the score of the series, which Detroit currently leads 3-1. May. 13
Source: Orlando Sentinel

[Hache Man]

	Dumars hints that Billups will play in Game 5
	Chauncey Billups - G - DET - May. 13 - 3:54 p.m. ET
	After watching Chauncey Billups participate in Tuesday morning's shootaround, Pistons GM Joe Dumars said he thinks the guard, who has a strained hamstring, will play in Tuesday's Game 5. "He was moving pretty good," Dumars said. "I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I think he's going to try to give it a go tonight." We still think the Pistons should rest Billups for one more game, but Flip Saunders has said that if he's healthy, he'll play. Source: ESPN.com

[Hache Man]

	Billups now unlikely to play in Game 5
	Chauncey Billups - G - DET - May. 13 - 6:03 p.m. ET
	Despite Joe Dumars saying earlier in the day that he expected Chauncey Billups to play in Tuesday's Game 5 against the Magic, reports out of Detroit indicate that he is unlikely to suit up due to his hamstring injury. We've said all along it makes little sense to risk playing Billups this soon after his injury, and it now sounds like he won't play. As far as he know, he still hasn't been officially ruled out, but it would be shocking to see him play tonight.

[Hache Man]

	Chandler expects to play in Hornets next game
	Tyson Chandler - C - NO - May. 14 - 3:43 p.m. ET
	Tyson Chandler doesn't expect to miss any more time after leaving Tuesday's game with a bruised left foot. "I landed funny, and I kind of lost feeling in it," Chandler said. "But I'll be fine." Chandler has struggled with foul trouble in the last two games, and the Hornets don't fare too well without him. Melvin Ely isn't suited to defending Tim Duncan and doesn't offer much offensively, so Chandler's prognosis is terrific news for New Orleans. Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune

[Hache Man]

	Kobe 'OK' and set to play on Wednesday
	Kobe Bryant - G - LAK - May. 14 - 6:54 p.m. ET
	Kobe Bryant shot prior to the Lakers shootaround on Wednesday and still plans on playing in Game 5 tonight despite a sore back. Kobe didn't speak to reporters, but Phil Jackson said he was "OK." He's not going to be at 100 percent tonight, but as long as he's playing, the Lakers hope to take care of business at home and open up a 3-2 lead on the Jazz. Source: Deseret News

[Hache Man]

	Gibson leaves with shoulder contusion
	Daniel Gibson - G - CLE - May. 15
	Daniel Gibson left in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's Game 5 after suffering a right shoulder contusion early in the fourth quarter. The injury occurred during a collision with teammate Anderson Varejao and then went straight to the locker room. Hopefully it's not a separation, as the Cavs need Gibson's outside shooting in the playoffs. Consider him day-to-day.

[Hache Man]

	Billups healthy, ready to play in Game 1
	Chauncey Billups - G - DET - May. 15 - 4:01 p.m. ET
	Chauncey Billups practiced with the Pistons on Thursday and is expected to play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Billups missed the final two games of their second round series after straining his right hamstring. Rodney Stuckey played brilliantly as a substitute starter, and should continue to see substantial minutes off the bench. Source: AP

[Hache Man]

	Gibson out 1-2 weeks w/ separated shoulder
	Daniel Gibson - G - CLE - May. 15 - 3:47 p.m. ET
	Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson will miss 1-2 weeks after an MRI revealed a first-degree separation of his left shoulder, effectively ending his season. This is devastating for the Cavs, who might need Damon Jones to provide perimeter scoring and keep the Celtics defense honest. The injury throws serious doubt on LeBron's quote after the Cavs loss in Game 5, when he said, "A LeBron James team is never desperate." Source: AP

[Hache Man]

	Chandler will play despite sprained toe
	Tyson Chandler - C - NO - May. 15 - 2:53 P.m. ET
	Tyson Chandler was forced out of Tuesday's game with a sprained toe, not a bruised foot as originally reported. The prognosis remains the same, and he will play in Game 6. Chandler even said that he would have returned in Game 5 if it was necessary. His teammates gave him a hard time about his dramatic collapse onto the court, complete with an exaggerated re-enactment by Peja Stojakovic. David West, who is battling a stiff and sore back, is also expected to play. Source: San Antonio Express-News

[Hache Man]

	West aggravates back injury, iffy for Game 7
	David West - F - NO - May. 16
	Hornets' forward David West, coming off a 38-point, 14-rebound, 5-block Game 5 aggravated a pinched nerve in his back in the fourth quarter of Thursday's Game 6, leaving him questionable for Game 7 on Monday night. West was just 4-of-14 for 10 points and six boards in 38 minutes before leaving. He took a very hard and deliberate shot to the back from Robert Horry, which will add fuel to the fire from those suggesting the Spurs are a dirty team. The winner of the third quarter has won each game in this series, but the chips are stacked against the Spurs. When trailing 3-2 in the playoffs and then winning Game 6, the Spurs are 0-3 in Game 7s. And they have to play in a hostile environment at New Orleans. West had to be helped to the locker room and his health and status for Game 7 will be crucial to New Orleans. The good news is he'll have three full days of rest before the finale.