NBA Injury Analysis: Celtics Hurt but Healing

The Boston Celtics

The Celtics are one of a handful of teams that have yet to have a completely healthy 15-man roster. Big man Kelly Olynyk's slow progression from offseason shoulder surgery has been the primary reason, though injuries to forwards Al Horford and Jae Crowder have compounded the issue.

Olynyk underwent surgery in May to address recurring instability in his right shoulder throughout the 2014-15 season. He suffered multiple partial dislocations last season before his season prematurely ended in the playoffs. Surgery likely included a labrum repair to reinforce the glenohumeral joint, and it was estimated he would need five months to recover. The recovery has been fluid and extended beyond the initial recovery window. However, Olynyk's return to the court appears to be "right around the corner," according to Celtics coach Brad Stevens. Olynyk practiced with Boston's D-League affiliate on Friday and again the following day with the rest of his Celtics teammates. He likely will be on a minutes restriction to start, but fantasy owners looking to bolster their frontcourt may want to check if Olynyk remains available.

Horford has missed three consecutive games after sustaining a concussion in practice. Boston's big offseason acquisition has been in the league's mandated concussion protocol but appears to be advancing through the various involved stages. The first step to returning to action requires the injured player to be symptom-free at rest. Symptoms from a concussion include a wide range of things such as dizziness, headaches, sensitivity to light and even blurry vision. Once all symptoms have resolved, the player sits for a neurocognitive test, most likely the ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) test. These tests allow for each individual to be properly screened, a huge must due to the variability amongst athletes that sustain a head injury.

The ImPACT test is carried out on a computer and analyzes the individual's neurocognitive function by testing things like memory recall, immediate color and shape recognition, and matching. The postinjury results are compared to a set of baseline information gathered on each athlete prior to the start of the season. In order to progress to the next step in the protocol, an athlete's postinjury score must be better or return to the initial baseline numbers. Once this hurdle has been cleared, the athlete begins a gradual increase in activity, starting with riding a stationary bike and concluding with noncontact team drills. If at any point in this advancement the individual's symptoms return, the protocol is paused until the appropriate step can be completed symptom-free.

Once the athlete has successfully navigated a practice, the director of the NBA's Concussion Program is contacted to discuss the final clearance for return to play. The time needed to complete the protocol varies from person to person, but so far this season the average missed time for concussions has been just over four days. Horford has already exceeded those numbers but was seen riding a stationary bike over the weekend. This is a positive sign that he's progressing but still has a few more steps to complete before he returns to action. Fortunately for him, the Celtics don't play again until Wednesday when the team travels to Washington to face the Wizards. The extra few days of rest should give him a chance to complete the protocol and be cleared in time for the game. It's a bit of a gamble for fantasy owners in weekly formats, though it may worth the risk if a clear-cut alternative isn't available.

It doesn't sound like Crowder will be back by Wednesday despite an improvement in his sprained left ankle. The swelling has decreased, but Stevens seemed pessimistic about Crowder's chances of playing this week. After rushing back from a high ankle sprain on the opposite foot last season, Crowder appears poised to make sure he's 100 percent before returning this time around. As a result, it likely will be at least a week before we see Crowder back in uniform. Rookie Jaylen Brown has replaced Crowder in the starting unit, though his game has been a bit hot or cold so far. He might be a decent stream option, but his long-term value remains the same.

Fast Breaks

Danny Green: The Spurs expect Green back on Wednesday against the Rockets. The sharpshooter missed most of the preseason and the start of the year due to a left quadriceps strain. However, he appears ready to rejoin the San Antonio rotation and resume his role as a 3-and-D swingman. Green struggled with his shot last season but did undergo LASIK surgery in the offseason. He's optimistic the improved eyesight will help get his shot back on track. Green's return should help ease the loss of Tony Parker, who is expected to miss a week with soreness in his right knee.

Dirk Nowitzki: The face of the Mavericks franchise is expected to miss at least one week with lingering soreness in his Achilles. The team continues to refer to the injury as soreness without specifying the root of the problem. The former MVP doesn't have a lengthy history of Achilles problems but has endured countless ankle sprains on both ankles and has undergone multiple debridement procedures for bone spurs in neighboring areas. The Mavericks medical team continues to treat this issue conservatively but may turn to a more aggressive option, like PRP injections, should the soreness continue to stick around.

Deron Williams: Nowitzki has company on the sidelines as Williams is out with multiple lower extremity issues. He suffered a right groin strain early last week but managed to play through the pain. However, he suffered a left calf strain a few games later and didn't play in Sunday's win over the Bucks. Williams has a lengthy history of lower leg problems including previous strains to his hamstring, calf and groin. Fortunately, his groin strain is opposite last year's groin injury that resulted in surgery for a sports hernia. Like Nowitzki, the Mavericks medical team will closely monitor the situation and take a conservative approach to ensure D-Will's long-term health. J.J. Barea becomes a relevant fantasy option for the week ahead.

Lance Stephenson: The former Pelicans swingman is a free agent just days after suffering a significant groin injury. New Orleans opted to waive Stephenson after it was determined the groin injury would require surgery and force him to miss six to 10 weeks recovering. The short-handed Pelicans have since used the open roster spot to sign Archie Goodwin to bolster a backcourt already missing Jrue Holiday (personal), Tyreke Evans (knee) and Quincy Pondexter (knee). The injury and uncertainty surrounding his future eliminates any remaining fantasy value Stephenson still had.