Collins in Pain, May Face Surgery

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Jason Collins hit another detour Saturday, when the pain his right leg returned in the first quarter against Toronto, so the Nets have decided to shut down their starting power forward until they find out whether some new meds are doing their job.

Collins, who sat out his fifth game last night against the Bobcats -- probably won't suit up again until next Tuesday.

"I had another injection (Monday), and I've just got to take a couple of days to get better," Collins said at the morning shootaround. "We tried some new medicine, and now it's just taking a few days for it to calm down, and hopefully get the soreness and pain out of there."

If that doesn't work, Collins admitted that surgery could be an option.

"We will put him off for another week," team president Rod Thorn said. "I think you always have to be concerned when a tough guy like him can't play. (But) they are hopeful it will help, (if he) takes a little time off to let it set in. The doctor felt he should take a week off before he plays."

Collins last received injections in his peroneal nerve (near the fibula, the bone between the knee and the ankle) on Nov. 22, when he left the team to confer with doctors at Stanford. He was able to return three days later at Phoenix.

There aren't many stopgap options available. Tractor Traylor had surgery to repair his enlarged aortic valve last month, and while he thinks he can return by the All-Star break, the Nets don't consider him a frontcourt option this season. Two names that have come up recently among the NBDL-watchers are Ken Johnson and Eric Chenowith.
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