It's an insider article so I won't quote the whole thing, but basically he provides a pretty compelling argument for why teams like the Thunder, Hawks, Grizzlies, etc. have done so much better than predicted at the outset of the season (and at the other end of the spectrum why teams like the Blazers have struggled so mightily). http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=PERDiem-100226 and the really mind blowing bit (actually seeing it compared to the rest of the league). The next closest team is Golden State at 108 games missed. 162 missed games from our top 6 players and that doesn't even count Rudy and Joel? Wowsa ... I'm equal parts amazed and depressed.
Doesn't Hollinger know ANYTHING?? It's Nate's and Blake's fault that we have fallen short this season.
Wow. I've never seen it put in quite those terms. I mean, I knew our guys missed a ridiculous number of games, but 162 vs the league median of 31? Christ. Going forward, the injury stat that matters far, far more than any other is how many games Roy plays. If he can finish the season out without missing more than a few, I think we're in the playoffs.
Other possibilities: the trainer, the shoes, and some players at the practice facility all summer (that was last season).
Great stuff, thanks for posting. It's incredible that the league median is 31 and we've got 54 more than Goldenstate! Not even counting those other guys. Wow. Nate for COTY
He is comparing it to his pre-season prediction. In his pre-season predictions he did not think the Rockets would be as good - but he included Yao as missing in these predictions.
